Agree with the flip lock, love the peak design one, since I am already using their capture clip. Though in less windy conditions, those carbon fiber monopod with legs on the bottom are actually quite nice, doubles as a walking stick too.
Benro TMA38CL Long Series 3 Mach3 carbon fiber tripod is very good!! I’ve used it for 2 years for landscape photography on my hikes. I love it. Don’t forget the importance of the tripod head as well. Really Right Stuff BH-30 Ball Head with Full Size Lever-Release Clamp is awesome!
I have one of the older BeFree aluminium tripods (MKBFRA4-BH) and it's excellent. I have just upgraded it to take Arca type plates for convenience and it copes with my medium format film cameras as well as my Z6. I added a sling and it's light enough to carry all day. It fits easily in a carry-on bag for travel too. It's a little wobbly at maximum height but that's seldom an issue - just leave the thinnest section of the legs collapsed.
Fantastic! I just bought an older model manfrotto carbon fibre (190go!) never used on ebay for less than half the price that it was retailing at. Your video helped me make the decision.
I have a Manfrotto monopod that is awesome and has taken a beating shooting sports for years. I am a big fan of Benro/MeFoto for price to quality and I like that they use the more universal Arcaswiss plates instead of proprietary Manfrotto ones. You can buy just the Manfrotto legs and get an Arcaswiss head but can't go wrong either way.
I loves the travel tripod. Very flexible features including low angles shot or any angles configuration. Better than standard tripod but kept in home studio. Also liked the table top tripod or clamp pod (whatever called). Really enjoying photography skills. So far great contents, David. Keep on b-rolling. 🎞 📷📸
I follow a few landscape photographers and decided to go with they recommended which I recently ordered from Adorama. I have an aluminum tripod with a center column. It's okay with my DSLR but when I had to raise the center column it is unstable. My camera actually fell when I attended a night sky photography workshop. So, I decided to ditch the center column and get a carbon fiber tripod. I'm still waiting for the head since it is backordered. Anyway this carbon fiber comes up to my height and it's lighter than the aluminum one I have. I'm so glad I decided to invest in a decent tripod. No more center columns for me. I understand for some people center columns have a purpose but not for me. Thank you!!!
I can recomend the Manfrotto ball head, I have both varients but use the MHXPRO-BHQ6 more often as it is Arca Swiss compatable so with a 3 legged thing L bracket on my camera I can easily switch between portrait and landscape orientation, you can move the the camera using the MHXPRO-BHQ2 head but it is a little more fiddly and not as stable as the cameras weight is not directly above the centre of the tripod when in portrait mode, it is off to one side.
You still have to lock the flip locks after you open. I love my Gitzo, 25 years old! I also use the TvC-33 by RRS. I would advise getting arca.Swiss mounts with an L plate on a ball head. I recently did a FB post of my tripods, all 11! 😎
Nice to have an honest review! Thanks! My biggest issue is getting a tripod that goes high enough for me being that I'm a tall guy over 6 foot and I like having that extra height to stand up straight rather than having to bend over to get that shot.
Hi just a quick question, I recently purchased a Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with a 496 Center Ball Head. My question is: Is there a quick release plate that features both horizontal and vertical bubble levels for this tripod?
Concerning the Be free Manfroto, I’d like to find a tripod for video (assuming it can be used for photo also). My concerns are a ball head. I have a 31” GVM slider. I’m looking for a tripod that will have fluid movement for the camera by itself, but am wondering if the be free will handle the weight of the motorized slider and will a ball head be able to do that job also. I have seen people mount a slider on a ball head style, but each slider is different. I’ve also seen “slider braces”(?) that mount to the ends of the slider and the tripod legs. Will this tripod be able to support the weight with this combination? Also, what ball head would you recommend? Thanks o advance.
I have had no luck with Manfrotto. I have a tripod from my Dad that he had in 1985 that is my workhorse. I'll continue to look for the vintage ones. :)
Hi Greg! Can you attach a geared head to the lightweight tripod?. Im currently use the 055. Quality is amazing, but since i do food photography on restaurants i need portability
Hi David, Do you remove the head when traveling with the Befree tripod? With the Ball head on it cannot be folded so compact. (At least it is better than with a 3-way head :-)
Great video, Flip Lock Guy 😂😂😂 personally I'm a Benro fan, but Manfrotto make great stuff as well. Tripods are almost a priority Item for Landscape photography, not to say you need a tripod for Landscapes but lets face it, it's been ingrained into our DNA🤔😃
David, Can that head handle the Canon R with the weight of the RF100-500 and point up to the sky? Most heads I have tried can not hold a lock pointing at the moon or astrophotography. Thanks for the great videos.
