Camera Labs

Hello everyone, we've just published our first tripod reviews, which include a vibration damping test I hope you'll find interesting. As explained in the reviews, it's not scientifically perfect by any means, but the results are certainly revealing.

I've tested the five best-selling Manfrotto tripods:

Manfrotto 190XPROB review

Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 review

Manfrotto 055XPROB review

Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 review

Manfrotto M-Y 7301YB review

As explained in each review, the main text and guides are duplicated across all five articles, but each is written from the viewpoint of a particular model.

So if you're interested in a quality tripod, check out the reviews!

If you already own one of these models, we'd also love to hear what you think of them in this thread - and don't forget to also add which tripod you own - and why - to the Recommended tripods thread in this section.

Thanks!

Gordon Laing

Thanks Gordon for this particularly helpful review. For those of us who don't have the opportunity try out all the variations of a tripod this is great. Now I know you're busy but in due course what about continuing on and reviewing ballheads at different price points etc to put the kit together. Thanks again.

Very interesting.


Maybe I'll get one for my birthday if i'm lucky. According to my plans, I should have a clickity box just before then.


So far I think I prefer the aluminium 055. I'd prefer to take a bit more weight than risk getting a blurred shot. I live in a really windy place.

Also, do the tripods have hooks to hang some extra weight?

Hi Edwin, welcome on-board - glad you found them useful!

Agun - naughty! You didn't read the part where I said there isn't a hook to hang extra weights - shame. But you do get that quick switch to horizontal orientation.

I have 5 (yes that's FIVE) of the Manfrotto 058B tripods. Very heavy, very solid - perfect for my requirements
Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

Greg, could you add your tripod choice to our recommended tripod list please?

Sorry Gordon - I thought that's where I had posted (obviously not) - please delete these couple of posts - I've just mentioned the 058B in the correct section
Greg

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Nexstar 11 GPS, 2 x Sky 90, M25C, MaximDL, Photshop CS3, Noel Carboni's Photoshop actions, 7 foot Pulsar fibreglass dome, Canon 40D, 100mm macro lens, 28-200mm zoom lens, 17-55mm f#2.8 zoom lens, 100-400mm zoom lens, 1.4x converter, 2x converter.
http://www.newforestobservatory.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12801949@N02/

Can I consider the list above to be up-to-date?

I've been asked about Christmas presents already and need a tripod upgrade. Less than 3 months away now...

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The 055cxpro does have a hook for hanging weights as at a few months ago in the UK. Not sure about the others.