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TRIPOD TROUBLE?
STICKS PACK After some much-needed support? Check out these tripod kits to steady those wobbles
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
V ideo is all about capturing motion. And although this can happen with a camera locked off on a tripod if the subjects are moving, it’s often about panning or tilting the camera with the action. For that, you need a head that has a smooth and ideally adjustable amount of fluid damping to control the movement. For heavier payloads, adjustable counterbalance makes sense. One of the most crucial elements of shooting video is keeping the horizon straight. You can do this by adjusting the leg length on a stills-style tripod, but it’s better to use a video-specific set-up that has a quick-adjust head with a spirit level.
To speed things up even more, a spreader fits between the legs on certain systems, which lets you instantly open them up and start shooting. From the latest crop of YouTubers typically using small mirrorless cameras to full-on cinematographers with the biggest budgets and cameras, there is no single tripod that’s perfect for all. And although many tripods are sold as a kit with a head, the higher-end ones are often sold with the legs and head separate to allow a full custom kit to be bought. So check out our guide to some of the very best and latest tripods to check out for different users at a range of price points.
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