When shooting stills, I’m generally trying to capture a scene in a single shot or aiming to nail a definitive moment in time. I want a tripod that’s rock steady and won’t budge. Video is a whole different ball game. It's all about moving pictures, and movement is often the key ingredient. I’ll want to pan and tilt at will to track the action. That means I’ll need a fluid head that lets me move the camera smoothly, giving my footage a dynamic, cinematic quality. Whether you're a vlogger or a filmmaker, a dedicated video tripod is one of the wisest, most effective investments you can make.
Not just different by design in the way they work, video tripods also tend to have longer top plates than photographic ones, giving more versatility in positioning and balancing the camera. Another common feature is a counterbalance system that makes it easier to keep things on the level, and additional threaded sockets for attaching accessories like a mic, light, or monitor. Some also have leg-spreaders for extra stability and spirit levels for perfectly straight horizons. Check out our rundown of 7 ways video tripods are different from regular ones for a more thorough look at the key differences.
There are a multitude of options for different types of users, from vloggers who want a lightweight solution to bigger, more stable options for filmmakers with heavy payloads. I’ll also be catering to different budgets, so whether you're just starting your filmmaking journey or you're an experienced filmmaker, these are the best video tripods you can buy right now.
Adam is a photography journalist who loves dabbling with video and has handpicked the best tripods, heads, and related accessories for this guide.
The best video tripods
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Best all-around video tripod
I just love the 3 Legged Thing Ridley tripod kit. It’s a first-class, fully pro-grade set of legs that’s easy to live with and genuinely fun to use. The built-in leveling base works a treat for videography and is equally capable for shooting sequences of stills for stitching into panoramas. The twist-clamps for the extending leg sections and the pushbutton leg angle locks couldn’t be any quicker or easier to use, and everything’s cleverly designed, expertly engineered and immaculately finished.
The Ridley is available as a set of legs on their own, or as a complete kit with the recently upgraded 3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine CC fluid head. Not only is the head a perfect match in terms of design, features, and performance, it’s also available in the same choice of colorways, satisfying my sense of style (if I actually had one).
Neither the legs on their own nor the complete kit are cheap options. But if you want a properly pro-grade video tripod kit that’s quick and easy to use and folds down reasonably small for the journey, they’re more than worth the asking price.
Read our full 3 Legged Thing Ridley review
Best luxury video tripod
Designed for professional-grade video capture, the Manfrotto 635 Fast Single Leg Carbon Tripod and 504X Fluid Video Head combo has a hefty 12kg load rating but weighs an entirely manageable 5.8kg. The fluidity of the video head is a key feature, ensuring smooth panning and tilting thanks to adjustable pan and tilt drag and locking knobs for each axis. The pan handle can be attached to either side, and there are accessory sockets and a bubble level, including an illuminated level for use in the dark. The head has a 55mm center of gravity and a 4-position counterbalance system, and connects to a 75mm bowl for easy leveling.
The legs have three carbon fiber sections with wide diameters for rigidity, and can be locked at three angles (20, 50, and 70 degrees) for a maximum operating height of 171cm and a minimum of 44.5cm. Single-twist leg locks make setup quick and easy, and the feet have dual metal spikes and rubber overshoes for use on different surfaces. Constructed from premium-grade carbon fiber and aluminum, the build quality is exceptional, providing rock-solid support with high resistance to flexing and wobbling.
See our full Manfrotto 635 Fast Single Leg Carbon & 504X head review
Best budget option
Despite its name, the SmallRig Heavy-Duty Fluid Head Tripod isn't exactly "heavy-duty", with a maximum load of 8kg, making it more suitable for lightweight setups. Key features include three-section double-shaft legs that extend to a maximum height of 1.86m, a fluid two-way ball-head, and a 75mm leveling bowl base for achieving level shots. The legs have quick-release flip-leg locks and large rubber feet for stability on various surfaces, and a three-pronged spreader adds stability. There are multiple 1/4-inch threads for attaching accessories. The fluid head design allows for smooth panning, and the tilting position ranges from +90° to -75°. It is compatible with DJI RS 2 and Manfrotto quick release plates, enhancing its versatility.
While the tripod's plastic and aluminum alloy construction may feel less robust compared to higher-end models, it offers a range of advanced features at an affordable price point. It is best-suited for those starting out in videography and filmmaking who need a capable entry-level tripod for mirrorless cameras.
See our full SmallRig Heavy-Duty Fluid Head Tripod review
Best hybrid
The Manfrotto One Hybrid Tripod is designed as an all-in-one solution for hybrid content creators who need to switch seamlessly between stills photography and video. Available in both aluminum and carbon fiber versions, it aims to combine the best features of both photo and video support systems.
