Manfrotto 055CXPRO4

woof woof said:
Another thought...

You can acually buy adapters that will allow a conventional centre column between the legs tripod to be positrioned like a Benbo. If you are looking to get into macro or some other instance where a Benbo type positioning system is an advantage it might be worth looking at adapters. I bought one but it wouldn't fit my tripod so I sent it back... basically the adapter replaces the existing centre column, et voila, you have a Benbo clone-ish.
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It seems to get more complicated at every point! I may get a Benbo trekker and give it ago. At that price it is worth trying and if it doesn't suit I can sell on.
 
woof woof said:
You might need a screw adapter to mount your head, they cost about £1 from for eg. Speed Graphic...

http://www.speedgraphic.co.uk/screw_adaptors/hama_adaptor__1_4_inner_to_3_8_outer_5120/4340_p.html
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Honestly, reading the reviews of the Benbo I don't think its for me. I am sometimes not the most patient person with such things and I think if I got one it would be thrown into the shrubs quite quickly. I am now sure you can even quickly put the legs down straight to carry it without sending the legs all over the place.
 
Hmm, Vanguard Alta Pro 284CT seems to have a nicely adjustable centre column, looks sturdy and has good reviews. And it currently comes with a free ball head that would tide me over until I get a better macro/landsscape head.
 
menthel said:
Hmm, Vanguard Alta Pro 284CT seems to have a nicely adjustable centre column, looks sturdy and has good reviews. And it currently comes with a free ball head that would tide me over until I get a better macro/landsscape head.
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I just checked out this tripod here Jim...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88keESzIQz4
It does look excellent and good value. The only thing is though, if you look at the video, he has the tripod fully extended and it only comes to tit height on him, in fact to get it to his eye level it looks like he'd need the centre column almost fully raised, which isn't going to be desirable when using your 500mm lens.
 
CT said:
I just checked out this tripod here Jim...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88keESzIQz4
It does look excellent and good value. The only thing is though, if you look at the video, he has the tripod fully extended and it only comes to tit height on him, in fact to get it to his eye level it looks like he'd need the centre column almost fully raised, which isn't going to be desirable when using your 500mm lens.
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Thanks Cedric, I will have a look at that video when I get home. I will have to see how tall the guy is to see how I would fare. I am only 5'9" or so, so height generally isn't too much of a problem for me!
 
menthel said:
Honestly, reading the reviews of the Benbo I don't think its for me. I am sometimes not the most patient person with such things and I think if I got one it would be thrown into the shrubs quite quickly. I am now sure you can even quickly put the legs down straight to carry it without sending the legs all over the place.
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This is a much repeated non issue :D Mostly repeated by people who've never actually used one :D Honestly, once I've got mine out of the bag it must take all of 10 seconds to deploy... but whilst they're good for macro and rough outdoor use they're not for everyone.
 
woof woof said:
This is a much repeated non issue :D Mostly repeated by people who've never actually used one :D Honestly, once I've got mine out of the bag it must take all of 10 seconds to deploy... but whilst they're good for macro and rough outdoor use they're not for everyone.
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Thanks. I guess my question to you then is how does it cope with a gimbal and a fairly large lens on top? Does it work well? Can it be easily carried from one place to the next?
 
I've used mine with a 410 geared and a 20D+150mm f2.8 macro.

Really though, if you are unsure you should find someone who has one so that you can road test it. You could road test mine as I don't use it often but I guess I'm 250 miles away :D

I like the look of that Vanguard, it looks like a conventional tripod and the multi angle centre column looks great but it's well over twice the price of the Benbo.
 
woof woof said:
I've used mine with a 410 geared and a 20D+150mm f2.8 macro.

Really though, if you are unsure you should find someone who has one so that you can road test it. You could road test mine as I don't use it often but I guess I'm 250 miles away :D

I like the look of that Vanguard, it looks like a conventional tripod and the multi angle centre column looks great but it's well over twice the price of the Benbo.
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That is the problem. They are not exactly common tripods to own and dealers are so few and far between. I live and work in London but there are no dealers who stock them within 40 or so miles! I perhaps need to bite the bullet and Jump in the car for a drive...
 
Ive had a go with Johns(eosjohn) Benbo, its like playing bagpipes :lol: legs all over the place, suppose when you get used to them they are good, John seems to be able to work it properly LOL, although it does take longer than the manfrotto 055
 
Just Dave said:
Ive had a go with Johns(eosjohn) Benbo, its like playing bagpipes :lol: legs all over the place, suppose when you get used to them they are good, John seems to be able to work it properly LOL, although it does take longer than the manfrotto 055
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Thanks, I might PM him to see if he can shed any long lens light onto the matter.
 
Just Dave said:
My gimbal head didnt fit his bembo, bembo has a small connection think its 1/4", rather than the 3/8" fit of the gimbal, and John hasnt got a long lens either
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You need an adapter, I posted a link earlier to Speed Graphic and they'll sell you one for £1.

The Benbo can be like bagpipes but if you fit the optional centre column bracket (as seen in the picture I posted) you have independant control of the legs and the centre column, which makes handling simples.
 
