Do I Really Need a Tripod?

The short answer is yes. The long answer is absolutely.

A tripod’s importance to your shoot, especially as a do-it-yourself filmmaker, fits right behind making sure the lens-cap is off. A do it yourself filmmaker can achieve so much more with a tripod than without one. In some cases, a tripod will end up not only being your most important piece of equipment, but your most important crew member as well. But whether you are looking for an inexpensive tripodto simply hold your camera still for your weekly YouTube Vlog, or you need a tripod that offers fluid camera movementandspiked feetfor superior stability, the most important aspect you need to consider is reliability.

Everyone has that $6 tripodthat came free with a subscription to MovieMaker magazine or with three proofs-of-purchase of Frosted Flakes, but can those things really be trusted? Because if you’re on this site it means you are at least marginally serious about whatever upcoming projects you may have, and it also means your camera is at least that important to you. And with a decent video camera running anywhere from $300to $3,000to $10,000,the odds that you will actually be able to rely on a $6 tripod, or even a $12 tripod,are pretty slim.

Many do-it-yourself filmmakers have gone through great pains to avoid buying a tripod. But whether the stack of books fell over with their camera on top of it or they got sick of finding a countertop close enough to pick up their audio, they have always given in to their need for a tripod.

A good tripod that provides enough stability for a quality shot, provides a secure enough platform to support your equipment, and allows you to make the necessary adjustments to obtain that right camera position, should retail for at least $45. For superior camera movement and stability, while still maintaining security and shot quality, you will have to spend around $250. Tripods that offer professional functionality and support can cost thousands of dollarsdepending on the features.

At the end of the day, if you want any sort of congruency between takes, and any piece of mind that your camera is actually taken care of, then you will get yourself a dependable tripod before you start shooting.