The center column extends for additional shooting height and can also be rotated 90 degrees for overhead or flat-lay shots. This column is also removable, allowing for extreme low-angle or ground-level shooting. Oval-shaped tripod legs enhance torsional resistance, providing stability for both stills and smooth video panning. A clever XTEND mechanism allows all leg sections to be deployed simultaneously for quick setup, and the modular feet can be swapped to reveal hidden spikes for stability on different surfaces. A leveling feature on the top means that you don't have to ensure the legs are perfectly level, which is essential for video.
Manfrotto's XCHANGE quick-release system allows the tripod head to be quickly swapped with other accessories, such as sliders. It is available as a kit with the perfectly matched 500X Fluid Head, which is central to the system's hybrid functionality. Its hinged plate allows for quick transitions between landscape and portrait orientations without removing the camera. The fluid drag system on the pan and tilt axes ensures smooth, shake-free motion, and a built-in counterbalance system provides additional control. The head also features a 501PL-compatible sliding plate with a side-lock mechanism for quick and secure camera mounting.
See our full Manfrotto One Hybrid Tripod review
Best legs-only option
Named after the Mission: Impossible character, the Ethan 4 carbon fiber tripod legs aim to tackle just about anything and excel in the most demanding circumstances. They’re super-strong and dependable, billed as a professional hybrid photography and tactical tripod system for photo, video, shooting, and tactical pursuits.
Especially for videography, to which the tripod legs are ideally suited, you’re best off adding either of 3 Legged Thing’s LevelHed Leveling Base or 75mm Half Bowl, as well as a fluid head. The tripod is supplied with a flat plate for the former, and there’s an optional 75mm bowl mount that you can swap to if you buy it separately.
All of the legs unscrew from the canopy, so you can convert the tripod into a bipod or monopod in a jiffy, or even a tabletop/mini tripod with optional Vanz footwear. However, if you just need ultra-low-level shooting, that’s completely catered to by the multi-angle legs and omission of a center column, without needing to unscrew any legs or make any time-consuming alterations.
See our full 3 Legged Thing Ethan 4 review
Best video tripod for travel
The 3 Legged Thing Wes ticks all of the boxes on my wish list for a video travel tripod. It folds down small and is very lightweight to carry, yet reaches a decent maximum operating height while being sturdy and resistant to flexing and vibrations. That’s mostly down to the clever design and the use of premium carbon fiber for the legs, along with an aerospace-grade magnesium alloy canopy.
I’m generally wary of tripods with five-section legs because the bottom leg sections are often very thin and spindly, resulting in a drop in rigidity and stability when they’re extended. There was no hint of this when using the Wes, and I found it gave solid support throughout its entire operating range. Typical of travel tripods, the maximum operating height isn’t particularly tall, but I love that you can quickly and easily configure the tripod for ultra-low-level shooting.
The tripod legs are a great buy on their own. However, the recently updated 3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine CC fluid head is such a great match for the legs that I feel the complete kit is the best option. As a complete travel tripod for videographers, it’s hard to beat. If you’ve got an L-bracket, the Wes works great for stills too, making it a good fit for hybrid shooters.
Read more: 3 Legged Thing Wes review
Best video tripod for students
The Neewer LL27 is an attractively priced yet well-featured video tripod that comes complete with a fluid head and is particularly suitable for those on a budget but who demand pro-like features, such as students. It's quick to set up, has a tall maximum height (192cm), and has a sturdy build that can handle a reasonable load rating of 8kg. There are also a couple of sockets with 1/4” threads on the platform to accommodate accessories.
The tripod's legs are constructed from multiple aluminum tubes with single-lock levers for each leg, facilitating speedy height adjustments, while the leveling bowl allows for quick and easy base leveling. The fluid head enables smooth panning and tilting, with a reversible panning handle. A quick-release plate is Arca-Swiss compatible and includes both 1/4" and 3/8” connection screws.
While the Neewer LL27 is not as robust as professional-grade tripods and is prone to vibration at taller heights, it offers a generous feature set and good performance for a very affordable price.
Read our full Neewer LL27 video tripod with fluid head review
Best for quick setup
A collaboration between SmallRig and YouTuber 'Potato Jet', the Tribex's unique feature is that it uses a hydraulic system that allows for quick and easy setup by releasing all leg sections simultaneously with a single lever. The tripod also includes a fluid head for smooth tilting and panning, a counterbalance adjuster, and a simple lever for switching between different types of quick-release plates.
