Weight
The weight of a tripod affects your digital photography experience in two ways. First, it’s another piece of equipment you must carry. As you develop your photographer’s eye and improve your skills, you’ll want to use your tripod in the woods or during a vacation. Don’t overlook lighter alternatives; but they must still be judged, according to the other tips in this article.
The second weight consideration is matching the tripod with the weight of the camera, lens and equipment you expect it to hold. If you’re shooting digital pictures with a compact camera, then a light tripod will be enough; however, if your rig includes a DSLR, a large telephoto lens and a flash unit, then you need a robust tripod.
Stability
A large or heavy tripod is not necessarily a stable tripod. When you shop for a tripod, take the camera, lens and flash unit with you that you plan to use on it. Attach your total rig to a selection of tripods, and then fully extend the legs to test their stability. With the tripod securely positioned, carefully bump against it to determine how much force is necessary to cause it to fall.
Leg Locks
A tripod’s leg locks are some of the most important parts to test with the full weight of your equipment attached. With the legs locked in place, exert a bit of downward pressure on the tripod to test the locks’ capability to hold. You’ll also want to choose a tripod with leg locks that you find easy to use and adjust.