Hello David, I'm totally in line with your comments on tripods. There is no such thing as the best/ideal tripod. That's why I have several. A very heavy tripod with a 3-axis head for very precise adjustment. I use it indoors for pack shot or if I'm near the car. Another just as heavy with a fluid head for video and a lighter one that I can carry on a backpack all day and with a ball head. The same goes for tripod heads. Besides the 3 mentioned above, I use a panoramic head or a gimbal for wildlife photography. All this in the Manfrotto brand; They have excellent material and if necessary, you can find all the parts separately. There are of course other good brands like Gitzo or Sirui. One complaint, each head has a different fixing system. I switched to Arca Swiss so that I could mount any camera body on any tripod easily. Like you, I prefer the "Flip" system to the "Twist" system. At least we can see directly if it's closed. A few tips: While rubber feet are good for indoors, good spikes provide great stability outdoors. For sand, a piece of cardboard is better so that the tripod does not sink in during a long exposure. A good tripod is an investment but I am not rich enough to buy a cheap one ;-)
This is a great video. Manfroto makes excellent tripods. Another very good source of tripods is Induro. I’ve used their tripods since forever, and like manfroto, you buy it once and it will last you for the rest of your life and your kids lives. Rock solid. Not the cheapest around, but, when you have several thousand dollars sitting on top of it, totally worth it. One feature of the Induro tripods I like is the bottom of the center column has a hook on it, which is a perfect place to hang your bag or weights, which *significantly* lowers the center of gravity.
Agree that I wish manfrotto had the hook. I can usually find another place to hang the bag though. My old manfrotto has a hole at the bottom and I used to use a bungee cord to hook my bag on.
There are some heavy duty ball heads that absolutely can hold long glass. They don’t make them anymore, but I used to use the metal Slik Pro Ballhead with 400 2.8 and 600 f/4 lenses quite easily. There probably are comparable versions to buy today.
Being in northern Canada, it is worthy to note that aluminum gets very very cold when shooting landscapes. I have a wonderful vanguard aluminum but regret not spending the extra money for carbon fibre.
Aaaahhh... no wonder the Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head went on back order today at Adorama... dang it, David!!! Ordered one this morning (before I saw this video which is now Monday night at 8:45PM Central)... Hey, please check with me before you hop on here talking about products.. I need to make sure if it’s something I need I can get it before the masses swarm Adorama!! 😏😏 Love the videos, man!!
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SERIOUSLY HEAVY DUTY TRIPOD, CHECK OUT THE MANFROTTO 058B TRIPOD WEIGHING IN AT 13.58 POUNDS. THIS TRIPOD CAN BE SETUP AND LEVELED IN ABOUT 3/5 SECONDS THAT'S WHY I LOVE I AND BEEN USING THE MK ONE VERSION FOR 30 YEARS. I BOUGHT THE MK 3 VERSION SECOND HAND, ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO FOR ABOUT $150 MINT.
I've got a Manfrotto that I've been using for about 15 years or so. It's still going strong but I've seriously considered investing in a carbon fiber tripod. Been looking. Time will tell if I bite the bullet or keep using what I've got.
Love these comparisons, David. I wish you would have made mention of the maximum height differences though. I am 6'4" and really do not like to 'stoop' to look through my viewfinder, especially for long periods of time. Having the capability to stand upright is a priority for me. I believe the GTX has a maximum height of just over 5 foot. I assume that is WITHOUT the head? If not, that might be an issue for some. Thanks again for the comparison video!
The "fun" part, is that once you're getting really into it you'll discover you can't get away with just one. I have a 'frotto 055-series (MT055CXPRO4) with a 555B column and XPro geared head for general use, and ... when I'm shooting with the legs in seawater and don't want to ruin my 'frotto, I use a Fotopro X-GO HR "Chameleon" with a Sirui K20-II head (I can buy 4 fotopros for the price of one 'frotto). Both have a center column that can be used as a boom.
I had one of those $70 ones. Except I tripped over it while hustling to my truck while storm chasing last year. But I really dig that last one! It doesn't have the 90° ability like the larger one though, does it?
