Manfrotto 290 Dual £149/$179

The tallest, but not in a good way

Taller than all the other tripods on test when folded, this has three-section legs instead of four or five, and omits a swing-up design to reduce the carrying size. The latter is also true of the four-section Manfrotto 190 kit, but the 290’s folded height is 12cm greater, despite both kits having an identical maximum operating height of 175cm.

The flipside is there are only six flip locks to operate in total, rather than the nine locks of a four-section tripod, or 12 locks for a set of five-section legs. You can therefore set the height of the tripod with little fuss. Like the other Manfrotto on test, this one has a 90-degree pivot facility, which is quick and easy to use. The push-locks for the four-way leg angle mechanism are also simple and effective.

The leg diameters are the same as the three upper sections of the Manfrotto four-section 190 tripod. The bottom section is therefore chunkier, with a 19mm diameter compared with the 190’s 16mm. Even so, the 290’s load ratings are reduced to 5kg and 6kg for the legs and head respectively, compared with 7kg and 10kg for the 190. Performance Despite having a lower maximum load rating, the 290’s legs feel as impressively robust and rigid as those of the 190. And while the 496RC2 head lacks a pan-only release or bubble levels, it’s supremely quick for making the full range of adjustments, and feels reassuringly solid when locked.

KEY Features 1. The 496RC2 ball head uses the same 200PL quick-release plate as found in the XPRO head. 2. The pivot mechanism for the centre column is different to the 190’s, but similarly simple. 3. Both sets of Manfrotto legs come with rubber feet...