How do I weigh down my tripod on windy days?
Use a wide-base tripod, tie it down with heavy sandbags or stakes, and put the weight on the side the wind comes from. A tripod that blows over can break the positioner, lens or camera.
A tripod that blows over can break the Remote Positioner, the lens or the camera, so use more weight than you think you need:
- Use a wide-base tripod.
- Tie it down with heavy sandbags or blocks, or stake it into the ground.
- Put the weight on the side the wind is coming from. If the wind swirls, add weight on the opposite side too.
- At venues that are often windy, consider a heavier tripod, or a metal post on a weighted wheeled base with a lower center of gravity.
Troubleshoot has the full checklist, including keeping the camera on the finish line in wind, under Tripod blows over or shifts in wind. If the positioner already broke, see Remote positioner motor damaged.
Goes deeper
- Tripod blows over or shifts in wind — Troubleshoot · Camera · EtherLynx Camera · Lens & Hardware
Related questions
- Can I repair the motor for my Remote Positioner at home? — Yes, in many cases. Troubleshoot walks through it, and the Remote Positioner Motor Home Repair Guide has the full directions.
- Where should my camera be located in relation to the finish line? — In the plane of the finish line: for athletics, 7 to 15 feet high, about the same distance back from the track, pointing down at about 45 degrees. The Lens Calculator picks the lens for your spot.