Great video! At the risk of stepping out of bounds, I use the SLIK AMT PRO 700DX. Strong, tall and only 99 bucks without the head. Love it, may be a tad heavy to carry all day for some but a no brainer for the price at least for me. Thanks for the great content you produce!
I'm still mourning, years later, I did not buy a carbon Gitzo System 5 Oceanic when the factory sold it at half price in Italy only. Living a day's drive away from Italy, I just should have gone there, bought the tripod and have it delivered to my hotel in Italy. You'll say, that it is very big for a 35mm full frame camera. True, I would have bought their tallest center column with it and used it like that in the studio where the sticks would have stuck out less that way. Size is important. I have a traveler size carbon one and with its head removed, it fits in my carry-on suitcase that I can bring along in an airplane. But that one is flimsy, even when very strong. As to heads, I have several, movie and photo types. The photo types switch easily between landscape and portrait. But rotating the camera 90 degrees changes its viewpoint in left-right sense. So to prevent that, I use my L-bracket to serve orientation changes. As I had this Manfrotto magnesium ballhead with a Manfrotto quick release, that was not convenient because it's not Arca compatible. I bought a rotating (panorama) platter that accidentally had a matching screw for the Manfrotto head after its quick release was removed. So now I have this Manfrotto ballhead with an Arca-compatible panorama plate on the top. When I have the top plate level, a panorama shot is easy too. I now can attach the L-bracket, or even a nodal slide, to that Arca quick release.
One criterion for choosing a tripod that no one ever mentions is customer service. I recently went through the process of acquiring a new travel tripod (through Adorama!) and was overwhelmed by the number of choices. In the end, I went with a Feisol model. That company isn't as well known as many others, but I've been very pleased. Several years ago, I bought a big, very sturdy model and, later, a monopod from Feisol, and the equipment has successfully weathered a lot of use and abuse from me over time. I'm now a real-estate photographer and have used my Feisol tripod and monopod every working day for almost six years. (I use the monopod to hold my flash unit.) I've set up this equipment and banged it around inside and outside of houses literally thousands of times. Becoming frustrated in my search for a travel tripod by the number of options, I decided to go back to Feisol. Not only is their equipment sturdy and light, but the price is also reasonable. In fact, I bought my first Feisol tripod based on a recommendation from a Wimberly customer service agent. I was purchasing a gimbal head for a trip to Yellowstone, and I asked him for a tripod recommendation. He said Feisol was "as good Gitzo, for half the price." The deciding factor for me, when buying the travel tripod, however, was Feisol's customer service. After years of use, I've had occasions to send my large tripod and monopod back to Feisol for cleaning. (I've tried doing the cleaning myself, but I never seem to get all the little rings back in the right order.) Even though Feisol is a Korean company, their US branch is in Wilmington, North Carolina. In both cases, the Wilmington branch reconditioned my tripod and monopod quickly and sent them back to me within a few days. That kind of service is critical to me, and that's one of the main reasons I'm a loyal customer. P.S. I also appreciate that Feisol has equipment suitable for tall people. Of course, I frequently use the flip-out screen on my camera to see at odd angles, and I could use that feature to compensate for a short tripod. And, of course, I could always extend the center column on a short tripod to get the camera up to my height, but I'm always nervous about the extra shake that an extended column can introduce. I love having a tripod that's as tall as I am. Yes, the taller tripod is a couple of ounces heavier and longer when folded, but that's preferable to suffering the aches and pains of being hunched over a short tripod.
I'm not trusting my heavy DSLR OR heavy Glass to a cheap Pod. for wildlife i think that a center Column isn't necessary.. I loved my Befree.. I took it all over Europe with me.
I was truely interested to hear what he has to say about tripods - until 4:04. The title of this videos should rather be "What are the best Manfrotto tripods for you?" But then, I guess, not so many would watch it. Everyone knows that Manfrotto build good tripods (mostly), but that they also sit in a certain price bracket (all of them).
Nice coverage David a good steady tripod is a must for that Dslr that paid big bucks for. But in the last for years I found that in the city there place where you can not use a tripod without s permit which I found out shooting near battery park when Fleet week is held so I when with a platypod instead of a tripod. It saved the day for me when shooting video and still. I do not know why the park rangers keep that area void of tripods and why one needs a permit. I have 2 rock steady tripods and one travel one. So do you have a clue why this is done in the museum area
This pound measurement is killing me.. I absolutely have no idea how much kg they carry.. And i am so lazy to open and check it.. You should also include the universal Kg values in your video
Actually brought to you by Adorama, which sells lots of brands. Like I said in the video, I’m sharing what I actually use but certainly other options out there.
