Customer Reviews

Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod with Integrated Ball Head with Dove Tail Plate and Carrying Bag (Black)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This is my first quality tripod purchase and after narrowing down my choices to the Manfrotto brand, I had a tough time deciding weather to buy a more professional tripod (eg.3021BN) or not, especially since Manfrotto do not officially reccommend this for SLR cameras. I went to my local photography shop, picked up the 3021BN with one hand and feeling its weight, made my decision against it almost instantly. I needed a tripod that I could carry comfortably while walking around town, as well as take with me on overseas trips and other vacations. Carbon fibre tripods were too much for me, as I am not a pro and only do photography as a hobby and they are so expensive. The pro Manfrotto tripods are awesome, just too heavy for my needs.

I use this tripod to support a Canon 30D with 17-85 IS USM lens. Total camera/lens weight of around 1.3kg and I'm thinking the only other lens I will buy in the future is a telephoto, eg. 70-200 f4L. In any case since I mainly do street photography or landscape and need to be able to carry my tripod around, while on foot and my camera/lens combination is unlikely to be more than 1.5kg in the future, this tripod is perfect for my needs. It supports the 30D SLR quite comfortably, even in vertical position. Does not feel like the weight of my camera will tilt the tripod at all. While it is not as flexible as the pro tripods, it's light engough to be carried around. And even if I decide to upgrade to a pro tripod in the future, this will always be my travel tripod. It is a solidly constructed top quality tripod, especially for the money you pay. The ball head is great, much easier to reposition the camera, just have to be carefull you hold the camera when releasing the lever, as the lever totally releases the ball and camera will flop to the side, if you are not holding it.

So while this is not a pro tripod, as a light and portable tripod, it is quite strong and rigid and supports an SLR comfortably. I only wish it had two levers, as this would make it perfect for me. It should have one lever to lock/release the rotation of the head about the vertical axis and another lever to release the ball.

Great value for money. I would reccommend this as a portable tripod. 4.5 stars.

I recently bought a Digital Rebel XTi and needed to find a tripod to use for night shots, self-pictures, etc. I knew I'd need to spend more than the $20 I would have spent for a tripod to use with my Canon Elph, but had no idea what I was looking for in terms of a more professional tripod.

In the end, I bought the Manfrotto 725B based on price, quality (from various reviews of the Manfrotto brand), and weight and I'm more than pleased with my purchase. Here are my thoughts on several aspects of the tripod...

== Head ==
Arguably the most important part of the tripod, the head is a ball joint system that is locked with the turn of a latch. There is no leveling device on the head, so you'll have to eyeball your shot to make sure you're level, particularly with landscape shots that show a horizon or other harsh straight line.

But, any difficulty making a level shot is easily counteracted by how quick and easy it is to flip the camera from horizontal to vertical shots or vice versa. Simply flip the locking latch, swivel the camera to the desired angle, and re-lock the latch. FAR easier than tripods that have a multi-axis system.

Also, the latch and ball joint system are MORE than enough to hold my Digital Rebel XTi with a Canon 50mm lens. I haven't tried it with more than that, but I've felt the weight of my friend's 70-200mm zoom lens and would feel perfectly comfortable with that on the tripod as well.

== Plate ==
The plate is super nice. I leave my plate permanently attached to my camera and whenever I need to use the tripod, I simply set up the tripod and slip the plate into its housing and I'm ready to go.

The latch that is used to hold the plate in place has a little pin system that works two ways. First, the pin will hold the latch open when the plate is not inside so that when you're ready to set up for a shot, you can just slide the plate in without having to open the latch. That little bit of time savings could mean the difference between getting and not getting your desired shot.

Second, the pin also prevents you from accidentally opening the latch with your camera on the tripod, which could result in your camera plummeting to the floor.

The pin takes a little getting used to, but I've found it to be a great addition.

== Legs ==
To say that the legs on this tripod are easy to setup would be a HUGE understatement. Each leg extends via three flip-style latch mechanisms.

To extend the legs, I simply flip open all three latches, pull the foot until the leg is extended to the proper length, then flip all three latches back to the locked position. Extending all three legs only takes a matter of seconds.

And while the legs feel a bit lightweight, they've performed in many abnormal situations, including taking pictures in Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, with no issues.

== Shaft ==
I love, love, love the shaft that raises and lowers the head on this tripod. More specifically, I love the latch that lets me control the shaft. A simple flip of the latch and you can adjust the shaft to whatever height you want. When you're done, just flip the latch back into the locked position and you're done.

There have been many times when this simple latch mechanism has saved me a lot of time as I adjusted the height of the shaft over and over and over again to get my picture lined up properly. If this tripod used any other locking mechanism for the shaft, I'd be disappointed.

And the locking mechanism held my Rebel/50mm camera/lens combination with no problems.

Also, the little rubber boot at the bottom of the shaft can come off, which will allow you to pull the shaft out and reverse it so that you can take pictures as close to the ground as you want to. Doing so is very easy.

