Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod with Integrated Ball Head with Dove Tail Plate and Carrying Bag (Black)
by Manfrotto
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List Price: Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod with Integrated Ball Head with Dove Tail Plate and Carrying Bag (Black)
Customer Review: Excellent Travel Tripod for Pro-sumers/Professionals
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this tripod. I've given away my other travel tripod as this one is far and away better than all others I've had.
It is lightweight, easy to carry all day on your backpack (I don't recommend using the sling on the cover that comes with it, but have done it), and is FULL HEIGHT (at full extension it is over 5'10')!
Don't let the name "digi tripod" fool you, this thing is a real tripod. I use it with my D200 with heavy lenses (200 VR and 300 lenses). It takes a full load, and provides rock solid stability, even with hard mirror slap and a stiff breeze. I've taken shots of 30 second exposures with no shake with it.
The most advantageous thing about this tripod is that it can fit in your roll-aboard luggage. I use a standard 21" set for fitting in the plane overhead (Samsonite or TravelPro standard size). It will fit in a 19", though a bit snugly. This has opened all sorts of new options when I am traveling on business, and even when just heading out for a stroll for dinner.
There are 2 things any serious photographer should know, that aren't exactly clear in the description. I don't see these as impediments, but: 1) There is no panoramic head - it is pan and tilt free form (so your hand does all the work), 2) the head is not replaceable, you get the one that's on it (so you can't bring a panoramic spare if so inclined). It does come with a standard dove-plate, so you can use it in a variety of means (ie flash, fill light, etc).
If you would question what to take on a trip besides the camera, this tripod is it. In less than 6 months, I've had mine travel over 100,000 miles and on over 2 dozen shoots. It is an essential.
Customer Review: solid . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Bogen Manfrotto has a reputation for quality, and indeed the 725B tripod is well-built, and very sturdy, designed for use with SLR's. It is capable of supporting a SLR with a heavy zoom lens, and battery grip, in most applications.
The fully adjustable, built-in ball head is plus for most, and a minus for others, as it is not interchangeable. When locked down, the head will pretty much stay in place, unless you exert excessive force, or the position is such that the weight is too severe. This usually happens only when the camera is positioned vertically, and the center of gravity is off on one side. The camera may require readjustment to hold steady. These comments apply only to SLR's. You should not have any problems with a point and shoot camera, as the rated maximum load of the 725B is 7.7 pounds.
Camera position is adjusted by hand, and then the ball head is locked down. There are no positioning levers, or a bubble level indicator. Minimum height is 19 inches. Fully extended, the tripod is about 53 inches tall, and the center post can be raised to make the maximum height 66 inches. When the camera is in landscape position, stability is good, even at full height. Weight is about 3 pounds, and it comes with a nice carry bag.
The mounting plate is metal, with rubber for traction. To prevent accidental release, the release latch has a tiny locking lever. This mechanism may take a little while to get used to. The 725B is economical, and great for general use. If the built-in ball head works for you, it is well worth a look.
Customer Review: I love this tripod
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this tripod, its quality and features, and using it, because:
1. The dove tail plate is permanently attached (screwed) to my Canon 40D camera. The camera, with its attached dove tail plate, is easily attached to, and removed from, the tripod's ball head. I am pleased with the ease and swiftness of this attaching and removing process. I was pleasantly surprised to see the pin that prevents me from accidentally opening the latch with my camera on the tripod. Nice feature; nice quality.
2. The ball head rotates in a complete circle when the lever is loosened. The camera can move to any orientation. Changing from horizontal to vertical shots or vice versa is easy. My Canon 40D has "live view", so it is easy to set up the correct orientation for horizontal and vertical shots.
3. The light weight and nice carrying bag make it easy to carry this tripod while walking.
4. The flip-style latch mechanisms on the legs are easy to use, and enable quick extending and collapsing of the legs.
5. Some people like tripods with three sections in each leg. I like this tripod because it has four sections in each leg. This enables the tripod to collapse into a short length, making it easy to carry and transport. This shorter length also enables the camera to be positioned closer to the ground when all leg sections are collapsed.
6. I agree with other reviews stating that this tripod is easy to set up and use.
7. The amazon price is good and the shipping is free.
Customer Review: Steady as she goes...
Summary: 5 Stars
OK, so you need a tripod.
Who knew that it would be so helpful? I guess everyone except me. I had an image in my mind of guerilla-shooting, stealth-imaging...and found that there was a ton of stuff I was missing 'cuz 'ya just can't hold it steady enough in certain low-light or long-exposure conditions. Like the lunar eclipse, ok? I missed it. Got two moons instead of one, and big streaks of blurs that were supposed to be stars.
So, you start looking for tripods, and read the recommendations and get confused. Let's simplify things a bit: no tripod will work in a hurricane, so get what you think is light enough, small enough to actually carry out into the field and use. That's the Bogen-Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod (with carrying case!).
Good cost-value ratio, (it's so cheap!!!) and it holds my Canon 5D with 24-105mm attached securely! Hey, it's not made for this...it's supposed to be for point-and-shoots. But it's plenty steady, plenty tall, reverses center shaft for ground-level shooting, has a quick-release plate and a ball head that's fab for getting things level, and the setup takes less than 30 seconds! Best investment I've made! No regrets, and when is the last time you felt that way about any camera equipment? Don't you usually rue the cost, or have some minor quibble about performance?
Not with this baby. Best bang for the buck.
Customer Review: Sturdy and small
Summary: 5 Stars
I have no reservations recommending this tripod. I used to have a cheap-o pan-hand tripod that I've since ditched. I had to idea that a decent tripod could make such a difference.
I've successfully used this tripod well above its rated weight limit. I've had a Canon XTi with grip plus the 100-400L lens, fully extended, on this thing without the ball falling and without the whole rig toppling over. Sure I had to crank on the ball arm, but it held fine.
I love the quick release plate. The little switch that keeps it from unlocking works well and is easy to engage and disengage. I've always felt that my camera is completely safe on it. I even went out and bought a second RC2 plate for my other camera body.
The tripod isn't too heavy to walk around with; I just slide one leg over the strap of my camera bag. It sets up and strikes fairly quickly. It has a properly wide stance.
I was also considering another Manfrotto with the nifty hand-trigger ball head, but it was almost twice as much cash. I chose this one to save a little money, and I've been nothing but pleased with this tripod.