For some photographers, the "right" tripods are like a religion...there are only tripods for their photography style...everything else is just "wrong". But you can`t make all of them happy with just one tripod, because with different needs, you need different solutions. The Tripod has to fit your actual project, the lens, you will need for it, and the environment. Do you make photos indoors, or outdoors, where you have to adjust to the weather conditions (wind, rain, etc.)? Indoors in your home, you don´t have a weight and size limitation. Outdoors, you only want to carry a tripod, which is strong enough, to be able to hold your camera + lens. A bird photographer will need a big tripod with no center column, a shooting platform for his big lens so to speak...a macro photographer would need a center column for fine adjustments, otherwise, he would need to adjust all three legs over and over again, to find the right hight. Landscape photographers don`t need a big tripod, like the bird photographers, but they also don´t need a center column. Portrait and street photographers: some will use tripods, some not. Product photographers want the most stable tripod, they can get...or a tower stand. And the list of examples will going on... But anyways, you will end with a bunch of different tripods in your treasure chest, like me. I have a big one (carbon fiber), which is a lot bigger than me, some mid size tripods (aluminum and carbon fiber), which can hold the camera at eye level, and a tiny one (carbon fiber) for ground level work. Keep in your mind: The "one" tripod, which is tall and heavy, if you need it, and which is tiny and lightweight, if you carry it, doesn´t exist...like the 1000mm/f1.0 pancake lens, which only have the size from a lenscap.
"There are those $25 plastic things, and there are also tripods that cost thousands of dollars. Now I think most of us are gonna fall somwhere in the middle of this range." Yes. Most will probably buy something in the middle of the cheapest and most expensive tripod there are available 😋 Great vid! I'm still rocking my 055CXPRO3 since 7 years now. :-)
Agree with the flip lock, love the peak design one, since I am already using their capture clip. Though in less windy conditions, those carbon fiber monopod with legs on the bottom are actually quite nice, doubles as a walking stick too.
Benro TMA38CL Long Series 3 Mach3 carbon fiber tripod is very good!! I’ve used it for 2 years for landscape photography on my hikes. I love it. Don’t forget the importance of the tripod head as well. Really Right Stuff BH-30 Ball Head with Full Size Lever-Release Clamp is awesome!
Great recommendations, on the breakdown of why you like each tripod! Would love to see your video tripod recommendations maybe in the fsb line?
I have one of the older BeFree aluminium tripods (MKBFRA4-BH) and it's excellent. I have just upgraded it to take Arca type plates for convenience and it copes with my medium format film cameras as well as my Z6. I added a sling and it's light enough to carry all day. It fits easily in a carry-on bag for travel too. It's a little wobbly at maximum height but that's seldom an issue - just leave the thinnest section of the legs collapsed.
Still using my decades old Bogen 3035. Have 5 heads for it and yes it weighs as much as a small car. Have several Manfrottos for field work.
Great advice, David. Thanks!
Fantastic! I just bought an older model manfrotto carbon fibre (190go!) never used on ebay for less than half the price that it was retailing at. Your video helped me make the decision.
For several years I have used my 3 055's. Good solid gear at a fair price. Plenty of heads. Also have lots of their studio gear.
I have a Manfrotto monopod that is awesome and has taken a beating shooting sports for years.
I am a big fan of Benro/MeFoto for price to quality and I like that they use the more universal Arcaswiss plates instead of proprietary Manfrotto ones.
You can buy just the Manfrotto legs and get an Arcaswiss head but can't go wrong either way.
I loves the travel tripod. Very flexible features including low angles shot or any angles configuration. Better than standard tripod but kept in home studio. Also liked the table top tripod or clamp pod (whatever called). Really enjoying photography skills. So far great contents, David. Keep on b-rolling. 🎞 📷📸
I follow a few landscape photographers and decided to go with they recommended which I recently ordered from Adorama. I have an aluminum tripod with a center column. It's okay with my DSLR but when I had to raise the center column it is unstable. My camera actually fell when I attended a night sky photography workshop. So, I decided to ditch the center column and get a carbon fiber tripod. I'm still waiting for the head since it is backordered. Anyway this carbon fiber comes up to my height and it's lighter than the aluminum one I have. I'm so glad I decided to invest in a decent tripod. No more center columns for me. I understand for some people center columns have a purpose but not for me. Thank you!!!
