Must Have Tripod Accessories


Right Image: Minolta Maxxum 9, 200mm f-2.8 APO lens, Fuji Velvia 50, Bogen Tripod with home made L-bracket mounted on Bogen super clamp and ball head. Spot metering on aperture priority and opening up 1- 1/2 stop, approx. 1/60 sec at f-4. Manual focus.

Tripods are the most important accessory and no photographer should be without one. Having a good solid tripod is more important than having a sophisticated camera. I don't care what type of camera or lenses you own. Without a tripod it is very difficult to take sharp pictures or even compose. I've seen many photographers handholding expensive cameras and lenses. They maybe able to take some sharp photos, but I bet their pictures would be much sharper and better composed with a tripod. I have even seen some photographers handholding 300mm f-2.8 lenses and zooms covering 400mm and 500mm. It is simply impossible for me to handhold these lenses. I don't even trust myself to handhold my 24-50mm zoom. I once saw a guy with a Nikon F-100 and a Sigma 135-400mm zoom photographing ducks at a very close range. He was holding $2000 worth of equipment and didn't bother to spend $80 dollars on a solid tripod to see the quality his camera and lens could produce. I know this guy didn't even get one sharp picture that day. How do I know? Examine slides on a light box with an 8X loupe or make an average size print and you'll see the sturdiest hands can not produce sharp photographs with long lenses even with an expensive camera. Even with short lenses taking sharp pictures is difficult. My advice is to use your tripod at all times and handhold only if a tripod can not be set up.
Tripods do more than you think. We prefer to buy accessories for our cameras and lenses. We love filters, teleconverters, extension tubes, and other toys that we rarely use. There are dozens of tripod accessories that will help you take better pictures and do more with your tripod. My tripod can turn into a Swiss Army Knife to do so many other cool stuff. First of all, buy a tripod with legs that can be spread open for close to ground photography. For outdoor photography whether landscape, close-up, wildlife or even architectural, a tripod that can go very low to the ground is best. Many subjects can be photographed at their eye level this way for better composition. Birds, smaller mammals, and even small children. You could invert the center post and mount your tripod upside down, but this will make operation very difficult. I tried this method once. I realized I must learn gymnastics first so I could stand on one hand and operate the camera and change lenses with my other hand. At times you need to work even lower that your tripod permits. A Bogen Super Clamp can help you take some unusual photos if you don't mind getting your shirt dirty.



Bogen Super Clamp

It attaches to one of the tripod legs, anywhere you want. With a Ball head attached to it, you have a solid support to photograph flowers or small birds. If you own two cameras and like to use separate lenses on each to photograph wildlife for example, you could use one tripod to support both cameras at the same time. Attach an accessory arm to the Bogen Super clamp and you are all set. If you plan on photographing birds by the lake for instance, you can use two cameras with two different focal length lenses. One camera is mounted on the tripod and the second on the Super  Clamp. You'll be ready for any opportunity and won't have to keep changing lenses. This is much easier than carrying two tripods. You can also purchase a Double Head Support if you frequently use several cameras at once. It mounts on the center post of any Bogen/Manfrotto tripod and holds two or more cameras.

Double Head Support

Another must have accessory is the L-Bracket or Elbow Bracket. This accessory includes Quick Release Plates and lets you quickly change from a horizontal to a vertical shooting position without having to reposition the tripod. L-Brackets are very useful with lenses that lack tripod collars such as wide-angle and short telephotos. Just mount your camera on one of these brackets and mount the bracket on your tripod. When you need to shoot vertical, simply release the bracket and change to vertical position. The best part is that the lens axis will be in the same position as before so you won't have to move your tripod back into position as you would if you had to move the camera to vertical position without an L-Bracket. There are several models available with prices ranging from $50 to over $100. I made my own L-Bracket. I attached two Bogen Quick release Plate to my Flash Bracket and it now does double duty. I can still attach my flash to the bracket and still have an L-Bracket. This way I don't have to switch between the two brackets.

Bogen - Manfrotto Double Head Support Mounts on any column 3/8" thread, this side arm allows positioning of two heads on a 90° perpendicular angle and two heads on the side arm allowing the possible mounting of four heads. For models: Mini Static, Mini Salon 190, Salon 230, Salon 280, Super Salon 230.Also available in black.

L-Bracket or Elbow Bracket If you own several cameras and lenses with tripod collars, then seriously consider Quick Release Plate systems. Plates are attached to each camera or lens so you can quickly remove one camera and mount another. Have one Plate mounted on each of your cameras and lenses if they include tripod collars.

Bogen - Manfrotto Elbow Bracket The "Elbow Bracket" enables you to rapidly change from a horizontal to a vertical shooting position, without having to reposition the tripod. It incorporates an adjustable stop which prevents accidental camera rotation. Great for medium sized telephoto lenses. Compatible with most heads using hexagonal quick-release plates. Also available with 3/8 screw

Quick Release Plate

Leg warmers are another great accessory for your tripod. They are wrapped around the tripod legs and  have three advantages. They keep the legs warm in cold. Leg warmers also protect the legs and make carrying the tripod easier. You can either purchase a set or make your own.
There are dozens of other great accessories you can purchase for your tripod to improve your photography. Look into what manufacturers offer and see if you find additional useful accessories. If you do, let me know. I believe tripod accessories are the most useful photographic tools. Better than special effect filters or 3X teleconverters.