Best Tripod For Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is one of the few genres where photographers use a tripod for almost every photo they take. Even in the daytime, when hand-holding is possible, some landscape photographers still use a tripod! Why? Because a reliable tripod doesn’t just help you get sharp photos in low-light, it also helps you frame your shot with much more precision, and it allows you to use special techniques such as focus stacking or exposure bracketing. So, if you’re into landscape or outdoor/nature photography, you really must own a tripod. Which one should you get? Unfortunately, as soon as you ask this question, everybody will recommend literally every tripod ever made, it seems.

Don’t listen to those unhelpful, confusing recommendations! Instead of blindly buying a tripod from a brand you never heard, in this article we are going to teach you what makes a good tripod, and what might not make such a good investment.

HINT: You don’t need to spend a ton of money, however, you also don’t want to buy junk. This might seem contradictory, but thankfully there are plenty of great tripods to fit any price range and any type of need.  For more “best of” lists, see our Best Of category.

What to Look for in a Tripod for Landscape Photography

Before we get into high-end gear, let’s be clear: the best tripod for most landscape photographers isn’t a $1,000 carbon fiber model — it’s an old, heavy-duty one from the ’80s or ’90s.

Old Vs New

These classic tripods are virtually indestructible, incredibly stable, and often available secondhand for a fraction of the cost of today’s flashy models. Forget the budget “cheapo” brands — a solid used tripod from a trusted name will serve you far better and far longer.

You can always upgrade later. But starting with a reliable “beater” tripod means you’ll have a workhorse to leave in your trunk, take to the beach, or drag through a river. It’ll protect your pricier gear in the long run — and with a little care, it’ll outlast most things in your kit.

Twist Lock VS Lever Lock Tripod Leg Joints

Everybody shopping for a tripod wants to know; which is better- twist-locks, or flip-lock/lever-lock leg extension joints? Here’s the not-so-surprising answer:

If you’re getting a good quality tripod from a reputable brand name, both types of leg locks are good. But, if you get a cheap quality tripod from an unknown or very new brand, then either type of leg lock could fail and potentially destroy your camera gear. Are you seeing a trend? Don’t buy a cheap tripod.

Twist-lock tripod legs are the more popular style with serious landscape photography tripods, but lever-lock joints are fine too; some people just prefer one or the other.

Tripod Leg Sections… 3? 4? 5?

The real important thing to be aware of is not the type of leg locks, but the NUMBER of leg locks! In this article, we are almost exclusively recommending 3-section and 4-section tripods. This is because in almost every case, 5-section (4 locks per leg) tripods are just significantly more wobbly and less reliable.

If you want a tiny, portable tripod, you can still find a very compact one that has only 4 sections, or 3 locks, per leg. The only exception to this rule is the Peak Design Travel Tripod, because its unique design is so extremely compact, and yet it is still decently tall, and stiff enough for most lightweight, compact camera kits.

Aluminum Versus Carbon Fiber

Before we get to the picks, here’s a quick word on carbon fiber vs. aluminum: Carbon fiber isn’t just lighter — it’s also stiffer, which can actually lead to sharper images in windy conditions. It’s also warmer to the touch in freezing weather, a real plus for winter shooters. However, aluminum tends to hold up better to rough handling and abrasion, making it more rugged for hardcore mountain use. If you’re on a budget, prioritize build quality over materials — a well-made aluminum tripod from a trusted brand will always outperform a cheap carbon fiber knockoff.

Best Landscape Photography Tripods: Under $200

If you only have $100-200 to spend, again, we cannot stress enough- in this price range, if you get something that looks exotic and fancy, from a brand you never heard, it will probably break in 6-12 months. Landscape photographers use their tripods all the time and in harsh conditions, so this price range is only good for one or two things- heavy old tripods that you find on eBay for $50-75, or a select few name brands that still offer affordable, durable options.

Our favorite heavy-duty tripod lineup in the sub-$200 price range is the Slik AMT lineup. This is one of the few designs that hasn’t changed in forever, and yet you can still buy a brand-new set of Slik AMT 700DX legs for $99.

NOTE? Trying to find a complete tripod and head for under $100? Just DON’T. Think of it this way: Your camera is probably worth $1,000-3,000, and your lens might be worth almost the same amount. Don’t risk smashing thousands of dollars worth of gear on a rock, just because you couldn’t afford to invest an extra $100 in your camera’s support system. Up your budget, and get something that won’t fail catastrophically.

Best Landscape Photography Tripods: $200-500

Okay, now that we’ve cleared things up regarding affordable tripods, let’s talk about some of the tripods that a landscape photographer might invest in if they have a little bit more money, or upgrade to if they want something more lightweight than that big ‘ol boat anchor they got on eBay.

Thankfully, there are quite a few brand names that make good quality products in this price range. You won’t be able to afford the truly exotic brand names yet, but that’s OK, these tripods will last a very long time if you take good care of them, and they’ll offer a fantastic balance of strength, height, and portability.

HEIPI 3-in-1 Travel Tripod W28S

The HEIPI W28S stands out in a crowded travel tripod market by offering a true 3-in-1 system that blends form, function, and versatility. At just 3 pounds, it includes a main tripod, a detachable sub-tripod, and a ball head — all integrated into a modular carbon fiber design.

The real innovation lies in its patented three-pillar center column, which offers greater torsional rigidity compared to standard single-column designs. This makes the tripod more stable, especially when extended to taller working heights. The column can also be reversed for low-angle shooting or detached to use as a standalone unit.

• Max Height: Varies with configuration
• Weight: 3 lbs
• Load Capacity: 44 lbs
• MSRP: Varies (check manufacturer here)

Photographers who value modularity and compactness without sacrificing performance will find a lot to love here — particularly landscape and travel shooters who pack light but shoot heavy.

