The 10 Best Camera Tripods under 50, 100, and 200 Dollars

The best camera tripods come in a variety of styles and price ranges. Whether it's the best budget tripod, the best travel tripod, or the best full-sized tripod, you've come to the right place to get your answer. This is an extensive resource for learning everything you need to know about camera tripods.

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This camera tripod guide will help you find the best camera tripods, with just the right features you want, at the price level you can afford. You'll learn about all the best tripod features, their components, and all about specialty tripods. Use it as your camera tripod buying guide.

I've  made this article into the definitive guide to camera tripods. Use one of these links to jump to the topic you're most interested in first. Please feel free to leave a comment or question below.

Your search for the best camera tripods can begin and end right here. While there are more choices than ever, these camera tripods are the best in terms of customer reviews. I've done the legwork for you to help you find the best. For the quick answers to the 3 best camera tripods within your budget you can jump straight to the results of the research I did: Tripod Prices.

Do you Really Need a Good Tripod?

The quick answer is yes! Although it's true that you can take a lot of quality photographs without using a tripod, there's also no doubt you can take better photos and do more types of photography with a decent tripod. 

Digital cameras do have high ISO setting that will get you faster shutter speeds. That helps reduce camera motion blur and gives you sharper photos, sometimes without using a tripod. There's also a hidden benefit to using a tripod that nobody thinks about too.

The number one reason you want to use a tripod is to get sharper photos, no doubt; but there are so many more good reasons. Here are just a few of the added benefits of using a camera tripod.

additional benefits of using a tripod

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The best benefit you get of using a tripod

specialty tripods

You can narrow down your list of the best camera tripods if you have an interest specialized genre of photography or will use your tripod in a specific way. If you shoot a lot of architecture photography the best tripod for you is completely different than the one you'd want to get if you do a lot of macro photography.

Here's the breakdown of what the best camera tripod should do in specific kinds of photography. Of course they all must hold your camera and lens steady.

Travel tripods must fold compact down small enough size to fit into your suitcase or camera bag. The best tripod for travel still must be steady enough to support your camera rig.

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For shooting video, your video head should have 360 degrees of continuous pan, and at least 75 degrees of forward and backward tilt, along with some form of fluid-dampening. There's nothing worse than watching shaky video.

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If you photography babies or toddlers a lot, your tripod should also be able to get down low. That means the center column should be short or removable, and your tripod legs should be able to be set at a wide angle.

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What's the best brand of Tripod?

If Gitzo were a boat it would be a luxury yacht, built with the absolute top materials and providing you with the ultimate experience in piloting one.

ReallyRiteStuff is the high-end private label. I've never splurged on RRS personally, but in listening to the talk from other pro photographers, their reputation for design and quality is unmatched.

The list of quality brand tripod. Other brands that make quality tripods include Benbo, Benro, Induro, Vanguard, and Manfrotto (part of Gitzo).

There really is not just one best brand of camera tripod. Massive competition for your photography dollar has caused camera tripod makers and distributors to concentrate on giving you several good value options. It's a great time to be searching for the best deal on a tripod, for sure.

How to get the most stability from your tripod

Whatever tripod you use, this video will help you understand a few simple steps you can take to make sure you get sharp photos.

Best Place To Buy Your Tripod

It's a popular search on Google. Everybody wants to get a good deal on their tripod. You and I are no different. Sorry, I can't just recommend one best place to buy your tripod.

There are plenty of good places to get a good price, speedy delivery service, and free shipping.

I included links to Amazon in the sections on the best camera tripods at the various price levels. That doesn't mean you need to buy your tripod from Amazon. Amazon is just the king when it come to camera tripod reviews (and other products too).

tripod components

When you first think of a tripod an image comes into your mind of a simple accessory with three legs that hold up your camera. Simple, right? Well, not exactly. You have the tripod legs, the head, the leg releases, the feet, the center columns, as well as a few more and the material each of these parts is made up of.

Tripod legs

Along with the head you choose for your tripod, the tripod legs are the most important component to pay attention to. After all, just like the home you live in, it's the foundation that matters most. It supports your entire house and the experience you have living in it.

Your tripod is the same way. The supporting legs, that the entire tripod system depends on, are just as important. Carbon fiber leg prices used to be prohibitive. Now they've come down in cost to the point where it's not a big splurge to upgrade to them.

Better made tripods have circular shaped legs as opposed to rectangular shaped legs. Tripods that have all their legs fully extend will have less stability. If you have your tripod legs only partially extended with sections overlapping you get a more stable situation.

tripod heads

That type of head is great for studio set-ups and still life photography. You'll see, mine is as old as dirt, but the 3 levers work the same way as the more modern pan/tilt/swivel tripod heads. The second tripod head is  a vertical pistol grip head. It's great for shooting portraits because of how quickly you can adjust your camera position and not miss a great expression on your subject.

The third type of tripod head is the traditional ball head. These are now by far the most popular because of their versatility, small size, and affordability. Here's the video if you want to see it in a new window. Whatever tripod head you pick, make sure it's strong enough to handle your camera and desired lens.

