Best Tripods

Round Up

Velbon CX640

£50

www.intro2020.com

Serving the needs of the budget buyer the no-frills CX640 isn’t designed and shouldn’t be expected to support heavy cameras, or to withstand regular, heavy-duty use in a tough environment. However, it is sturdy enough to accommodate an entry-level DSLR and small kit lens. You might want to keep a close eye and a steadying hand on it in windy conditions, but for occasional use in tranquil conditions it will do the job.

• Max Height: 162cm
• Min Height: 59cm
• Folded: 65cm
• Weight: 1.75kg
• Max Load: 4kg

Score: 73%

Manfrotto 055XPROB

£110. £60 head

www.bogenimaging.co.uk

Considered something of a design classic by many, thealuminium-built 055XPROB features a versatile centre column that can be swung round and used horizontally without having to remove the head. This makes it practical for use with low  or ground-based subjects as well as more standard angles of view. Each leg can be splayed and locked to a choice of four angles – 23°, 45°, 65° and 88° – while the length of each three-section leg can be easily adjusted and locked via the quick-release leg-locks. The 804RC2 3-way head on top allows for easy adjustment via two ergonomically shaped handles that can be locked in place with a couple of twists. The head can support combinations of up to 4kg. Overall, this is a very stable and solid tripod, well suited to enthusiasts who require solid performance and good durability.

• Max Height: 178.5cm
• Min Height: 10cm
• Folded: 65.5cm
• Weight: 2.4kg

• Max Load: 7kg

Score: 89% What Digital Camera recommended

Slik 780DX

£259 with head

www.intro2020.com

This workhorse is primarily aimed at professional users of larger DSLRs and telephoto lenses of up to 500mm. According to Slik the legs are constructed from an aluminum-magnesium-titanium (AMT) composite that offers a 40% greater strength-to-weight ratio than standard aluminium. Each three- section leg is operated by quick-release leg locks and can be adjusted to one of three angles. There’s also a gearless centre column in two-parts that can be unscrewed and used as a short column for added rigidity. On top of this is sits the all-metal SH-807E 3-way head – a no-nonsense solid head designed to support professional cameras with ease.

• Max Height: 195cm
• Min Height: 41.3cm
• Folded: 82.3cm Weight: 3.1kg
• Max Load: 6.8kg

Score: 85% What Digital Camera recommended

Gitzo GT3541 LS

£540. £260 head

www.bogenimaging.co.uk

Gitzo tripods are like the Ferrari equivalent of the tripod world, with prices to match. The carbon-fibre GT3541 LS is from Gitzo’s Systematic range and offers the ultimate combination of strength and light weight. It’s also a modular system that can be built up with a number of centre column options (or indeed no centre column at all) depending on the user’s specific needs. Paired here with a Gitzo GH3780 ball head that features Gitzo’s patent-pending Spring Assisted Double Lock mechanism, tripods don‘t come much more exotic (or costly) than this!

• Max Height: 146cm
• Min Height: 10cm

• Folded: 55cm
• Weight: 1.7kg
• Max Load: 18kg

Score: 89% What Digital Camera recommended

Giottos MTL8350B

£190. £80 head

www.giottos-tripods.co.uk

The Giottos MTL8350B is constructed from carbon-fibre legs and a die cast aluminium crown with a neat ‘cobalt’ paint finish. This results in a lightweight yet durable tripod that’s also rather striking. Each leg can be set to one of three angles and employs quick-release leg locks for the sections.  It also features an adjustable centre column that can be locked at any angle through a 180-degree arc. In addition the MH1301-652 ball head features three friction controls to give you greater control over your locking mechanism’s biting point.

• Max Height: 146cm
• Min Height: 21cm
• Folded: 53cm
• Weight: 1.6kg
• Max Load: 5kg

Score: 86% What Digital Camera recommended

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