Porter's University Presents:
Tripods and Camera Supports

Learn More About Tripods and Camera Supports

Go To Tripods & Camera Supports | Go To Tripod Accessories | Go To Remote Releases

Tripods, monopods and other camera supports are truly multi-talented tools. Tripods hold our cameras so that we can get into our own shots. Thanks to tripods we can capture images that would be impossible to see with the naked eye - a waterfall turned into cotton candy or a starry night in crisp detail. But a tripod's biggest contribution to photography is that it can hold a camera rock steady for hours on end. A picture taken on a tripod will capture finer detail than the same shot exposed with the camera in hand. Yes, even if the camera has image stabilization built-in.

Monopods go where tripods can't, and even with 1/3 of the legs a monopod-supported camera is still steadier than one that is hand held. Monopods are great for shooting sports or while hiking. Monopods work well in crowded venues. Monopods offer a helping hand when a big, heavy lens is mounted to the camera. Most photographers start with a tripod and then add a monopod later when they require the flexibility.

There are a lot of accessories for tripods, from heads and bags to panoramic adapters. But the most important accessory for a tripod mounted camera is a remote release. After taking the care to lock down the camera to a tripod we shouldn't risk causing vibration by jabbing at the shutter button with our finger. A remote release is the solution that eliminates the problem. Remote releases come in several varieties: Cabled, Wireless IR, Wireless Radio and more. However each camera model will only work with a limited range of remote releases and each brand has its own way of connecting the release. Always make sure that the release you have selected is compatible with your camera.

Tripods, every photographer needs one!