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8 Best Landscape Photography Tripods in 2021

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What is the best tripod for landscape photography on the market right now? There are literally hundreds of products to choose from when looking for the perfect landscape tripod – the difficult part is narrowing down all of the options to find one that’s right for you!

This guide will assist you in sorting through the various tripods on the market to find the one that best meets your requirements. Of course, as with many aspects of photography, providing a black-and-white best tripod to buy is difficult. It depends on your objectives, your equipment, and whether features like budget and portability are more important than height and durability.

I would, however, advise you against purchasing a low-cost, do-it-all model like the kind you might find for $25-$50 USD at a local department store or online retailer. These tripods may appear to be good, and some may have a long list of features, but they are frequently made of cheap materials that will not hold your camera steady and will break quickly. So, if you’re looking for a genuinely good tripod for landscape photography, go through this list; you’re bound to find a much better option that meets your requirements.

Let’s get started.

The Peak Design Travel Tripod (Best overall)

Peak Design’s Travel Tripod, which was released in 2019, sent shockwaves through the photography community. The tripod was (and still is!) small, light, and extremely versatile, making it appealing to a wide range of photographers.

It wasn’t all roses, and shutterbugs quickly noticed some significant drawbacks. This new tripod was pricey, limited in some ways, and featured some highly unusual design choices. Nonetheless, despite its flaws, the Peak Design Travel Tripod earns my recommendation as the best tripod for landscape photography money can buy.

This tripod has seen extensive use, from mountaintops in the southwest United States to remote hiking locations along the USA-Canada border, and there is simply nothing else like it. Its small size when fully collapsed, combined with its extremely lightweight, is a boon to landscape photographers who value both quality and portability. The built-in ball head is flexible, the legs are stable, and the entire package is nearly as tall as any other tripod on this list when the center column is extended.

I wouldn’t use the Peak Design Travel Tripod with heavy cameras like the Canon 1D X or Nikon D6, because the thin (but very strong) construction can’t keep up when you start adding pounds of gear. However, for most landscape photographers, this tripod strikes the perfect balance of size, features, and portability.

Pros

  1. Excellent portability
  2. Extremely adaptable
  3. Numerous small design details, such as the cell phone holder tucked into the centre column, demonstrate a high level of attention to detail.

Cons

  1. The carbon fibre version is prohibitively expensive.
  1. The tripod is not as tall as other tripods.
  2. Not intended for heavy camera/lens combinations.

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 versatile as some of the other items on this list, but it provides incredible versatility – especially for the price.

To save space, the legs fold up around the ball head and can be locked into several positions during setup. Although the lack of a true center column reduces the overall height of this tripod, it still meets the needs of many landscape photographers.

Each leg has a series of twist-lock mechanisms to extend and secure the sections. Personally, I prefer the clip-lock or twist-lock systems found on other tripods over this style, but the main purpose of this tripod is to serve a more budget-conscious audience.

The ability to convert it to a true monopod by removing a leg and attaching it to the centre column is a nice feature, though it’s not particularly useful for landscape photographers. It does speak to the overall versatility of this tripod, and for photographers looking for a low-cost option for landscapes and other situations, the MeFOTO BackPacker S is a good option.

Pros

  1. Low-cost
  2. adaptable
  3. It can be converted into a monopod.

Cons

  1. It is not as tall as the other options.
  2. Not everyone likes twist-lock extension mechanisms.

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 get. Whereas many less expensive 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 it also requires ahead, which I recommend the 496 Center Ball Head.

The Manfrotto legs are not small and light, so they may not be the first choice for travelers, but they are strong, sturdy, and tall enough to provide you with unique landscape photos that shorter tripods cannot provide. The clip-lock leg extensions allow the legs to be locked into a variety of positions, and adjustments are quick and simple. My favorite feature is the centre column adjustment, which allows you to extend and then reposition the column horizontally to capture photos in novel ways.

The Manfrotto 496 Center Ball Head refines the design that has been used for years, and while it does not offer anything particularly revolutionary, it does provide stability and impressive ease of use. Large, chunky knobs allow you to easily reposition the ball head before locking it firmly in place, and it’s designed to hold 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.

Pros

  1. robust
  2. It is simple to adjust the position of the ball head.
  3. A simple but effective mechanism for locking the legs

Cons

Bulky and not suitable for backpacking
Not as tall as other tripods

Gitzo GT2545T Series 2 Traveler (Best professional tripod)

The Gitzo GT2545T Series 2 Traveler is a no-compromise solution to the tripod problem for landscape photographers. It’s small, lightweight extends to over five feet, and is built to last.

Gitzo has a reputation in the photography community for producing tough, dependable gear for the most demanding situations, 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 suitcases, and the carbon fiber construction keeps it lightweight for hiking out to your favorite landscape photography locations.