Slik Pro CF Tripods

Once you start getting towards the ~$300 price range, there are a ton of different brands of tripods available. Unfortunately, many of them are very new brands, or completely unknown or fake products. Why trust a $300 fake of a more expensive brand, when you can get a “legit” tripod from a name brand?

Slik is one of the oldest brands around, and their tripod designs are some of the most tried-and-true (and most copied/faked) on the market. And yet, their prices have remained affordable. Their tried-and-true quality is an unmatched overall value.

Feisol CF Tournament Tripods

Feisol is a newer brand that isn’t just doing the copycat thing; their tripods are some of the lightest and strongest on the market. Somehow, they manage to be decently tall, ultra-strong, and yet their Tournament series in particular only weighs ~2.4 lbs and only costs about $400. If you want to only ever invest in one tripod. just save up and get one of these!

3-Legged Thing Tripods

3 Legged Thing is another one of the relatively new brands that isn’t just creaking “fakes” of other tripod designs. Their unique designs are very good quality, presenting another good value. They’re also the only tripod on our recommendation list that comes in different colors, if you like flashy things.

Manfrotto BeFree Carbon Fiber Tripods

Manfrotto is a brand that has been around for a very long time, however, over the years their various models of tripods haven’t always been the most reliable quality, especially the more affordable ones.

Lately, they have upped their overall quality in every regard, and their latest Befree models are impressive. They come in both CF and Aluminum, as well as both twist-lock and lever-lock legs, which no other brand currently offers. Lastly, with their GT XPRO models, Manfrotto offers their unique horizontal center column option. It’s not the most stable setup, but it’s extremely useful if you do a lot of macro and close-up landscape work.

Best Landscape Photography Tripods: $500-800

3Pod Everest T3 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod

3Pod offers an excellent balance of versatility, features, durability, and performance. Whereas many of the tripods we recommend are relatively no-frills, the 3Pod Everest series offers the kitchen sink: In addition to the decently strong center column and included , there is also a built-in bubble level, both rubber feet and spiked feet, a padded travel case, 2 hex (allen) wrenches, an optional video bowl, and a 5-year warranty.

Also, the (optional, or included as a kit) H2 ball head is packed with features, too: A quick-release Arca Swiss style plate, two separate panning rotations, a bubble level, double drop-notches, and a fluid tension adjustment knob within the main locking knob!

The 3Pod Everest comes in two main sizes, the T3 and T5, which should perfectly suit almost any serious or pro photographer who is looking for a good all-around option. These are not the most compact, nor  the largest, tallest, or strongest. However, their abundance of features does make them an excellent choice for the gear head who just loves to have all the bells and whistles.

Robus RC-Series Carbon Fiber Tripods

If you want the largest, tallest, most heavy-duty tripod that you can afford on a substantial budget, (and if weight or compactness are not concerns!) …then the Robus series is for you. These tripods are huge; when extended they will likely reach far higher than your eye level, and even when fuly compact they will still take up a lot of space. They do not have a center column by default, however, accessory bowls are an option so a center column or leveling base can be possible.

Simply put, in this price range, this is our “Cadillac” recommendation. Nearly indestructible, the Robus Vnatage line also includes a limited 10-year warranty.

Best Landscape Photography Tripods: $800+

Let’s be real — you don’t need to spend $1,000+ on a tripod to get sharp landscape photos. Impeccable technique with a solid $300 option will usually serve you just as well. But for those who appreciate premium craftsmanship, refined design, and long-term reliability — much like a fine watch or high-end camera body — top-tier tripods offer a level of performance and satisfaction that justifies the price.

Gitzo – Systematic Carbon Fiber Tripods

For those who want some of the stiffest tripods around,  the Gitzo Systematic tripods offer a large, flat platform for mounting your ballhead directly, instead of a center column. To make up for this, some of the Systematic tripods offer longer legs and extra leg sections, without compromising much on overall leg stiffness, allowing them to be very tall.

Gitzo – Mountaineer Carbon Fiber Tripods

If you want Gitzo’s quality craftsmanship but you’re on a bit more of a weight and/or price budget, the Mountaineer series is the slightly lighter, more compact sibling to the Systematic line. These tripods have center columns, but their overall stiffness is still incredible.

Really Right Stuff – Series 1-3 & Versa Carbon Fiber Tripods ($835-1,555)

• Really Right Stuff TFC-14, TFC-23, TFC-24, TFC-34 ($835-1,115)
• Really Right stuff TVC-23, TVC-24, TVC-33, TVC-34, TVC-43, TVC-44, TVC-45 ($1160-1,555)

Really Right Stuff has been around for quite a while now, and they epitomize the next generation of high-end, high-quality camera support equipment. They’re also one of the few brands that offers both highly recommended legs and heads, although adding a RRS ball head to your legs can cost hundreds of dollars more. The below recommendations are for legs only; we’ll get to ball head recommendations later.

Conclusion – Landscape Photography Tripods

In landscape photography, a tripod is by far the most useful accessory you can buy. In fact, I would rather have a great quality tripod that I can trust, more than the best camera or lens. Otherwise, you never know when a cheap tripod might break, and your low-budget investment could destroy your camera and/or lens.

So, if you do any type of low-light photography, then you should definitely get yourself a strong, stable tripod. However, even if you shoot mostly in brighter conditions, and could possibly get away with hand-holding, a tripod still helps with achieving a perfectly framed composition, among other things. Just remember, regardless of your budget, there is a tripod out there you can get that will serve you well.  Lastly, if you’re looking for our recommendations on the Best Tripods for iPhones and Smartphones, check out this article.