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Manfrotto 055XPROB Review RSS Feed

Manfrotto 055XPROB

Reviews Views Date of last review
10 13,093 Sat December 6, 2014
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $159.97 8.80
Manfrotto 055XPROB
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Description:
The 055XPROB is an aluminum tripod leg system weighing 5.3 lbs and capable of supporting 15.4 lbs. It extends up to 70.3" (55.9" without center column). It features 3 position leg locks, allowing the legs to be pivoted almost horizontally, getting the tripod very close to the ground.

The center column can be pivoted out sideways to move the head away from the center of the tripod.

The basic version has 3 section legs with flip locks. There are also versions available with 4 section legs, and versions using carbon fiber construction.
Price History:



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Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Posts: 12,285

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 6, 2014 Recommended | Price: $68.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Steady, flexible, tall, versatile
Cons: Heavy

I got this tripod from Amazon Warehouse who said it had a scratch on one of the legs, hence the deep discount. Lets face it, a tripod is meant to be used so a small scratch saves me arond $100 - woohoo!

Excellent step up for me. Rock solid, incredibly flexible - legs have multiple independent angles, central shaft can be adjusted to a variety of angles, alternative shoeter center shaft and even bud insert to make it even more flexible, etc. The max height of 70 inches is a plus as are the quick releases for each leg. Spirit level is helpful.

Holds my dSLR, grip, and 70-200/2.8 without a shutter or any movement when placed properly. I only wish it came with convertable feet.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: September, 2006
Location: Bronx NY
Posts: 5,631
Review Date: April 13, 2012 Recommended | Price: $160.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Variable leg angles, flexible set ups, center colum easily converts to horizontal
Cons: long and somewhat heavy

I bought this tripod several years ago, and there is nothing I can complain about. Yeah, it's heavy compared to carbon fiber tripods and even to flimsier other aluminum 'pods, but it does what it was meant to do, hold your camera and lens steady. What I like most is that the legs have 4 different set up angles, so that side hill, boulders, low walls and other difficult set ups are much easier. I've even gotten stable set ups on steep stairs! There is also a bull's eye level on the top plate to facilitate level setups for panoramic shots.
The selling point of this tripod is the ease in which the center column converts from vertical to horizontal without any tools or disassembly needed. It's a very nice feature, but as others have noted, you have to be careful not to set too far off the centerline especially with heavy lenses. I've found it best to set the horizontal directly over the nearest leg. It seems a bit steadier that way.
Because of the horizontal conversion feature there is no hook on the bottom of the center column, but there is a hook on the center plate between two of the legs so you can add weight if you feel you need it.
At 60+ I don't go on long hikes any more, but even if I was 30 years younger, I think I'd take a long look at lighter tripods for wilderness trekking. But to be truthful, this tripod was never intended for that type of photography anyway.

NaCl(sturdy, flexible setup options, but not a long distance trekker)H2O
   
Site Supporter

Registered: July, 2008
Location: Detroit
Posts: 3,491

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 14, 2011 Recommended | Price: $170.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sturdy
Cons: heavy

I bought this tripod to use while I was getting repairs to my 190X PROB.
It's as steady as they come at this weight and price and holds everything I've put on it.
I use a Manfortto 804RC2 pan head on this one.
With a heavy lens you are limited to how far out you can set the post while horizontal. It will teeeter if it's out too far.
In spite of it's size, it will get down as low as the 190, and is great for macro work.
I'm about 5' 9" and need a step ladder to use it with the column extended, if you're on the tall side you will love it.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2010
Location: Arizona
Posts: 442
Review Date: July 6, 2011 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Steadiness, flip-to-horizontal center column
Cons: heavy for trips and hiking

As part of my job as a free-lance writer, I often set this tripod up so that the center column is in its horizontal mode. Then I can photograph smaller objects on the ground or a table straight down. This is the most useful feature to me. In normal mode, the tripod is rock-steady. I would not like to lug it around all day, and it doesn't collapse enough to get into a carry-on bag. However for staged shots on your primary premises, it's close to ideal. Any combination of leg length and extension is possible so you can get high or low.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2009
Location: Ohio, USA/ India
Posts: 478
Review Date: June 7, 2011 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sturdy, versatile
Cons: a bit heavy

This is a great tripod for the price. The legs can be adjusted independent of each other. Paired with a nice ball head it is a great piece of equipment to keep your camera steady. It is a bit heavy but still manageable if you have the right bag to sling over your shoulders.
   
