A video tripod is an essential piece of equipment for every filmmaker. In the article dedicated to camera handling, we mentioned that besides movements, stability is crucial for filming long events, panoramas or observations. Let's take a look at the differences between a tripod for filming and one used in photography.

Video Tripod versus Photo Tripod

If you're a photographer and you use a tripod, you may think that you can use a tool that you've already used when starting to film. For basic shots - yes, but for achieving smooth movements during filming panoramas and installing a heavy camera, a separate tripod is needed. The video tripod differs from the photographic one with other settings, a head, but also with load capacity and a different structure.

Legs

The video tripod is often equipped with double tubes on each leg. This gives it better stabilization and load capacity for the camera. In a photographic tripod, the legs are most often locked with a twist mount, while those for filming – with a latch. Manufacturers sometimes offer two different endings of the legs: a flat stopper that can be removed to access a spike for uneven ground.

Video tripods are often equipped with double spreaders, at a height and at ground level.

We gain additional stabilization but at the expense of the risk of damaging the lower spreader or getting it dirty in difficult terrain.

Leveling Half-Ball

The photographic tripod at the top, where the legs converge, is finished with a flat base. This solution also occurs in video tripods, but the other solution used only in them is the leveling half-ball. It allows for quick leveling of the photographic equipment with video function or camera. The half-ball cannot be used if there is a base, but in the opposite situation, there are adapters available.

The leveling half-ball streamlines and speeds up work, especially when leveling equipment in uneven terrain, without the need for tedious adjustment of the height of individual legs. It is a very useful solution when dynamically changing locations.

Video Head

This element is the main difference between photographic and video tripods. It enables smooth lens movements in two planes. This requires the skill of the operator, but additional special handles that allow for lens control make it easier.

The heads differ in their load capacity and balance, which is vertical resistance balancing the recording equipment's mass.

Oil heads offer the option to change resistance during panoramic movement, resulting in slow movement fluency and avoiding unwanted jerks. Like in photographic tripods, the heads are equipped with a quick connector, a kind of plate enabling smooth mounting of equipment.

Let's also take a closer look at the mentioned element, which is:

Handles

Handles in the form of special long handles facilitate work for the operator and dampen any inaccuracies in their movements. When purchasing a tripod, it's worth paying attention to whether it is possible to change the handle length or replace it.

After analyzing the main solutions and technical differences, let's look at other video tripod parameters.

Load Capacity

Heavier cameras have a specifically shifted center of gravity. Therefore, a photographic tripod would not hold the weight of the attached equipment, and the entire structure could be unstable and prone to movement or even tipping over.

Video tripod stability is an additional advantage when working outdoors, where atmospheric conditions, especially wind, can affect vibrations and, therefore, blur the image. The video tripod eliminates the risk of such disturbances.

On the market, there are tripods that withstand up to 20 kg of weight, making it easier to work with different equipment without the need to select tripods for different uses.

As seen in the above article, it's worth carefully selecting every accessory for the intended purpose. The similarity of tripods can be misleading, and using the wrong one can significantly impede work or even damage equipment.

Our Strada CRM system helps manage, among other things, available equipment. The ability to monitor work, even remotely, translates into control of occupancy and tool utilization. This results in savings due to optimal resource utilization, but also limits their use. It's also possible to create a database of accessory suppliers or rentals, which allows for further cost optimization and saves on equipment purchases that would not be intensively used. Sharing equipment and accessories to other entities is also an option that can easily be optimized with Strada.