Manfrotto MH293D3-Q2 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head with 200PL-14 Quick Release Plate
UPC's:
Great tripod, one major flaw!
I would give this 5 stars without a doubt except on very simple design flaw that can ruin your entire photo journey quickly! The little (probably .02 cent) clip on the bottom of the extender popped off the very first time I used it in the field. The first time! When that retaining clip comes off the collar basically explodes into pieces. Ridiculous for a tripod of the caliber and cost. Again if that one little issue was designed better it would be 5 star product. Everything else is extremely well build.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Manfrotto MT055XPRO03
I purchased this tripod during the holiday season at a great discount from B&H to replace a cheaper tripod. I wanted a tripod that I could mount a separately purchased head on. This is so much better than my old tripod. The only issue is that it is somewhat heavier than my old tripod but its fine for my occasional use. Its tall enough to not require the use of the center column which I love. It seems very sturdy and well made. I would definitely recommend as long as youre not looking for light weight.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Fine Product
This geared pan-tilt head is supported by a set of focusing rails. The combination yields precision camera placement in the two dimensions of the rails plus the three dimensions of the head. I'ts hard to get better than that. The combination is somewhat taller than anticipated. Even so, the unit is stable and without camera shake, so long exposure times are available when needed. With accurate placement micro-panoramas in the 1:1 reproduction range are possible. Time lapse sequences are also possible.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Pretty Nice
Nice style, well-built. I was concerned about the exploding center column some reviewers have mentioned but that seems unfounded so far - only had it a week. They give you two keys to tighten the various joints so thats nice. The reason I give 4 and not 5 stars is because, once horizontal, the column is not very tall nor does it extend far. Ill have to see how useful it is over time but its better than the nothing I had before. Id buy it again for that reason and lack of directly competing products.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Nice for the price
I saw the demonstration on this at WPPI in Las Vegas in March. For the price it had everything I was looking for at this price point. I had its first test on the beach in Southern California on the photographing surfing. I was using the Canon 1Dx with a 70-200Lii lens and a 1.4 converter. It was very sturdy and worked well. The only thing I would suggest is that if you are going to mainly walk carrying this tripod with the above gear perhaps you should look at carbon fiber tripods for less weight.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Almost Amazing
This unit is really good in almost every way. The only issue I have is that the height adjustable center colum never really fully locks. Even when you screw the clamp down as hard as you can a bump will knock it out of wack. There is always a slight back and forth on the pan axis. It's only small but enough to throw your shot out. I'm using a MVH502AH video head and the handle tends to get bumped a bit as its large. this has been causing me some issues. Other than that this tripod is great.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Solid
a bit on the heavy side, but this is a fairly large tripod. Just make sure you purchase some type of carry bag for it as it does not come with one. Also keep in mind if you have a separate head to make that fit into the bag also. The nice carbon fiber can scratch if you decide to carry it without a bag. The tightening clips are super solid. So much so that i caught my finger on the wrong side of it and ended up with a slightly bloody finger. (it bites) Overall great solid tripod!
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Top Quality Piece of Gear
Sturdy, solid equipment, built to the highest standards. No matter what I've put atop the tripod, it doesn't budge, even my wife's large spotting scope with its fluid video head. And no problem getting the legs to a good supporting position on the first try. The leg locks are easy to use and there is no binding on extension or retraction. Plus the conversion of the center post from vertical to horizontal is straight forward and quick. Hard to believe you would need any more than this.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Worth the money
Excellent build quality and ease of use. I wish it weighed less but am willing to sacrifice some weight and vulnerability that comes with a carbon fiber tripod. I'm a hobbyist and take really good care of my equipment where lasting 15+ years is not uncommon, this will replace a 20+ year old tripod that went on ski, climbing, and motorcycle trips over the years. Some may think this is too heavy for some of the trips but it is lighter than my old one. Definitely recommend this tripod.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Wonderfully lightweight and stable
So far, this is proving to be a fantastic tripod. I purchased this for architectural/real estate work, as well as product photography. I've used it several times in the last few weeks and am very pleased so far. Pro's: Light weight, extremely stable, easy to use Con's: Pinched myself a few times with the leg extension snaps, although I've been opening and closing them with one hand when this has happened Although still early on, it is proving to be everything I'd hoped it would be.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Get what you pay for.
Its worth the cost, but it doesnt cost that much. I shoot with a Nikon D700 and D750 with a 24-70mm lens, and it is constantly buckling under the weight of the equipment. Vertical shots are almost impossible as the plate cannot seem to stay tight into the camera no matter how much force I use to screw it in. The whole head feels a little flimsy. I have a 10+ year old 3047 Manfrotto head that weighs over 2 lbs more, but I'm back to using my old one because this one is too whimpy.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Not great
This tripod head was a disappointment for me. The arms are spring loaded and retract for storage and transport which seems nice but it took all of 2 weeks for the caps to come off the arms and the springs to fall out. Not too big a deal as it still works fine but a bad design for sure. The bigger problem for me is there is a decent amount of play in this head. I'd prefer it to be solid. I decided to write this review since I was here shopping for a new head to replace it with.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
We all need great head
Now I know that when you're out there looking for head you may want to try something...special, something a little different, like maybe a pistol grip (ooh you'll pay extra for that). But if you ask me I'll tell you that the best head is very stable, easy to use and predictable. Weather you are in the privacy of your own home, out in the field or surrounded by thousands in a public setting, you will look down with pride as your fantastic head pays off for another money shot.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great tripod, super lightweight!!
