What is the best tripod for landscape photography on the market right now? There are literally hundreds of items to pick from when looking for the perfect landscape tripod – the difficult part is filtering down all of the alternatives to discover one that’s appropriate for you!
This guide will assist you in sorting through the numerous tripods on the market to select the one that best meets your requirements. Of all, as with many elements of photography, providing a black-and-white best tripod to buy is difficult. It depends on your objectives, your equipment, and whether aspects like price and portability are more important than height and durability.
I would, however, advise you against purchasing a low-cost, do-it-all device like the kind you may get for $25-$50 USD at a local department store or internet retailer. These tripods may appear to be nice, and some may have a big list of features, but they are frequently built of cheap materials that will not hold your camera stable and will break shortly. So, if you’re looking for the genuinely best tripod for landscape photography, check through our list; you’re bound to find a far better alternative that meets your requirements.
9 Best Tripods for Landscape Photography
1. The Peak Design Travel Tripod (Best overall)
The Peak Design Travel Tripod is a highly adaptable and lightweight tripod that has made a significant impact in the photography community since its release in 2019. While it is pricey and has some design limitations, it is still considered the best overall tripod for landscape photography. It offers stability, flexibility, and is nearly as tall as any other tripod when fully extended.
Specs:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $379.95 |
| Weight | 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs) |
| Load Capacity | 9.1 kg (20 lbs) |
| Folded Length | 39.1 cm (15.4 in) |
| Maximum Height | 152.4 cm (60 in) |
| Minimum Height | 13.2 cm (5.2 in) |
Pros:
- Lightweight and highly portable
- Offers stability and flexibility
- Nearly as tall as other tripods when fully extended
- Built-in ball head
- Highly adaptable
Cons:
- Expensive
- Design limitations
- May not hold up with heavier cameras and gear
Why should you buy this?
If you are a landscape photographer who values both quality and portability, the Peak Design Travel Tripod is an excellent choice for you. Its lightweight and highly portable design make it easy to carry on your travels, while still offering stability and flexibility when capturing your shots.
Conclusion:
The Peak Design Travel Tripod is a highly adaptable and lightweight tripod that has made a significant impact on the photography community. While it is not without its flaws, it is still considered the best overall tripod for landscape photography. Its small size and lightweight design make it an excellent choice for photographers who value both quality and portability.
2. MeFOTO BackPacker S Aluminum Travel Tripod (Best budget)
If you’re a landscape photographer on a tight budget, the MeFOTO BackPacker S Travel Tripod is an excellent choice. It’s not as small or adaptable as some of the other products on this list, but it provides incredible versatility – especially for the price.
To save space, the legs fold up around the ball head and may be locked into numerous places during setup. Although the lack of a real center column reduces the overall height of this tripod, it still meets the needs of many landscape photographers.
Each leg has a set of twist-lock mechanisms to stretch and secure the sections. Personally, I prefer the clip-lock or twist-lock methods available on other tripods over this kind, however, the major purpose of this tripod is to suit a more budget-conscious population.
The option to convert it to a real monopod by removing a leg and attaching it to the central column is a great feature, albeit it’s not particularly useful for landscape photographers. It does attest to the general versatility of this tripod, and for photographers looking for a low-cost solution for landscapes and other scenarios, the MeFOTO BackPacker S is a good option.
3. Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 with Manfrotto 496 Center Ball Head (Best semi-professional)
When it comes to camera equipment, there’s a bit of a catch-22: the more you spend, the less you receive. Whereas many less-priced tripods include everything you need to get started shooting, higher-end tripods frequently come in two pieces: legs and heads. The Manfrotto MT190XPRO3 tripod legs are excellent, but they also need ahead, which I recommend the 496 Center Ball Head.
The Manfrotto legs are not compact and light, so they may not be the first choice for travelers, but they are solid, sturdy, and tall enough to provide you with distinctive landscape photographs that shorter tripods cannot provide. The clip-lock leg extensions allow the legs to be locked into a variety of configurations, and modifications are quick and simple. My favorite feature is the center column adjustment, which allows you to stretch and then reposition the column horizontally to capture photographs in novel ways.
The Manfrotto 496 Center Ball Head refines the design that has been used for years, and while it does not provide anything particularly novel, it does provide stability and outstanding ease of use. Large, chunky knobs allow you to effortlessly reposition the ball head before locking it firmly in place, and it’s meant to handle up to 20 pounds of gear.
Bottom line: This setup is ideal for landscape photographers who use professional-grade cameras and lenses and don’t want to risk damaging their equipment by using a flimsy support system.
4. Gitzo GT2545T Series 2 Traveler (Best professional tripod)
Gitzo has a reputation in the photographic community for producing sturdy, dependable gear for the most demanding settings, and this tripod is no exception. While it isn’t as small and compact as the Peak Design Travel Tripod, it folds down small enough to fit in most backpacks or baggage, and the carbon fiber construction makes it lightweight for hiking out to your favorite landscape photography locations.
