Price paid is in Canadian dollars before our 15 % taxes.

In Canada, this product is called the Manfrotto 055 Triminor Tripod.

Poduct reviewed is the silver model.

1. Sturdy for its class(when leg lock assemblies are tightened),
2. Build quality,
3. 1.8 metre extended height (more than adequate for a 6'-0" tall person),
4. Smooth sliding reversible centre column and legs (unlike the sticky carbon fibre models),
5. Three set screws to secure a photographic head,
6. Tripod strap attachment connector on the shoulder,
7. Three position leg angle settings,
8. Built-in hex key wrench,
9. Peripheral accessories, and
10. Easier to operate lever leg locks than the Gitzo twist type, but the leg locks on the Manfrotto Carbon No One Series tripods are the easiest and quickest to operate of the tripods on the market.

1. Heavy and not recommended for walking tours,
2. Conducts body heat in cold temperatures (inexpensibe water distribution pipe foam insulation wrap with duct tape recommended...can be purchased from hardware/plumbing retailers),
3. Lacks a spirit level on shoulder,
4. Leg angle setting lever painful on sensitive fingers,
5. Time consuming to dismantle two section centre column for low angle photography,
6. Hex key wrench constantly bangs on the inside of centre column during transport of tripod,
7. Manfrotto 102 Carrying Strap shoulder pad which can move out of position (better to purchase Manfrotto's 402 Camera Strap For Tripod), and
8. Legs (especially the smaller ones) will rotate and retract if pressure is applied to the tripod, so make sure the leg lock assemblies are fastened tight.

If you cannot afford the Manfrotto Carbon No One Series carbon fibre/magnesium tripods, then this is a reasonably priced and solid tripod for your six kilogram photographic equipment. If you hike or enjoy photographic dry land Earth walks, buy a carbon fibre (preferably Manfrotto) tripod. I deducted one star overall because of the effort required to operate the leg angle levers.

Customer Service

Have never used for this tripod.

Similar Products Used:

Most of the previously owned products were:

1. Manfrotto 190 Mini Pro Tripod (too short and pesky screw leg locks),
2. Manfrotto 434SS Self-Standing Professional Monopod (do not recommend because legs jammed inside of monopod tube), and
3. Gitzo G106 Sport Standard Tatlux (unstable extended, expensive, problematic with twist leg locks).

I have traded-in the 055 for a Manfrotto 441 Carbon No One tripod.

Stability
Leg clamp design
Flexible hieght range

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I got this 'pod in a package with my Swarovski AT80 spotting scope. It is a Manfrotto 055SS imported by Bogen. It came with the Manfrotto 128RC head (Bogen 3130). In addition to a wide, comfortable strap, it also has an attached backpack for easy transport when in the wild. I just started using it for photography and it does an outstanding job. It is heavier than some of the carbon fiber units on the market, but I like the stability inherent to the weight. The absolute best feature (shared with some other tripods) is the lever leg clamps. Much easier to adjust in the field and more reliable under pressure than twist clamps. The other nice feature is the padded upper legs. They are advertised as being more comfortable in cold weather. This is true, but I find that they also help damp any residual vibration that may be in the legs. This is critical for macrophotography. I strongly recommend going for this model over those without the padded legs for this benefit alone. I also appreciate the 4-position legs that provide a greater height range than fixed legs. Of course, this feature costs a bit more, but it's worth it. This model also has adjustable feet - choose round rubber (screwed all the way out) or spikes (rubber screwed all the way in). I thought about buying a new tripod for my camera work (who doesn't like to get new goodies), but this tripod is just too good not to use. It will be pulling double duty from now on.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

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Unbeleivable Italian quality. Solid as a rock. Easy to use and adjust.

Leg clamps seem a little persnickity.

This a beautifully made and completely utilitarian product. People who complain of the weight obviously never were in the military. I carried for 4 hours in 100 degree heat in Texas and it didn't bother me. That was with the 3047 head as well. Any other tripod besides a Bogen/Manfrotto is a toy. I kinda wish I had bought the Wilderness model.

