Italy-based Manfrotto is a model synonymous with the most effective tripods and pictures equipment. With fashions to swimsuit all ranges of pictures, even the cheaper fashions of Manfrotto tripods can often be relied on for lasting sturdiness, glorious design options and being crafted to excessive requirements. Can the identical be mentioned for the Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2?
Launched in 2015, the MT055XPRO3 aluminum tripod (BHQ2 is code for the bundled ball head) is a three-section help that replaces the favored — however now discontinued — 055XPROB tripod. It has superior options for lovers {and professional} photographers, plus a construct high quality that is arduous to seek out fault with. It is also heavy. That mentioned, it’s nonetheless transportable sufficient to hold round on location, despite the fact that it does not include its personal carry case or strap. If worth is not any object, this can be a excellent companion to the best cameras for astrophotography.
As a result of the tripod is bundled with the wonderful Manfrotto XPRO ball head, you are able to get taking pictures as quickly as you’ve got taken the tripod out of the field. We have put it to the check, and right here we talk about the way it fares when it comes to usability, design and efficiency.
Check out our best tripods information for particulars and our opinions about different fashions too.
Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2: Design
- 90º adjustable heart column
- Simple Hyperlink connector for attaching equipment
- The ft aren’t interchangeable
The MT055XPRO3 is made out of strong and smooth aluminum — a cloth that is sturdy for its weight, malleable and customarily round 30-50% cheaper than carbon fiber. The black paint coating on the legs is pleasingly clean, and two of the legs have grips for straightforward carrying and dealing with.
Every leg has three sections that get thinner on the backside (30, 26, 22.5 mm) and two locks to make the design extra secure and inflexible. Manfrotto makes use of totally different tripod leg-locking programs between fashions. Whereas lighter fashions just like the Manfrotto 190 Go! have M-lock mechanisms (rotating knobs that you just twist to loosen every part), this heavy-duty mannequin makes use of Fast Energy Lock levers to launch and lock every leg part. They’re basically clips it’s important to bodily pull to undo and push again in to lock. They are often stiff to make use of when the tripod is new so open and shut it a number of occasions earlier than heading out with chilly palms.
Specs
Materials: Aluminum
Leg sections: Three
Weight: 5.5 lb / 2.5 kg
Max load: 33.1 lbs
Folded top: 28.5 inches
Ball head or pan/tilt head: Ball head
Any tripod head with a 1/4 inch screw can be utilized, however the magnesium XPRO Ball Head that comes with the package is well-designed and likewise very strong. It has two essential locks and a tiny friction-adjusting knob, then there’s the pink Manfrotto emblem on both aspect. There are three leveling bubbles; two subsequent to the Manfrotto 200 PL tripod plate for extra exact framing and one other by the 360-degree panoramic rotation mechanism. The diploma markings on the rotating part are perfect for technical photographers, inserting the mannequin towards an expert viewers.
Conventional tripod ball heads tended to make use of grease to help the ball actions in making digital camera changes clean, which was undoubtedly disagreeable whenever you received it in your palms. Manfrotto has as an alternative opted to make use of polymer rings for clean and correct adjustment. On the entire, the design is straightforward however fairly easy — Manfrotto has honed a basic fairly than tearing up the rulebook.
Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2: Efficiency
- Strong ball head
- Legs are sturdy and dependable
- Simple to fine-tune a composition
The efficiency and high quality of the unique Manfrotto 055XPROB have been beloved by panorama photographers, and this upgraded mannequin is not any totally different in that respect. What’s totally different is Manfrotto’s new Simple Hyperlink attachment within the prime casting, which is a screw-in adapter that’s lined by a rubber cowl when not in use. This makes it simple so as to add equipment comparable to a flash, LED reflector, mic, or perhaps a bracket, turning it into a flexible video tripod if and when wanted and conserving your palms free.
In contrast with the competitors, one factor that stands out about this package is its excellent most payload. In our expertise, astrophotography gear tends to be on the heavier aspect and infrequently must be saved secure for a very long time — not just some seconds. For the burden it may possibly deal with (a max payload of 33.1lb), it is among the finest performers on this regard on the market. When pointing a Nikon D800 straight up on the sky for hours and when examined on an anti-gravity tilt, there was no digital camera creep to be seen. Most significantly, the tripod legs remained extremely secure at each top, even with the central column raised.
In terms of composing astrophotographs utilizing the ball head, issues are additionally very pleasing and ergonomic. Our solely grievance about this Manfrotto’s quick-release tripod plate system is that the digital camera can rotate when it is tilted in the direction of the sky. However regardless of the digital camera angle, we by no means needed to take away our previous, chunky DSLR or discovered it slipping. And for lighter mirrorless cameras, this definitely should not be an issue.
