Tripods in a Supporting Role (page 2)

Another feature found on some tripods is a remote control. A mini 1/8" jack on the tripod handle, which plugs into the LANC port on your camera, allows you to adjust your zoom, stop and start record, even send the camcorder into standby. Sony's VCT-D680RM Tripod with Remote Control Grip, $80, has a 3-way pan head, and expands from 19 to 57 inches.

Whereas a tripod has three legs, a monopod has only one. You can collapse a monopod and support it against your belt buckle, or use it as a boom to raise the camera over a crowd.

News and sports shooters use them for their flexibility, and they don't take up much space. Slik makes the carbon fiber Pro Pod 381, which retails for $129.

Remember, that unless you're shooting the next Blair Witch Project, whether it's shooting the Little League team at play or the CEO's keynote speech, most video projects can be greatly improved by a steady well-planned and well-shot production. This goes double with that most important piece of equipment in a supporting role: your tripod.

Teresa Echazabal is a freelance video editor, writer, and producer.

>A tripod with spreaders halfway up the legs works best in uneven surfaces. In high winds, anchor your tripod by placing heavy sandbags against the legs or on the spreaders. Look for heavy-duty hardware when buying your tripod - thin plastic knobs and rubber flip locks do not last long. Keep an extra quick release plate on hand, in case the original accidentally stays attached to a camera that doesn't make the present shoot (happens too often).

The best video tripods have what is commonly known as "true fluid heads." These tripods contain two plates that float on top of one another in a viscous solution that alleviates jerkiness and enables smooth tilts and pans. They work similarly to a car's transmission; the plates never actually touch. The entire mechanism is well sealed against wear and weather. Less expensive models try to simulate the "true fluid head." Be wary of tripods with names such as "fluid action," "fluid-effect" or "fluid like." Though these cheaper models do have fluid between the plates, they are not made with the same precision and are not sealed making them much more susceptible to harm from dust, dirt, cold and wear from heavy usage and heavier cameras. A "fluid like" tripod may feel very similar to a "true fluid head" tripod on the showroom floor but it will not withstand the test of time. In addition, a true fluid head will allow you to adjust the rotating resistance (a.k.a. drag) to be as light or heavy as you prefer.

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