Customer Service

NA

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Velbon peice of crap.

Price,and quality using small format with normal lenses

Vibrates using telephoto in the 200 to 300mm range and it is not as sturdy as Gitzo 1340. Compare apple to apple

Like the design but its specs to hold 13.2 lbs. w/o any vibration is a bit exaggerated. Weight is ok, afterall there is no such thing as light weight tripod that doesn't vibrate. Again you get what you pay for!

Similar Products Used:

Velbon(Crap)

1. Spirit level
2. Low level shooting
3. Improved lever locks
4. Shaped center column that will turn in a dedicated mount on the tripod
5. Center column can be placed perpendicular to the tripod
6. Has a built in strap ring

1. A little heavy
2. New model identification nomenclature is difficult to understand, There is a 3021BPro, 3021WN, 3021Pro, 3021N, 3021BN which are all different animals. Take a recent catalog with you when you buy.

This is the new 3021Pro model and it is a great improvement over the older 3021. Most of the weaknesses of the previous 3021 are Gone!

The only thing that I can think of as a weakness is the weight of the thing. But then I could have bought a carbon fiber tripod if I had wanted a lighter tripod (and a lighter wallet too). Be careful you get the 3021 tripod that you want when you buy, Bogen's new nomenclature is more than a little confusing. Even though I wanted a black tripod, I ended up geting silver just so I made sure I got the Pro version. For me color is just the asthetics, to others it's not depending on what they shoot.

Typical Bogen/Manfrotto quality build.

Customer Service

Never have used

Similar Products Used:

Bogen, Gitzo, Davis and Sanford

This tripod wears very well. Mine is in its fourth year of almost daily use and is showing only moderate wear. I've taken this thing accross the US, into frozen gorges, in rivers, and above 13,000 feet in the Sangre De Christo mountains. It performs well under all kinds of circumstances. Did I mention how durable it is? Just last month I dropped mine a good thirty feet off of a rock face into a gorge and it came out with only a few scratches.

Admittedly, it is a bit heavy. However, I use it to support a 10lb Linhof 4x5, so I don't really mind. Also, only having 3 leg angles to choose from proves to be a bit challenging at times.

This tripod will not let you down in most cases. I use mine for everything up to 4x5, but it is best suited for 35mm and medium format systems. It is a tremendous value. Period. Buy one and you shouldn't be disappointed.

Customer Service

No experience.

Similar Products Used:

Borrowed a Gitzo and a few others before purchasing the Bogen. Used all kinds of other tripods, liked the Bogen best.

Well solid, well made. Smooth.

Cost more than average.
A little heavy when actually used.

This is a great tripod that seems to be built from a solid piece of metal! Very strong and no doubt it will last a lifetime. However, this is a heavy piece of equipment. Definitely recommand getting the Bogen Deluxe Tripod strape. Also, the rubber sleeves came in very handy when handling it cold weather. I took it on a trip to California in the winter on the slopes and it not only make it easier to handle but it also insulated the metal legs so it didn't "burn" from the cold.

Similar Products Used:

Slik U212, Bogen 3036

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Any tripod at all will improve your photography noticeably. The Bogen 3021 is a very popular legset, and for good reason. It is solid, tall, and works with most heads. I am very happy with mine. Also consider the 3221, the same tripod in black (reduces light reflections when taking pictures with reflective surfaces or macros).

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It has enough height without extending the center column. (I'm 5'6). The leg angle/click stops are handy. Street price is pretty good.

Clamp/leg section tolerances are sloppy. It is a little heavy for trekking long distances. Legs do not drop to a flat position on the ground which makes low-angle photos difficult. Standard spike feet would be nice.

This tripod can be very sturdy with some mods to the leg clamps. The tolerances in these parts is hit and miss. I had to shim them to give this tripod a study feel with legs fully extended and at a low angle. The center column clamp is very good. Considering the price, it is a pretty good value in a tripod. I also insulated the legs for cold weather work.

Similar Products Used:

Slik U212