Great info, thank you. BTW, I ❤️ my Manfrottos. 😊
I can recomend the Manfrotto ball head, I have both varients but use the MHXPRO-BHQ6 more often as it is Arca Swiss compatable so with a 3 legged thing L bracket on my camera I can easily switch between portrait and landscape orientation, you can move the the camera using the MHXPRO-BHQ2 head but it is a little more fiddly and not as stable as the cameras weight is not directly above the centre of the tripod when in portrait mode, it is off to one side.
You still have to lock the flip locks after you open. I love my Gitzo, 25 years old! I also use the TvC-33 by RRS. I would advise getting arca.Swiss mounts with an L plate on a ball head. I recently did a FB post of my tripods, all 11! 😎
Impressive!
So glad you mentioned the locks. Lol! Boy those things start wars between photographers.
Right? To each their own.
Nice to have an honest review! Thanks! My biggest issue is getting a tripod that goes high enough for me being that I'm a tall guy over 6 foot and I like having that extra height to stand up straight rather than having to bend over to get that shot.
As a tall guy I spread
My legs to get lower so that my photos don’t look like I’m looking down on everything.
Great info. Also, many props for the entire video being one shot, no edit.
Thanks for the video, David! What C-stand would you recomend? I mean, brand, height, boom arm, removable base, etc. Thanks!
I bought a carbon Manfrotto 190 and an Arca Swiss balhead 13 years ago. And I'll keep it for the next decade 😎
Hi just a quick question,
I recently purchased a Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod with a 496 Center Ball Head. My question is: Is there a quick release plate that features both horizontal and vertical bubble levels for this tripod?
Concerning the Be free Manfroto, I’d like to find a tripod for video (assuming it can be used for photo also). My concerns are a ball head. I have a 31” GVM slider. I’m looking for a tripod that will have fluid movement for the camera by itself, but am wondering if the be free will handle the weight of the motorized slider and will a ball head be able to do that job also. I have seen people mount a slider on a ball head style, but each slider is different. I’ve also seen “slider braces”(?) that mount to the ends of the slider and the tripod legs. Will this tripod be able to support the weight with this combination? Also, what ball head would you recommend? Thanks o advance.
Yup, Manfrotto "sticks" are great, as are a lot of other premium brands. I've had mine so long the ancient label says "Bogen". 🤣🤣🤣
For me, having the center column was a must...shooting portraits/headshots without it was almost impossible to get the perfect height...
Thanks!
Ty Great thats awesome I going to buy that tripod
That little Manfrotto is really handy, especially for my Sony a7c.
I have had no luck with Manfrotto. I have a tripod from my Dad that he had in 1985 that is my workhorse. I'll continue to look for the vintage ones. :)
16 min - 3 tripods, glad I have seen it.
Hi Greg! Can you attach a geared head to the lightweight tripod?. Im currently use the 055. Quality is amazing, but since i do food photography on restaurants i need portability
Hi David,
Do you remove the head when traveling with the Befree tripod? With the Ball head on it cannot be folded so compact. (At least it is better than with a 3-way head :-)
Another thing I love - the head actually doesn’t stick out at all when you fold it up. It all fits right in the case so no need to remove it.
i've got the Manfrotto carbon 057 model, what a beast
Great video, Flip Lock Guy 😂😂😂 personally I'm a Benro fan, but Manfrotto make great stuff as well. Tripods are almost a priority Item for Landscape photography, not to say you need a tripod for Landscapes but lets face it, it's been ingrained into our DNA🤔😃
David, Can that head handle the Canon R with the weight of the RF100-500 and point up to the sky? Most heads I have tried can not hold a lock pointing at the moon or astrophotography. Thanks for the great videos.
Hello David,
I'm totally in line with your comments on tripods.
There is no such thing as the best/ideal tripod. That's why I have several. A very heavy tripod with a 3-axis head for very precise adjustment. I use it indoors for pack shot or if I'm near the car. Another just as heavy with a fluid head for video and a lighter one that I can carry on a backpack all day and with a ball head.
The same goes for tripod heads. Besides the 3 mentioned above, I use a panoramic head or a gimbal for wildlife photography.
