I just bought a new tripod.... What a beast!

Tom Pinchenzo

Tom Pinchenzo

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My new tripod arrived today after my old manfrotto carbon fibre travel tripod broke after about 2 years (not too great). The one that arrived today is the 055XPRO3 which has come with an x-pro 3-way head, which is also new to me, having always used ball heads. And blimey, it's a big hunk of metal! I didn't expect it to be this heavy, but it seems indestructible and much taller than my last one - this is eye-height without the centre column. It also has a cool mechanism where the centre column rotates to lie horizontal. I think it was a pretty good buy for under £200. Aside from some trepidation about lugging it up mountains I'm excited to give it a whirl. ALso,

Has anyone got this model? And what are your thoughts on the horizontal centre column mechanism. Not sure how often I would use it... Also, interested to hear people's opinion on pan/tilt heads vs ball heads.
 
I've got the 055CXPRO3 and before that a Giottos tripod with the facility to switch the centre column to horizontal.

I've rarely used it on either model. When I switched to the 055CXPRO3 it wasn't a requirement - it just happened to be a feature that the tripod came with.

I have the XPro 3 Way head, the XPro 3 Way geared head, and the 322RC2 grip ball head.

I rarely use the 3 Way ungeared head - it's kept as a spare. The Xpro 3 Way geared head works well for me - not too heavy - reasonably quick to make large movements using the levers - and the gearing for precise movements - such as levelling levelling. The the grip ball head is used less frequently - but when I use it I much prefer it to a an ordinary ballhead. (I use APS-C mirrorless and compacts so my experiences with the two heads I use are wityh lighter equipment).

My one bit of annoyance with the Manfrotto 055 range is the lack of a thread at the bottom of the feet to attach screw in spikes. Manfrotto do supply a set of feet with small spikes that clamp to the legs - but they don't look as effective - and Manfrotto seem strangely coy about the fit (last time I looked at this option it seemed to be a case of you having to measure your tripod tube diameter to fuigure which one is right rather than just read it off a compatibility list to get the the right set).
 
Good price on them at the moment too.
 
I have the 190 which is very similar. I also have the 3 way head and no it's not light. I've probably carried it over my shoulder (on an Optech strap) for about 5 miles, but I am somewhat below average size and when out 'proper' walking I don't carry a tripod. I love the 3 way head. It's quick and easy to use and locks up absolutely rigidly with the 150-600mm lens on it, and the spirit levels are really useful. My older camera that's used for landscape doesn't have any form of levelling. I've only ever used a ballhead on a monopod for wildlife and what a faff! I have had the centre column horizontal a very few times. It's a bit fiddly and I rarely take landscape images in portrait. I've had it several years now and most years it's had a fortnight of sea and sand (Wester Ross sunsets :love:), a wash off in the sink after each dunking and it's fine.
 
Dryce said:
I've got the 055CXPRO3 and before that a Giottos tripod with the facility to switch the centre column to horizontal.

I've rarely used it on either model. When I switched to the 055CXPRO3 it wasn't a requirement - it just happened to be a feature that the tripod came with.

I have the XPro 3 Way head, the XPro 3 Way geared head, and the 322RC2 grip ball head.

I rarely use the 3 Way ungeared head - it's kept as a spare. The Xpro 3 Way geared head works well for me - not too heavy - reasonably quick to make large movements using the levers - and the gearing for precise movements - such as levelling levelling. The the grip ball head is used less frequently - but when I use it I much prefer it to a an ordinary ballhead. (I use APS-C mirrorless and compacts so my experiences with the two heads I use are wityh lighter equipment).

My one bit of annoyance with the Manfrotto 055 range is the lack of a thread at the bottom of the feet to attach screw in spikes. Manfrotto do supply a set of feet with small spikes that clamp to the legs - but they don't look as effective - and Manfrotto seem strangely coy about the fit (last time I looked at this option it seemed to be a case of you having to measure your tripod tube diameter to fuigure which one is right rather than just read it off a compatibility list to get the the right set).
Click to expand...
Yes, on my last tripod I replaced the feet with some threaded bar from a hardware store, which worked perfectly and only cost £2. It meant a small light tripod was rock solid.

My only query is whether the head can be adapted to take an arca swiss-type L bracket?
 
Tom Pinchenzo said:
My only query is whether the head can be adapted to take an arca swiss-type L bracket?
Click to expand...

The XPro 3 Way heads have a fixed clamp in the moulding for the QR plate.

