A tripod is one the important accessories of a photographer. A good tripod is a must for many types of photography. In fact, conditions permitting, any photographic situation will benefit from using a tripod. It will minmize or even eliminate the camera shake, allow for a more deliberate composition, control depth of field better, and so on. Of course, there are circumstances when using a tripod is out of the question. Well then, how does one choose a tripod?
My rule of thumb is “use the heaviest tripod you can afford, financially and physically.” That said, there are conflicting objectives in choosing a tripod. On the one hand, you should use a heavy tripod for stability, on the other hand, a heavy tripod becomes a burden to carry in the field. Sturdiness of a tripod is directly related to its weight and mass, thus my rule-of-thumb. So, we all make compromises and choose one that has rigidity (not to be confused with sturdiness, in my opinion) and transportability. Some have hooks at the bottom of the center column from which extra weight can be hung in the field, adding to its weight and therefore to its sturdiness.
The carbon fiber and other alloys are becoming the popular choices in the leg assemblies. They provide rigidity and light weight for transportability. There are models in every manufacturer’s product line up. Manfrotto, Gitzo, Slik, Hakuba, … Prices vary according to brand and technology built into the product, its perceived value. Other things to consider in choosing the legs are the number of leg sections, center column articulation (tilt, removability, etc), leg tips with or without metal spikes, lever or collar locks on the leg sections, minimum and maximum height it can be set at, extra leg spread. Fewer leg sections are easier to set up, but they do not collapse as much if you want to put the tripod in your suitcase. Most center columns, not all, at least go up and down, and some tilt 90-degrees for shots that require looking down. Other designs may allow removing the center column and mounting it horizontally for the same result. Yet some center column designs have very short stubs which allow spreading the tripod legs and getting the camera lower. So, consider the type of photography you do and see which type may be more practical for your purposes. I do a good deal of stitched panoramas where perfectly horizontal rotation of the camera is essential. I opted for a Manfrotto model that has a built in leveling base built in to the center column. This allows me to level the base of the head so the rotation will be on the level.
Then comes the selection of a tripod head. Some prefer pan and tilt heads with independent controls for tilting the head on two separate horizontal axes, plus a rotation on the vertical one. The advantage of these is the ability to change the camera angle on one axis without disturbing the position on the others. The disadvantage is that additional control handles add bulk in carrying and in the field it is more diffucult to quickly change the camera position. Others prefer a ball had which comes in many different sizes and weights, but offering essentially the same control. Typically, one knob will loosen the ball head allowing it to move in any direction. The advantages are the lower weight, less bulk, and quciker camera angle set up. The maing disadvantage is the difficulty in maintaining the camera position on any axis stationary. The popular ball head brands are Arca Swiss, Markins, Acratech, Bogen. When choosing a tripod head, the most important feature for me is the lack of slippage. If I set the camera at a particular position while holding it, I do not want the camera move even the slightest bit after I tighten the friction knob and let go of the camera. Then comes the weight of the head, some are far too heavy to put on a light-wight tripod, negating the advantage of a carbon fiber leg set. I own a couple of tripod heads, Acratech and Markins, they are both excellent in this regard. The weight carrying ability of the head is also important. If you use long and heavy lenses, you should make sure that the head is designed to carry the load that you put on it.
Before buying a tripod and a head assembly, try to see the combo in person. In promotional material and in photographs, they all look wonderful. Also try the leg locking mechanisms, some swear by the flip locks, others swear at them. The same goes for the rotate-to-tighten collars.
Good luck in finding the ideal tripod. Many photographers have at least three, maybe even more tripods.