Easel vs. Tripod — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
An easel is a stand used for supporting a canvas or board while painting, whereas a tripod is a three-legged stand used to support cameras and other devices.
Difference Between Easel and Tripod
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Easels are primarily used by artists to hold canvases upright while they paint, allowing for easier access and better viewing angles. On the other hand, tripods are used in photography and videography to stabilize cameras, preventing movement to ensure sharp images.
The design of an easel can vary, including A-frame, H-frame, and single mast types, which support different sizes and weights of canvases. Conversely, tripods are generally more uniform, consisting of three adjustable legs and a mount to secure the camera.
Easels often have a simple mechanism for adjusting the angle and height of the support surface to suit the artist’s ergonomic needs. In contrast, tripods have intricate adjustments for height, angle, and rotation to capture images from various perspectives.
Artists use easels in studios or outdoor settings to create art, providing a practical and portable means to display and work on pieces. Whereas photographers use tripods in diverse environments, from studios to rugged outdoor landscapes, to achieve stable and precise shots.
While easels may fold up for easier transport to different painting locations, they are generally more stationary. Tripods, however, are designed to be highly portable, often with retractable legs and lightweight materials suitable for travel.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Supporting canvases for painting
Supporting cameras for photography
Design Variants
A-frame, H-frame, single mast
Mostly standardized, three-legged
Adjustability
Angle and height of canvas
Height, angle, and rotation of camera
Common Settings
Art studios, outdoor painting
Photo studios, outdoor photography
Portability
Less portable, larger
Highly portable, designed for travel
Compare with Definitions
Easel
Can support various canvas sizes.
The sturdy easel could accommodate both small and large canvases.
Tripod
Compact and travel-friendly.
Her tripod folded up easily and fit into her backpack.
Easel
A stand for holding a canvas or board during painting.
She set up her easel by the window to capture the natural light.
Tripod
Used for precise camera positioning.
He adjusted the tripod to get the perfect angle for the sunrise.
Easel
Portable, used outdoors by artists.
She packed her easel and paints for a plein air session.
Tripod
Enhances camera stability.
Using a tripod helps prevent blurring in low-light conditions.
Easel
Used in art displays.
The gallery displayed the painting on an ornate easel.
Tripod
Essential for long exposure shots.
Night sky photography requires a steady tripod.
Easel
Adjustable for artist's comfort.
He adjusted the easel to a higher position for a better painting angle.
Tripod
A three-legged stand for cameras.
The photographer set up his tripod to take a landscape shot.
Easel
An easel is an upright support used for displaying and/or fixing something resting upon it, at an angle of about 20° to the vertical. In particular, easels are traditionally used by painters to support a painting while they work on it, normally standing up, and are also sometimes used to display finished paintings.
Tripod
A tripod is a portable three-legged frame or stand, used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The three-legged (triangular stance) design provides good stability against gravitational loads as well as horizontal shear forces, and better leverage for resisting tipping over due to lateral forces can be achieved by spreading the legs away from the vertical centre.
Easel
An upright frame for displaying or supporting something, such as an artist's canvas.
Tripod
A three-legged object, such as a cauldron, stool, or table.
Easel
An upright frame, typically on three legs, for displaying or supporting something, such as an artist's canvas.
Tripod
An adjustable three-legged stand, as for supporting a transit or camera.
Easel
A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition.
Tripod
A three-legged stand or mount.
Recent cell phones offer tripod attachments to take steady photographs.
Easel
An upright tripod for displaying something (usually an artist's canvas)
Tripod
(science fiction) A fictional three-legged Martian war machine from H.G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds (1897).
Tripod
(slang) A man with macrophallism.
Tripod
(intransitive) To enter the tripod position showing signs of exhaustion or distress.
I tripodded after my 6-mile run.
Tripod
Of a lizard, to raise its body upright bracing itself on hind legs and tail.
Tripod
Any utensil or vessel, as a stool, table, altar, caldron, etc., supported on three feet.
Tripod
A three-legged frame or stand, usually jointed at top, for supporting a theodolite, compass, telescope, camera, or other instrument.
Tripod
A three-legged rack used for support
Common Curiosities
What is the primary use of a tripod?
A tripod is primarily used to stabilize cameras for photography.
How do you set up a tripod?
Extend its legs, adjust the height, and secure the camera onto the mount.
Are all easels portable?
While many easels are designed to be portable, some heavier studio models are less so.
Can easels hold other items besides canvases?
Yes, easels can also display boards and framed art.
Can a tripod be used for something other than a camera?
Yes, tripods can also support lights, microphones, and scopes.
What materials are tripods made from?
Tripods are commonly made from aluminum, carbon fiber, or plastic.
What is an easel used for?
An easel is used to support canvases during painting.
Are easels adjustable?
Yes, many easels allow adjustments to the canvas angle and height.
How do easels help artists?
Easels hold canvases steady and at an ergonomic angle for easier painting.
What is the advantage of using a tripod in photography?
Tripods provide stability, especially important in low light and for long exposures.
Is there a preferred tripod for travel photography?
Lightweight and compact tripods are preferred for travel.
Do professional artists use special types of easels?
Yes, professionals may use durable, versatile easels like H-frame models for larger canvases.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