Senior Member

Registered: June, 2011
Posts: 160
Review Date: June 7, 2011 Recommended | Price: $157.76 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sturdy, solid, many shooting angles
Cons: on the heavier side

I've only had it for about two weeks but it is just an awesome tripod to have and use. With the combination of a ball head top(ie: my manfrotto 494RC2) the shooting angles, heights, etc are more than enough for me and I would imagine for most others as well.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: November, 2009
Location: Southern Tablelands NSW
Posts: 406

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 2, 2010 Recommended | Price: $199.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Steady, so many adjustments, sturdy, build quality. sturdy
Cons: A little heavy, but...

Yeah folks might complain about the weight of this tripod - at around 2kgs - but this tripod does what it says on the box! It keeps the camera steady while you close down that aperture or fit an ND grad, etc. This thing keeps the body steady in the most demanding of conditions. I live on a mountain which copes some pretty drastic wind - had a day where my bag (with lenses) flipped a few times UP the hill, but the tripod and K20D with Sigma 100-300/4 was still there waiting faithfully post-retrieval.

The 055xProB is not only fully adjustable with individual leg height, but moving the centre column to the horizontal makes it invaluable for macro shots. You can get right down to the ground without issue.

I've only borrowed a carbon-fibre set up once and although light did not give me this degree of confidence when the legs were in place. I think it is the weight that helps anchor it....hence why large format shooters are still lugging around wooden tripods! So think of their 20+ kg load while quibbling over a few 100 grams. No matter how heavy or light things on my bag might be, I'd prefer that they do what's needed when I get to where I need to be. I don't think I'd find myself justifying camera shake from a golden light moment with a "Yeah but that 1kg saving was so worth it". A moment of shoulder pain pales in comparison to a magic moment caught that can last....well forever.

Finally, with reviews concerning the leg fittings coming loose. This is easy to remedy and only takes seconds to do so, while you're on the fly....and Manfrotto even provides the tool clipped to your leg to do so.
   
Forum Member

Registered: November, 2006
Location: Sweden
Posts: 218
Review Date: July 27, 2010 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sturdy, reliable and flexible at this price point
Cons: A bit too heavy for long hikes

A good, reasonably priced tripod for general use, that also give good support (pun intended...) for macro work with the flexible center column.
I find it as fairly easy and quick to use and also flexible in most situations.
It's a little heavy for longer hiking, and due to its length (rather height) and its three section design, it doesn't fold down well. But if you do bring it with you, it will support you photography and raise it to new heights!
   
New Member

Registered: July, 2010
Location: Capelle aan den IJssel
Posts: 16
Review Date: July 19, 2010 Recommended | Price: $175.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: easy to use, affordable
Cons: weight, leg clamp nuts loosening in time

A nice tripod for it's price, but not without it's flaws.

It's easy to use, only getting down really low is somewhat cumbersome.

I would like it to have the foam protection on all three legs, easier for carrying and the center column wouldnīt then damage the non/foam covered leg which it does now. Also the clamps for locking the legs loosen in time in spite of having lock nuts, my Manfrotto 075 has the same problem.
Also the Macro functionality makes it less stable than itīs basic counterpart.
All in all a nice, quite ergonomic tripod to use with fairly good load carrying capacity. I havenīt got any problems carrying it all day although there are tripods around performing better length and weight wise, but those are usually a lot more expensive.
   
Forum Member

Registered: August, 2007
Location: Denver
Posts: 92
Review Date: May 16, 2010 Recommended | Price: $190.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Solid, versatile, reasonably priced
Cons: Heavy

This is a good all around tripod for general use, photographing from the car, and macro work. It should support most kits with no problem - I certainly haven't had any problems, though I don't have any truly big glass. It's also nice for tall folks like myself (6' 2") because it gets nearly to my height without using the center column.

The swing out center column is very handy for macro work, both in the field and tabletop. You can get the camera much closer to the subject without needing to engulf it with the legs. It's also possible to place the camera directly above a subject, eg for tabletop macro work. I've also used it to look out over the side of a building (parking garage), by putting two legs up on the edge and extending the column out past the edge. It always scares me, but you can get some good shots that way.

It's a bit big and heavy for hiking, though I've done it on occasion. It's also not so great for travel photography, as it doesn't fold down small enough to fit in a standard carry on.
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