M/F 055ProB tripod

Folks,

Looked at this today and seemed a pretty good compromise between portability and stability. However, given point of using a tripod is additional stability this would win over ease of carrying.

Question is ... Is this tripod plus a good ball head suitable for 20D+ 400mm f5,6L + flash unit?. It seemed OK in shop but would like a more experienced view prior to purchase.

Many thanks for any views

Cheers

Rob

Yep. IIRC that's the 3021 over here that's so often recommended when anyone asks about tripods. 15 lb/7 kg capacity. Or do you mean Mag Fiber, not Manfrotto, by M/F. That's bordering on the light side for that. Should be OK without a grip, but with one, may be a bit tenuous.

jon,

Sorry for the confusion - I did mean Manfrotto and not mag fibre.

So combo looks OK ?.

Rob

Yep. Confusing mainly because Manfrotto makes the Mag Fiber line, and uses 055 with various letters for a whole bunch of their line (except here in the US). About 1.5 m ht. with the centre column down, right?

Rob, I use the Bogen/Manfrotto 3021BPro - the US name for the 055ProB, and have never felt that I made a mistake getting it. I use the Bogen/Manfrotto 488RC2 ball head on it most of the time, and it works great with large SLR bodies (1-series, xxD series with grip, etc.) and large lenses (I use the 70-200 f/2.8L IS on mine a lot).

I replaced my 055ProB with a Gitzo carbon fibre and find that carbon fibre is much better at dampening vibration and more pleasant to work with outdoors on cold days.

I believe that Manfrotto is now bringing out carbon fiber versions of the 055.

Thanks for the replies,

Jon - yep the one with the centre column down

SkipD - good to know 70-200IS is steady, must be similar in weight to 400 f5.6L

ScottE - carbon fibre versions are a bit pricey for me at the minute.

Thanks again folks

Rob

I use ths tripod + 488RC2 ball head with the 400mm f5.6 + TC and it is rock solid.

Roy,

Another recommendation thank you.

Nice shots on the website - we are holidaying in N Devon this year so hopefully we will be able to sample some of the nature & wildlife first hand.

Cheers

Rob

woollyback wrote in post #2609461
ScottE - carbon fibre versions are a bit pricey for me at the minute.

I know the feeling. I have a collection of about eight increasingly expensive tripods around the house as I upgraded in increments. In retrospect it would have been better to spend more earlier in the process. A better plan may have been to start with the 055 and a good ball head and avoided all the cheaper, flimsy makes and models and cheaper tripod heads. I am still glad up upgraded to carbon fibre later when the budget permitted it.

i use the 055PROB with the 490 Ball Head RC4, i have had my 70-200 with 2xTC and Flash with my 30D and Grip, i was also on a hill and it was windy and i was more unstable than the tripod :P how heavy is the 400?