Tripod stability

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Just the other day a friend asked about the stability of tripods, so I thought I would try a “quick and easy” test…

https://youtube.com/shorts/Y4TcA8CPOBg?si=oGyJnykPHvQVcCr3

The 4-6 thousandth of an inch movement is down to the weight transfer of me moving my iPhone to make the video.

If I was to do all the maths, this rotational movement would be a significant shift in any image using a very long focal length lens at full distance.

This takes me back to the days of when I visited optics manufacturing companies (Germany ) and they told me of the lengths they had to go to, so that ground vibrations were minimised.

[Ian]

Do you mean that movement was through the floor from you shifting your weight?

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Yes! I was just moving the iPhone from side to side, being careful not to move my body and transferring weight from one foot to the other

[Pannas]

On the subject of tripod stability has anyone any views/tips on using a tripod with spike less legs for landscape photography. I have never experienced much of a problem and have tried a weighted bag from the central hook at times. I am reluctant to upgrade to a tripod that will only be used occasionally. I prefer hand held photography most of the time.

[Phill D]

No real experience except that my tripod has spikes I can fit but I never have! Like you I prefer to hand hold most of the time.

[Tram]

Definitely better using spikes than a dangling bag that can act like a pendulum.
One method I have used on soft surface is a screw in tent peg and guy rope attached to the hook.
Can't beat a decent tripod and geared head for landscape and low light photography photography

[Pannas]

The tent peg and guy rope option is an interesting alternative.

[blackfox]

Not used one or a monopod since becoming an Olympian . Still got a manfrotto 055 though the metal heavy one and a fluid head goes with an unused 80mm spotting scope ..boyz toyz

[Phill D]

Interesting test Graham, can't quite work out how you were doing the test though. When I was looking for a new tripod a few years ago I seem to remember there was a review website that had stability figures on it. Wonder how they did their tests? I bet there isn't a sensible standard method out there.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

I was trying to demonstrate that no matter how careful you are, tripods will move around, unless they are standing on a very solid surface.

A bit obvious really, but I first noticed this when I had a right angle view finder on an OM camera with a 600mm mirror lens. The tripod was on a wooden floor and as I leaned forward to look through the view finder I noticed that the field of view was moving. That was years ago and later when flip up screens on digital cameras came out, I noticed it again, but was slightly surprised because this time I was on “solid ground”.

While we all know that the wind will move the camera on a tripod, I was surprised by how much movement there was from what I considered a stable platform.

As we use longer range lenses these very small movements are amplified and extra consideration has to be given to what is happening.

Again, all quite obvious, but easily overlooked

[blu-by-u]

I find the best tripod is useless with a bad ball head.

[Phill D]

I bought a fairly expensive new carbon fibre tripod last year and whilst it is much better than my little travel one it's not as solid as a rock as I'd have liked.

[Tram]

Worst mistake in that test is the use of the extended centre column, guaranteed to cause maximum instability.

[pdk42]

This website is about the best there is for independent testing:

https://thecentercolumn.com

Of course, no matter how good the tripod, if the ground underneath it isn’t stable then you won’t get a truly stable platform.

On the strength of write ups on The Center Column, I bought a Leofoto tripod last year and I’m very pleased with it.