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Thread: Experience with Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 CF and big glass

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Default Experience with Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 CF and big glass

    A workshop participant with this tripod is thinking about renting a 500mm lens for our Costa Rica trip. The tripod is only rated for about 17 pounds. His camera/lens/flash combo will be knocking on the door of that weight rating. Does anyone have experience with this tripod and relatively heavy loads such as the one I'm describing? Thanks in advance.
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    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Brown View Post
    A workshop participant with this tripod is thinking about renting a 500mm lens for our Costa Rica trip. The tripod is only rated for about 17 pounds. His camera/lens/flash combo will be knocking on the door of that weight rating. Does anyone have experience with this tripod and relatively heavy loads such as the one I'm describing? Thanks in advance.
    I've got one, but haven't used it in the field with my 500mm. Just setting it up with my Arca-Swiss Z1, Wimberley Sidekick, 7D and 500mm it seems to hold the weight and is stiff enough with all the legs extended equal length. I haven't taken any test shots with it, but it's not near as inert as my Induro C414. I think your student will "get by" with the Manfrotto, but a larger setup will be steadier. I think that I'd use it with a with a lighter weight gimbal rather than a ballhead/sidekick setup, to keep the weight down. It'll be very important for your student to damp it with their left hand because it's more prone to vibrate than my Induro.

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    Doug,

    I once owned the 4 section version, along with my Gitzo 2 and 3 series. It is more vibration prone and less rigid than a Gitzo 2 series which I would not recommend for use with a 500. Hope this helps.

    Gene

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    I own the older 0055MF3 carbon and I rented a Nikon 500mm f4 VR and the tripod although works great for my 300 f4 is not stable enough for the 500mm... I even tried my 300 2.8 on the tripod with TC 1.4. It works but you have to really have your act together to obtain sharp pictures. Not to mention you need a solid ball head or a gimbal for a 500mm. That's why I have a Gitzo GT3541 arriving in a few days.

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    Lifetime Member Doug Brown's Avatar
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    Appreciate the information folks!
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    Be careful too of using the tripod with the legs splayed low to the ground. Tried this on mine with a 500 and the leg stop broke!!!

    regards.
    Stu.

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