lxmike
M2 fan.
Well just bought a mint, (vintage) Manfrotto 055c with 168 head, I was not prepared for the build quality, size and weight.......what a monster....i am going to have fun and get fit lumping this beast around. Anyone else use a Manfrotto, I have wanted one for years and finally got this one at a good price. I must get a bag for it
Chriscrawfordphoto
Real Men Shoot Film.
I have two Manfrotto tripods; they're both older ones. I bought the first one when I was 15, 30 years ago. The second one I bought about 20 years ago. Unfortunately, the newer ones are not as well made. The old ones I have are indestructible.
The new Manfrotto tripods are decent, but some of the heads they sell now are plastic garbage.
The new Manfrotto tripods are decent, but some of the heads they sell now are plastic garbage.
lxmike
M2 fan.
Thank fully the one i have just obtained with the ball head is really well made and all metal, it could also be used as a weapon if need must, anyway thanks for the reply Chris, stay safe and have a good new year
Dogman
Veteran
I've used both Manfrotto and Gitzo tripods years ago and they were both heavy duty and totally stable. I used a huge Manfrotto (then Bogen*--remember Lester Bogen from the magazine ads?) with a 4x5 field camera and it was definitely overkill but it was stable. I can recall standing in the bed of my truck with that tripod on the ground extended fully, shooting a 4x5 on Pike's Peak. Great tripod. I also still have one of those monster Manfrotto ballheads. Again, overkill but solid.
*The Bogen ads had a photo of Lester Bogen sitting on one of the Bogen/Manfrotto tripods. The ad made reference to Bogen tripods not being sold unless they could hold up Lester himself.
*The Bogen ads had a photo of Lester Bogen sitting on one of the Bogen/Manfrotto tripods. The ad made reference to Bogen tripods not being sold unless they could hold up Lester himself.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I have two sets of Bogen/Manfrotto legs, bought more than 20 years apart. The old Bogen 3021 legs are heavy, aluminum, tall, and very sturdy. The newer Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 legs are much lighter, a bit shorter, and also very sturdy.
Manfrotto heads ... I moved away from them a long time ago because the QR clamps (RC2 model) are simply too imprecise. I went to all Arca-Swiss type clamps and camera/lens plates, and currently use mostly the Arca-Swiss Monoball P0 Hybrid head, although I also have three other heads of equivalent quality and sturdiness.
G
Manfrotto heads ... I moved away from them a long time ago because the QR clamps (RC2 model) are simply too imprecise. I went to all Arca-Swiss type clamps and camera/lens plates, and currently use mostly the Arca-Swiss Monoball P0 Hybrid head, although I also have three other heads of equivalent quality and sturdiness.
G
Nokton48
Veteran
I've been building out my Sinar Norma system in my studio man cave. Now I have six of them for various purposes and I needed at least three more tripods. I opted for the 3040 Manfrotto legs as I have one that I have not been able to break so far. These are expensive and I wanted to keep costs down as always. Anyway I did find three on Ebay that were lower priced so I went with those.
Also I found a really cool FOBA about the same price so I ended up with that as well. It should arrive here today.
Old big Manfrottos are not too bad to use. FOBA is a level above Gitzo and Manfrotto.
Also I found a really cool FOBA about the same price so I ended up with that as well. It should arrive here today.
Old big Manfrottos are not too bad to use. FOBA is a level above Gitzo and Manfrotto.
PaulDalex
Dilettante artist
I have a Manfrotto 074B HL-11 (I guess about 30 years old), which is like a tank. Very complete: bubble levels, three handles, crank and a large hexagonal plate. It is labeled "Professional".
I use it only at home because it is too heavy. It is, since a couple years (more or less), dedicated to support the Nikon Pb-4 and Ps-4 for scanning with a digital camera.
For travel I have a carbon tripod and a carbon monopod. Both Manfrotto of course
I use it only at home because it is too heavy. It is, since a couple years (more or less), dedicated to support the Nikon Pb-4 and Ps-4 for scanning with a digital camera.
For travel I have a carbon tripod and a carbon monopod. Both Manfrotto of course
madNbad
Well-known
Chicago made Majestic 2500. Twenty two pounds and a maximum height of eight and a half feet. I owned two different ones over the years and makes my 055 look like a toy.
css9450
Veteran
I've owned a couple sets of the old Bogen aluminum 3011 legs. I bought the second set after breaking one or more of the cast metal leg clamps on the first set; as the years went by I wound up with one set of good legs and another set with all broken clamps. I think the bitter cold made them brittle (being in the car trunk might have had something to do with that). Wintertime photography is important so it was something I just had to deal with.
lxmike
M2 fan.
Thanks for all the input and replies chaps, I am very impressed so far with the Manfrotto, if anything lugging it around will get me fit
philslizzy
Member
I have an O55 too, its a beast sure enough. One of the rubber feet was missing for at least 3 decades then I found you can still get the parts for them. I also got the column bottom thingy. I have the old version.
I bought a new (used) manfrotto tripod in a more portable size and a couple of heads. A superb system.
I bought a new (used) manfrotto tripod in a more portable size and a couple of heads. A superb system.
shimokita
白黒
I have been using the '190 CX Pro 04' with a 486H ball head which is great for traveling and hiking with a 35mm SLR/dSLR. With medium format I prefer a three way head...