Manfrotto Tripod Review: The 055XPROB Tripod
A professional yet affordable tripod, the Manfrotto 055XPROB is a tall model made of aluminum construction. As such, it is extremely inexpensive for its size, though it does weigh more than a tripod of comparable size made of carbon fiber.
Flexibility — a Manfrotto Trademark
In keeping with the aim of making the 055XPROB appropriate for professional photographic work even though it is so very affordable, the Manfrotto Company has elected not to include a head with this tripod. This allows for more user flexibility, since instead of a head there is a plate onto which can be mounted all sorts of different heads. In this way, you can make sure that the tripod is customized to mesh perfectly with your equipment and photographic style.
Appearance and Familiarity of the Manfrotto 055XPROB
This Manfrotto tripod uses a traditional folding design and comes in the most common color of all for camera tripods: black. At first glance it does not appear to be made of aluminum since the metal has been finished completely in black. Since aluminum has been used in tripod construction practically from the inception of the device, photographers will find the weight, size, and feel of this tripod to be familiar.
Weight Considerations for the Manfrotto 055XPROB
The Manfrotto 055XPROB weighs in at slightly over five pounds. This adds a considerable amount to any photographer’s kit or camera bag, but an additional five pounds is not much to be concerned with if the equipment is to be used mainly in an indoor studio and will rarely be moved large distances. Hobbyists who carry their equipment in their car and set up at the side of the road to capture glorious nature shots, for example, will not find this amount of weight to be much of an inconvenience.
However, those who are packing their equipment in for long distances may find that five extra pounds makes a great deal of difference to the amount of effort they must exert to get their camera setup into place. Even carrying a camera bag for a mile over rough terrain can make a photographer wish he’d decided on a more lightweight model.
When it comes to the 055XPROB, a carbon fiber version is available. The model number of this lighter weight tripod is 055CXPRO3. At slightly more than three and a half pounds, the carbon fiber version is significantly less heavy. A good rule of thumb is to go shopping and pick up each tripod in turn to get a feel for how much weight you will be carrying with either version. Carry the tripod across the length of the store and back to simulate a short walk carrying it, and then you might begin to have enough information to make an informed decision about the best weight for you.
Strength Considerations
It’s tempting to believe that the heavier tripod is stronger. We subliminally believe that the metal must be thicker and therefore much more rigid. However, this is not the case. The Manfrotto 055XPROB is not as strong as its carbon fiber equivalent. It is, however, much less expensive and a perfectly adequate tripod for beginners or for those whose photographic style doesn’t involve needing to move the tripod around very often.