Manfrotto 190X Aluminium 3 Section Tripod

Product Information

Given a typical head weighs between 0.5 and 1Kg (with only the heftiest models coming in any heavier), you can easily work out what you’ll have remaining for your camera and lens. Typical entry-level to mid-range DSLR bodies weigh between 500 and 700g with battery. Typical semi-pro DSLR bodies with battery (but no battery grip) generally weigh around 900g, while top-end pro DSLRs with built-in grips rarely weigh much more than 1.2Kg. The key feature of the 190X is the ground level adaptor which allows great shooting creativity. Once placed on the top casting and combined with the 4 leg angles, it enables the tripod to reach ultra-low positions. The new Leg Angle Selector allows the leg angle to be chosen easily and effortlessly. The target was an indoor flower arrangement at a distance of approximately 15m; with at an equivalent of 3456mm, little more than one flower head was visible in the frame. The location was inside the Queenstown Church we use for our standard low light camera tests; no-one else was in the building at the time and the tiled floor was absolutely steady. We timed the vibration dissipation on-location using the screen, but also recorded the results for presentation here.

Finally, Manfrotto tripods with the 90 degree centre-column include the PRO tag in their model name. Since all current MT190 and MT055 tripods feature the 90 degree column, they all have PRO in their titles. So to decode the specific model name reviewed here, MT190XPRO3 refers to the MT190 collection with aluminium legs, a 90 degree column and three leg sections. Simple when you know how! Brushed and Oiled – Steel brushes are used in the direction of the grain which opens up the surface of the wood and removes splinters. The wood is then oiled.In this leg configuration, the central column needs to be raised to its maximum height, or more sensibly switched to the horizontal orientation (see below) to clear the ground, although you can also replace it for an optional shorter column if desired. Alternatively you could go for the less extreme 66 or 46 degree leg angles, reverse the column and hang the camera below the legs. There’s lots of options for low height configurations, giving the tripod a great deal of flexibility. Like other models in the 190 range, the biggest issue facing the 190XPROB for many photographers will be its maximum height – it’s absolutely fine for people of short to medium height, but if you’re tall, you may find yourself crouching more than you’d like, and always relying on the centre column being raised, which as we saw in our tests, compromises stability. But then the taller 055XPROB will be eliminated by many on the grounds of size and weight, and while the weight issue is solved by the carbon fiber 055CXPRO3, it comes at a considerable price hike. As always, it’s a case of deciding which compromise best-fits your requirements and budget. For the lens we once again opted for a popular focal length of 70-300mm, although due to availability the model used was the less common Canon EF 70-300mm DO. When fully zoomed-in and mounted on a cropped-frame body like the 550D / T2i, this lens delivered an effective focal length of 480mm. The Movie Crop function then effectively multiplied this by a further 7.2 times, delivering a final focal length equivalent to a massive 3456mm; in binocular or telescopic terms, that’s about 70x ‘normal’ (50mm) magnification. So while the total load itself was a fairly modest 1.25Kg (or just under 2.1Kg including the head), the chance to test each tripod at such a large and demanding effective focal length was one we felt had the overall edge. And once again while the Canon 550D / T2i isn’t a heavy body, it is representative of the DSLRs in most common use.

All four versions of the MT190, whether three or four leg sections or aluminium or carbon fiber construction, share the same maximum heights and loads. With the centre column retracted or extended, their maximum heights are 135cm or 160cm respectively, while their maximum loads are 7kg. Their minimum heights are also almost identical: 9cm for the three leg section models or 8cm for the four-sections. The 190XPROB is part of Manfrotto’s X family, designed for general-purpose use indoors and out. There are no fewer than 12 models in the current X family, divided equally between the 190 and 055 ranges. Fully understanding Manfrotto’s model numbers and knowing their capabilities is the key behind making the right choice; here’s a brief guide. The table of 190 is important for the students in learning all the basic concepts like HCF, LCM, long division method, etc. Reciting all the tables mainly improves the hold on the multiplication operation, which is very essential from the exam perspective. I shot with the MT190XPRO3 for several weeks and found it to be a substantial and serious tripod. At 59cm in length and 2kg for the aluminium version (before you’ve fitted a head), you certainly know you’re carrying it around. By sharing many of the specs of earlier 055 models, Manfrotto has repositioned the MT190 as a heftier, higher-end tripod that’ll satisfy anyone who desires a stable platform to position their camera at or above head-height or virtually touching the ground. Clearly if you’re tall, the extra foot or so of the 055 tripods will mean less stooping when composing, while shorter photographers will appreciate the stability of a tripod which simply doesn’t need to raise its centre column to meet their eye-levelPrior to this time, Manfrotto tripods were often sold under the Bogen name in certain regions – for example the 190XPROB and 055XPROB were commonly known as the Bogen 3001BPRO and 3021BPRO respectively in America. Today the same Manfrotto name and model numbers are now used worldwide, although both it and ‘rival’ Gitzo remain part of the same Vitec group. Guide to Manfrotto’s X family Manfrotto also offers versions of most tripods with three or four leg sections, simply indicated by a number 3 or 4 at the end of the model name. Their maximum heights when fully-extended are roughly similar, but having four leg sections means each section can be shorter, allowing the retracted, transportable size to be smaller overall. Since each section has to fit inside the last though, the fourth section is thinner than the third with a negative impact on overall stability. If you travel a lot and want to squeeze a tripod into a smaller bag, then go for four leg sections, but if you can accommodate a larger tripod or demand the greatest stability, go for three leg sections.

