A complete guide to selecting a tripod
"A tripod is a device to provide stability for a piece of equipment."
A tripod as the name suggests is a three-legged unit, designed to provide stability for a piece of equipment. Tripods are generally used for cameras, telescopes and spotting scopes.
A tripod uses triangulation to provide a stable platform. They have adjustable legs to compensate for uneven surfaces. They have some form of moving head to allow the aiming of the equipment attached.
The selection of a tripod is very use specific. For a small compact camera with a short exposure a lightweight tripod will suffice. For a heavy SLR with a big lens and longer exposures a heavy weight tripod is required. For a high power telescope a very heavy-duty tripod is required.