It certainly achieves its goal of speeding up and easing setup; however, achieving absolute levelness is more challenging when compared to tripods with traditional leveling systems. The hydraulic system also has a slight delay in locking the legs, requiring the tripod to be held in position for a moment longer than expected. While the tripod is compact and lightweight, with a good operating height range, it is a little lacking in rigidity and more prone to vibration, especially at maximum height. But it's reasonably priced for an upmarket carbon fiber video tripod, making it a good value considering its features and design.
Read our full SmallRig x Potato Jet Tribex review
Best video head
This new-and-improved head can turn just about any self-respecting set of tripod legs into an excellent video tripod kit. It has a lovely fluid feel for both panning and tilting. The panning handle is completely revamped in the new version. It’s now retractable so you can choose the length that feels most comfortable, and it’s less likely that you’ll need to remove it when stowing the head.
Independent panning and tilting lock/release mechanisms work well together, enabling firm locking and smooth movement in either or both planes. Full 360-degree panning is available, along with a generous 165 degrees of tilt, from 90 degrees forward to 75 degrees backward.
Another upgrade over the original version of the head is that the clamp up on top can be removed by undoing four hex screws and rotated laterally through 90-degree intervals. The bonus here is that you can change the orientation of the Arca-Swiss style plate from running front-to-back to side-to-side. This can be a big advantage if you’re using a camera with an L-bracket or a cage. The quick-release plate is also upgraded.
Read our full 3 Legged Thing AirHed Cine CC review
Best leveling base
Even if you’ve got a perfectly sturdy set of tripod legs and an ideal fluid video head, you might still be missing ‘the bit in the middle. To ensure that your horizon doesn’t go on the slant when you start panning, you need to make sure that the base of the video head is level, rather than compensating by adjusting the head itself. Adjusting each of the tripod legs to level the canopy can be a real chore when you’re working on tricky terrain. That’s where this Vanguard gizmo comes to the rescue.
Available in a variety of sizes to suit different tripods and heads, the range really is pretty universal. The leveling adapter sits between the tripod and head, on top of the tripod canopy and beneath the head’s mounting plate. One simple locking screw is all that’s needed to loosen or lock the adapter. When unlocked, you can simply maneuver it until your head is perfectly leveled.
A bubble level on the side of the adapter helps with accurate leveling. The adapter also features three grub screws for locking the head in place, so that it won’t work loose while you’re panning.
Read our full Vanguard LVL Universal Tripod Levelling Adapter review
How to choose a video tripod
So why would you need a specialized video tripod, and won’t your regular photography tripod do the job? A standard tripod’s main function is to be a rock-solid support to keep the mounted camera perfectly still for the length of an exposure. This will usually mean that it is untouched by the photographer once the shutter is fired (and even then, this is ideally done with a remote to minimize the chance of jogging the camera). A video tripod, by contrast, needs to support a camera that will be constantly operated by a videographer and manipulated to follow subjects, panned, and zoomed to record a moving image smoothly. Here are the main things to look out for:
Fluid head: This specialist head uses a fluid-filled chamber that provides resistance to allow for smooth panning and tilting to give the steady, controlled movements that are essential for professional-looking footage. Adjustable drag controls determine the amount of resistance, and the head movement is usually controlled by a locking arm that can be used single-handedly.
Load capacity: The mirrorless camera at the heart of your video setup may not weigh that much, but add on long pro lenses, follow-focus rigs, monitors, and all the other paraphernalia that recording video entails, and the pounds soon pile up. Not only does the tripod have to support all that, but it needs to do so while panning and tilting the whole setup smoothly.
Operating height: You may need to shoot above crowds or get low to the ground for macro work, so minimum and maximum heights are important. An extending center column may give you an extra height boost, but be aware that the higher this extends, the wobblier things get. To get extremely low to the ground, you might want a separate ‘hi-hat’ mini tripod, or a set of video legs that transform to this.
Leveling bowl: With a regular tripod, the camera is leveled by adjusting the tripod legs, but with video work, a leveling bowl atop the tripod enables quick-and-easy adjustments as you shoot. It consists of a bowl-and-ball mechanism that allows for far more precise leveling than adjusting the legs individually, and is typically available in 75mm, 100mm, and 150mm sizes – the bigger sizes support greater loads but also are heavier and come at a higher cost.
Spreaders: Spreaders provide a further connection between the tripod legs and offer additional stability with heavier rigs. They come in ground and mid-level versions: ground spreaders are exclusively used in studio environments with a flat floor, while mid-level spreaders are suited to uneven terrain and are ideal for location shooting.
How we test video tripods
We test and review at Digital Camera World by subjecting photo and video equipment to a range of in-house lab tests and in-the-field shooting exercises, designed to give us a thorough sense of how a piece of gear performs. For video tripods, we check stability, ease of setup, smoothness of operation, portability, and height range, and use our findings to inform our comments in buying guides like this one.
