ABSTRACT
Legs are either tubes or U-shaped construction, and they can be two-part or three-part or have up to six sections that extend from a closed position. I prefer solid tubes, but less important than tubes versus U-shaped legs is the number of sections. I recommend a three-section leg design, because more sections make for less stiffness. The whole point to a tripod is stability, and you can lose that with a five-section leg. Joints should be tight and slightly stiff. If you hold the leg and twist, there should be no play or movement. That goes for all components of the tripod. If you go to a store and set up a tripod on a solid surface, you should be able to flick it without having it vibrate freely or rattle. It will always move a little, but you’re checking for movement between the legs, base, center post, and head; resistance to vibration comes with the application of weight from the camera and perhaps a hanging weight that you add when you’re on location (a full water bottle on a string serves nicely).