== Size and Weight ==
I have the Canon 200EG Backpack and this tripod easily fits into the loops on the bottom in a horizontal fashion. When wearing the backpack with the tripod, the tripod is about as wide as my arms, which is much smaller than other tripods I've seen. My friend has a tripod that is larger than this one and I would be concerned about situating that tripod in a horizontal fashion for fear of running into things. With this tripod, I have no fear of accidentally hitting anything while its attached to my backpack.

Honestly, the weight is negligible. I've carried the tripod in my hand, on my backpack, and over my shoulder and I've never once had it become uncomfortable. On the contrary, I'm occasionally surprised at the fact that I'm carrying such a great tripod without really feeling it weigh me down.

=====

Over and over again as I use this tripod, the words "easy" and "simple" come to mind. Everything on the tripod is put together in a way that is intuitive and just plain easy to work with. I never find myself questioning why a latch was put in a certain place or why the manufacturer didn't do this or that. Instead, I simply pull my tripod out of its bag (included!), set it up, and use it without even thinking about it.

With so many things to deal with on my camera to take a good shot, not having to even think about anything with my tripod is a blessing!

I was looking for a lighter version of the Bogen 3021, which I use with a generic ball head. The 725b came the closest: 1) It has quick release leg locks, 2) a ball head with quick release base plate, and 3) it is 3.5 lbs lighter than my Bogen 3021.

I am 5'8" tall and I had to extend the 725b halfway up for horizontal shots and all the way up for vertical shots. Ideally, the tripod should not be extended for greatest stability. I mount a Nikon D70 with an 18-200 zoom lens. Even with the extension all the way up the stability was firm. I would use my 3021 if I were using the D70 with my 200-400 zoom lens. When shooting with a tripod, you should be able to look at the viewfinder standing straight up. Having to bend over to look at the viewfinder is uncomfortable. If you're taller than 5'8" tall you should consider a longer tripod.

Unfortunately, the 725b does not have a release to allow you to pan. There is only one release on the ball head. The extension lever, unlike my 3021, only allows you to move the extension up or down. If you shoot panoramas and want to pan on the exact plane, or if you plan to use it with a video cam, try finding a tripod that pans.

If you're using a full size ball head, the full size base plate may not fit the 725b. However, the 725b plate may fit the full size ball head.

While there is only a 3.5 lb difference, the 725b feels much lighter than the 3021. Carrying it is a breeze. It opens quickly, cameras can be mounted or released quickly and the ball head makes framing a breeze. I highly recommend this tripod if these are primary considerations. If you're taller than 5'8" tall, plan on doing a lot of panoramas, or mounting an extreme telephoto lens, I would not recommend this tripod.

I have used "cheap" tripods and this is my first quality tripod. The "cheap or inexpensive" tripods that I used in the past were adequate for horizontal shots. Verticals the mounts tended to have play. With the Manfrotto 725B I encountered no problems in vertical; in fact the ball head was rock steady. It is somewhat heavery then those plastic ones but is well made. The only thing I noticed and I may have not read it in the desription is that the ball head is intergrated to the verical shaft. I will be ordering a second one but a more expensive Manfrotto where I can change the head if need be. Otherwise the 725B is rock solid to hold an Olympus E1 with vertical grip.

I love this tripod. I've given away my other travel tripod as this one is far and away better than all others I've had.

It is lightweight, easy to carry all day on your backpack (I don't recommend using the sling on the cover that comes with it, but have done it), and is FULL HEIGHT (at full extension it is over 5'10')!

Don't let the name "digi tripod" fool you, this thing is a real tripod. I use it with my D200 with heavy lenses (200 VR and 300 lenses). It takes a full load, and provides rock solid stability, even with hard mirror slap and a stiff breeze. I've taken shots of 30 second exposures with no shake with it.

The most advantageous thing about this tripod is that it can fit in your roll-aboard luggage. I use a standard 21" set for fitting in the plane overhead (Samsonite or TravelPro standard size). It will fit in a 19", though a bit snugly. This has opened all sorts of new options when I am traveling on business, and even when just heading out for a stroll for dinner.

There are 2 things any serious photographer should know, that aren't exactly clear in the description. I don't see these as impediments, but: 1) There is no panoramic head - it is pan and tilt free form (so your hand does all the work), 2) the head is not replaceable, you get the one that's on it (so you can't bring a panoramic spare if so inclined). It does come with a standard dove-plate, so you can use it in a variety of means (ie flash, fill light, etc).

If you would question what to take on a trip besides the camera, this tripod is it. In less than 6 months, I've had mine travel over 100,000 miles and on over 2 dozen shoots. It is an essential.

The Manfrotto 725B is a solid, lightweight little tripod that will do the job, but it obviously lacks some features of more expensive tripods. There are a couple of things you should know before deciding to buy this tripod.

The ball head is integrated, which means you can't just take it off the tripod legs, and replace it with another head. It's really not a big problem in this case, and at this price point, because the head that comes on this tripod is a nice one. It's quick to adjust, and quite solid.

