Comments on: Manfrotto 190XPROB 3 Section Aluminum Pro Tripod

By: Zevi

Zevi — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:46:21 +0000

I had been looking for a lighter weight, shorter and more versatile tripod for some time. The 190XPROB does the job very well. It provides the versatility I was looking for. As a wildlife photographer I needed a tripod I could set up and adjust the leg height quickly and with the quick action leg locks it works perfectly. It is very stable with my Canon EOS 30D and EF 100-400mm lens. The Bogen Menfrotto 190XPROB is my prime tripod now.

By: Twyla

Twyla — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 13:02:56 +0000

the manfrotto 190xprob may be the best prosumer tripod legs on the market. that is to say, if you need more tripod than this, you're either a wildlife pro or a serious amateur with some long prime lenses.

the 190xprob replaced a cheap VidPro with a plastic head that was very creaky and required overt carefulness. the difference is really astounding, and when you factor in the durability -- i expect this to last for many years-- the added expense over the cheapies is well-justified.

at first glance the 190xprob has that mercedes/bmw look: smooth, clean, symmetrical, steely, with style for days. seriously, this is a good looking pair of legs.

the design is top-notch. manfrotto didnt cut any corners in terms of ergonomics or materials. the fliplock leg extenders clamp solidly yet open fluidly. the piece de resistance is the center column, which easily slides up and extends horizontally for macro or close up work at low angles. a press of a button and the legs hyperextend for extreme low angles, and easily snap back into place.

the whole thing looks and feels solid. but it only weighs four pounds -- light enough for a hike but probably not the best choice for a long vacation (although it will fit diagonally into a 22" carry-on if you're that determined).

manfrotto has seemingly thought of everything -- there's a bubble spirit level right where you need it, foam leg warmers on 2 of the sections, and even a hook for a sandbag or similar weight for use in windy conditions. you can get all sorts of accessories too, like spiked feet, an m-bag, etc.

i tested the horizontal column with a nikon d300 w/ grip and a sigma 50-150 -- probably about a good 5-6 pounds. the key to horizontal extention i soon learned was putting the extended arm directly over the front leg to ensure balance. i wouldnt recommend this for non-level ground, though. in horizontal mode, the arm can be swung around, shortened, or tightened instantly. it feels pretty solid vertically, although you wouldn't want to raise it up all the way with a heavy camera + lens combo.

the maximum height is 57 inches or so, and the thing folds to 22". when folded it makes for a compact package that's ergonomically easy to carry, even in one hand. it also fits into the webbing of the canon deluxe photo backpack that's available on this site too.

if you need a lighter, smaller tripod for travel or hiking, check out the velbon luxi which is 12" folded and weighs 1.6 lbs, or the gorillapod slr. if you need a slightly bigger tripod, the next step up, the 055xpro, goes to 72" and can hold 15 lbs., but weighs 5.3 lbs, and has otherwise the same features.

of course you still have to buy a head, and here you have a choice between ballheads, panheads, and action grips. manfrotto makes solid heads -- i have the 488RC4 ballhead and the 3232 swivelhead -- which you can use on other tripods or monopods as well.

the 190xprob gets: one star for design, one star for features, one star for ergonomics, one star for combination of weight and load capacity (11 lbs total w/out head), and one star for price -- it's not cheap but a value compared to more expensive tripods. that's five stars, folks.

bottom line: manfrotto has done it again with an innovative, stylish, and functional unit. at 4lbs., the 190xprob is right in the middle of the support "sweet spot" -- sturdy enough to shoulder a load with confidence, yet light enough and reasonably compact for field work. the price is about right for a quality aluminum 'pod -- the cheaper ones are less well-made and/or can't hold as much, and the carbon fiber ones cost 3-5x as much, and shave only a pound/pound and a half or so off of weight. that would make a difference on a multi-day excursion or a serious hike, but for "serious casual use" this manfrotto is great. it has a 'pro' look and pro features, and for the price it's hard to beat.

recommended for a d300 and up to a 70-200 or 80-400 lens. anything bigger and you're probably looking at carbon fiber territory.

By: Fulk

Fulk — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:48:33 +0000

I've had plenty of opportunity to field test my 190XPROB since buying it several weeks ago. It has more than met expectations. Paired with a good ball head (mine is the Bogen-Manfrotto 486RC2 Compact Ball Head with RC2 Rapid Connect System), it will satisfy most value-conscious serious amateur photographers. My rating reflects this combination of quality and price.

For the record, my dSLR and heaviest lens together weigh about eight or nine pounds.

Stability without center column extended: The 190XPROB easily supports my camera with macro, normal zoom, or mid-telephoto zoom lenses attached. The tripod legs are independently adjustable to four different positions, allowing many different shooting configurations. The tripod has been stable in all of them.

Stability with center column extended vertically: The 190XPROB reliably supports my camera and heaviest lens when the center column is extended to a bit more than half its length. The tripod also provides stable support with the center column fully extended, providing a little extra care is taken when positioning the tripod and vibrations (e.g., from wind or traffic) are minimized.

Stability with center column extended horizontally: Being able to change the center column from vertical to horizontal is one of the outstanding features of the 190XPROB -- very handy for macro work. The tripod is stable in any leg configuration with the center column extended to about two-thirds of its length. With the legs spread in the two or three widest positions, the tripod is stable with the center column fully extended horizontally.

Ease of operation: Simplicity itself. The flip lever leg locks open and close easily, lock securely. The tripod legs slide smoothly. Leg length adjustments during use are painless. The center column raises and lowers easily, rotates smoothly. Attaching a ball head is no problem at all. Very fast set up in the field.

Weight and carrying: At four pounds, the 190XPROB is not the lightest of tripods. Your ball head may add another pound. But this is a very compact tripod when folded and even with the legs extended one section -- it's easy to carry by hand or across a shoulder. I don't really notice the weight at all.

Features & suggestions: Two legs have durable leg warmers, a nice extra once the weather turns cold or rainy. They allow a firm grip on the tripod. There is one bubble level (but I much prefer using a double level attached to the camera's flash hot shoe). The tripod comes with rubber feet that are fine on floors or pavement, but a set of spiked feet (Bogen - Manfrotto Retractable Spiked Feet Adapter Set (3))adds stability on grass or uneven ground outdoors. There is one small hook from which additional weight can be suspended to reduce vibrations, but it is positioned on the side of hub rather than on the under side. This could make it awkward and a little inconvenient to use.

One caution: The 190XPROB is 48 inches tall with the center column closed (57 inches tall with the column fully extended). A ball head may add a couple more inches. As tripods go, this is not very tall, though it suits me fine for several reasons. If you're much above six feet tall, you might want to consider a bigger tripod to avoid spending too much time bent over while looking through the camera viewfinder (this wouldn't be a problem if your camera has a live view LCD function).