That said, if you’re mostly carrying your tripod by foot or bike, there’s no doubt the lighter carbon fiber models are preferred. The big surprise for many people though is to discover the carbon fiber versions are also actually more rigid, and this becomes apparent when comparing the 190XPROB and 190CXPRO3 side-by-side. Extend the legs on both to identical angles then push down on any part of the tripods, and you’ll find the aluminium version flexes more than the carbon fiber one. The carbon fiber version is simply stiffer, and in our tests below, was also measurably superior when it came to damping vibrations. A key advantage for carbon fiber. The 190X features Premium Italian Design with bold clean shapes and lines dictated by function, making it outstandingly stylish and recognisable. In my full review of the 190XPROB I’ll compare its features and stability against three other key models in the same range, including the carbon fiber 190CXPRO3 version and the larger 055CXPRO3 and 055XPROB models. Together these four tripods dominate the sales charts as some of the best-selling models around, and for very good reason. If you’d like to accommodate heavier loads, the MT055 range will handle 9kg (2kg more than the MT190 series), and is available in aluminium or carbon fiber with three leg sections, or in carbon fiber alone in four leg sections. The extra build required to handle this load increases the weight of each MT055 model by around half a kilo (or about a pound) over the equivalent MT190 version.Manfrotto is one of the most respected names in the business and these tripods represent a significant step-up from budget options. Indeed after much research many photographers narrow their choices of a decent tripod down to these very four models, but then often struggle with their final decision. Ultimately which one will be best for you? The actual numbers may also have you rethinking your technique, especially if you regularly trigger self-timers by hand and not cable release. While all vibrations with the columns raised or lowered were fully dissipated within a ten second countdown, most configurations were still wobbling well beyond two seconds. Lacquered – Lacquered floors tend to be more durable and resilient to scratching, the lacquer provides a flat and smooth finish to the wood flooring. But before you sign-up for a four-legged tripod, there are a number of compromises to be aware of. Most importantly the more sections, the less rigid and stable the entire tripod will be. Each joint will flex, and the necessity to squeeze a fourth tube into the third means this final section will be very narrow; indeed on the 190 and 055 models, the fourth leg tubes measure just 11.6 and 16mm in diameter.

As an owner of several earlier 190 and 055 models, I really noticed the increased size of the MT190. It has, in effect, become an 055, but that’s no bad thing. It means the maximum height is tall enough for most photographers to never need to raise the central column, and the maximum load has also increased from 5 to 7kg. The ability to shoot comfortably without extending the centre column is critical for the best performance as raising it on any tripod seriously impacts stability and should only be used as a last resort. By simply attaching an arm with an LED light, a reflector, or any other accessory, the new 190X goes beyond the boundaries of classic tripod functionalities.

For a near to perfect floor with minimal knots, our prime grade oiled product is the way to go. Due to the thinner planks, the price is a lot cheaper but still presents the highest quality in the floor. Plank Width Tongue-and-groove One side and one end of the plank have a groove, the other side and end have a tongue (protruding wood along an edge’s center). The tongue and groove fit snugly together, thus joining or aligning the planks, and are not visible once joined. Prime oak 190 x Tongue-and-groove flooring can be installed by glue-down (both engineered and solid), floating (engineered only), or nail-down (both solid and engineered). All the PRO models offer built-in spirit levels: on the carbon fiber versions they’re integrated into the top plate, and on the aluminium ones they’re part of the lower Q90 section. Either way, they’re a handy addition whether the head you’re using is also equipped with one or not. With the legs fully extended and set to their normal operating angle, the head plate is positioned 122cm from the ground. Extending the centre column takes the head plate to a maximum height of 146cm. Fold the legs and column down, and the minimum length for transportation becomes 57cm. The carbon fiber 190CXPRO3 version is almost identical in these regards, with the same maximum heights, but folding down to a fractionally longer 58cm. The increased stability of engineered wood is achieved by running each layer at a 90° angle to the layer above. This stability makes it a universal product that can be installed over all types of subfloors above, below or on grade. Engineered wood is the most common type of wood flooring in Europe and has been growing in popularity in North America Tongue And Groove