Is there a 055xbpro equivilent in Carbon Fiber?

bphillips330 wrote in post #5677675
How much weight savings is the MF? does the MF have all the dampening characteristics of say a CF tripod. If i am going to spend 450 on a MF tripod, why not spend a little more for a Gitzo? Please talk me out of the gitzo.

I figure for buying a cheaper tripod, I can buy a 1.4 TC and a couple filters for what i would spend on a Gitzo.

What is weight savings from the 055xbpro, to say a MF tripod?

i paid $300 for my manfrotto 055MF3.

ed rader

bphillips330 wrote in post #5678588
yeah, I have read I think every tripod thread out there. I had my self convinced to get a 2 series or a 3 series gitzo carbon fiber. Buy it once and you are done..... but it is 900 dollars. I can do that, (i am selling some high end audio equipment to pay for this) and i want to get a couple more pieces. That tripod will limit me on what other stuff i am goign to get. The biggest lens i have now is the 70-200 f2.8 IS and might get a 100-400 in the future. So the tripod has to handel that. Will 2 series or 3 series (gitzo) work with that kind of weight, i mean which one is better.

Gitzo uses focal length as well as weight in their recommendations. The 2 series Gitzo will easily handle the 70-200. While the 2 series will clearly hold the weight of the 100-400, torsional stability is lessened when the focal length is greater than 300mm. So, when using your 100-400 in the 300-400mm range, you are pushing the rated specifications of the 2 series. If you intend to frequently use long focal lengths, then I would suggest you consider the 3 series. It would be a no brainer if you are not particularly concerned with a lightweight legset (<4lbs).

Weight Chart(Comparison): http://www.manfrotto.c​om …UB2:AA&idx=71&l​ivid=68|69

055MF4: 2KG(4.40Pound)
055XPROB: 2.4KG(5.29Pound)
488RC2: 0.67KG(1.477Pound)

"That would be the model, but it's what they call MagFiber, not Carbon Fiber".

Just to be clear, Manfrotto use the term Magfiber to describe their mix of magnesium metal parts (the hinges, top plate etc) and carbon fibre legs.

Richard

My Feisol CT 3342 with Markins M10 head weighs under 3.5 pounds. A great combination.

I have just ordered the Gitzo 1541T with the Markins Q3T head. 20" folded, 3lbs, and holds a max of 17.6lbs. Expensive, but pretty darn hard to beat in the portability and weight departments.

ben_r_ wrote in post #5878991
I have just ordered the Gitzo 1541T with the Markins Q3T head. 20" folded, 3lbs, and holds a max of 17.6lbs. Expensive, but pretty darn hard to beat in the portability and weight departments.

I really like the looks of this combination. I think the 17.6 weight capacity includes the Q3T head, by the way...not that it weighs much itself. What holds me back from getting this is that I occasionally want to put the 300mm f2.8 on the tripod with the 1DMkIII, and I don't think it would support that very well. But to move up to the Gitzo GT2540 is another $100 or so, and then I'd need a different ball head from the Q3T, right?

sdipirro wrote in post #5880166
I really like the looks of this combination. I think the 17.6 weight capacity includes the Q3T head, by the way...not that it weighs much itself. What holds me back from getting this is that I occasionally want to put the 300mm f2.8 on the tripod with the 1DMkIII, and I don't think it would support that very well. But to move up to the Gitzo GT2540 is another $100 or so, and then I'd need a different ball head from the Q3T, right?

Yea for the 300 2.8 youd want at least the M10 head which I dont recall being too much more...

aussieskier wrote in post #5674936
The 055MF4 I believe is the similar CF model.

I too have this tripod and love it!
It is listed as Pro MagFiber.
I have both the 488RC2 ball head and the 3265 grip action ball head.
Extremely solid platform. It supports 15.4 lbs. and the 3265 head is rated at 5.6 lbs. This is more than enough for my 40D with 70-200mm f/4 L even with the 1.4x extender.
The 488RC2 is rated at 17.6 lbs.
At 6.0 lbs. I don't consider this a heavy combo but then I don't back pack either.
At $453.75 shipped from Adorama (with the 3265 head), it was under my $500.00 budget that I set for myself.

René Damkot wrote in post #5678155
There are a few alternatives to the Manfrotto MF models though. I've read some favourable comments on Velbon El Carmagne tripods on POTN, and off course there are the Gitzo knock offs.

FWIW, I recently retired my old 3021 bogen for a Velbon El Carmagne and I am very pleased with it. I couldn't swing the cost of the Gitzo because I have too many other toys I need . But I have no regrets with my choice.