11 reasons why you`ll need a tripod

Ever thought about buying one of these fancy tripods? This article will tell you why a tripod should be in every photographers equipment.

1. Unless you're a watchmaker, you're shaking like hell
Believe it or not, your hands are always shaking a bit, even if you're not noticing it. A tripod helps you to hold your camera still. This will allow you to take steady shots, especially with zoom lenses. Even a good shake reduction system can only compensate a certain amount of the shaking you create.

2. You want to capture exact the same frame again and again
Lets say you want to capture the same scene over and over again (every tried to capture a lightning?), there's definitely no way to get exactly the same frame when holding your camera with your hands.

3. Ever tried a long time exposure?
When taking long exposure pictures you have to hold your camera still for many seconds or even minutes. Of yourse you could lay your beloved camera on a bench, a rock or something, but only a tripod gives you the freedom of selecting the right framing for your long exposure shot.

4. It's a bit bulky, but worth it
A tripod might seem a bit bulky, but most of them are no heavyweight champions and have an integrated handle so that its really easy to carry around. It is really not such a big deal to take a tripod with you!

5. There's one that fits your needs
Tripods made of wood are heavy but stand still like a British Beefeater. Tripods made of carbon are light as a feather but vulnerable to shaking caused by external factors. Tripods made of metal or aluminum are a good compromise of a light weight and a steady stand. Find out which one is right for your needs!

6. Respect and honor
You'll be respected by the public if you put a tripod in front of you, honestly. They'll likely think that you are a professional. They'll even try not to stand in your way.

7. You can be creative by using a tripod as an arm extender
Fold the tripod legs together and get a remote control. Now you can hold this construction up, pressing the trigger with your remote control, experiencing angles you wouldn't have thought of before.

8. It lasts forever
These things won't break until you frequently smash them on a solid rock. I own my tripod for about six or seven years, it looks still as new.

9. You can buy a head fitting your needs
A tripod consits of mainly two parts: The head and the 'rest' (legs and stuff). You can buy very flexible heads like ballheads, panoramic heads and many more! There's a head for everyone.

10. It's a nice decoration with a camera mounted on it
It really is. Put you cam on top, select a nice place where it can be seen and enjoy your equipment even if you are not out in the field!

11. There are lots of shapes and applications
Heard about the Gorillapod? It's a tripod with flexible legs which you can place virtually everywhere. Also there are tripods with vacuum cups which you could put on the window of your car/plane/train/whatever! It's fun to have some totally different tripods around!

I hope this post could help you to find the right tripod for you! Below, I have preselected some models that are really good for starters! Also included is the newcomer 'Gorillapod' and a tiny tripod which does great work and fits in your pocket!