Tripods

You may think you don't need a tripod, but trust me you do, especially when using a long lens. Camera shake is one of the most common problems for getting a blurred photo, to get a really sharp image you really need the camera to be perfectly still.

I know it's a pain carrying all of your kit and a tripod but if you want sharp images every time it's a must. Tripods come in many sizes and price ranges and the cheaper tripods do exactly the same job as an expensive tripod. The thing to consider is the ease of use, some tripods come with a handy ball joint which is so much easier to recompose your shots that having to mes about with the leg levels. Also some tripods come with a quick release plate which can be fitted to you camera and then all you have to do is slot it into the tripod, this saves messing about screwing that annoying little screw into the bottom of your camera every time.

Take a look at the shots below both were taken using the same camera but the second shot was taken with the camera mounted on a tripod, as you can see the fist shot is very poor and not much use at all. This is a very bad example of camera shake and sometimes it's not noticable when you view the shot using the LCD screen but when you get home and download them onto your PC it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Another option is to use a monopod, it's the same a tripod but with just one leg. A monopod will let you hold the camera steadier than nothing at all and best of all they are light weight, telescopic and very portable. Also you may find that in some locations you are not permitted to use a tripod but monopods are acceptable.

What can you do if you can't use a tripod or you just left home without it? Improvise, any flat surface will do, but make sure your camera isn't going fall off or get damaged. You can also try leaning against something for example a wall or a tree, even kneeling down and resting the camera on a raised knee can be better than nothing. Investing in a camera bean bag is also a good idea, they are easy to carry and will protect the base of your camera and allow you to reposition the camera to a certain extent.