The tripod used to be an essential part of any photographer’s kit. Professionals carried them as a matter of routine, and they were considered essential for many tasks, particularly fine portraiture, landscape and close-focus work. But times change.
Last week I reported on Panasonic’s latest long-reach prime, the 200mm Leica DG f/2.8 This lens has stabilisation which works in concert with systems in Panasonic cameras such as the GX8, GH5 and G9, to give a remarkable 6.5-stop advantage over non-stabilised equipment. That’s at an equivalent of 400mm (or 560mm using the supplied 1.4x converter). While I haven’t yet tried it (Dear Mr.P, put me on the list for a review copy, please), Panasonic claim this lens can capture wildlife and sports shots without the need for a tripod.
Travel light
Constantly improving image quality, higher ISO performance (and thus much better results at 3200 and 6400 from most modern cameras), not to mention stabilisation, all mean that cameras can be hand held for almost all general work.
I have never been a tripod man. I prefer to travel light and tend to use shutter speed to help prevent shake. But I admit I’m unusual and some readers, in particular Dunk Sargent who recently helped me with the test of the Leica TL2, might disagree. In his remarkable three-mile church shot was taken using an 800mm Apo-Telyt S lens with 1.4x adaptor.
He needed two tripods for that lot. This is specialised work and, without a doubt, it’s useful to have a tripod or two around the house. Dunk told me jokingly at last week’s Leica Mayfair event that he had fifty of them. An exaggeration, but he’s definitely a tripod man. Dunk does a lot of close focus work and for that he finds the tripod absolutely essential. But for everyday photography he agrees that modern technology has made tripod-less photography possible in most normal circumstances.
Judging by the vast variety on the market (some at eye-watering prices) and the amount of floor space devoted to them, there is still a healthy appetite for our three-legged friends. But do you believe a tripod is an essential accessory these days? Let’s discuss the pros and cons.
Read this article on the need for a travel tripod
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There is more to tripods than stabilization. Taking the camera out of your hands and placing it on a stand or tripod allows you to think differently about what you are doing. On can be more circumspect, plan, shoot and evaluate, adjust in any number of ways and reshoot.
Thanks for pointing this out, all useful information.
For me there definitely is use for a sturdy tripod, despite of all that image stabilisation. E.g. for table top and macro work, long (night)time exposure and when there is need for exact composition. But I use it less than I used to in the past. Half of my equipment has no image stabilisation (Leica M). 😉
I use a tripod regularly at home for garden photography and close-up work. Not so much when travelling, but I always have a small version like the Manfrotto Pixi with me. It takes so little space and is useful inside buildings and occasionally for night location work.
I carry a tripod (and a release cable) a lot more often than I use it. It’s good for exercise, waterfall, and light streaks from moving vehicles.
I last used a tripod about two-years-ago, and only for family pictures that I actually wanted to be in. I’ve been pretty much tripod-free for about a decade now.
My tripod was last used three years ago. I have been somewhat ashamed to talk about this. However, in present company, I can admit my secret and "out" myself with just camera and lenses, leaving tripod "in" at home. I feel so much better now! It’s good to know there are others like me.
I can’t remember the last time I used a tripod with any of my leicas but I frequently use one with my Nikon d800, depth of field for macro, wind blowing trees and plants long exposure in very low light. It must just be me then?
Mike, you are not unusual. I have a couple of tripods, but I never used them. I used them years ago for macro work, but nowadays I just find them too constricting. I also abhor the ‘Big Stopper’ milky water genre of photography, which also requires a tripod. I have seen Dunk’s big rigs on a few occasions and I fully understand why he uses one, or even two, tripod/s.
William
William
When I was in the UK, I picked up a Mamiya RZ67 with the 140mm macro lens. I’m planning to use it for still life work and yesterday was learning how to lock up the huge mirror. I’ll definitely need to use a tripod with it.