Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber 4 Section Tripod with Q90 Column and Magnesium Castings (Black)

by Manfrotto

• Ultra light carbon fiber and magnesium construction
• 4 section legs for compactness.
• Quick center column system.
• 3 layered 100% full carbon tubes for improved rigidity and lightness.
• New ergonomic leg locking levers.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 5.4 x 26.3 inches ; 3.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001GIPR62
• Item model number: 055CXPRO4
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #98 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Tripods & Monopods > Complete Tripod Units
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 22, 2008

Product Description

Developed to meet the needs of the most demanding professionals and photography enthusiasts who want the best in terms of performance and quality, the new 055CXPRO4 carbon tripods are extremely versatile and feature an eye-catching, ergonomic design. This tripod presents outstanding qualities in terms of height, rigidity, payload and setup, offering incredible lightness thanks to the carbon fiber structure. Equipped with a tri-faceted carbon fiber central column, magnesium top spider die casting and leveling bubble integrated on the magnesium top plate the renowned patented Q90° center column system (Quick Center Column System), which allows positioning the central column horizontally without having to remove the head or the column itself. One of the core pillars for Manfrotto is design. With the 055CXPRO4, all the locking collars, levers and main castings have been redesigned to allow for reliable, ergonomic and lighter tripods. By using 100% carbon fiber tubes, and not mixing any other types of fiber, the quality and performance is uncompromised. High-quality “Pull-Winding” production technology has been used in order to guarantee constant high quality tube construction. The structure combines a perfect harmony between the number of layers and angle of the fiber directions to achieve an optimum balance between rigidity and compression resistance. The new angle selector levers have been designed to improve ergonomics. The new magnesium top plate now features a bubble to help in leveling the tripod and camera. It has also been highly refined to create a very appealing design that also reduces weight. The new ergonomic leg locking levers have been completely redesigned to improve functionality. They are much easier to operate and have become a seamless element of the tripod.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Too much good in one thing? January 8, 2010

By Abdulrahman Aljabri

Aside from being a carbon fiber tripod from a reputable manufacturer the design of this tripod can be a real problem for photographers who need stability. Not too long ago I stopped by my local photography store to buy a new tripod for a mjor interior photography project. The store only had this carbon fiber tripod in stock.

In principle I was open to buying it, but testing it revealed two problems that were compromising stability. First, the fourth, and last from the ground up, telescopic legs were too slim and flimsy to hold the tripod firmly. Any slight bump and the tripod would shift position. If you do commercial photography that can be a nightmare. Second, the pro head while very convenient in its function introduced too much vibration to the center columns which is prone by nature to be a weak point. The pro system made it weaker.

Given I was happy with my previous aluminum (still own it) tripod design I was happy to buy the carbon fiber version of that tripod which is the 055CX3. That tripod closed length is 61cm, the 055CXPRO4 closed length on the other hand is 54cm. That is a 7cm difference only. The 055CXPRO4 was designed with 4 section instead of 3 to make it close shorter, thus the 7cm difference seems just too small. Given the loss of stability and generally higher price of this tripod I found this to be unacceptable and placed a special order for 055CX3 and just continued to use my older aluminum tripod in the mean time.

Based on my experience I can't recommend this tripod for photographers looking for very stable tripod. That being said if you are still very intrigued by its features you might want to check it out in person first before ordering it. Or if you don't mind the shorter maximum height and the lower maximum weight carrying capacity the 190CXPRO3 is very compact closed and lighter in general.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars After Teetering Over The Price, I bought It - I love it! November 28, 2009

By J. Lowe

Amazon Verified Purchase

If you can afford it, don't hesitate.

This tripod along with the 322RC2 Ball Head is a superb combination! Sturdy yet light weight. Great for long field hikes as well as studio work.

The legs can be positioned at four different angles with flat-out to the ground for low level shooting. (The Q90 Center Column lays horizontal with the legs in this position) The Q90 Center Column quickly switches from vertical to horizontal with the click of a button. Steadiness in the horizontal position is not compromised at all.

The first thing I tried was shooting several different exposures of the same scene for HDR prints. With the 055CXPRO4's steadiness, each exposure lined up precisely and provided a crystal clear image for HDR processing.

I highly recommend this carbon fiber tripod for the serious amateur, advanced photographer and professionals, alike!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to carry April 13, 2011

By Andres

Amazon Verified Purchase

I am a bird guide and when I travel by plane to other places I have had to send my tripod as a different item. That is sometimes a problem as airlines can break it and even sometimes they do not allow you to carry this things. This Manfrotto 055CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber 4 Section Tripod with Q90 Column and Magnesium Castings is great because it fits in my check-in bag and I can send it protected with my cloaths. Plus, as it is so light it does not mess with max weight requirements of airlines.