Stable, low vibration, lightweight, versatile, quick and easy to use, strap included, low cost compared to Gitzo

Unknown long term durability, expensive compared to similar aluminum Bogens, sticky center column adjustment.

I haven't had this tripod for long, but I thought folks would like early feedback on this relatively new product. I'll do a long term review later on. I went with the Bogen carbon over Gitzo because I prefer the Bogen leg locks and the Gitzo is much more expensive for similar features/performance. The leg locks on the 3443(441) are the best Bogen has provided. They are low profile (less snag potential) and the action is smooth. This tripod has three section legs. With the new levers, you can open both with one hand to allow really fast leg setup. Also, the lever is ajustable with a screwdriver instead of the hex head adjustment of the aluminum Bogen pods. The versatility is excellent: the center post removes and can be reinstalled horizontally. The centerpost end stop removes and can be installed as a mounting platform for your tripod head, making the tripod even lighter for carrying. The leg adjustment release buttons are nicely designed. A mount with a split ring is both the fastening point for your tripod strap and a place to hang a camera bag or other stabilizing weight. The included shoulder strap is very nice with a quick clip fastener and it has grippy rubber strands woven on the inside surface. The ball head platform includes three set screws for a secure mount. With free shipping, I bought this tripod from www.cameraworld.com for $349... excellent buying experience. If you want similar features for less than half the cost, check out the Bogen 3401 and 3401b (black) models. They are the aluminum equivalent of this carbon fiber model and go for about $126. After using the tripod for some studio macro shots, I found the center column adjustment sticky and annoying to use. My previous Bogen 3021 had very smooth center column travel. The carbon fiber material is a higher friction surface and the centerpost clamp can bind up on the new tripod, particularly if the weight of the camera and lens are off center. Since macro work often involves small changes in distance to the subject, the "stiction" makes it difficult to do tiny ajustments in center column height. Since many folks look to carbon fiber tripods for their hikable weight, if you do a lot of macro field work you may want to look at the aluminum alternatives to this model.

Customer Service

Good for replacement parts

Similar Products Used:

Bogen 3021, Gitzo Sport Performance

1. Lightweight compared to the Triminor Duo Tripod 455C but not as light as the Gitzo G1227 carbon fibre tripod,
2. Relatively strong for its class but not as strong as the Gitzo G1227,
3. Rigid three faceted shaped tubes to prevent leg rotation (better than the Gitzo and aluminum Manfrotto counterparts),
4. Convenient convertible centre column,
5. Finger friendly Quick Action leg angle buttons (an improvement over the Gitzo and Manfrotto aluminum counterparts),
6. The quickest and easiest leg locks/unlocks I have ever had the pleasure to use (I can setup this tripod faster than the other medium weight tripods I used to own),
7. More comfortable to hold and handle in cold temperatures,
8. Better vibration and sound impact dampening compared to the aluminum counterparts,
9. Sleek, dark and low-reflective finish,
10. Swivel split ring design is perfect for enclosed tripod strap or weighted camera bag (Gitzo should take note of this convenient design),
11. Removable head attachment plate (smart design),
12. Tripod strap with four longitudinal rubberized lines for a slip resistant shoulder grip (an improvement over the Camera Strap for Tripod 402 and 402NAT),
13. Removable rubber foot on legs to fit the optional retractable rubber/spiked adaptor foot,
14. Handy built-in spirit level,
15. A regular slot or phillips head screwdriver is all that is needed rather than a difficult to locate special hex key wrench, and
16. Plenty of Manfrotto accessories to complement this tripod.

1. Expensive (more than four times the price of a Triminor Tripod 055),
2. Unlike the aluminum counterparts, vertical movement of the centre column is sticky (especially with a camera rotated to the eccentricly loaded vertical position),
3. Unlike the aluminum counterparts, extension of the legs are somewhat sticky but not as sticky as the vertical movement of the centre column,
4. Because of the faceted shape of the centre column, one must rotate the column to align the arrow on the shoulder with the locking lever to ensure 100% locking of the column (I have this phobia of overtightening the locking lever and thus damaging the centre column if the column was inadvertently misaligned),
5. To close the legs, one must unscrew the locking lever to allow the centre column to rotate so the triangular shaped camera plate/column end stop does not interfere with the legs, and
6. The tripod box incorrectly converted the closed length of 61.5 cm to 20 1/4 in. The correct metric to imperial conversion should read 24 1/4 in. Misleading when one is comparison shopping! I have since telephoned Amplis Photo (the Manfrotto distributor) in Markham, Canada, who will in turn notify Manfrotto in Italy of the unforgiveable error.

It was either the Gitzo G1227 or the Manfrotto 441. The Gitzo is lighter and can carry an additional 2 kg load. The Manfrotto is $200.00 CAN cheaper in cost, has superior leg locks and has a built-in tripod strap connector where I can conveniently carry the tripod vertically down my side and the tripod will be ready for action at all times. Still not the perfect tripod, however. Overall, this is the best of the medium grade tripods I have owned. I am still waiting for either the perfect tripod or a self-levitating Nikon body to be invented. I just want to travel light for the remainder of my photographic life.

With the Manfrotto Proball 308RC head, this assembly weighs 2.1 kg (4.7 lbs). With a Nikon F5, AF Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 mm f/2.8DN ED and Nikon SB-28 Speedlight mounted on the fully extended tripod, I lightly hit the side of the F5 and watched the centre column sway for about one second. I pushed down on the fully extended tripod with moderate force and the legs did not retract. This is an indication of an excellent structural designed tripod for its class.

Since the carbon fibre material is not friction-free, the sticky leg and centre column movements are minor complaints. It is still early to tell how this tripod will cope in the long run. If there are any major changes, I will submit an update on this website.

Please note that the purchase price of this tripod is in Canadian dollars before the 15% taxes.

Customer Service

Have not used yet.

Similar Products Used:

Other light, medium and heavy duty products owned in the last twenty five years:

1. Manfrotto Mini Pro Tripod 190 in black (hated the screw leg locks),
2. Manfrotto Autodolly 057B (sturdy for its class but cumbersome to transport and store),
3. Manfrotto Triminor Tripod 055 in silver (one can and will be able to rotate the locked bottom legs),
4. Manfrotto Self-Standing Professional Monopod 434SS in silver (the retracted legs permanently jammed making its removal from the monopod tube impossible...this occurred a few days before my trip to Paris, France...I returned this poorly designed unit to the dealer for a full refund),
5. Gitzo G106 Standard Tatalux [compact, four section legs (I will never buy a time consuming to open and close four section tripod again), unstable when fully extended with a Nikon F5 and AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70 mm f/2.8D IF-ED, expensive, and twist lock grips that were slow and sometimes sticky to unlock), and
6. My first under $20.00 CAN flimsy beginners tripod from Sears in the early 1970's, and
7. An under $30.00 CAN C-channel Velbon tripod in the mid 1970's.