Tripod Manfrotto Pro 055 XPROB vs Manfrotto 190 XPROB tripods

The popular Manfrotto tripods the Manfrotto 055 XPROB and the Manfrotto 190 XPROB.

Is it a tripod is necessary ?

Ken Rockwell doesn’t need a tripod, he uses Vr lenses. I am just joking. A tripod is necessary for many serious photographer. But if you don’t use it, not worth to spend money on it. If you don’t have really good lenses, perhaps to buy good lenses more “essential”, that to buy a good tripod. Situations when I like to use a tripod: using long birding lenses, and make long exposure landscapes at night (for example lightning. moving vehicles). I do not use tripods very often, but there are some situations when I like to use it. Tripods helps to make interesting pictures which is not possible to make without it.

Situations when tripod is useful:

– Macro photography, usually with small apertures, in dark environment f11-f16
– Low light situations inside a room, night
– Night landscapes with low iso, long exposure shots 15-30 second
– Bird, or wildlife photography when there is not enough light
– Astro photography
– Artistic pictures, when we want to show some movements
– Landscapes with small apertures in fog, dark, campfire

[do_widget Text]

The main feature of the tripod is stability. This is the most important feature, because this is why we using it, to be able to make sharp pictures in slow shutter speeds. For stability the tripod must be rigid, strong, and not bad if it is heavy. Better higher end tripods are very stable but light in the same time, but costs much more, than the “normal” ones.

Manfrotto tripods

The question about tripods sounds like this perhaps for many: What is the cheapest really good, stable tripod ? The usual answer is Manfrotto 055 PROB or XPROB or Manfrotto 190 XPROB. For this tripods usually a head is necessary which is sold separately.

[do_widget Text]

What is the difference between Manfrotto 055 PROB and Manfrotto 055 XPROB tripods?

The older Manfrotto 055 PROB is discontinued and the new Manfrotto 055 XPROB comes instead of it, with a difference that the top tube now can be placed horizontally like in the case of the Manfrotto 190 XPROB, which was not possible at the earlier model.

What is the difference between the Manfrotto 055 XPROB and Manfrotto 190 XPROB tripods ?

The 055 Xprob has bigger capacity, sturdier, and has higher working level. The 190 XPROB is smaller, lighter, but has less capacity, and working level. I would prefer the 055 xprob for the stability. At highest level the 055xprob is not as stable as I would like, with two sections it is rock solid. The 190 Xprob is much less solid, but ok for general photography with no so heavy lenses and camera bodies.

Manfrotto 055 XPROB specifications

Material: Aluminium
Max height with center coloumn up: 178.5 cm
Max height with center coloumn down: 142 cm
Min height: 10 cm
Closed lenght:65.5 cm
Weight: 2.4 kg
Leg cross section:round
Leg sections: 3
Column tube diameter: 28mm
Legs tube diameter: 29.4mm, 25mm, 20mm
Load capacity: 7kg
Attaches by: 3/8″
Colour: Black
Column cross section: 3 faceted

Manfrotto 190 XPROB specifications

Material: Aluminium
Max height with center coloumn up: 146 cm
Max height with center coloumn down: 122 cm
Min height: 8,5 cm
Closed length: 57 cm
Weight: 1.8 kg
Leg cross section:round
Leg sections: 3
Column tube diameter: 25mm
Legs tube diameter: 25mm, 20mm, 16mm
Load capacity: 5kg
Attaches by: 3/8″
Colour: Black
Column cross section: 3 faceted

Which one to choose ?

Everyone make their own decision, I would choose the 055 XPROB because I am taller than 180cm, and prefer the sturdier, more stable construction.

Other good budget alu tripods

Induro also has some interesting tripods: the Induro At 213, At 313 and At 413 tripods. The Induro tripods are not so flexible as Manfrotto (cannot put so down or the center column horizontal), but perfectly usable, perhaps even more stable than the Manfrotto. The Induro has twist type legs, while the Manfrotto has clip-lock clamp type legs. The clip-lock is a better solution, according to my opinion, if you miss twist direction in other case it takes a while to fix it.

Latest reviews/news/articles:

Tamron 150 600 f5-6.3-Di Vc USD tele
Milc vs Dsrl
Canon 15 85 vs Canon 24 105
Canon 24 105 review update
Sigma 18-35 f1.8 review
Sigma 35 f1.4 review