Are all tripods the same?

Question

First of all, I know nothing about tripods.

I want to know first of all if digital still cameras tripods the same for digital camcorders, because I would like one for my digital camcorder.

Second of all, how do they exactly work. I have a little hole on the bottom of my camcorder which I've been told is for a tripod.

Any tips on what to look for when buying a digital camcorder tripod? I am just a casual user who wants a cheap tripod for steadiness, but doesn't know anything about them.

Answer 1

all consumer photo gear connects to the tripod with a 1/4"-20 s***w. The tripod usually comes with a quick attach adaptor that screws to the camera and snaps onto the tripod. This makes attachment quicker and easier than trying to s***w down the camera every time you need a tripod shot.  You leave the adaptor attached to the camera.

Tripods legs are basically the same, some are lighter to make hauling easier, and some set up faster, important for news reporters.  the main difference is the adjustment head.  A cine head (sometime called pan-tilt) is designed for film or videotape use and has a long control handle to make smooth camera moves possible, especially good for pans. A photo head is designed to adjust a still camera in 3 degrees of freedom and has several short locking handles. This does not work well with video.

Answer 2

Tripods are NOT the same.  Cost range from cheap to $$$$ that the pro's use.

The weight of the camcorder is your biggest criteria. A tripod adequate for a small still camera, or even a DSL camera, may not old a heavy camcorder.  Buy the oppisite will work fiine.

The tripod will have a removable adapter at the top that you s***w into the hole in the bottom of your camcorder.  You then put the adapter back.  Its different for vario lus tripods.

When you shop for a tripod, they should display what weights they handle.  Other difference in tripods is how smooth they pan, how easy they are to adjust etc.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

While you can attach a camcorder to a still camera tripod I have found it is not a good solution unless you intend to keep the camera in the same position. As soon as you move it to pan the difference between a proper video tripod and a camera tripod becomes obvious in your film with the movie jerking. A proper video tripod as a "fluid head" which allows for smooth panning. In the UK the cheapest video tripod is about £100 Velbon DV-7000 but I have NOT used it so can't comment on how good it is.

Answer 4

check out the interactive camera support system configurator.

http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manf...

*choose fluid head