Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro

Again, I'm sure this has been asked, but I searched and can't find anything that would relate to my needs...

What I am needing is tripod LEGS (only) that will hold the weight of my camera and lens.
Camera: .......Canon 1DmkIV
Lens: ............Canon 400mm L IS f2.8

The total weight of these are 'around' 16.4 lbs, the tripod I am looking at is... (I weighed myself on a bathroom scale, then added the weight of the camera gear, it's all I have)
Tripod Legs: Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs

The problem is, the legs are rated at 15.4 lbs, around a pound or so less than what I have.
(Actually, if I weighed my Gimbal Mount, it'd add more to it, maybe a pound or pound and a half or so)

So, my question is, what is a person to do when you have all of that weight and you need stability?

I'm not rich 'at all' after buying the aforementioned gear, so please keep that in mind, and I do realize that most times more money spent equates to a better product.

Anyway, anyone that knows for sure what would work, without just guessing, and hopefully has a link to some site that shows the weight it'd hold, AND have the height needed (70"?) for a good tripod?

Some VERY thoughtful person put this in a review that was really helpful...
"055XPROB - can support 15.4 pounds
190XPROB - supports 11 pounds

055XPROB - leg diameters 29.4, 25, 20 mm
109XPROB - leg diameters 25, 20, 16 mm

055XPROB - min/max. height 3.9"/70.3"
190XPROB - min/max. height 3.3"/57.5"

055XPROB - weighs 5 pounds
190XPROB - weighs 4 pounds"
(I am NOT interested at all in the 190XPROB, just in case)

Thank you, and I really appreciate ANY help I can get on this, I've looked all over, and I don't seem to see what I need.

Just for the record, I mainly shoot 'Birds in Flight', but I also like to shoot landscapes too... (Landscapes would be mostly with my 5DII and my wide angle lenses)

Randy

It really depends on your budget, but I asked myself the same question. The weight load issue, well many members say "it's just a number" and they are somewhat correct. At the end I got myself a Feisol Traveler Tripod CT-3441S Rapid LINK. I will highly recommend you to invest in a good tripod and head that will last you forever until it breaks or gets stolen.

Euro852 wrote in post #14720404
It really depends on your budget, but I asked myself the same question. The weight load issue, well many members say "it's just a number" and they are somewhat correct. At the end I got myself a Feisol Traveler Tripod CT-3441S Rapid LINK. I will highly recommend you to invest in a good tripod and head that will last you forever until it breaks or gets stolen.

Thank you Charles.

That looks about right, but, it only goes to 50", I really, really need it to go to around 70" so I won't be hunched over all day. (I don't want to have to resort to using the middle extension, it's not sturdy enough)
I like that one though, aside from that, especially the part where it'll hold around 22 lbs.
EDIT: I don't 'have to have' it 70", but that's all I'm seeing mostly, 62"-65"[Ish] would do for me, I'm 5'-11".

Thanks for your help and time on this.

Randy

I have no problem with my 055Xpro tripod handling my 1D4 and 300. Granted the 300 2.8 weighs about 5 pounds less than the 400 2.8 but I think the 400 and 1D4 combination weighs about 14 pounds so you should still be within Manfrotto's rating.

You know, you sure might be right, I just (for the first time) looked up the real weight, and it's under what I thought.
I was 'told' several times that it was more than that, so I 'assumed'... heheh
Thanks for making me get off my butt and actually looking it up, I always look stuff up, but for some reason, I didn't this time.
(Instead of weighing myself then the gear...)

It's still very close though, but I would imagine that it'd work fine, I guess I'll order one tomorrow then.

Thanks for your help on this.

Randy

I would not trust the 055x with your setup. It will not be as stable as it needs to be with the 400mm 2.8 on it. Also it only reaches 70" with the center column fully extended.

At a minimum, if cost is a concern.
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …lloy_8M_AT313_T​ripod.html

This would be better but heaver
http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …lloy_8M_AT413_T​ripod.html

Yessir, I think you are right, and plus, that is a pretty heavy-duty tripod, I'm not too concerned about the weight, but ALL of the reviews are favorable, which is a good thing!

I'm looking at the 313 model, I have a little more to read about before I decide, I'm not in a huge hurry at all anyway.
If there is not a good reason to have to buy the next step up, (413) I don't want to.

I actually remember about reading about these tripods a year or two ago, I remember the weight it'd hold, and of course the price.

Thank you David for helping me out on this, I really do appreciate your time and help finding me the better tripod, especially for the money.
That goes for all that replied, I honestly appreciate your help on this.

Randy

Just in case anyone cares, or it helps someone in the future, I went with the Induro 413 version as David brought to my attention, from B&H...
(I had planned on possibly getting the 412, but I wanted to make sure I'd get the best for my situation)
After reading more, this is overkill for my situation, probably, but I'd rather have that than not. Plus, this was several dollars cheaper at B&H than where I 'normally' do business, at Amazon, Amazon now charges tax to us Texas customers, so other places will soon be getting my business, I guess...
Don't get me wrong, nothing's wrong with Amazon at all, but the difference was quite a bit, so that's what I ended up doing.

Also, in the Reviews on this tripod, there was a guy that did a mod to it to get rid of the middle column to replace it with a Really Right Stuff plate to mount, that sounds like what I'd like to do, or think about... That would at least get rid of another pound, if not more.

Again, thanks to all that helped, and hopefully I'll update this to show what I think about it, it should be here by the end of the week.

Randy

recrisp wrote in post #14720257
Again, I'm sure this has been asked, but I searched and can't find anything that would relate to my needs...