The legs only have one position, you cannot adjust their angle, like you can on many higher-end tripods. The legs are stable and well done, though. The telescoping locks feel a little flimsy, but I think they will hold up with careful use.

I do wish there were a bubble level included with the tripod, but I can't complain too much at this price point.

If you want a solid tripod, with a ball head, capable of supporting up to a 7-pound SLR body and lens combo, but you can't justify spending $250+ on a "pro" tripod, you could do far worse than the Manfrotto 725B.

OK, so you need a tripod.

Who knew that it would be so helpful? I guess everyone except me. I had an image in my mind of guerilla-shooting, stealth-imaging...and found that there was a ton of stuff I was missing 'cuz 'ya just can't hold it steady enough in certain low-light or long-exposure conditions. Like the lunar eclipse, ok? I missed it. Got two moons instead of one, and big streaks of blurs that were supposed to be stars.

So, you start looking for tripods, and read the recommendations and get confused. Let's simplify things a bit: no tripod will work in a hurricane, so get what you think is light enough, small enough to actually carry out into the field and use. That's the Bogen-Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod (with carrying case!).

Good cost-value ratio, (it's so cheap!!!) and it holds my Canon 5D with 24-105mm attached securely! Hey, it's not made for this...it's supposed to be for point-and-shoots. But it's plenty steady, plenty tall, reverses center shaft for ground-level shooting, has a quick-release plate and a ball head that's fab for getting things level, and the setup takes less than 30 seconds! Best investment I've made! No regrets, and when is the last time you felt that way about any camera equipment? Don't you usually rue the cost, or have some minor quibble about performance?

Not with this baby. Best bang for the buck.

What a great tripod! Sturdy and lightweight -- and the carrying bag makes it really easy to sling over your shoulder. I learned a long time ago that I won't use a tripod if it's too heavy for me to carry, and I also learned that lightweight tripods break easily and are flimsy. Not this one! It does everything I need it to, and then some. Very occasionally, I do feel that I need three hands for it and my camera. But that feeling is more than made up for by how easy it is to carry around. The only way I can imagine wanting a different tripod is if I were doing studio work.

I should mention that I've used this tripod exclusively with dSLRs, including the Canon 20D, and so far there's been no lens that it couldn't support, including a 70-300mm lens.

I have the Manfrotto 725B, and I think it is an awesome travel tripod that fits the bill for most folks.
If you're like me, you're busy with work throughout the year, so when you get to go out on vacation with your spouse and/or family, you like to bring home great pictures for lasting memories and not just quick snapshots. You want to have you AND your spouse/family in your pictures, but at the same time your family doesn't have patience with you lugging a ton of heavy gear around and taking forever to set up for a photo.
Then this tripod is perfect for you. It folds down small enough to fit inside an average sized backpack, with space left over for your D-SLR and other stuff. And it's not that heavy. It sets up and folds down really quickly, with its leg locks, quick-release, ballhead, and center column lock. Best of all, it opens up really tall, unlike many other "small" tripods.
For me, this was my step up from the $20-$30 basic tripod you get at your typical electronic or consumer store. By comparison, the materials are really beefy and solid. There is no "play" or wiggling around, like with the plastic components and joints on the basic tripods. The ballhead is a lot more flexible to use and has a much firmer hold on the camera than the plastic 3-way panhead of my basic tripod. Also, the quick-release plate is metal and very solid.
It's true that the tripod is a just little bit heavier than my basic tripod. And initially, when I felt it, it seemed like it was bigger. But when I compared them, the Manfrotto actually folds down shorter, and it is only very slightly larger in diameter. It think the size impression comes from the feeling that this tripod is SO MUCH more solidly constructed than my basic tripod. The old tripod feels really flimsy by comparison.
I know there are a lot of other even bigger, beefier, more stable and feature rich tripods out there. But I'm not a pro, and I'm sure my wife would be really annoyed if I were carrying a lot of big heavy equipment around everywhere we go. To me, this tripod strikes the perfect balance. It sets up quick, rock solid, and steady when you need it. And it practically disappears when you don't need it. And its really not very expensive at all, considering that you just need one of these things and it should last a long long time.

Manfrotto rates this for use with point and shoot cams. Its pretty small and thus would be perfect for that use. I mounted my Nikon D80 with a 5omm prime on it and did some test shots. It was quite steady and relatively easy to adjust. It did make me quite nervous when I flipped it to a horizontal - especially when the dog walked by. But it was fine. I mainly bought it as a backup, for travel, some indoor work, and to mount my flash and it works great for that. Especially since it folds up real nice and small and comes with its own carrying bag. I would say this is a fine tripod for the price, especially if you are planning to use it with a P&S as intended. I considered mounting my 28-70 2.8 to the D80 and giving it a whirl but I am not a glutton for punishment.

synopsis- Excellent for intended use. Carrying bag is a bonus. Lightweight and quite versatile. Serious DSLR users may want to fork out more $$$ for a more substantial tripod.