Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 + XPRO ball head
£393/$487
a strong but conventional contender
Like the Benro Mach3, Vanguard and Velbon tripods on test, the Manfrotto 055 is quite large when folded, thanks to having three-section legs that don’t swing upwards for stowage. That said, a foursection edition of the tripod is available. With maximum and minimum leg section diameters of 29/21mm, compared with the 190go!’s 25/16mm, the upsized 055 feels rather more solid and the maximum load rating increases from 6kg to 9kg.
At just over 2.5kg in weight (including head), it’s also the weightiest tripod in the group, and around 25 per cent heavier than most other contenders.
Like only the Velbon tripod on test, the 055 has clip locks, not twist fasteners for the leg sections. The redesigned ‘Quick Power Lock’ clamps have a rocker action that’s strong but feels spring-loaded, and the tripod has a pivot mechanism for the centre column that’s quick and easy to use. Unlike the pivot arrangements in the Benro Go Plus Travel and Vanguard tripods, however, you can only use the centre column in vertically upright or horizontal orientations. Again, an Easy Link socket is built into the spider but, unlike the 190go!, a bubble level is also fitted.
Performance
The 055 is simple to set up and it’s sturdier and more rigid than the 190go!, especially with heavy combinations of DSLR bodies and telephoto lenses mounted. And if big telephoto lenses are your thing, we’d suggest upgrading to the Top Lock edition of the XPRO ball head, which costs around £40/$30 extra but is worth it.