Okuzeka
Photography vocabulary · Camera Parts & Settings

Tripod

Meaning in photography, with examples

/ˈtraɪpɑːd/nounCore term

In photography, tripod means: A stand with three adjustable legs that holds the camera steady, especially for slow shutter speeds, low light and careful framing.

In Turkish: tripod, sehpa, üç ayaklı sehpa

How it is used

You set up and level a tripod and mount the camera on it. The tripod head (a ball head or pan-tilt head) holds the camera; a support with one leg is a monopod. Some venues and museums do not allow tripods, so photographers check first.

Example sentences

  1. We'll need a tripod for the night shots on the bridge.

  2. Make sure the tripod legs are locked before you mount the camera.

Common collocations

  • set up a tripod
  • tripod head
  • travel tripod
  • on a tripod
  • long exposureA photo taken with a slow shutter speed, from about a second to several minutes, so that moving things blur while still things stay sharp.
  • shutter speedThe length of time the shutter stays open to let light reach the sensor, such as 1/1000 of a second or two seconds.
  • image stabilizationA system in a lens or camera body that reduces blur caused by small hand movements, so you can use slower shutter speeds handheld.
  • landscape photographyPhotography of natural scenery such as mountains, coasts, forests and skies, usually showing a wide view of the place.

More terms: Camera Parts & Settings

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: