Today’s smartphones are perfect for street photography. They have better picture quality than before. They can zoom in much further without obvious loss of picture quality. Some smartphones even have cameras with ultrawide lenses, so you can capture even more of a street scene.
But to truly be able to capture amazing street photos with a smartphone, you need to use the right accessories as well. One of the most important things you need is a camera support system such as a tripod or monopod.
Having one of these will help you keep your phone steady so that your mobile street shots don’t turn out blurry. It can also help you come up with some really creative shots.
In this article, we’ll look at a few tripods that you can use with your smartphone for street photography.
KobraTech Apex A70
In street photography, you never know what you might come across. Therefore, you always need to be prepared. So, when it comes to the equipment you need, I recommend the Apex A70 from KobraTech. It’s a tripod and a monopod all in one, so you can easily swap between the two whenever the need arises.
The Apex A70 is an excellent smartphone tripod that’s designed for adventure, whether it’s urban or outdoors. It is made from premium material including high-strength aluminium, so it’s built to last. It can support any camera that weighs up to 4kg.
The length of each leg can be adjusted individually, so you can still get a level shot on uneven surfaces. The built-in monopod can stretch out to 165cm. So, if you’re in a crowd, and space and mobility are an issue, it’s good to know that you have the option of a monopod included.
Other extras that come with the KobraTech Apex A70 are two base plates, a universal smartphone mount, Bluetooth remote, and a travel bag.
What makes it ideal for street photography?
The KobraTech Apex A70 is great for street photography because it’s a two-in-one system that you can use in various types of environments and scenarios.
What’s also great about this tripod is that it can be extended out really high (177cm) and it has a wide base of support so it won’t fall over easily.
The downside
The disadvantage of this tripod compared to the others on this list is the size. Weighing in at 1.8kg and measuring 50cm when completely folded, the Apex A70 is much bigger than some tripods on this list when they’re fully set up.
Also, to use the monopod you need to separate it from the tripod. So, it can kind of leave you with your hands a bit full which may slow you down if you need to move quickly.
Check the price of the KobraTech Apex A70 at:
Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod
Similar to the KobraTech Apex A70 above, the Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod is a two-for-one system. However, instead of a monopod tripod combo, this device can be used as a tripod and selfie stick. It also has a Bluetooth remote for taking pictures from a distance.
The centre pole stretches out up to 137cm, which is more than a lot of other selfie stick tripods. And although it’s not an actual monopod with a panning handle like the Apex A70, it can still work as a makeshift monopod alternative.
This tripod is made out of premium aluminium alloy and has sturdy, non-slip rubber feet. It’s only 44cm when folded and the centre column has five telescoping sections that stretch out.
What makes it ideal for street photography?
The Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod is a two-for-one deal so it saves you on space because you don’t have to carry a tripod and a selfie stick. It is sturdier than the average selfie tripod and can stretch out even further.
Switching between a tripod or a selfie stick or monopod doesn’t take long at all or require you to separate the pieces. Just fold the legs in and you’re good. And because things can change quickly in street photography, this can help you catch up.
The downside
This tripod is about function, not design. So, if you are looking for something slick and polished, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But it would have been nice to see some padding or rubber grip for a more comfortable and solid handle.
Check the price of the Ubeesize Versatile Selfie Tripod at:
Joby GripTight ONE GP
Joby is a well-known name in the world of photography. They are known for their GorillaPod series of flexible tripods. The GripTight ONE is a flexible tripod that is made for smartphones and, just like the bigger versions, it is a very durable piece of equipment.
The tripod is easy to carry around because it’s pretty small in size and only weighs about 56g. However, it can support any smartphone and other devices up to 325g.
Smartphones can be attached to the GripTight ONE via the provided smartphone mount. Other devices such as lights can be attached using the standard 1/4-inch screw.
The cool thing about this tripod is its flexible legs. Thanks to them, you can position your tripod almost anywhere by just wrapping the legs around an object. You can wrap them around a tree, a pole, a chair, or a fence. Anything!
By keeping the tripod legs closed, you can also use the Joby GripTight ONE as a grip to take selfies or for mobile videos. And since creating video content is a big part of smartphone street photography and urban exploration these days, this can be pretty useful.
What makes it ideal for street photography?
What makes the GripTight ONE uniquely suited for street photography is its versatility. The way you can just wrap the tripod legs around almost anything opens up opportunities for some very interesting camera angles and composition.
Also, it’s very portable. It weighs very little and can easily fit in your pocket, handbag, or backpack.
The downside
The biggest and most obvious downside to the Joby GripTight ONE tripod is that if you’re in an area where there’s nothing to wrap your tripod around, then you’re pretty limited for choice. And since the tripod is so small, you’ll be limited to shots taken at ground level or whatever elevated surface you can find.
And speaking about the size, the GripTight ONE is not one for carrying big cameras either. Although it is perfect for all types of smartphones, if you have other devices and cameras weighing above 325g, then you might want to consider getting the bigger Joby tripods that can handle the weight.
Check the price of the Joby GripTight ONE GP at:
Adonit Photogrip
The Adonit Photogrip Qi is a rather unique addition to this list because it’s not necessarily a tripod. The Photogrip Qi is actually a smartphone grip that makes it easier for you to hold your phone when you want to capture photos.
I included the Adonit Photogrip Qi to this list because it comes with a mini tripod included, so you can set it up and leave the phone to stand on its own. What’s more, you can attach the Photogrip Qi to any other tripod using a 1/4-inch thread.
The Photogrip Qi also has a removable Bluetooth shutter remote that can be used to take photos from up to 10 metres away. But what’s really cool is that the Photogrip Qi can charge certain phones wirelessly while shooting.
The Adonit Photogrip Qi is made exclusively to fit a wide variety of smartphones. It cannot support any other type of digital camera.
What makes it ideal for street photography?
Firstly, the whole system itself is pocket-sized, so walking around a big city with it is no issue at all. Secondly, the handgrip makes it so much easier to hold your smartphone and have a tighter grip on it when taking photos.
This can be especially useful in crowded areas where someone could accidentally bump your phone from between your fingers when holding it the conventional way.
The downside
The Adonit Photogrip’s mini tripod is very tiny. This limits the number of places and instances where you can use it.
Check the price of the Adonit Photogrip Qi at:
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned mobile photographer or just a beginner, I recommend that you always take a tripod with you. You never know when it might come in handy, especially when doing street photography.
And with the wide variety of options to suit different environments and needs, there’s no way you can’t find one that is perfect for you.
Using a tripod will definitely help you take better photos with your smartphone but that’s just only part of it. To be able to take amazing travel photos with your smartphone, you need to have a smartphone with a good camera, have the right mobile camera accessories, and also the skill to capture good mobile photos.
If you would like to improve your photography skills and how your mobile photos look, I recommend you download the 5 Ways To Improve Your Mobile Photography ebook for free. It is simple and easy to understand yet very informative. You can download your FREE copy here.