All this in the Manfrotto brand; They have excellent material and if necessary, you can find all the parts separately. There are of course other good brands like Gitzo or Sirui. One complaint, each head has a different fixing system. I switched to Arca Swiss so that I could mount any camera body on any tripod easily.
Like you, I prefer the "Flip" system to the "Twist" system. At least we can see directly if it's closed.
A few tips: While rubber feet are good for indoors, good spikes provide great stability outdoors. For sand, a piece of cardboard is better so that the tripod does not sink in during a long exposure.
A good tripod is an investment but I am not rich enough to buy a cheap one ;-)
Well said!
Photographers always have the wrong a) carrying case, b) tripod/head, c) light modifier
Depends on his budget 😂
What are your recommendations for the best tripods to use with a teleprompter?
Thanks
Great video!
This is a great video. Manfroto makes excellent tripods. Another very good source of tripods is Induro. I’ve used their tripods since forever, and like manfroto, you buy it once and it will last you for the rest of your life and your kids lives. Rock solid. Not the cheapest around, but, when you have several thousand dollars sitting on top of it, totally worth it. One feature of the Induro tripods I like is the bottom of the center column has a hook on it, which is a perfect place to hang your bag or weights, which *significantly* lowers the center of gravity.
Agree that I wish manfrotto had the hook. I can usually find another place to hang the bag though. My old manfrotto has a hole at the bottom and I used to use a bungee cord to hook my bag on.
@@DavidBergmanPhoto that works too. Again, as you said, it’s hard to go wrong with Manfroto.
Bad, old, cheap or decrepid tripods works fine as support for branches for bird photographers.
Some manfrotto heads are Arca Swiss - which I much prefer.
I'm no fan of Ballheads - too clumsy and lack the ability to take longer Glass..
There are some heavy duty ball heads that absolutely can hold long glass. They don’t make them anymore, but I used to use the metal Slik Pro Ballhead with 400 2.8 and 600 f/4 lenses quite easily. There probably are comparable versions to buy today.
@@DavidBergmanPhoto I haven't seen any more sturdy ballheads than my RRS BH-55. It holds the weight but like most ballheads it functions terribly...
Being in northern Canada, it is worthy to note that aluminum gets very very cold when shooting landscapes. I have a wonderful vanguard aluminum but regret not spending the extra money for carbon fibre.
Aaaahhh... no wonder the Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 XPRO Ball Head went on back order today at Adorama... dang it, David!!! Ordered one this morning (before I saw this video which is now Monday night at 8:45PM Central)... Hey, please check with me before you hop on here talking about products.. I need to make sure if it’s something I need I can get it before the masses swarm Adorama!! 😏😏 Love the videos, man!!
Hah, sorry!
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SERIOUSLY HEAVY DUTY TRIPOD, CHECK OUT THE MANFROTTO 058B TRIPOD WEIGHING IN AT 13.58 POUNDS. THIS TRIPOD CAN BE SETUP AND LEVELED IN ABOUT 3/5 SECONDS THAT'S WHY I LOVE I AND BEEN USING THE MK ONE VERSION FOR 30 YEARS. I BOUGHT THE MK 3 VERSION SECOND HAND, ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO FOR ABOUT $150 MINT.
I've got a Manfrotto that I've been using for about 15 years or so. It's still going strong but I've seriously considered investing in a carbon fiber tripod. Been looking. Time will tell if I bite the bullet or keep using what I've got.
PAWN SHOPS are thriving rn....worth the trip
Nice
Love these comparisons, David.
I wish you would have made mention of the maximum height differences though. I am 6'4" and really do not like to 'stoop' to look through my viewfinder, especially for long periods of time.
Having the capability to stand upright is a priority for me. I believe the GTX has a maximum height of just over 5 foot. I assume that is WITHOUT the head? If not, that might be an issue for some.
Thanks again for the comparison video!
Yea thanks for pointing that out. I’m sure you know most tripods won’t go that high - at least not while being very stable!
Definitely worth investing in a camera with an articulating screen
The "fun" part, is that once you're getting really into it you'll discover you can't get away with just one. I have a 'frotto 055-series (MT055CXPRO4) with a 555B column and XPro geared head for general use, and ... when I'm shooting with the legs in seawater and don't want to ruin my 'frotto, I use a Fotopro X-GO HR "Chameleon" with a Sirui K20-II head (I can buy 4 fotopros for the price of one 'frotto). Both have a center column that can be used as a boom.
