055XPROB Manfrotto

[jeanneholverstott]

Any thoughts on this tripod?

[candleman]

awesome...

[jeanneholverstott]

I have read that it is heavy, which is the LAST attribute I am looking for.

[Car2n]

It is somewhat heavy but it does what many other tripods can only dream of doing.

[EOBeav]

I just got this, after using a $30 Walmart tripod for a year. I love it, and it does everything I need it to. Get a good ball head with it and you've got a winner.

[sk66]

I have, and have used for 3 yrs now, a Benro C-298. Carbon fiber Gitzo copy that's very strong (rated for 12kg) for it's size/ weight. Costs $250-350 (Hunts camera store on Ebay sells them at the lower end of the price) but weighs a bit over 1/2 of the manfroto aluminum ones (Benro also makes aluminum versions of all of thier tripods for less).

Now, I also own a Gitzo CF tripod and the Benro isn't quite as well made overall, but it's quite the bargain.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by jeanneholverstott

I have read that it is heavy, which is the LAST attribute I am looking for.

Then wtf are you doing asking about it? Seriously...

The 055XPROB is certainly not the lightest, but its still fairly light, especially for it's size and sturdiness.

[Colmarino]

I own one myself and can't even think of exchanging it for the rest of my photographic life.
It's not heavy heavy, it's just sturdy enough for all kind of set ups you might have for it and its legs just open wide up to any weird position you need him to.

[jeanneholverstott]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Then wtf are you doing asking about it? Seriously...

The 055XPROB is certainly not the lightest, but its still fairly light, especially for it's size and sturdiness.

I'm asking about it because I'm open to alternate interpretations. Give it a try.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by jeanneholverstott

I'm asking about it because I'm open to alternate interpretations. Give it a try.

Have you looked? At other Manfrotto products? Other brands?

Just a quick look at Manfrotto alone...

The 055XPROB has a max weight rating (X) and a weight (Y) of (7 ; 2.4) (in KG).
There is a Carbon fibre model, rated at (8 ; 1.65). That's almost half the weight for more sturdiness.

Looking at other models, we see that:
The 190 models can support around 5kg at a weight of 1.4KG and that, depending on loads, there are even lighter options.

The 055 range is designed for heavier cameras, and is therefore going to be heavier. The old adage is that you can have 2 of the 3: light, sturdy, cheap. In the case of the 055XPROB, you have sturdy and cheap (relatively, $190, B&H). In the Carbon Fibre range, you get sturdy and light, but it's certainly not cheap ($400, B&H)

So, next time, how about a little mode Google (or, hell, the search feature on the forums) and a little less snark, yeah?