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Tripod Leg Locks/Leg Clasps

1. Flip-locks or lever-latches are now the most popular way to lock tripod legs. They're quicker to use and a quick glance at them makes it easy to see if they're in the locked or opened position.

2. Screw. I'm likely in the minority for still using a tripod with the screw type of leglock. 

3. Quick Release.  A few high-end models of camera tripods have a single button that releases all three legs at once. Here's a short video on the two main types of tripod leg locks. It will open in a new window.

Tripod leg braces

Leg braces theoretically will add stability by connecting the three legs with the center column. The only tripods I've ever used that had leg braces on them were very cheap and at least one of the braces broke very easily on every one I owned. That could be due to the fact they were beginners tripods and made of cheap material.

A good, solidly built tripod shouldn't need to use braces to improve a tripod's performance. Leg braces add to the overall weight of your tripod and also add another moving part with the potential to break.

tripod features

Tripods have been literally been around for centuries. With that history of tripods has evolved a multitude of valuable features that make them serve to exactly as you want. Once you get past the basic parts of your camera tripod, you have a few optional features to consider. 

Quick Release attachment

Quick releases on tripods have taken over. It seems like like only the cheapest or smallest tripods now come with a traditional mounting screw to attach your camera to your tripod.

Everyone is in a hurry and looking for time savers and the quick release has practically become a standard feature on tripods. Pay attention to see if the quick release system on your tripod is a universal mount like arca swiss or if it has a unique design that will only work as part of its own system.

Bubble Level

Having a bubble level on your tripod adds no significant weight or cost. It's quite handy for you to get your horizon straight for landscapes and also for shooting video.

If your tripod doesn't come with a bubble level, you can always add one as an accessory later. They're real affordable and come with a self-sticky adhesive pad.

center column hook

You can use the hook on the bottom of the center column hook to hang things on. You could use it to keep your equipment up high and dry off the ground.

It will also increase the stability of your tripod provided it's not swinging or being pushed by a stiff breeze. Some hooks are permanently mounted and others are screw-in hooks.

Specialized Columns

Specialized center columns are great when you want to do more than the traditional type of eye-level photography. If you're in the mood for getting a little more creative with your photography, then pay attention to some of the options for tripod center columns.

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Folding Legs

Tripods that have folding legs give you more compact storage and carrying convenience. There doesn't seem to be a compromise in stability when this feature is designed into tripods. It does add a bit to the cost, but is well worth it if you would like to be able to save space.

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best tripod accessories

There are a few camera tripod accessories to consider. You won't need any of these in most situations, but they're good to know about in case you encounter a special situation where one of them will come in quite handy.

A tripod case will help you carry your tripod a lot easier than with just your hand and gives you added protection against damage. It will keep your tripod clean and dry.

An oversized tripod case is good if you'd like to be able to carry extra equipment in addition to your tripod. I use mine for carrying portable light stands.

best tripod prices

You want the best "bang for your buck." So do I, but we all know that the tripod with the lowest price tag isn't always the least expensive. If you buy a cheap tripod and it breaks after you use it 3 times, you've got to shell out more money for another one.

Here are the 3 price categories for tripods. Each link will take you to that category for the winning tripods.

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If you've set a limit on what you're going to invest you'll be able to compare the best camera tripods at different price levels. Depending on your level of versatility and usage, you can get a good quality tripod for under $50.

If you have a fair amount of extra money budgeted for your ideal camera tripod, the tripods under $200 can handle your every possible need and can last you for a lifetime of photography. Here are comparison tables of the best tripods, separated by the 3 price levels.

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tripods under $50

Most regular sized tripods under $50 are composed of aluminum legs and plastic parts. That doesn't mean you should automatically eliminate them from your list of best camera tripods to consider. You just need to be a bit cautious when buying a budget tripod.

You should just have a realistic expectation on build quality and design. If you're in market for a tripod under $50, you can still get some equipment that's highly rated by consumers.

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TRIPODS UNDER $100

Tripods priced up to $100 gives you a big upgrade in terms of materials used to manufacture them over the $50 price limit. The majority of photographers can find a good match in this price category.

Pay attention to the warranty. You may get a better guarantee in terms of durability. The top 3 best camera tripods under 100 dollars are:

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TRIPODS UNDER $200

The best camera tripods under 200 bring along the finest materials, design, performance, and durability. I've never purchased a tripod for over $200 myself and 95% of all photographers never need to.

They options at this price level thin out, but you literally still have dozens of contenders that are well made. The top 3 best camera tripods under 200 dollars are:

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Where I buy my Cameras and Accessories

I buy the majority of my camera equipment from Amazon. I enroll in Amazon Prime yearly, so it makes even more sense for my situation. For specialty items, I buy from Adorama or B+H Photo/Video.

When I want to upgrade and sell my used equipment I sell it on ebay. If you don't have a strict preference or loyalty to a certain retailer, please consider using one of the links on my Resources page.

It costs you nothing extra. You still get the same price and delivery benefits and I receive a little financial "thank you" that helps me keep this site going.

Please share this camera tripod buying guide if you found it helpful.

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