What I am needing is tripod LEGS (only) that will hold the weight of my camera and lens.
Camera: .......Canon 1DmkIV
Lens: ............Canon 400mm L IS f2.8

The total weight of these are 'around' 16.4 lbs, the tripod I am looking at is... (I weighed myself on a bathroom scale, then added the weight of the camera gear, it's all I have)
Tripod Legs: Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs

The problem is, the legs are rated at 15.4 lbs, around a pound or so less than what I have.
(Actually, if I weighed my Gimbal Mount, it'd add more to it, maybe a pound or pound and a half or so)

So, my question is, what is a person to do when you have all of that weight and you need stability?

I always have to bite my tongue to keep from going off on statements/questions like this...

The answer to your question IMO lies in the simple balance of life. You want to drive a Lexus? Oil changes are $90+ from the dealership. Dont like that? Drive a Corolla, theyre only $34 from the dealership. The gear youre using and looking to put on a tripod retails for well over $10k. Put it on a support system worthy of supporting it. Gitzo, RRS, Markins, Arca-Swiss, etc. Spending $1500 on a proper support system for a rig that costs over $10k is just a no-brainer.

Dont mean to offend, just cant understand this line of thought sometimes.

WHY? I'll tell you why...

I can't afford it AFTER I bought the other stuff, I was EXTREMELY lucky to be able to get what I got, when I got it. My funds are gone for photography stuff right now, for a long while, was I supposed to NOT get any cool camera gear just because I didn't have a tripod? A good brand tripod won't do anyone any good without something to go on it
The camera and lens are so heavy I can't hand hold it, (for very long) so what am I supposed to do? I have two OLD tripods I wouldn't trust any of it on, but I think I will trust this.
Did you even read any of the reviews on it? It gets PERFECT reviews everywhere!
It's made in the USA, but built in China, the car you probably drive (probably) has Chinese parts on it, it's kind'a hard to buy USA stuff nowadays.

Some things that aren't made in the USA are sometimes good, all one can do is to read as many reviews as one can, and ask questions.
I once bought a brand new Corvette, that thing had more parts from around the world than anything I have seen, but a lot of people want one. (I am NOT in that category any longer, I'd sell it if I won one)
Now, if you want to be a good guy and buy me something better, I'll think about it... O.K., I thought about it, I'll send you my address in a PM!

That's why.

Randy

recrisp wrote in post #14725679
WHY? I'll tell you why...

I can't afford it AFTER I bought the other stuff, I was EXTREMELY lucky to be able to get what I got, when I got it. My funds are gone for photography stuff right now, for a long while, was I supposed to NOT get any cool camera gear just because I didn't have a tripod? A good brand tripod won't do anyone any good without something to go on it
The camera and lens are so heavy I can't hand hold it, (for very long) so what am I supposed to do? I have two OLD tripods I wouldn't trust any of it on, but I think I will trust this.
Did you even read any of the reviews on it? It gets PERFECT reviews everywhere!
It's made in the USA, but built in China, the car you probably drive (probably) has Chinese parts on it, it's kind'a hard to buy USA stuff nowadays.

Some things that aren't made in the USA are sometimes good, all one can do is to read as many reviews as one can, and ask questions.
I once bought a brand new Corvette, that thing had more parts from around the world than anything I have seen, but a lot of people want one. (I am NOT in that category any longer, I'd sell it if I won one)
Now, if you want to be a good guy and buy me something better, I'll think about it... O.K., I thought about it, I'll send you my address in a PM!

That's why.

Randy

We're more on the same page than you know

Again, it was just my rant. If it were me, I would have saved and bought a Gitzo/Markins setup, BUT the wait would have damn near killed me. Maybe I just like the torment! lol

I wouldn't want my 10k camera gear falling off a $200 dollar tripod. I agree with ben. You have great camera gear.. support it with an equally great tripod and head. I wouldn't take my Porsche to walmart for an oil change.

ben_r_ wrote in post #14725850


We're more on the same page than you know

Again, it was just my rant. If it were me, I would have saved and bought a Gitzo/Markins setup, BUT the wait would have damn near killed me. Maybe I just like the torment! lol

If it were up to me, I'd buy exactly the brand(s) you were thinking about, but it's not. I like brand named stuff too, but sometimes it's not in the cards. The wait would've killed me too.
Speaking of... I could've waited until I retired to buy this stuff, but I though I 'may not' be here if I wait, hence the my convincing my wife I need this stuff NOW, not later. I could use a lot of new things, things for my house, a new truck, alot of things, but I wanted to do this for me, now, not later, so I had to do what I had to do to make it happen, now, not later.
There's a lot of guys out there that make good money to buy photography gear, I'm not one of them, (anymore) I'm really almost retired already, money-wise anyway. (I'm kind of a self-unemployed artist)

Randy

tmwag wrote in post #14725887
I wouldn't want my 10k camera gear falling off a $200 dollar tripod. I agree with ben. You have great camera gear.. support it with an equally great tripod and head. I wouldn't take my Porsche to walmart for an oil change.

Hey, it's a done deal, please take your Porsche and get the oil changed to wherever you choose, I won't even try to tell you where.

Where were all of you guys when I need advice BEFORE the fact when I asked for opinions?

Randy

recrisp wrote in post #14725915
Hey, it's a done deal, please take your Porsche and get the oil changed to wherever you choose, I won't even try to tell you where.

Where were all of you guys when I need advice BEFORE the fact when I asked for opinions?

Randy

I was hypothetically speaking, I don't own a Porsche but I do take my old trusty Ford to Walmart for oil changes