A tripod system is generally comprised of the following parts:

1. Legs 鈥� the obvious. Tripod legs are typically made of aluminum, basalt, steel or carbon fiber.
2. Head 鈥� the part that holds a digital camera or a lens. There are many different types of heads, but the most popular types are ball-heads and pan-tilt heads.
3. Centerpost/Center Column 鈥� a separate leg that runs through the middle, allowing to further raise the tripod head.
4. Feet 鈥� good tripods allow changing tripod feet at the end of the legs for indoor and outdoor use.

The cheapest tripods have legs with an integrated non-replaceable head and feet and sometimes have a centerpost, while the top-of-the-line tripods have a modular tripod system that have replaceable feet and allow attaching a separate tripod head (the head is typically not included).