{"id":10684,"date":"2017-03-05T11:25:14","date_gmt":"2017-03-05T00:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alexwisephotography.net\/blog\/?p=10684"},"modified":"2017-03-05T11:25:14","modified_gmt":"2017-03-05T00:25:14","slug":"manfrotto-befree-compact-tripod-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alexwisephotography.net\/blog\/2017\/03\/05\/manfrotto-befree-compact-tripod-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Manfrotto Befree Compact Tripod Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Manfrotto Befree Compact tripod is an affordable tripod catering for people not looking to break the bank with yet another photography accessory or for those looking for something light on their next trip. Coming in at[amazon_link asins=’B00COLBNTK’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’alexwisephot-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ b4541cc8-ffea-11e6-b74f-1b8225fab6ab’], the Manfrotto is lightweight (2.4kg\/5.3), easy to carry and can support a reasonable camera load.<\/p>\n

\"Manfrotto<\/a>
Manfrotto Befree Compact Tripod in all its glory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Manfrotto Befree tripod was my first entry into the compact tripod range so I was keen to write a review with the positives and negatives for anyone else looking to add something more portable to their gear. <\/p>\n

What makes a good travel tripod?<\/h2>\n

I’m the first to admit it – I treat my tripods terribly and I’m constantly reminding myself (and ignoring my own advice) that I need to take better care of my tripods rather than let them erode away from salt water. Over the last 10~ years I’ve worked through 3 tripods which have succumbed to death by salt water (not too bad I thought?) which has given me a reasonable understanding of what makes a good tripod (and how to waste money…)<\/p>\n

So what makes a good travel tripod? I’ve touched on this in detail in a post where I compared some of the best travel tripods<\/a> on the market before I purchased the Manfrotto Befree tripod but some of the key call outs from this post:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n
    \"Manfrotto<\/a>
    Included with the Manfrotto Befree is this travel bag which you can conveniently sling over your shoulder<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Portability – <\/strong>A good travel tripod should be portable in both its size and weight. Generally you want something that’s no bigger than 20-24 inches when folded or more than 2.5kg in weight. The reason being is that you want something you can quickly store away in your carry baggage or strap to your bag. With normal tripods, some of these can be quite bulky which makes strapping to your bag quite difficult and awkward<\/li>\n

  2. \n
    <\/a>
    The Manfrotto Befree is tiny (ignore my pasty arms..!)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Extend to a reasonable height –<\/strong> While not a deal breaker for me as I prefer to shoot from lower angles, your tripod should be able to extend to a reasonable height (good for when you’re stuck behind a viewing platform where there is a high fence blocking the view). Generally being able to extend to at least 50 inches without needing to extend the centre column is a good height. I prefer not to extend the centre column when I can avoid it as it’s not as stable in windy conditions.<\/li>\n

  3. Ability to hold a reasonable load – <\/strong>You want something that can handle itself for different conditions whether that be supporting your camera with a lightweight wide angle lens all the way to a versatile zoom lens like the Canon 70-200. As an example, if you were to hold the Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 70-200 2.8 IS, this works out to be around 2.4kg. Most compact travel tripods are able to handle this load but just something worth noting and considering when looking at travel tripods as this is one area where they can really vary. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    With these items in mind, how does the Manfrotto tripod fare? To be honest, actually really well considering the price.<\/p>\n

    Manfrotto Befree Compact Travel Tripod<\/h2>\n

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    [su_note note_color=”#2aa92e” text_color=”#ffffff” radius=”5″]Pros<\/b>[\/su_note]<\/p>\n

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