The key to the best video tripod is movement, and that's the main thing that sets them apart from photography tripods. A good photographic tripod is all about keeping a camera rock-still – for video, you want it to have a fluid head that lets you pan and tilt a camera smoothly, giving your shots a dynamic, fluid, cinematic quality. Whether you're a vlogger or a filmmaker, a good video tripod is one of the wisest, most effective investments you can make.
Video tripods also tend to have longer top platers than photographic ones, giving you more flexibility in camera positioning. Another common feature is a counterbalance system that makes it easier to attach accessories like a mic, light, or external recorder, without overbalancing the tripod. Some also have leg-spreaders for extra stability, and spirit levels for perfectly straight horizons. Check out our rundown of 7 ways video tripods are different from regular ones for a more thorough look at the key differences.
We've split this guide up into sections for different types of users. First, we've picked the best lightweight video tripods for vloggers and travel filmmakers who want a minimal footprint. If you're using a small camera, or even a smartphone, start here. Next, we list the best tripods for filmmakers, more advanced models that are designed to take a few accessories, and heavier camera rigs. Lastly, we've picked out some money-no-object tripods for professional cinematographers, which can take mega payloads.
So, wherever you're in your filmmaking journey, here are the best video tripods you can buy right now.
The best video tripod in 2024
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Built to an exceptional standard, this tripod kit is made with professional-grade video in mind. It’s robust enough to take a specialist cine camera or a pro-level full-frame camera, and gives rock-solid support. In our testing, we were delighted with the ease of setup, with single-twist legs making adjustments a breeze.
The head supplied in this kit is a work of art, with beautifully smooth pan and tilt, and adjustable drag to choose the degree of friction you want. This isn’t a cheap kit, but the fluid filming experience it delivers easily justifies the cost.
Read more: Manfrotto 504X 635 Fast Single Leg Carbon review
Best tripods for filmmakers
The SmallRig AD-01 3751 does a convincing impression of a high-end product while being highly affordable. Eschewing any expensive materials, it’s entirely constructed using aluminum alloy and plastic, which makes it best considered for use with mirrorless cameras.
With lots of advanced features for a low price, we think that the SmallRig AD-01 3751 deserves consideration by anyone on a tight budget who’s just starting out in videography and filmmaking and needs a capable entry-level tripod for a mirrorless camera.
Read our full SmallRig Heavy-Duty Fluid Head Tripod review for more details
It is possible to spend a lot of money on a video tripod. The ProMediaGear TR344L certainly won't be for everyone, with a four-figure price tag that rules out casual users and those on a strict budget, however, it really is an excellent video tripod.
With a strong but lightweight carbon fibre build, it's great for run-and-gun filmmaking, with an option to swap out its flat plate for the ProMediaGear 75mm Bowl Head Adapter. It can be manipulated into all sorts of unusual configurations, for those difficult shots, and its rubber feet conceal little spikes for a bit of extra grip.
Read our full ProMediaGear TR344L Pro-Stix review for more details
Make no mistake, the 3 Legged Think Nicky is a professional-level tripod for a discerning audience. Made for photographers and videographers working with heavier kits, it’s strong, straightforward to use, tall, and adaptable.
It’s a base, not a kit, however, so unless you have these things already (many photographers will), you’ll also need to budget for a head and, for video, perhaps a leveling bowl too.
Read our full 3 Legged Thing Nicky review for more details
Once you've gotten over the unusually long name of this British-designed tripod, you're faced with a rather good bit of kit. The three-sections legs are made from carbon fiber which massively helps to keep weight down. These can also be detached for, a monopod or boom arm or alternatively, splayed out so the head is positioned very close to the ground, perfect for wildlife filmmaking.
3 Legged Thing even sells accessories that will convert the head to a hi-hat style tripod just 13.5cm from the floor, which is a great feature to have in a single tripod. It also features an Arca Swiss-style base plate and there are a variety of feet to choose from depending on what surface you're using it on.
See our 3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine video head review
The Libec TH-X tripod kit is a traditional-style video tripod, made by a Japanese company that has lots of experience in making tripods for filmmakers. It has a twin tube leg set-up, which is fast to use and stable, as well as a mid-level spreader to get it set up quickly. It’s not too heavy and takes Manfrotto-fit tripod plates which are very popular.
It has a relatively basic fluid head that’s the limiting factor in both the maximum payloads of just 4kg and its basic design. The pan and tilt movements are good, but the drag is not adjustable and there’s no counterbalance adjustment. The tripod is a 65mm bowl fitment, so putting on a better head in the future is the best option.
Best tripods for cinema
The Sachtler Flowtech 75 MS Carbon Fibre Tripod comes equipped with a mid-level spreader that is very different from the regular single or double carbon fiber tube designs as it has very wide, almost flat legs. Each leg features a single clamping lever that locks and unlocks the sections, so you can set the whole lot up with just three locks, which all sit together at the top of the tripod, making slight adjustments on the fly a breeze.
Each leg extends independently and when detached from the spreader, each leg can pivot without affecting the other legs. It’s designed to be comfortable to shoulder-carry, too. Of course, you need to budget for a suitable head, such as the Sachtler Ace XL or FSB 8 T.
How we test video tripods
We test and review at Digital Camera World by subjecting photo and video equipment to a range of in-house lab tests and in-the-field shooting exercises, designed to give us a thorough sense of how a piece of gear performs. For video tripods, we check stability, ease of setup, smoothness of operation, portability and height range, and use our findings to inform our comments in buying guides like this one.
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