The fast-release plate does simply that — it makes eradicating the digital camera tremendous speedy. Then with one slide and a lovely click on, you recognize the digital camera is firmly again in place. The three bubble ranges are additionally simple to make use of whenever you wish to degree your digital camera, and it is useful to have one which rotates freely across the heart column. Nonetheless, you will want a torch to see them in the event you’re taking pictures after darkish, and naturally, you might simply use your digital camera’s built-in degree as an alternative.
Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2: Performance
- 360º panoramic markings
- Versatile central column
- 90º column offers vary of motion
When selecting a tripod for astrophotography, you want a flexible design that stays strong and eliminates digital camera shake whereas accommodating all types of digital camera angles. The Manfrotto MK055XPRO3 BHQ2 is a pleasure to make use of, but it surely is not in any manner showy. With options like its 360-degree ball head and convertible tripod column, this tripod package has heaps of performance.
When taking pictures at nighttime, all of the buttons and knobs on a tripod have to be tactile and straightforward to seek out. The ‘Fast Energy Locks’ are undoubtedly sturdy and straightforward to open up, even with gloves. They’re a tad noisy, as are the legs once they prolong, so this is not a tripod essentially set for discreet wildlife pictures.
Sensibly positioned on the prime of every leg, the Leg angle selector button offers you the choice of 4 angles (25°,46°,66°,88°), all of which assist with inventive composition or uneven footing. We would not prefer to depend on a totally raised central column for extremely lengthy exposures, however what’s extra sensible concerning the 90º heart column mechanism is that it permits the column to be prolonged vertically or horizontally. It does not sound superb to have the digital camera’s weight off-axis, however we did not discover it wobbling the tripod, even when taking low-level macro pictures.
Tripods for astrophotography want to have the ability to stand up to the weather. The MK055XPRO3-BHQ2 can function in temperatures right down to -30 °C, and its aluminum body is eligible for a guaranty extension legitimate as much as 10 years from the date of buy — to offer you additional peace of thoughts towards an costly funding. Just like the Manfrotto 190 Go! there is no tripod hook for attaching weighted objects to make the tripod extra secure in excessive winds, though because the BHQ2 is a lot heavier, this does not really feel like an oversight.
The rubber tripod ft provide an honest grip on grass, rocks and sand, and you’ll change the usual ft with retractable spike ft. Nevertheless, the inclusion of interchangeable spiked tripod ft would have improved this tripod package for out of doors use — notably on uneven terrain or in excessive winds.
General, the largest draw back of the Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2 is its weight, which impacts portability. Some nighttime photographers will trek lengthy distances to get to a selected location, and this package is not precisely hike-friendly or camera-bag-friendly. That mentioned, the burden is considerably of a trade-off for having such a sturdy, secure product. No, it is not a journey tripod, however an individual of common health might carry it utilizing the leg grips for a half hour or so.
Do you have to purchase the Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2?
The MK055XPRO3-BHQ2 is an effective purchase for astrophotographers and superior panorama photographers who need a sturdy tripod that may take a heavy package. It will probably help a much bigger load than the Manfrotto BeFree Advanced and Manfrotto 190 Go! — making it excellent for taking pictures on older (heavier) DSLRs, with large lenses or utilizing star trackers. Keep in mind that it isn’t the lightest tripod round and does not include a strap or bag. You may shave off simply shy of a 3rd of the burden in the event you go for the carbon fiber version (opens in new tab), however this may price you considerably extra.
It is also the most costly possibility of the three, and costlier in comparison with the most effective tripods in our best tripods shopping for information. Nevertheless, if you’re critical about astrophotography, want a heavy-duty tripod that can stand the check of time, and have the money obtainable, the MK055XPRO3 BHQ-2 will not allow you to (or your digital camera) down.
If the Manfrotto MK055XPRO3-BHQ2 is not for you
If you cannot stretch to achieve the sizeable price ticket of the MK055XPRO3-BHQ2 or solely plan to make use of a light-weight digital camera setup, contemplate shopping for the extra fairly priced Manfrotto BeFree Advanced tripod.
For one thing extra versatile than a conventional tripod, the Joby GorillaPod 5K can safe your digital camera setup (because the identify suggests, as much as 5kg in weight) on and round a variety of surfaces due to its versatile legs. It is nice for inventive composition and can be utilized for any style you may consider moreover astrophotography.
If a small kind issue is necessary to you, try the Peak Design Travel Tripod, which we have additionally reviewed within the subject. It is essentially the most compact help you are more likely to discover for astrophotography and panorama pictures basically.
