Bird Photography Essentials: What to Look for in a Tripod

^{Note: This tip comes from Pro Media Gear’s article - The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Bird Photography}

You should consider multiple things when buying a tripod for bird photography.

Tip #1 – Is the tripod light enough to hike it some distance into the landscape where the birds are located but sturdy enough to keep the camera and lens from shaking or moving around in the wind? Can it support your camera and lens? You would not want it to break with your precious equipment mounted.

Tip #2 – Avoid gimmick tripods. The photo gear that is required tends to be very expensive, and you don’t want a cheaper gimmick tripod holding it. In addition, does it work in extreme conditions? Wildlife and bird photography means you are venturing into the woods or places that may be wet, dry, or a mix of both. It is better to have a reliable tripod that won’t lock up on you or start slipping at the joints.

One of the best tripods for bird photography and wildlife is the ProMediaGear TR344 Carbon Fiber Tripod. It is compact enough to carry around, capable of working in extreme conditions.

Plus, it has a max load capacity of 60 lbs. You can throw any camera and lens combo onto it, and it will work smoothly.

Tip #3 – You should always refrain from raising the center column no matter what brand or model tripod you choose. A tripod provides stability using the ‘three points of contact’ rule. However, when the center column is raised, that stability is lost because now the camera and lens are resting on a single leg. Even the slightest breeze can cause a vibration that will ruin pictures.

Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)