Customer Reviews

Manfrotto 190XPROB 3 Section Aluminum Pro Tripod

5 star:		(69)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

the manfrotto 190xprob may be the best prosumer tripod legs on the market. that is to say, if you need more tripod than this, you're either a wildlife pro or a serious amateur with some long prime lenses.

the 190xprob replaced a cheap VidPro with a plastic head that was very creaky and required overt carefulness. the difference is really astounding, and when you factor in the durability -- i expect this to last for many years-- the added expense over the cheapies is well-justified.

at first glance the 190xprob has that mercedes/bmw look: smooth, clean, symmetrical, steely, with style for days. seriously, this is a good looking pair of legs.

the design is top-notch. manfrotto didnt cut any corners in terms of ergonomics or materials. the fliplock leg extenders clamp solidly yet open fluidly. the piece de resistance is the center column, which easily slides up and extends horizontally for macro or close up work at low angles. a press of a button and the legs hyperextend for extreme low angles, and easily snap back into place.

the whole thing looks and feels solid. but it only weighs four pounds -- light enough for a hike but probably not the best choice for a long vacation (although it will fit diagonally into a 22" carry-on if you're that determined).

manfrotto has seemingly thought of everything -- there's a bubble spirit level right where you need it, foam leg warmers on 2 of the sections, and even a hook for a sandbag or similar weight for use in windy conditions. you can get all sorts of accessories too, like spiked feet, an m-bag, etc.

i tested the horizontal column with a nikon d300 w/ grip and a sigma 50-150 -- probably about a good 5-6 pounds. the key to horizontal extention i soon learned was putting the extended arm directly over the front leg to ensure balance. i wouldnt recommend this for non-level ground, though. in horizontal mode, the arm can be swung around, shortened, or tightened instantly. it feels pretty solid vertically, although you wouldn't want to raise it up all the way with a heavy camera + lens combo.

the maximum height is 57 inches or so, and the thing folds to 22". when folded it makes for a compact package that's ergonomically easy to carry, even in one hand. it also fits into the webbing of the canon deluxe photo backpack that's available on this site too.

if you need a lighter, smaller tripod for travel or hiking, check out the velbon luxi which is 12" folded and weighs 1.6 lbs, or the gorillapod slr. if you need a slightly bigger tripod, the next step up, the 055xpro, goes to 72" and can hold 15 lbs., but weighs 5.3 lbs, and has otherwise the same features.

of course you still have to buy a head, and here you have a choice between ballheads, panheads, and action grips. manfrotto makes solid heads -- i have the 488RC4 ballhead and the 3232 swivelhead -- which you can use on other tripods or monopods as well.

the 190xprob gets: one star for design, one star for features, one star for ergonomics, one star for combination of weight and load capacity (11 lbs total w/out head), and one star for price -- it's not cheap but a value compared to more expensive tripods. that's five stars, folks.

bottom line: manfrotto has done it again with an innovative, stylish, and functional unit. at 4lbs., the 190xprob is right in the middle of the support "sweet spot" -- sturdy enough to shoulder a load with confidence, yet light enough and reasonably compact for field work. the price is about right for a quality aluminum 'pod -- the cheaper ones are less well-made and/or can't hold as much, and the carbon fiber ones cost 3-5x as much, and shave only a pound/pound and a half or so off of weight. that would make a difference on a multi-day excursion or a serious hike, but for "serious casual use" this manfrotto is great. it has a 'pro' look and pro features, and for the price it's hard to beat.

recommended for a d300 and up to a 70-200 or 80-400 lens. anything bigger and you're probably looking at carbon fiber territory.

I had been looking for a lighter weight, shorter and more versatile tripod for some time. The 190XPROB does the job very well. It provides the versatility I was looking for. As a wildlife photographer I needed a tripod I could set up and adjust the leg height quickly and with the quick action leg locks it works perfectly. It is very stable with my Canon EOS 30D and EF 100-400mm lens. The Bogen Menfrotto 190XPROB is my prime tripod now.

Having tried both the 055XPROB and the 190XPROB, I chose the 190. I liked the lighter weight and shorter height of the 190 and it was sturdy enough for my camera and long lenses (I have a Canon 40D). Here are the differences with the 190 listed first:

Weight: 4 lbs vs 6.4 lbs
Height w/out extension: 48" vs 60"
Max height: 57.5" vs 70"
Max load: 11 lbs vs 15.5 lbs

Everything else is pretty much the same. FWIW, I am 6 ft tall and the 190's max height (center column extended) put the eyepiece just at my eye level. The unextended height of the 055 is just a bit higher; I would have to stand on a brick to use its extended height. The 055 is just too tall for me. Alternatively, it you are taller than 6 ft, you might not be able to use the 190; go for the 055.

So, the 055 is heavier, taller and can carry more weight (camera and lens).

Two negatives with both: First, the center column can go horizontal which is handy in many situations. However it is hard to set in an exactly horizontal axis (it sags). You must have a ball mount to adjust your view to a true horizontal. Secondly, they are not ruggedized. If you use it inside, all's well. But if you go into the woods or the rocks, they will get scratched pretty easily. There also is a lot of plastic that will probably break and the legs have rubber feet (not that useful when you are trying to use it on rocks, cement, etc.)

