ManfrottoBefree Travel, Light Weight, Fluid Drag System Professional Video Tripod, Black (MVKBFRL-LIVEUS)

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.

First off, I got the Befree Live for a helluva deal. I was looking for a tripod like the Manfrotto for under $200 and this got really good reviews and I'm loyal to Manfrotto products. Turns out that I spent only $197 and now it's selling for $240+I prefer the lock twist over the levers which I have on a lighter tripod but they feel too flimsy and could snap off if you aren't careful. The twist locks do take some getting used to for tightening the legs but I really, really like the quality.My only problem was that I wanted to switch the fluid head with a newly purchased Manfrotto ball head. I followed many videos and I just could not get it to come unscrewed. I rotated it counterclockwise at least 30 times and it would not come off. I was ready to send this back.What worked for me was tilting the arm all the way up then rotating it again and it finally came off. Be careful though because the fluid head is heavy and you don't want to drop and break it. A replacement is something like $100+My biggest gripe is the hook placement that has moved to the side instead of being underneath the column. It's awkward and really small, and frankly I have no idea how you can hook anything onto it. I'll have to find a special hook attachment and see if that helps. I tried a carabiner but it was too big.Anyways, for the price I got a great deal. I'm debating whether to spend an extra $33 for warranty protection but being used as a mostly outdoor tripod I'll probably need it.It's a great all in one solution now that I have the Manfrotto fluid head for video, ball head for photos, a phone mount for a quick and easy setup and finally the Manfrotto quick realease plate that I mounted directly to the fluid head plate and can quickly remove my camera, change to the ball head and snap into that. You don't want to mount the fluid head plate to your camera. It's way too big and cumbersome.Are there better options? Probably, but at the price I got this and after doing lots of research, the Manfrotto Befree Live hit all the right points for me. It's a solid tripod, a bit heavier than I thought it would be, and the angling of legs take some practice, but the Befree Live is totally worth it.

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.

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.

This tripod has been my wish list, so when I saw a really good offer on Amazon.SG, I didn't hesitate to order it immediately. It's really light and portable for travelling. It also comes with a carrying bag.

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

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.

Not as good as advertised. I regret buying it. Not worth the money. I wish I would have returned it before the closing window but I did not know what to purchase at the time so I missed it. This could be good for a small Canon camera but not for a middle size video camera. The weight rated given is not correct. That's for sure

The reviews on YouTube and magazines make this package to appear awesome, however that needs some qualification. It is if you are using a small camera this setup might work for you. I have six tripods and this one my least favorite of them all. If you put any extra weight on this head/tripod it will not function properly. I used my Sony A7C, Small Rig cage, Rode wireless microphone, and a Sony 20mm 1.8 and a the very small Sony 28-60mm G lens and a Freelworld LUT6S six inch Ultra bright 2600 nits monitor and was too much for the head/tripod to handle. The weight of the camera and the accessories made the unit unbalanced and hard to handle. The pan and tilt are not all that smooth, it does not pan and tilt smoothly. Because of the smoothness issue it is not acceptable when you are doing quality video production. The tripod is too light for a reasonably weighted camera and accessories. I used my PeakDesign travel tripod with a friction pan/tilt and it was fine. You can weight the tripod down as there is a hook just off to the side of the of the head, but the hook is not at the center of the tripod. I purchased the package from Amazon Canada.