This tripod is typically sold with a ball head, but you can purchase just the legs and choose your own head to suit your needs. However, the frequently included ball head is excellent for landscape photographers and one that I highly suggest. Its large knobs are simple to loosen and tighten, and the head may be adjusted to practically any position. Unlike some less costly ball heads, this one is coated with a unique substance that reduces sticking – ideal for photographers who shoot in bad weather.
5. JOBY TelePod Pro (Best small tripod)
$59.99
Save: 33.96
This tripod folds down smaller than a water bottle and is designed for tiny setups such as a consumer-grade DSLR or mirrorless camera combined with a lightweight lens. It has rubberized feet and quite an unusual design element: an extensible middle column rather than extendable legs. This comes at the expense of steadiness, but it helps to maintain excellent compactness and portability.
Of course, with the JOBY TelePod Pro, it’s critical to keep your expectations in check. It’s almost like a selfie stick with three feet, which turns off a lot of long-time landscape photographers. However, for those who are new to this style of photography or do not have large cameras and lenses, the TelePod Pro is nearly perfect.
6. Feisol Elite Tripod CT-3472LV M2 (Best heavy-duty tripod)
It’s an excellent choice for individuals who prioritize build quality and longevity over all else, thanks in part to strong legs capable of supporting more than 60 pounds, which outperforms almost anything else in its class. The carbon-fiber construction results in a premium price but a lightweight, which is ideal if you’ll be carrying it on your back or over your shoulder for extended distances.
While it is not as adaptable as some of the other options on this list, the Feisol Elite Tripod has one significant advantage: its size. It’s not a small, compact device like the Joby TelePod Pro. When folded, the Feisol Elite Tripod is around two feet long, and it reaches a towering height of about six feet to let you obtain the shots that other landscape photographers can only dream about.
7. Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-3W (Best full-size tripod)
You won’t get a carbon fiber build and good luck fitting this beast into a backpack – but it’s rock sturdy, has easy-to-use flip locks to extend the legs, and reaches a height of more than 72 inches. It can handle any circumstance you can throw at it as long as you can transport it to your destination.
While you may upgrade the ball head on this tripod, the included 3-way pan/tilt head is ideal for landscape photography. It takes a more deliberate, deliberate approach than other ball heads, and the large adjustment levers connect you to the tripod in a way that I really like. The center column, like those of other high-end Manfrotto tripods, may be adjusted horizontally for even more versatility.
8. Vanguard Alta Pro 263AP (Most flexible tripod)
What I appreciate best about this tripod for landscape photography are the small details that make your shooting experience a little more enjoyable. Metal points on the feet provide optimal stability (especially out in nature). The middle column may be relocated while also being adjusted in height, giving you near-unprecedented versatility.
While some photographers prefer a more traditional ball head, I like the large, easy-to-use knobs that allow you to adjust the pan, tilt, and rotation separately. I would recommend this tripod to virtually any photographer because it is well-suited to almost any picture setting.
9. Joby GorillaPod with smartphone mount (Best mobile phone tripod)
$41.95
Save: 58
While I wouldn’t recommend a GorillaPod for DSLR or mirrorless camera shooters, it’s excellent for mobile phone shooters. With a phone attached, the tripod will stay firmly in place, and the ball head is fantastic for adjusting your phone to obtain the perfect photo. It’s compact, light, and incredibly portable, plus it’s quite affordable.
There’s practically no reason not to acquire this tripod if you capture landscapes with your phone. Despite certain limitations, it’s a fantastic solution and welcome addition to your toolkit.
Best Tripods for Landscape Photography FAQ
Which tripod brand is the best for landscape photography?
Try not to think about it objectively or in black-and-white terms. Every tripod brand has advantages and disadvantages, as well as numerous tradeoffs. Instead of focusing on which brand is the best, consider your needs and then select a tripod that suits your budget.
Is it necessary to spend more money on a weather-resistant tripod?
Some tripods advertise waterproof knobs and dials, but I’m not too concerned about this kind of thing. Unless you have a specific use case in mind, I wouldn’t recommend paying more for these functionalities. Aside from using your tripod in torrential rain every day, any model should be OK.
Is there a certain camera I need for landscape photography?
For landscape photography, any camera will suffice, from cell phones to point-and-shoot cameras to high-end mirrorless and DSLR models. Landscape photographers often favor wider lenses to capture more of the environment, although telephoto lenses can still provide excellent landscape images. In landscape photography, your camera is almost probably not the limiting element; regardless of the equipment you use, a tripod will almost certainly help.
What kind of tripod head should I use?
Some people like ball heads, while others like pan-and-tilt heads. There is no single answer to this, however, I personally like ball heads due to their size and convenience. Using a tripod head built for filming when shooting still images is something I do not suggest. They usually do not allow as much free-form movement and positioning as a head designed for still images.