Definitely go with a ball mount (I have the Manfrotto 488RC2). Unless you shoot in a studio you will be shooting from some very unlevel places. The ball allows you to get a horizontal view in your shot regardless of the configuration of the tripod. The head I use also has a pan lever which allows me to lock the ball into place and then pan along the horizontal axis.

This is a durable, light-weight, sturdy, quick-adjusting and quiet tripod. It supports my 300mm f2.8 lens, even in moderate wind. I have a Manfrotto (Bogen) 701RC2 head that I like even more. I carry a lot of gear in the field, and weight and reliability both matter. This set up has given me both for almost a year. Strongly recommended.

I purchased this tripod from Amazon as part of a combo set with a head (which was better value for money).

Over the past week, I've had a chance to really use it extensively, and here are my observations.

1) It fit very nicely into a bag that my fold-able chair came in (the kind you use at fireworks displays or soccer games), with room to spare. This meant I could save on buying an overpriced carry bag.

2) I carried it slung across my back (as you might wear a bandolier) for extended periods of time (off and on for 7 hours a day, over 3 days), and never experienced much discomfort.

This was my biggest concern with a heavier tripod than I'm used to, and I'm happy to say that I was able to take this with me wherever it was needed. Of course, as expected, its weight gradually gets more noticeable as the day wears on, but it never got to the point where I questioned my decision to bring it along.

I would've preferred a lighter tripod, but the price difference didn't work very well with my budget.

3) The leg sections don't drop quite as easily as my cheap tripod - adding a few seconds to tripod setup time. I find I have to actually encourage a couple of the sections to come lose. I'm not sure if that's the norm on high end tripods ... so I'll have to visit a local store to check for myself.

4) The leg locks work very well, and never did I find myself worrying about the stability of the tripod or my equipment. Under windy conditions, it also comes with a hook that allows you to hang a camera bag on it for added stability (which I didn't need).

5) I really enjoyed the hand grips - even when it wasn't cold/raining. Lugging this around (when outside of the carry bag) can get tiring, and having the hand grips was quickly appreciated.

6) The whole unit feels solid and stable.

7) It was a real pleasure to finally get myself in on the family pictures, without having to rely on the kindness (and availability) of strangers.

8) The independently lockable legs were also great on uneven terrain, as I could angle them just right irrespective of how rocky the ground was.

I had a hard time before last week justifying the high price for a tripod, but now that I've used it, its a lot easier to defend ... or rationalize :)

This tripod worked well for about a year and then the small levers inserted at the top of the legs (the ones you press to allow the legs to spread wider than the standard width) corroded and became unusable. The tripod can still be used in a limited way. I will end up replacing the unit pretty soon. It appears to me that the metal used in this area is of substantially poorer qualtiy than the rest of the unit. This isn't a $900 carbon fiber tripod and I didn't expect it to last as long (forever). It isn't a cheapee either, though, and it should have lasted longer.

I was confused when i first started looking around for a new tripod. There were so many to choose from, but i knew that i didn't wanna break the bank for a Gitzo. The next obvious choice for me was manfrotto. I'm not a pro, but this tripod gives me sharp pictures at a great price. When i first pulled it out of the box, my first impression was how well built and put together it was. You hold this tripod and it just feels right. The legs are very easy to extend, no screwing and unscrewing parts, just a simple locking switch and you're set. Some may think this tripod is too heavy to carry around for long periods of time, but i'm not going on some safari for three days. I keep it in my truck and when i see something interesting i'll set it up and get my shot. Get it, save yourself some money, and enjoy taking better pictures with this solid tripod.

Just another "5-star" here. Well designed and made, like the "Manfrotto 322RC2 Horizontal Grip Action Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect Plate" I ordered with it. I'm convinced after a couple hours with this support/positioning system that I will be a better photographer through this investment in making the non-viewfinder end of my hobby transparent as possible.

Like any American male wants to always do when he acquires a new tool, I was able to operate both the leg length and angle features AND reposition the center column from vertical to horizontal without unfolding the destructions. Sign of good design, no? This device is a quality, rock-solid instrument. I'll be able to shoot in the wind at a landscape or get really close to flowers and insects with the same solid support. Good job Manfrotto.

Cliff notes: Do you get your money's worth? YES!

Long version:
The tripod can be easily and quickly adjusted in all directions. It will support weights far heavier than specified, provided that you tighten the friction clamps on the legs and don't spread them out at extreme angles. I haven't tried standing on it, though. The tripod is not overly heavy, but isn't exactly light either; it's well-built and I'm confident putting my DSLR on it, even in the wind.
Converting the center column to horizontal obviously reduces stability, but there is a hook for a counterweight at the apex of the legs.
You will pay good money for this tripod, but you will get your money's worth. I paired these tripod legs with a Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 head, which goes well with it.

I purchased the 190XPROB Tripod together with the 486RC2 Compact Ball Head. I'm very happy with the purchase. I had a cheap, lighter tripod for many years that required making multiple adjustments to orient your camera. Here the single ball/socket can be rotated and locked into place with ease and fine-tuning. This is not a lightweight tripod: it is recommended for DSLRs but not medium format. It's very sturdy. I started to slip on a leafy slope the other day in the woods and I shoved one of the extended legs into the soft ground to prevent my sliding and toppling. Didn't hurt it a bit. (I'm not saying you can use it as a lever to raise a truck, but it's well built.)