Upgrade from Manfrotto to Induro

I'm thinking about upgrading my Manfrotto 055xprob with a 498 head to a Induro CT214 or CT314 and an Induro BHM2 Ball head. My concerns are the height of the 214 compared to the 314, there aren't any reviews on the BHM2(tons on the BHL series), and is it worth the $$ for the upgrade. Anyone on here have a similar combo or made the move?

I'm pretty new to tripod, so i'll just talk about the impression about the Induro ct214 that I tried it over local camera store yesterday.
I'm 5'9 and I found the CT 214 perfect for me when it is at max height without raising the center column. One thing to consider though is that the Induro CT line isnt on the light side. It is only 1 lb lighter than the AT series.
CT 214 is 3.3lb where the AT 214 is 4.4lb.
CT 314 is 5 lb where the AT 313 is 5.8lb.
So you are paying almost triple the price for 0.8lb ~ 1lb difference in weight.
The AT and CT 214 both feel equaly sturdy (28mm diameter leg).

I'm about to buy the AT 214 or AT 313 as well. And I'm probably going to put it with a Sirui K20X BH.
Its only $130 but it can load 55lb. Barely see any bad review about it.
Someo German website reviewed the K20X along with a lot of other famous brands(RRS, Arca Swiss, Novoflex, Kirk, Markins,...etc) and it actually got pretty nice score!

Check out the review if you are interested. Although it is in German but theres a conclusion with score over the last page (pg 4).
http://www.traumfliege​r.de …p/ballhead/ball​heads4.php

I had a 055XPROB a few years back and sold it, I decided to get back into photography and bought a new one last year and I felt the quality had went downhill. I had a Bogen 0321BPRO before the first 055XPROB and I liked it better. I decided to try the Induro and got a set of AT213 legs and a BHL2 head and really like it.

The AT213 is perfect height for me without extending the center column, I am 5'8", also the BHL2 ball head is very nice, don't have any input on the BHM series heads though.

The 3 series legs are quite a bit larger than the 2 series legs.

I would not go back to the 055XPROB from the Induro

I'm a 5'9" hobbyist and use a ct214 along with the k30 which has been great. I also use it with a wimberley head which has been lots of fun. I sold my manfrotto head and never looked back.

I also upgraded from the aluminum 055xprob to the carbon fiber CT214 and put a Sirui K30x on it. Really like the combo. I'm 5'7" and the height is fine for me. I chose the CT214 because it was shorter for storage, fits in my roller suit case that I check when flying. If travel isn't a priority for you, consider the CT213. With three leg sections instead of four, I think it's slightly more solid. I do use a bungee cord from the hook under the center to my camera bag to stabilize if I'm shooting in heavy wind. The k30x is nice and holds all my lenses quite well.

I also purchased the short center column which allows me to get closer to the ground when the legs are fully spread. Camera height is less than a foot.

I had a Manfrotto 190XPROB for years, it was too short for me. caused me to hunch over for just standard use.

I upgraded to an Induro CT214 about 8 or 9 years ago and it has traveled the world with me and held up perfectly fine.
I love it, though it's missing some features that over the years of use I would like in my next set of sticks.

I've paired it with an Acratech GV2 ballhead and used everything up to a 500/4.

I have an Induro carbon monopod too that has held up beautifully for years of use.

I have 0 complaints about the operation and construction of my Induro legs and I've used them in salty sea water and in snow, in rocky terrain, camped, hiked, biked, and traveled by plane and train with them and they still look brand new.

some of the paint of the spider and the metal articulation logs has patina'd but overall I'm very satisfied with that purchase many years ago.


My only upgrade path from these would be an RRS set of legs.

wujonathan wrote in post #17538098
I'm pretty new to tripod, so i'll just talk about the impression about the Induro ct214 that I tried it over local camera store yesterday.
I'm 5'9 and I found the CT 214 perfect for me when it is at max height without raising the center column. One thing to consider though is that the Induro CT line isnt on the light side. It is only 1 lb lighter than the AT series.
CT 214 is 3.3lb where the AT 214 is 4.4lb.
CT 314 is 5 lb where the AT 313 is 5.8lb.
So you are paying almost triple the price for 0.8lb ~ 1lb difference in weight.
The AT and CT 214 both feel equaly sturdy (28mm diameter leg).

I'm about to buy the AT 214 or AT 313 as well. And I'm probably going to put it with a Sirui K20X BH.
Its only $130 but it can load 55lb. Barely see any bad review about it.
Someo German website reviewed the K20X along with a lot of other famous brands(RRS, Arca Swiss, Novoflex, Kirk, Markins,...etc) and it actually got pretty nice score!

Check out the review if you are interested. Although it is in German but theres a conclusion with score over the last page (pg 4).
http://www.traumfliege​r.de …p/ballhead/ball​heads4.php

1 lb off of a 4.4 lb tripod is huge, I am surprised there is such a big weight differrence between the aluminum and carbon version's. also remember that carbon dampens vibration better and handles weather better as well.

The ct214 is indeed very nice, and you can feel the difference between ct214 and at214. But i was lifting both the ct214 and at214 in store and walk around for 5 min, and did not feel like ct is significantly lighter
.
I don't know if 1 lb is a big difference, but the reason I even mentioned it is because theres some really nice brand out there and their carbon fiber line with similar spec is usually around 2.6-2.8 lb. (ex: Sirui) Since the price is pretty much the same ~400-500, if you really consider a light and sturdy carbon fiber tripod, you might as well look at some other brands!

Well I ended up ordering an Induro CT213 instead of the 214 because I found it new on Amazon for $275. I figured the extra 4" is worth saving $125. Now I am trying to decide on wjat ball head, still thinking about the Induro BHL2 but I am also considering the RRS BH40 with lever, my question is will the RRS head work with the Peak design arca swiss plate?

+1 on the induro tripods,i own the CT-104 the smaller CF i use for my travel tripod,vary well built and made,i think there 214 model would be just a good and the only reason i didn't get this one is because i owned a manfrotto CF already as my main set up.

I was looking at that CT213 as well Even though it is a bit longer, it is more stabilize than the 4 section!
Take a look at Sirui K series. The K20X load up to 55lb and K30X load up to 66 lb. Should be plenty enough to handle any gear!
If you have the budget of course you can go with RRS or even more expensive ball head, but the Sirui is much cheaper and should do 95% of what the RRS can do.

Need someone with experience to confirm on the peak design plate!

The RRS bh40 is a great head ask anyone who has rrs but not cheap I got the peak arca plate last week not over the moon with it, when I put my rrs plates into the head with lever they go in great the lever with the peak was very tight and did not want to lock it did in the end and was very good lock. I got the plate for my hand strap as it was cheap but tried it not impressed I won't be putting anywhere near my rrs head again
Hoof.

If you think you would settle for the CT213, check out the Market Watch forum today.

Bearmann wrote in post #17548689
If you think you would settle for the CT213, check out the Market Watch forum today.

I ended up ordering a CT213 last weekend from their add on amazon for $275, kinda makes me irritated
I also ordered a BHL2 head and the short center column from B&H. The tripod is the perfect height for me so I am kinda glad I went with the CT213 over the CT214

white venom wrote in post #17549870
I ended up ordering a CT213 last weekend from their add on amazon for $275, kinda makes me irritated
I also ordered a BHL2 head and the short center column from B&H. The tripod is the perfect height for me so I am kinda glad I went with the CT213 over the CT214

Some credit cards have a price guarantee.