I love the ability to turn the center post 90 degrees and shoot straight down on objects. They even thought to put a clip for tripod carrying strap which can also function as a counter weight hook to keep the tripod standing in high winds or when you have a heavier camera using the 90 degree position of the center post. The new leg release clips are great also because you can release them all at the same time on each leg so you can get the tripod up quicker when in a hurry.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great tripod
I love this tripod, very strong and solid. Can support heavy telephoto lens and camera up to 19 lb! I tried before MT199CXPRO4 but the last section legs are so small and I didn't feel like can support very good heavy telephoto lenses. The MT055CXPRO3 3 section legs are really solid like a rock and lightweight at the same time. I will recommended this tripod to every nature photographers, specially if you like to walk a lot into a woods and need lightweight and strong legs.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great so far
Took it out and used it right away and have been very pleased. Much lighter than my old metal Manfrotto tripod, but seems very sturdy. Used in high winds and unstable terrain as a platform for spotting scope and surprised how steady it is for the reduced weight. Was looking for lighter and still sturdy platform and it has clearly met those parameters. Leg locks seem to be of good quality, smooth, and hold well. Time will tell about long term durability. Very happy so far.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Double Check when you get it
When to this to hold my Manfrotto Geared Head - Worked perfectly- Much lighter than my previous tripod which I had some difficulty with going up and down stairs. The reason for the 4 instead of 5 rating was that the first time out with it, as i was extending the legs, two of them slid off the end of the tripod as i was holding it up and released the clamp. Apparently not clamped with enough pressure. Used the adjustment driver (Supplied) and have not had it happen since.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Solid and sturdy
I needed a solid head to use with my Fuji GX 680 or my Pentax 645 cameras. My expensive ball head would be hard to use but with this (cheap) head, I have all the control I need. It's stable, easy to use and does the job perfectly. The 3-axes knobs, the spirit-level, the spring to counter-balance the weight of the camera are all effective, simple and reliable. Of course it's heavy, very heavy and I would not use it to carry around on a trip. But in the studio, it shines!
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Too bad...
...because I like the head except for one large problem: it's very difficult to tighten-- especially the tilt handle. Like others here have said, you have to REALLY clench it down to keep it from moving forward or backward, especially with a weighty lens. Unlike my trusty old Bogen 3047, which this was intended to replace, that clinched up tight with very little effort. Part of the problem is the small handles-- not easy to torque. I should have read the reviews closer.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great 3-Way Tripod Head
I bought this tripod head to replace a ball head for the purpose of real estate / architectural photography. The bubble levels on each axis really help to make sure your verticals and horizontals are straight. This is important in architectural photography because the distortion of the wide angle lenses can make the building look structurally unsound. In a few months, this tripod head has already saved many hours of cropping and straightening photos in post production.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Piece of Trash
I purchased this 2 months ago and the tilt head knob started slipping on on the arm. It stopped working entirely during a shoot and the tilt head was stuck at a single angle. I'd used it fewer than 10 times. I got in touch with B & H and they refuse to take a return because it was past 30 days. Manfrotto will simply send me a new arm, which is faulty- so that it will likely keep breaking. I don't recommend this, it is poorly designed and will leave you high and dry.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Not very good for precise jobs.
As an architectural photographer, I need a tripod that aligns perfectly there is a graduated 0 to 90 degree sticker on the top, but it's not aligned with the legs! so basically you have to guess if you're perpendicular to the subject. Over time, one of the legs loosened up and it kept pinching my fingers. The gear head also had the tendency to suddenly drop un the weight of the camera and lense. The camera never actually dropped to the floor, but I had a few scares.
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No need for an extremely expensive carbon fiber tripod
I find the weight of the tripod is not too hefty, at all, for transport as opposed to the specs I see on carbon fiber based tripods that are much more expensive, and to which you sacrifice weight capacity, unless you plan on re-mortgaging your house. The overall quality of the tripod is excellent for durability, sturdiness, usefulness, looks, and aesthetics in design. It is priced well against competitors and fully made in Italy, giving it a form and design edge.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Solid Tripod
Over the last few weeks I have used the tripod in a number of settings. I have found the tripod to be very high quality. Some of my complaints are the same you'll see in other reviews of the product: no hole/hook to hang a center weight, lack of an ability to further hold the tripod down with peg leg attachments or other form. Very similar to the aluminum, which I purchased for my dad a few years ago. This one is worth the extra coin if you can get it on rebate.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