The XPro 3 Way ungeared head is metal - the geared one is some sort of plastic / polycarbonate.

I have a arca type clamp attached to a QR head for attaching an L bracket.
 
I can't bare ball heads, I really like the 3 way Xpro head. I find it way easier to compose with it and fine tune the composition.

I think you will enjoy this tripod. I have the 190 and it supports a D810 with 70-200 2.8 no problem which is my heaviest lens/body combo. As for weight, carry it on a proper rucksack and it'll be fine
 
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Dryce said:
The XPro 3 Way heads have a fixed clamp in the moulding for the QR plate.

The XPro 3 Way ungeared head is metal - the geared one is some sort of plastic / polycarbonate.

I have a arca type clamp attached to a QR head for attaching an L bracket.
Click to expand...
Thanks Andrew,

Your QR-Arca adapter sounds interesting. What brand is it? Could you link to the product? I might try with just tilting the head for vertical shots for a while. If I really miss my L-bracket I might switch. The L-bracket was a bit of a pain for attaching a cable-release.
 
SFTPhotography said:
I can't bare ball heads, I really like the 3 way Xpro head. I find it way easier to compose with it and fine tune the composition.

I think you will enjoy this tripod. I have the 190 and it supports a D810 with 70-200 2.8 no problem which is my heaviest lens/body combo. As for weight, carry it on a proper rucksack and it'll be fine
Click to expand...
Having messed around with it in the house it seems like an amazing system. The pan/tilt head feels like it will be much better than ball head. I find it really annoying trying to make small adjustments.
 
Tom Pinchenzo said:
Your QR-Arca adapter sounds interesting. What brand is it? Could you link to the product? I might try with just tilting the head for vertical shots for a while. If I really miss my L-bracket I might switch. The L-bracket was a bit of a pain for attaching a cable-release.
Click to expand...

Can't remember the brand as it was a few years ago. Bought off Amazon. I suspect it was Neewer.

If you do a search on Amazon for an arca Quick Release Clamp Plate you'll find quite a few. These have a threaded 1/4 or 3/8 centre screw and come in different clamp lengths sizes.
 
SFTPhotography said:
I can't bare ball heads, I really like the 3 way Xpro head. I find it way easier to compose with it and fine tune the composition.
Click to expand...

The 3-way X-Pro ungeared head is quite a nice bit of kit with the telescoping handles. Compact when folded. I find it heavy to carry though.
 
I've got a ball head and a 3 way pan/tilt head as I find they are useful in different ways.

I bought the 3 way after managing to loose the ball head. Couldn't find it anywhere. Bought the replacement, and the ball head turned up in an obvious place.

Also pleased with my 055 X Pro 3 way CF legs.
 
I have the Manfrotto 055XPROB original version and I think more designed for studio work, it is so heavy
 
I've looked at this model myself and have toyed many times with buying it as I'm still using my very first bought tripod from about 10 years ago. Its a Manfrotto but can't remember the model haha. You'll find that the 3-way head is part of the reason its heavy as they normally add a fair bit if weight if I remember.

Personally I like ball heads but always get caught out by them as I can never remember the knobs and the ball ends up falling forward with the camera luckily it's always been fine but still.
 
Well if it’s lasted 10 years it must be better than the one I bought two years ago and has now disintegrated! Yeah, I’ve always used a ball head so it will be interesting to see which I prefer. I’m aware I’m not comparing like with like as the new head retails for about the same as the legs and head of my last tripod combined.
 
I have had my Tripod for about 4 years now. Wow I didn't think it was that long! I like the Tripod, it's sturdy and lightweight but I keep meaning to change my 3 way pan tilt Manfrotto tripod head, I hate how heavy it is, about a kilogram, which doesn't sound like much but carry it around is very annoying after a bit and even attached to your bag really makes the whole tripod feels like it weighs 3kg for some reason.

I think for my next tripod I'll buy a Gitzo and a ball head.

Forgot to say my Tripod is the Carbon Fibre version. Not sure how much the aluminium one Tripod weighs but being a landscape photographer it was essential to me to have a carbon fibre to minimise weight - and counter balance the weight of the tripod head!
 
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Took the monster out for a test this morning. I love all the little spirit levels everywhere. Very useful and also how the main level on the legs rotates around so you can see it at any position. It was actually a bit of a pain shooting in vertical so I might investigate the arca Swiss adapter.
 
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