Manfrotto Befree Live 4-Section Aluminum Compact Travel Video Tripod with Fluid Head, Black/Silver

I always undervalued the idea of spending large sums of money on anything that wasn't the camera or audio, and for the most part, this has always been a good idea until I cheaped out on a Vivitar Tripod. That tripod was hardly useful and could easily break into a pile of sticks with just a gust of wind, so by the time it was on its literal last leg I decided to look into Manfrotto, and boy was I blown away.There has never been such a mundane product that I have gushed over as much as this and have constantly recommended to those in the market for one. I've used and abused this on many sets and it still holds up like new. The pan and tilt are still as fluid as ever, the locking system is still sturdy, the legs are built to last, and the grip on the handle is like nothing I have ever used. When you buy a Manfrotto you are guaranteed a quality product that will last you a lifetime.I bought the aluminum model which is a fair bit heavy in shoots for hiking(if possible spend a little more for the carbon fiber if you plan to carry this for long periods of time), but the construction and use of the material really make it feel premium. Never cheap out on a tripod and go for this if you want a lightweight, easy-to-use solution.

My requirement for this tripod is to be lightweight and smooth travel. My other tripods are also Manfrotto, but cost around $1500 and very heavy (yes, "portable", like I can carry two - and only two at a time).This one is incredibly small and light - and when set up it was stable and still had Manfrotto smooth travel for my small video camera (Canon HF800).I would not want to put a heavy professional or broadcast camera on this, but for a small camera this is the best.

I needed a second tripod to hold phones and light weight dslr's but that was easy to pack on trips and still had some height - this is a lot to ask and end up with a sturdy design. I got the fluid head too and it's incredible smooth and adjustable. I love my heavy weight manfrotto tripod but this is a wonderful second tri-pod!

The overall design, look, feel and functionality of the tripod stand is good and reasonable for the price. No complaints with that. But the fluid head is an absolute joke. I haven't had any issues with broken parts as others have noted but then again after reading the other reviews for that aspect of this product, I have been very careful with tightening and handling the adjust screws on the fluid head which may be why I've been fortunate in that respect.I am going to suspect that those who have had no issues or complaints with the fluid head are using equipment that is fairly light. Maybe 2 lbs or less. I on the other hand, have a Sony HXR-MC2500 Pro Video Camera weighing approximately a little over 7 lbs and I've been thoroughly disgusted with the lack of support the fluid head gives.As long as the camera is positioned in a flat horizontal position and the screws are adequately tightened there isn't much of a problem. But angle the camera slightly down or up and be prepared for a catastrophe. I had to catch my camera on several occasions for fear that it would tilt the tripod to the ground because the fluid head won't support the weight.Bottom line, if you decide to purchase this product for the tripod; you won't be disappointed. But if you think you're getting a quality fluid head with it, I'd suggest you don't get your hopes that high or you'll be sorely disappointed.I'm going to purchase a good pro fluid head to replace the junk that came with it; which will add more $$$ onto the initial investment which clearly wasn't the idea I had in mind. So as a piece of advice; you may want to keep those types of figures in mind before committing to purchase this product.If you have a camera that is fairly light weight (maybe around 2 lbs or less) you'll probably be okay.Overall, I'm happy with the "tripod". But I would have gladly paid less for this product if I had the option to purchase the tripod without the crappy fluid head.

The tripod is lightweight and compact, making it great for portability. However, the top that connects to your camera is already loose and unstable after having it for 8 months. I have to manually hold my camera in place when filming interviews.Theoretically a great product, but after $300 and 8 months, stability shouldn't be an issue.

These are strong and sturdy tripods. I was buying the cheaper ones (Targus, other off brands) to save money, but I realized I was buying a new tripod once every year because something always breaks on them. I decided to shell out a couple hundred for a Manfrotto. I’ll probably never buy another brand again. Probably won’t HAVE to buy another tripod for several years, but I am going to get at least one more of these because I have a heavy lens that needs two tripods.

Before the purchase I researched the web for a substitution to an old tripod, then decided for the Manfrotto Befree. In any case, if I didn't like it I would return it. When opened I was surprised by how sturdy it is, somewhat heavier than my old aluminum one, but the feeling of rigidity specially when panning makes up for it.There are two considerations to have in mind: the Befree comes in two leg models, one that you tighten the legs by a round nut and another model with a pressure latch, I got the rounds nuts. Most photographers don't like this type of legs because if they aren't tight enough the tripod fails, this may happen in a long future due to wear but to me the most important fact is that the tightening takes time, for that reason alone I would get the latch configuration.Also, it comes two configurations with heads for videos or photos, My main interest is videos, so my choice was the video head, and in my mind I could always buy the photo head and interchange it. Probably end up buying another tripod for photo with the legs that have the latch feature.

It is pricey but it is well made. I own over three tripods (all from different manufacturers) and by far, this is the best made and most sturdy. My only criticism is the instruction that come with the tripod are in a font that is too small for my aging eyes. This is a good investment.

Es super práctico y fácil de transportar estoy muy contento con la compra

Spotting scope

Light weight with compact design yet sturdy enough for full frame camera equipped with small to medium lenses. I wouldn’t put a heavy telescope lens on camera when using this tripod. The brand holds its long reputation once again, for the price, it’s as great as you can get.

Compared to the cheap tripods I put up with in the past, this is a massive upgrade. The tripod is solid, mostly metal, though still fairly light. The video head is fantastic, panning and tilting is smooth and you can control each individually, and you can quickly level it. It also collapses down to be very short, easily fits into medium sized backpacks. The case is also a nice touch, it seems good quality. The M-lock feature is a great timesaver, the legs will automatically snap into 3 positions, allowing you to set up quickly. One nice feature I didn't know about till it arrived is the mount on the side. You can connect a magic arm and mount accessories to your tripod such as a monitor or audio recorder. Very handy! So far I have no problems with it as someone who does a lot of run and gun work and needs reliable, light gear. Highly recommend, go for it if you're on the fence!

A excellent light weight but sturdy tripod both for photography and videography plus fluid movement in pan and tilt axis.