We stand well! TOP 5 great outdoor tripods

High—quality tripods at an adequate cost are the backbone of the products of the Chinese brand Yunteng. Its VCT-5208 model is suitable for a set of compact camera and interchangeable optics, an action camera attachment or a fixed smartphone fixation.

The tripod rests on three aluminium legs connected by jumpers to the central rod. The lifting of the fixed camera on it is carried out in the height range from 45 to 125 cm. The extendable parts of the tripod legs are fixed with plastic latches — two on each leg. A three-dimensional head is located on the "top of the mountain" Yunteng VCT-5208. More about it.

"Out of the box", a sliding smartphone holder is attached to the tripod, on board of which mobile gadgets with a case width from 5 to 10 cm can be taken. The smartphone is fixed in the mounting slots with a long screw, so there is no need to worry about the reliability of its "landing". The range of possibilities of the tripod is expanded by the attached Bluetooth remote control, with which control signals are received "by air" (up to 10 m) to the camera of the "mobile phone".

In the low-cost price category of tripods, you will not find an equal model during the day with fire. For the same money, some kind of one-time solutions or tripods with a flimsy design are usually offered. And here you have a holder for a camera, and for a smartphone, and even with support for remote control of the filming process.

Novice photographers do not have to spend money on buying an expensive tripod right away. Especially when, in addition to the camera, you can buy a solution in the manner of Hama Star 61 — a universal outdoor tripod for photo and video shooting.

The model is released in a traditional "three-legged" layout and touches the ground with rubberized supports. The telescopic legs of the tripod are extended in two stages. Also, the central bar rises smoothly in height — its "lifting" without jerks will come in handy in the video shooting mode. The best stability of the structure under load is achieved thanks to the spacers between the legs of the tripod and the central column.

The maximum load capacity of Hama Star 61 is 3 kg. This is the weight of a rather big DSLR with twisted optics and an external flash. The 3D tripod head gives you a lot of freedom of action — the camera on it can rotate, tilt back and forth or from side to side. In order not to fill up the horizon, a level was built into the "head" (a sealed flask with liquid and an air bubble).

The height of the camera mounted on a tripod above the floor level is subject to change within wide limits from 60 to 153 cm. When folded, the model is, frankly, too big. And this is the only claim to her. The tripod is thought out to the smallest detail and shows itself in working for a solid "five". What a convenient carrying handle and a hook for hanging the load in the lower part of the central column are worth — the weighting in the form of the same photo bag provides reliable stability of the structure in the wind.

The debut products of the Italian company Manfrotto were tripods for photographic equipment. However, they still bring the company the lion's share of profits. In the portfolio of tripods of the brand "for every day", the Compact Light model looks interesting, which will be discussed.

Light weight and compact dimensions allow you to carry a tripod with you on a daily basis. When folded, a shoulder bag serves as a shelter for him. The tripod has a trio of aluminium legs of a telescopic design. The height of his "head" above the floor level can be adjusted in the range from 39 to 131 cm. This, of course, is not a pro level, but it is an acceptable result.

The ball head of the model is designed for the weight of the camera, coupled with an object of less than 1.5 kg.Placing the camera on it is allowed in both horizontal and vertical positions. And if in landscape orientation the maximum weight can be slightly exceeded, then in portrait it is highly not recommended to do this in order to avoid damage to photographic equipment due to the fall of the tripod. Caution in handling the Manfrotto Compact Light must also be observed in strong winds — due to its low weight, the tripod can shake with air currents.

The release of the model is arranged in several colour solutions. Most often it is found on store shelves with black legs and inserts of red, grey or pink colour. At the tips of the "legs" of the tripod there are rubber "knobs" that reliably fit almost any material, do not slip on it and do not damage the floor coverings. Manfrotto Compact Light can be recommended to advanced amateur photographers who often need a strong camera fixation for photographing.

Benro tripods are readily used by both enthusiasts and real photoprofi. Take, for example, the IS05 model, which comes to the rescue of photographers when solving a wide range of tasks.

When folded, the tripod measures less than 27 cm in length. It will easily fit inside the backpack and take up a minimum of space in the arsenal of hiking photography equipment. The tripod is made of durable aluminium alloy, and it weighs only 900 g with a small "tail". Moreover, the "head" of the tripod can withstand a load of up to 4 kg. From the floor state, the Benro IS05 can be easily transformed into a monopod for taking selfies, discarding the legs as unnecessary. In this form, the load on the tripod should not exceed 2 kg.

The legs of the tripod have five extendable sections, which are fixed by turning the rubberized tips. Four more height adjustment positions are offered at the central bar with a hook for the weighting. As a result, the placement of the camera above the floor level is possible in the widest range of heights from 29 to 151 cm. For the subject and macro shooting in the tripod, a flip of the main rod was provided.

The tripod is equipped with a ball head with a built-in bubble level. Quick-release in its design is a platform for the camera. Fixing the tilt adjustment of the "head" and panning is done using a convenient locking handle. For the convenience of shooting panoramas, a graduated scale is applied at the base of the head. The Benro IS05 provides a high level of stability on almost any surface, gives many degrees of freedom of camera placement, is assembled from high-quality materials, which is what you expect from a well-balanced tripod.

Stability is a sign of mastery. It is this motto that perfectly suits the Manfrotto 290 XTRA tripod, which is also known under the MT290XTA3 label.

The limit of the lower height of the camera placement on a tripod is 31 cm. With all the legs extended and the central rod, the shooting is carried out from a height of up to 161 cm from the fulcrum. Freedom of creativity is given by four adjustments of the angle of dilution of the "legs" of the tripod: 25°, 46°, 66° or 88 °. One of the proposed options will precisely ensure the reliable stability of the product on the required surface.

With its own weight of about 1.78 kg, the Manfrotto 290 XTRA handles with loads up to 5 kg. An example of such a bundle of photographic equipment can be the "carcass" of the advanced "reporter" Nikon D6 and the long-focus object Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR AF-S Nikkor. Two more "kilos" will remain for the flash, synchronizers, battery handle, etc.

The model implements the ability to quickly flip the central column into a horizontal position. In this format, it is convenient to shoot from non-standard angles, for example, with the object strictly down. But the tripod was not equipped with a "head" — the photographer is given the right to get a head depending on his own preferences. The tripod is addressed to professionals and advanced amateurs who know a lot about really good things.