I had one of those $70 ones. Except I tripped over it while hustling to my truck while storm chasing last year. But I really dig that last one! It doesn't have the 90° ability like the larger one though, does it?
I have a smaller 190GO carbon tripod which has the same 90 degree flip system.
Yes it does! Sorry if I forget to mention that.
Great video!
At the risk of stepping out of bounds, I use the SLIK AMT PRO 700DX. Strong, tall and only 99 bucks without the head. Love it, may be a tad heavy to carry all day for some but a no brainer for the price at least for me.
Thanks for the great content you produce!
As with everything - if it works for you, then awesome! And thanks for the kind words. :)
David, you can also unlock all the twist locks at once. Try it; super easy!
Never found that to be particularly smooth. But to each their own. :)
I'm still mourning, years later, I did not buy a carbon Gitzo System 5 Oceanic when the factory sold it at half price in Italy only. Living a day's drive away from Italy, I just should have gone there, bought the tripod and have it delivered to my hotel in Italy.
You'll say, that it is very big for a 35mm full frame camera. True, I would have bought their tallest center column with it and used it like that in the studio where the sticks would have stuck out less that way.
Size is important. I have a traveler size carbon one and with its head removed, it fits in my carry-on suitcase that I can bring along in an airplane. But that one is flimsy, even when very strong.
As to heads, I have several, movie and photo types. The photo types switch easily between landscape and portrait. But rotating the camera 90 degrees changes its viewpoint in left-right sense. So to prevent that, I use my L-bracket to serve orientation changes. As I had this Manfrotto magnesium ballhead with a Manfrotto quick release, that was not convenient because it's not Arca compatible. I bought a rotating (panorama) platter that accidentally had a matching screw for the Manfrotto head after its quick release was removed. So now I have this Manfrotto ballhead with an Arca-compatible panorama plate on the top. When I have the top plate level, a panorama shot is easy too. I now can attach the L-bracket, or even a nodal slide, to that Arca quick release.
L bracket is absolutely the way to go for vertical shooting! I’m a big fan.
Nice video, what about the Manfrotto 190 series?
I have the MT190CXPRO4. Its PERFECT for a travel tripod. (Well for me anyways) Its brilliant!!!
One criterion for choosing a tripod that no one ever mentions is customer service. I recently went through the process of acquiring a new travel tripod (through Adorama!) and was overwhelmed by the number of choices. In the end, I went with a Feisol model. That company isn't as well known as many others, but I've been very pleased. Several years ago, I bought a big, very sturdy model and, later, a monopod from Feisol, and the equipment has successfully weathered a lot of use and abuse from me over time. I'm now a real-estate photographer and have used my Feisol tripod and monopod every working day for almost six years. (I use the monopod to hold my flash unit.) I've set up this equipment and banged it around inside and outside of houses literally thousands of times.
Becoming frustrated in my search for a travel tripod by the number of options, I decided to go back to Feisol. Not only is their equipment sturdy and light, but the price is also reasonable. In fact, I bought my first Feisol tripod based on a recommendation from a Wimberly customer service agent. I was purchasing a gimbal head for a trip to Yellowstone, and I asked him for a tripod recommendation. He said Feisol was "as good Gitzo, for half the price."
The deciding factor for me, when buying the travel tripod, however, was Feisol's customer service. After years of use, I've had occasions to send my large tripod and monopod back to Feisol for cleaning. (I've tried doing the cleaning myself, but I never seem to get all the little rings back in the right order.) Even though Feisol is a Korean company, their US branch is in Wilmington, North Carolina. In both cases, the Wilmington branch reconditioned my tripod and monopod quickly and sent them back to me within a few days. That kind of service is critical to me, and that's one of the main reasons I'm a loyal customer.
P.S. I also appreciate that Feisol has equipment suitable for tall people. Of course, I frequently use the flip-out screen on my camera to see at odd angles, and I could use that feature to compensate for a short tripod. And, of course, I could always extend the center column on a short tripod to get the camera up to my height, but I'm always nervous about the extra shake that an extended column can introduce. I love having a tripod that's as tall as I am. Yes, the taller tripod is a couple of ounces heavier and longer when folded, but that's preferable to suffering the aches and pains of being hunched over a short tripod.