This tripod is frequently 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 recommend. Its large knobs are simple to loosen and tighten, and the head can be adjusted to nearly any position. Unlike some less expensive ball heads, this one is coated with a special material that reduces sticking – ideal for photographers who shoot in bad weather.

Pros 

  • high-quality build
  • Very lightweight but capable of supporting large cameras and lenses
  • Folds down small for portability

CONS

  • Very Expensive
  • Not as compact as others on this list
  • Height is decent when fully extended, but not outstanding

JOBY TelePod Pro (Best small tripod)

Large tripods that extend high into the air are ideal for capturing nature and landscape shots, but sometimes a small and versatile tripod is all you need. And, if you value compactness above all else, I recommend the JOBY TelePod Pro.

This tripod folds down smaller than a water bottle and is designed for small setups such as a consumer-grade DSLR or mirrorless camera paired with a lightweight lens. It has rubberized feet and a rather unusual design element: an extendable center column rather than extendable legs. This comes at the expense of stability, but it helps to maintain excellent size 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 type of photography or do not have large cameras and lenses, the TelePod Pro is nearly perfect.

Pros

  1. Low-cost
  2. Extremely compact; 
  3. Highly portable
     4. Simple to use in a variety of landscape situations.

Cons

Not suitable for large cameras.
Extending the centre column design reduces overall stability.

eisol Elite Tripod CT-3472LV M2 (Best heavy-duty tripod)

Wind, snow, rain, dirt, dust, extreme heat, and cold are all common occurrences in landscape photography – and it helps to have a tripod that will never fail you. This is where the Feisol Elite Tripod comes into play.

It’s an excellent choice for those who prioritize build quality and durability over all else, thanks in part to thick legs capable of supporting more than 60 pounds, which outperforms almost everything else in its class. The carbon-fiber construction results in a high price but a lightweight, which is ideal if you’ll be carrying it on your back or over your shoulder for long distances.

While it is not as versatile 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 about two feet long, and it reaches a towering height of nearly six feet to help you get the shots that other landscape photographers can only dream about.

Pros

Large chunky legs provide excellent stability.
Can support far more weight than other tripods.

Cons

Expensive
It does not include a ball head.
Not suitable for photographers who value portability.

Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-3W (Best full-size tripod)

The Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-3W tripod comes with everything but the kitchen sink. Yes, it’s big and definitely not for long hikes or tromping around in the backcountry, but if you’re a landscape photographer looking for a single tripod that comes with everything you need for rock-solid stability, this is it.

You won’t get a carbon fiber build, and good luck fitting this beast into a backpack – but it’s rock-solid, has easy-to-use flip locks to extend the legs, and reaches a height of more than 72 inches. It can handle any situation you can throw at it as long as you can transport it to your destination.

While you can 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 handles connect you to the tripod in a way that I really like. The centre column, like that of other high-end Manfrotto tripods, can be repositioned horizontally for even more maneuverability.

Pros

Excellent balance of features, flexibility, and cost.
Legs that are sturdy and supportive
Can reach a length of over six feet

Cons

The included pan/tilt head is not suitable for everyone.
Not very portable
The load limit is adequate but not exceptional considering the size.

 Vanguard Alta Pro 263AP

The Vanguard Alta Pro 263AP tripod is an excellent choice for landscape photographers looking for advanced features at a lower price point than Gitzo or Feisol tripods. It’s small – though not as small as the Peak Design Travel Tripod – and extends to a respectable 70 inches. The centre column can be positioned in a variety of ways, and the ball head can be rotated and repositioned in nearly every possible way.

What I like best about this tripod for landscape photography is the small details that make your shooting experience a little more enjoyable. Metal tips on the feet provide maximum stability (especially out in nature). The centre column can be repositioned 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 handles that allow you to adjust pan, tilt, and rotation separately. I would recommend this tripod to almost any photographer because it is well suited to almost any photographic situation.

Pros

In comparison to others on this list, it is relatively inexpensive.
Very adaptable.
Not just for landscapes, but for a variety of situations.

Cons

The included tripod head is not to everyone’s liking
Not very small when collapsed

final words

While a tripod isn’t required for landscape photography, it will help you achieve more consistent results. You can use lower ISOs, narrower apertures, and longer shutter speeds, as well as capture shots that you couldn’t get with a handheld camera.

If you’re looking for your first tripod, or if you already have one and want to upgrade, one of the options on this list should suit your needs perfectly.

Remember, these are my personal favorites for the best tripods for landscape photography, but if you have a favorite, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below, along with any of your own landscape photos.

Note: If you want to make some adjustments to the photo just let me know. I can do it for you at a very low cost. You can hire me to edit your photo.

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