How to choose the right tripod for your camcorder

A tripod is one accessory that every camcorder owner should own. Whether you have a giant professional video camera such as the Canon XH A1 or a pocket-sized camcorder like the Flip, a tripod will more than likely come in handy more than once in your video travels.

What am I going to use a tripod for? When you hold your video camera in your hands, the camera naturally moves up and down with your breathing. When you're recording long events such as a school play, graduation, or concert, your hands are also inevitably going to get tired during the event, intensifying that movement. While those movements may be small, they are going to look huge when you're sitting on your couch watching the video later on. A tripod can not only keep your video steady but can also allow you set up a shot early on and sit back and enjoy the show while still capturing it on video.

A tripod is a tripod, right? Not all tripods are created equal. If you head down to your local electronics or camera shop, you'll probably notice there are quite a few different options out there. What tripod is right for you will depend on the camcorder you have and what you plan on recording with it.

Handle the heavy lifting. One of the first things you need to look at is whether or not a tripod can handle the weight of your camcorder. Sure, your Flip is going to work on any tripod out there; however, larger camcorders are going to need something pretty sturdy. If possible, bring your camcorder with you to the store and try it out on a few of the floor models. There's no substitute for seeing how something will feel with your camcorder on it.

Pack light. Once you've determined that the tripod can handle your camcorder, decide if you can handle the tripod. Sure, a heavy tripod will be able to hold your camcorder up, but if you won't carry it anywhere because it's so heavy, then it's going to do you no good. Think about the size of your camcorder bag and whether or not you see yourself carrying the tripod with you along with everything you're already toting around with your camcorder. A tripod will do you no good in a closet at home. Pick something you're willing to carry.

Look for smooth moves. There are two types of tripod heads (the top of the tripod) on the market: ball heads and pan heads. A ball head, has a small metal ball at the top and can be freely moved to point any direction you might want it to go; tighten the vise on the side once you find the perfect shot. While ball heads can move anywhere you want them to, they are meant to stay in one location at a time, so you can't really pan your camcorder around while you're recording.

Pan heads, on the other hand, are designed to do just that.  Once connected, your camcorder can be moved from side to side or up and down freely, following the action. Ball head tripods are typically used for still cameras, while pan heads are used for video cameras. While you can use your camcorder on either, if you suspect you'll want to move it while recording a video, you'll want to purchase a pan head model.

Get attached. How does your camcorder attach to the the tripod? In general, most tripods will have a small plate that screws into the bottom of your camcorder and then slides in a connector on the top of the tripod. Some of these connectors require that you use a key or other tool to screw them in and out of the bottom of your camcorder, while others can simply be turned using your hands. In general, you probably want to go to the latter, simply for ease of use.

Also pay attention to how that plate will go into the top of the tripod, once connected to your camcorder. While most tripods connect to plates by simply sliding the plate in and out, others have more complicated locking mechanisms that can be tricky to get used to. Figure out how your tripod works before you leave the store. A tripod, no matter how fancy, is completely useless if you can't get your camcorder attached to it.

Not sure where to start looking for a tripod? This tripod from Manfrotto is lightweight, has a head designed for video, and comes with a bag for easy carrying. If you have a small camcorder, a Gorillapod tripod is easy to carry and can allow you to use a post or even a tree as a tripod stand to hold up your camcorder.

Already use a tripod when recording video? Tell us about some of your favorite tripod models in the comments!

[Image credit: Colin Brough]

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