Good point!
watching idea: take a shot every time he takes "take a shot"
I'm not trusting my heavy DSLR OR heavy Glass to a cheap Pod. for wildlife i think that a center Column isn't necessary..
I loved my Befree.. I took it all over Europe with me.
I was truely interested to hear what he has to say about tripods - until 4:04. The title of this videos should rather be "What are the best Manfrotto tripods for you?" But then, I guess, not so many would watch it. Everyone knows that Manfrotto build good tripods (mostly), but that they also sit in a certain price bracket (all of them).
Nice coverage David a good steady tripod is a must for that Dslr that paid big bucks for. But in the last for years I found that in the city there place where you can not use a tripod without s permit which I found out shooting near battery park when Fleet week is held so I when with a platypod instead of a tripod. It saved the day for me when shooting video and still. I do not know why the park rangers keep that area void of tripods and why one needs a permit. I have 2 rock steady tripods and one travel one. So do you have a clue why this is done in the museum area
NYC is full of rules and regulations. :)
Those rules aren't posted anywhere that I have noticed
Dave, I bought a Gitzo last year, is this brand better than Manfrotto?
I love mine. I thought they were the same company.
Yea I believe they are related now. Both very good I use only Gitzo monopods.
@@DavidBergmanPhoto good deal Thanks Dave.
This pound measurement is killing me.. I absolutely have no idea how much kg they carry.. And i am so lazy to open and check it.. You should also include the universal Kg values in your video
Satchler flowtech 75
Manfrotto? Never heard of 'em 😎
You forgot astrophotography and slow shutter photography 😉 they need it more than video shooters 😊
-Brought to you by Manfrotto
Actually brought to you by Adorama, which sells lots of brands. Like I said in the video, I’m sharing what I actually use but certainly other options out there.
Tuned out on Manfrotto I wanted an honest comparison not a sponsored video.
VICTIV make’s probably one of the best dslr tripods for under 100 bucks!
7: 49 Hang a heavy bag underneath, and you add additional stresses to the already flimpsy tripod legs..
Perfect for mft too 😊
For some photographers, the "right" tripods are like a religion...there are only tripods for their photography style...everything else is just "wrong". But you can`t make all of them happy with just one tripod, because with different needs, you need different solutions. The Tripod has to fit your actual project, the lens, you will need for it, and the environment.
Do you make photos indoors, or outdoors, where you have to adjust to the weather conditions (wind, rain, etc.)? Indoors in your home, you don´t have a weight and size limitation. Outdoors, you only want to carry a tripod, which is strong enough, to be able to hold your camera + lens.
A bird photographer will need a big tripod with no center column, a shooting platform for his big lens so to speak...a macro photographer would need a center column for fine adjustments, otherwise, he would need to adjust all three legs over and over again, to find the right hight. Landscape photographers don`t need a big tripod, like the bird photographers, but they also don´t need a center column. Portrait and street photographers: some will use tripods, some not. Product photographers want the most stable tripod, they can get...or a tower stand. And the list of examples will going on...
But anyways, you will end with a bunch of different tripods in your treasure chest, like me. I have a big one (carbon fiber), which is a lot bigger than me, some mid size tripods (aluminum and carbon fiber), which can hold the camera at eye level, and a tiny one (carbon fiber) for ground level work.
Keep in your mind: The "one" tripod, which is tall and heavy, if you need it, and which is tiny and lightweight, if you carry it, doesn´t exist...like the 1000mm/f1.0 pancake lens, which only have the size from a lenscap.
Well said. :)
"There are those $25 plastic things, and there are also tripods that cost thousands of dollars. Now I think most of us are gonna fall somwhere in the middle of this range."
Yes. Most will probably buy something in the middle of the cheapest and most expensive tripod there are available 😋
Great vid! I'm still rocking my 055CXPRO3 since 7 years now. :-)
Light, sturdy, stable, tough, ball head, micro adjustments. Cheap 😅
That's what I need 😊
Hah. Depends on your definition of “cheap.”
@@DavidBergmanPhoto for now I have the compact action, the mini pixi and cullmann primax 370m 😊 so maybe something between 300-500$ 😊
$750 for tripod!? woah. Is there a decent tripod for soccer games for about $100?
Try not to sound bias by recommending other brands, Oben is great and way less expensive than manfrotto.
Like I said - just sharing what I personally use.
i rather see pictures of the tripods .... couldnt stay longer than 10 seconds listening to this
Bergman's nickname in college was tripod.