Johns got the adaptor now, as he wanted a better head and it came with an adaptor last week, he didnt have it when I tried the gimbal though

I use a manfrotto 055, and the gimbal
 
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I think there's a major problem with a Benbo and a gimbal head. Benbos have a longer centre column than any other make I'm aware of. The problems arise when you want to get the tripod really low, to a sitting position or lower. As you spread the legs to lower the tripod that centre column stops you getting any lower. The answer obviously is to rotate the centre column to the the horizontal. This is fine with a ball head as you can still rotate the camera on the ball head to a useable position. The frame of a gimbal head is fixed though and it's designed to be used in the vertical position.- rotating that centre column will render any gimbal head unusable.

I've shortened the centre column of my Benbo down to zippo simply because of this problem - it's the only real answer with a gimbal head if you want to be able to use it at all heights and it's pretty essential to be able to do that for wildlife photography, I'd strongly advise against the Benbo - and I love 'em.

Long lens tripods tend to have no centre column for just this reason - they're simple arrangements where you spread the legs as low as you like with no obstructions.

There's no such thing as the perfect tripod I'm afraid - those rotating centre columns are brilliant for adaptability in general photography but can be a real problem in some situations with a gimbal head.

There's been an ideal long lens tripod in Classifieds for a few days now. ;)
 
Again, thanks all. Having watched the vanguard video I think that it is the tripod for me. The bonus is that it also comes with a free ball head to tide me over until I want to get a geared head. I think it's centre column design is a nice balance between the manfrotto and benbo and can also be positioned right down for the gimbal head. Its a compromise but as an amateur on a limited budget it looks to be the best option. I think I will order it in the morning.
 
CT said:
I think there's a major problem with a Benbo and a gimbal head. Benbos have a longer centre column than any other make I'm aware of. The problems arise when you want to get the tripod really low, to a sitting position or lower. As you spread the legs to lower the tripod that centre column stops you getting any lower. The answer obviously is to rotate the centre column to the the horizontal. This is fine with a ball head as you can still rotate the camera on the ball head to a useable position. The frame of a gimbal head is fixed though and it's designed to be used in the vertical position.- rotating that centre column will render any gimbal head unusable.
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My Benbo centre column has an end piece that you can position independently and you can, for example, have the centre column horizontal and the end piece pointing up.

Like this...

IMG_8138-01.jpg
IMG_8141-01.jpg


I'm not trying to sell Benbo's, just posted for acuracy :D
 
Vanguard ordered. I will report back post delivery on it. If it is not good it will be going back! :)
 
I tried a vanguard when I was buying a tripod, the only thing that stopped me getting it was that it was £60+ more than the manfrotto or giottos ones without including the head, and simply more than I am/was prepared to pay for my tripod.
Really is a superb centre column system vanguard use, the best I've seen yet :)

I'm very pleased with my 190xprob, but if I had the disposable cash, the vanguard would be at the top of my list.
 
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squishy said:
I tried a vanguard when I was buying a tripod, the only thing that stopped me getting it was that it was £60+ more than the manfrotto or giottos ones without including the head, and simply more than I am/was prepared to pay for my tripod.
Really is a superb centre column system vanguard use, the best I've seen yet :)

I'm very pleased with my 190xprob, but if I had the disposable cash, the vanguard would be at the top of my list.
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As I was looking at the next manfrotto up, they have come in at the same price but the vanguard also had a special offer at warehouse express for a free ballhead worth £60 so it's actually worked out good value as far as I can see!
 
I think it was quite a new design when I looked at it as well, so it was still selling for RRP everywhere whereas the manfrotto and giottos had dropped a fair bit.

I think you'll like it :)
 
squishy said:
I think it was quite a new design when I looked at it as well, so it was still selling for RRP everywhere whereas the manfrotto and giottos had dropped a fair bit.

I think you'll like it :)
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Let's hope so! I will report back once I have it.
 
menthel said:
Let's hope so! I will report back once I have it.
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It has arrived. I have put it together but not had a chance to fully play as yet. It is very sturdy and not too heavy either. The free ball head is a bit of a beast, being rather chunky. It is only one from the top of their range and has a good amount of adjustment.
 
I recently got the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3. I had a look at the PRO4 too but the extra joint in the leg made it less stable than the O3 and the O3 with 804RC2 head Still fits in my Manfrotto bag which is a bonus.

The O3 was bought to replace my Manfrotto 190XPROB and the main reason is because I'm 6'2" and the 190 needed the centre column extended a fair way before my camera was at eye level, whereas the O3 is almost at eye level without touching the centre column, so is a lot more stable.

First impressions of the 055CXPRO3 are that it is a lot more stable than the 190, the legs are a lot "chunkier" and the whole thing just doesn't budge when used although I have yet to use it other than in the garden!
Weight difference is obviously noticeable although I never found it to be an issue with the 190.
I read loads of reviews prior to purchase, most if not all sang the praise of the PRO3 and so far the reviews seem to be very accurate.

Good luck with the Vanguard. I look forward to hearing how you get on with it.

Andy
 
Had a quick play with it and it really is good. With the manfrotto head fitted it is stable and easy to use. The head that came with it is nice and solid and the QR plate is well designed. The centre column is easily adjusted and swung round to 90 degrees and beyond. The whole thing seems light enough and sturdy at the same time. It was pricey for me but looks to be good. Now to use it in anger!
 
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