Manfrotto 785B Modo tripod
Review Date :
Author :
It's cheap as chips but is this tiny joystick head tripod a good investment?
| Pros: | Small, light, joystick head |
|---|---|
| Cons: | Plastic head doesn't lock tightly, flimsy plastic leg locks, only suitable for lightweight gear |
Manfrotto is a name synonymous with professional quality tripods, with all that this implies - ie, big, heavy and, for the more casual user, a bit expensive. The Modo range is about as far from this description as its possible to get, and the 785B is a case in point. Weighing only 980 grams and just 43.5cm high when folded away, its hardly taxing to carry, yet it extends to 150cm when fully opened up.
It comes with a joystick-controlled ball head, with a quick-release plate, that can be switched from stills to video mode at the turn of a dial. It's fast and easy to use - which is just as well as it can't be removed. The tripod's leg sections are lever locking, with a dividable centre column so the tripod can be used for low-angle work as low as 17.5cm from the ground if required. Rubber feet mean you're protected against slippage.
The Modo looks good, and for outdoor photographers there is even an optional bag available to keep it that way. For £50 it seems like the answer to a lot of people's needs.
But of course there has to be a downside and here it is. The Modo 785B is (surprise surprise) a bit flimsy. If you avoid extending the legs too far, and keep the centre column down, it does the job its built for pretty well. But at full extension, or outside on a windy day, I wouldn't recommend using overly long exposures, or pushing it beyond its comfort zone by using it with a mid-size DSLR or a long zoom lens.
Part of the problem is that, by giving it five leg sections to keep the folded size down, the lower legs are pretty thin, and the number of joints doesn't help stablity either. The head doesn't lock very tightly either, so add any substantial weight and it will soon start to droop. Hence the 1kg load limit.
Neither will the Modo withstand the rigours of frequent use - the plastic leg release mechanisms aren't the most robust and we managed to break one on our review sample.
Verdict
Aimed at occasional users who don't want anything heavy or more expensive. Its fine for a consumer camcorder or a bridge camera, for example, as long as it isn't use at maximum extension. But the weak plastic head doesn't lock tightly enough to support anything heavier than an entry level DSLR, and the leg locks have broken on two samples we have tried. Demanding users should look elsewhere.
Have your say!
Latest comments
June 23 15:27
Ian
I use one of these with my Canon G11 and to be honest cant fault it. The joystick head makes for very easy adjustments, especially for someone like myself with limited use of my hands. The other features not mentioned are the 3 position legs, going to completely flat for low level work (very handy on a bed as well if stuck there like me). The split centre column makes this easy. The other nice touch is the screw driver for the QR plate in the bottom of the centre column. I picked mine up for considerably less than the RRP but wouldn't be without it and have even used a small 50mm spotting scope on it without issue.
November 12 12:42
Lee
Ok agreed its a bit flimsy for DLSR,s but as long as you treat it with some respect a flimsy tripod is still better than no tripod, I am knocking on a bit so lugging around a big tough unit (I used to) becomes hard work i am using a D7000 with a 18-200 vr hook on and as long as I watch out for people kicking it i have been getting on with it fine, also if you take the center column up just above the thread with the ball head locked you can use the thread as a bearing for video pan shots and its almost like a fluid head in action.
July 08 17:09
Rolf
Loved it for a long time...then finally the locks on the legs snapped. They still held up and Thankfully no camera damage! The head- not great for minute adjustments. But have travelled with this tripod for many years...light and compact and at a fraction of the cost of most other tripods.
July 15 23:20
Chris Young
i bought one of these about three years ago to use with my Canon eos while i was travelling through south America. It proved to be light and usefull part of my kit but i am super disapointed to find that all of the leg locks have cracked making it totally useless. i suspect this is due to the combination of poor quality plastic and bad design. I expecterd better from a brand such as Manfrotto!!! Don't waste your money on this tripod!!