Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs Review

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Posted by Patrick on Dec 23, 2009 in Cameras, Hardware, Reviews

Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs Review

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Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 Tripod Review

Photographers looking for the absolute best tripod should know by now that such tripods are very expensive, are made by Gitzo, and are very expensive. Notice the emphasis on expensive? Of course if you’ve ever been able to handle a Gitzo tripod, in particular their pro-level carbon fiber offerings, you’d know that they are finely crafted pieces of equipment that are practically guaranteed to last you a life time. The problem? You and me can’t afford one.

Enter the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 Tripod. The 055CXPRO3 is 3 sectioned, 3 legged tripod made from carbon fiber. I ended up with these legs because my research said that they would be well crafted, incredibly sturdy, and relatively affordable, with an emphasis on relative. I ordered mine from B&H Photo, got them a couple of weeks ago, and have been absolutely enjoying them since.

Specifications

Tripod	Manfrotto by Bogen Imaging 055CXPRO3 3-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs
Maximum Height	68.9" (175cm)
Maximum Height w/o Column Extended	55.1" (140cm)
Minimum Height	4.5" (11.5cm) [w/center column in horizontal position]
Folded Length	25.6" (65cm)
Load Capacity	17.6 lbs (8kg)
Leg Sections	3
Leg Lock Type	Flip Levers
Independent Leg Spread	Yes
Center Column Sections	1
Center Column Type	Rapid Sliding
Center Brace	No
Spiked Feet	No
Head Type	None
Head Mount Thread Size	3/8"
Weight	3.6 lbs (1.6kg)
Price	$399

Build Quality

The Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 brings a smile to your face right out of the box. The legs are definitely well made, with a tight and dampened finish and fit throughout. The carbon fiber is amazing, the weave is quite nice looking, and the matte finish goes a long way to making the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 look pretty sweet. The flip levers used to control the height of the legs are nice and “springy”. They lock down tight, while at the same time not being at all difficult to un-clip. At the top of the legs you’ll find push levers for releasing the legs outward. Pushing the legs in requires no action from the lever, just pull them in, and they “click” through numerous positions.

Securing the center section is a large “clamp”. You can raise or lower the center section with a few turns or raise the center section all the way up, press a small tab release at the bottom, then go perpendicular through the center housing. This overall action is slightly awkward, especially with a camera in place, but does allow for some steady shooting when the need arises for such a position.

Overall I’m pretty impressed with the build quality, and so far I’m not seeing any trouble areas, or even areas that could potentially come trouble areas. I’ve been taking the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 with me on several winter excursions, plunging it into water, snow, and mud with no issues. The carbon fiber in addition to be incredibly strong, is also quite light, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 weighs in at 3.5 lbs. and even with the head on (Markins M10) the whole setup is still under 5 lbs, so hauling it around isn’t all that bad. My other concern before purchasing was height, but at 68″, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 easily allows me to get my camera up to eye-level (I’m 6′ 1″). If there’s a negative, it would be that the center section doesn’t have a hook for hanging additional weight for security and stability. There does seem to be some rather easy work arounds to this “flaw” though, so not a real big deal.

Usage

In the field and in the studio, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 has worked great. It’s relatively easy to put the legs into nearly any position, even to photograph subjects directly on the ground. Getting to its lowest depths means the center column has to go horizontal, but once done, getting stable shots from the earth’s perspective are a piece of cake. Outside of that, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 does exactly what a tripod should do, stabilize your camera. Once set up, the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 just feels rock solid, and with the ability to really spread out those legs, you can position the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 in such a way that you don’t have to worry about your camera tipping over, even in “dangerous” situations (a creek, rough terrain, etc.).

Verdict

Super stable, light, easy to set up, and excellent build quality, what’s not to like about the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 tripod legs? If you’re looking for a really good carbon fiber tripod definitely give the 055CXPRO3 a thorough look. From what I’ve seen so far, I have no problem giving the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 a “Highly Recommended”.
Buy Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 Tripod Legs or Check Prices

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