Photographers appreciate the benefits of a tripod in photography.

However, when it comes to purchasing a tripod, people tend not to be as picky as they might be when it comes to purchasing a camera.

Of course, the camera is the principal instrument of photography, so it needs to be treated seriously, but tripods are, in their own way, vital tools that help a camera perform better.

As such, instead of just buying the cheapest tripod around, give some thought to this friendly device that helps you produce high quality imagery.

They're not merely "add-ons", but technical devices in their own right.

Principally, tripods are best used for when looking to use slow shutter speeds, as they negate the effects of camera shake - namely blurred pictures.

Now this won't reduce camera shake completely as you will still be very hands-on, so also consider using the self-timer option or a remote shutter-release to get even more crystal clear images.

With this luxury, a tripod, in so many ways, allows you to be much more creative without compromising on the excellence of your composition.

For example, you can toy with lowering the ISO more than you would when holding a camera and equally, you can play around with low apertures too.

Here's what to look out for and consider.

Spirit level

These tend to be built into the structure of the tripod and do exactly what their name implies – help you balance your camera so that it's straight.

Spikes

These can be found on the high-end models and they exist to give extreme photographers extra-grip in rough terrain.

Removable central columns

Again, probably found in the top-range models, a removable central column gives the photographer more movement to try out various angles.

Release plate

Tripods are often used in instances where a photographer has the luxury of time. In instances where the camera needs to shift from the tripod to a pair of hands, a quick-release plate will ensure that no time is wasted.