Manfrotto 055 3-Section Aluminum Tripod with 3-Way Head

This is my review of the Manfrotto MK 055.I love that this tripod only has two (solid) clamps per leg instead of four per leg like my older Manfrotto MK C3 lightweight version.There is a very cool feature to expand the legs in an outwards position to accommodate different tripod positions in relation to different surfaces and anglesThe MK 055 has extremely well built construction to the tripod head, I absolutely love it! There is one knob (on the lowest level) to shift the head left to right, the second knob (on the middle level) to shift the head forward and backward and finally, there is third knob (at the first front and highest level) that shifts the pan-tilt part. The construction is so sturdy that you do not have to worry about your DSLR camera, Battery Grip, Flash and Telephoto Lens outweighing that camera setup because this tripod can handle the weight.Another amazing feature is the ability to elevate the center stem vertically to the top and the stem can be lowered in a horizontal position for ground shots. All pieces are connected extremely well.Practicing shots and learning how to maneuver the MK 055 takes some getting used to because of the various components but it becomes very enjoyable because you know that you have a high quality tripod.Another cool feature is the ability to hang of hook straps or bags to connector plastic piece on the tripod. In addition, you can connect a Manfrotto Arm to a 3/8 screw attachment on the tripod which is sold separatelyThe weight of the tripod over 7lbs, (but can carry over 17lbs, most tripods don't close to this carry capacity) but it does not seem to bother me at the moment. Having a lightweight tripod such as the MK C3 still serves its purpose for certain situations. However, the impressive build quality and user friendly functions makes the MK 055 an absolute winner in my book.

I used to think that I had a pretty good tripod that I used for my product photography...but then I found the Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminum Tripod and I paired it up with the Manfrotto MHXPRO3W head and now, I realize my old tripod wasn't that good after all. This Manfrotto tripod sets up quick and easy, and is pretty simple to adjust. It is very stable and can be reconfigured in all sorts of different ways. I can make sure that my camera is level all the time, so that I don't have to spend time re-straightening in post I am still learning all the different ways that I can set it up. It is amazing how low to the ground that you can set it up for close up photography as well as changing your prospective on a landscape shot. Yes, it is a little pricy, but hey, if you spend a lot of money on a camera, don't you want to make sure that it is setting on a sturdy tripod? You don't want to want to walk into a product shoot with thousands of dollars in camera and lens equipment and put it on a $19.99 tripod. Not to mention, in post, think of all the time it will save from having to correct a "not so straight" picture.I did a lot of research on this tripod, and couldn't really find too many bad comments about this product. It is a little heavy if you are planning on carrying it around all day. I bought a Manfrotto tripod bag to put it all in (it all fits in there just fine), so I can keep my hands free if I need to. It feels like a good sturdy build, and I believe that this tripod should last me a long long time. I highly recommend watching some of the videos online that explain the different ways to use this tripod. All in all, I think that you will probably like this tripod if you are an enthusiast or a pro. But hey, if you are just starting out and you only want to buy one tripod that is going to last you a long time...maybe this would be a good choice... I hope this review helps.

This tripod meets and exceeds expectations.I have owned a few tripods along the years, from cheap to super expensive. While being a mid-range tripod, it does cover every detail I could possibly need at my studio, when shooting. It's tall, it's sturdy, it's great looking and with all that, some weight is introduced. Not a problem since it is not meant for traveling with but it won't break your back if you absolutely need to carry it with you.The 90 degree feature works really well, just make sure to open up the tripod legs enough so that the head+camera+distance from center won't make your tripod fall.My version has the 3 way head. My only grip is that the bubble levels are somewhat hard to see but since my Sony a7rii has digital tilt/rotation levels built in, it doesn't bother me much. The head is lightweight and can "retract" the handles making it easier to store/carry in a bag. At first, I was baffled by the quick release mechanism but after 3 minutes of fiddling with it, it does make changing equipment a matter of seconds, just make sure to buy enough plates for your needs.In conclusion you get what you pay for and that's a well built, durable, versatile tripod. I use this tripod regularly with a fluid head from Manfrotto and a slider from Konova. So many possibilities!

Great tripod that covers all kinds of needs. Tough built! High enough.

I've owned the three-section version of this tripod for years and have always loved it. Very sturdy, fairly light. Only problem with the 3-section model is that it's a bit long folded up - I travel by motorcycle a lot and it just won't fit in any of my bags.So I bought this 4-section model, despite the (IMO) ridiculous price. True to expectations, it's a high-quality, very sturdy tripod. The disappointment? It fell apart during my first use! One of the legs fell off at the second section; a result of poor quality control at the factory, I'm guessing.I reassembled it (fortunately I had a set of tools with me), and it's fine now .. but if I hadn't had tools, I would have had to come back home without a working tripod.