A mini tripod takes little space and stands on a table or works as a handle when you film yourself. Phone holders put the phone on an ordinary tripod, and some have a shoe for a microphone or light. Clamps attach a phone or camera to railings and table edges. Compare the load capacity if you want to use a camera instead of a phone.
Read more about mini tripods & phone mounts
A mini tripod is the tripod that actually comes along. It sits in a jacket pocket or the side pocket of a bag, weighs a couple of hundred grams and puts the camera or phone on a wall, a table or a rock when you need it. This guide covers the different kinds and what they can handle.
Tabletop and mini tripods for cameras
A tabletop tripod has three short legs and a small ball head. The simplest ones are made for a compact camera or a phone. The sturdier ones in metal or carbon carry a mirrorless camera with a lens, and some have an Arca clamp so the same plate you use on the big tripod works here.
The legs double as a handle. Fold them together and hold them while filming yourself, spread them when you want to set the camera down. That is why many vloggers use a tabletop tripod instead of a grip.
Look at the load capacity and at how the head locks. A mini tripod with a weak ball head slowly sags sideways under a heavy lens, and you only notice once the shot is taken. Some have a centre column that extends for a few extra centimetres.
For a trip where the camera needs to stand at eye level, a mini tripod is not enough. That calls for a travel tripod.
Mini tripods for action cameras and small cameras
Action cameras and small vlogging cameras weigh so little that almost anything can hold them. Here the choice is more about how the tripod attaches and is carried. There are mini tripods shaped like a carabiner that clip onto a backpack or handlebars and fold out when you stop.
Check the mount. Many action cameras, GoPro among them, have their own two-prong mount instead of a standard 1/4 inch thread, and then you need an adapter between camera and tripod. Newer cameras often have both.
Phone holders and tripod mounts for phones
A phone holder is the clamp that lets a phone sit on a tripod. It has a 1/4 inch thread underneath, so it fits both mini tripods and full-size tripods. Check the clamp width. Large phones in thick cases, such as the biggest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models, do not fit every holder.
Holders differ in three ways:
- How quickly the phone goes in and out. Some have a spring clamp that takes the phone one-handed.
- Whether it rotates to vertical, which most people filming for social media want.
- Whether it has a cold shoe for a microphone or light. That makes a big difference to the sound when you film yourself.
Metal holders last longer and wobble less than plastic, especially if the phone goes in every day. There are also clamps for tablets and larger screens.
Vlogging tripods and selfie sticks with tripod legs
A vlogging tripod is a mini tripod built out for filming yourself. The legs fold into a handle, there is a phone holder on top and often room for a microphone and a light. Some are sold as kits with all of it.
A selfie stick with tripod legs goes a step further. It extends to arm's length and beyond, and the legs at the bottom let you stand it up. It is good for group shots and for filming from a little distance. Outdoors in wind a tall, thin stick is the least stable thing you can choose, so keep it low when it blows. There are live-streaming stands built with a wider base for exactly that.
Webcams and streaming at the desk
At a desk, the camera often needs to be where a tripod gets in the way. A desk mount clamped to the edge of the table holds the camera above the monitor or straight over the desk, to show hands, drawings, food or products from above.
Webcams usually have a 1/4 inch thread underneath, so they fit standard mini tripods. A small tripod behind the monitor gives a better angle than a camera perched on the edge of the screen. For top-down shots with a mirrorless camera you need a sturdier mount, since the camera hangs out from the clamp.
What a mini tripod cannot do
Height is the obvious limit. A mini tripod needs something to stand on, and outdoors that is rarely at the right height. Walls, fences and the roof of the car tend to save the day.
The less obvious limit is balance. A long lens pointing forward easily tips a small tripod. Turn the tripod so one leg points the same way as the lens and it stands much more firmly.
And do not press the shutter with your finger. A mini tripod has too little mass to absorb it. Use the self-timer, a remote or the app on your phone.
Frequently asked questions about mini tripods & phone mounts
What is a mini tripod?
A small tripod with short legs that stands on a table, wall or the ground and often doubles as a handle. It is made for phones, compact cameras or a light mirrorless camera. To get the camera to eye level you need a regular tripod.
How do I attach my phone to a tripod?
With a phone holder. It clamps around the phone and has a 1/4 inch thread underneath that fits almost every tripod. Check that the clamp is wide enough for your phone in its case.
Which tripod is good for filming with a phone?
For filming yourself, a vlogging tripod or a mini tripod with a phone holder is enough, ideally with a cold shoe for a microphone. If the phone needs to sit higher, for group shots for example, use a selfie stick with tripod legs or a holder on a regular tripod.
Can a mini tripod hold a mirrorless camera?
Yes, if it is built for it. Check the load capacity and choose one in metal or carbon with a solid ball head. Light plastic models are made for phones and compact cameras.
Can I use a mini tripod for my webcam?
Most webcams have a 1/4 inch thread underneath and fit a standard mini tripod. Placed behind the monitor it often gives a better angle than the camera on the edge of the screen.