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 - The Manfrotto 725B Inspires Confidence For A First TripodThe Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod is definitely a sturdy and well-made product. Although the manufacturer rates this tripod for point-and-shoot cameras and beginning photographers, I had absolutely no problem or worries using it to support my Canon EOS Rebel XSi digital SLR camera with both the Canon BG-E5 Battery Grip and the Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens installed. I also frequently had the lens hood attached. Not once did I fear my camera falling off or the tripod tipping over. As a matter of fact, I have frequently walked around downtown while carrying this tripod with my camera constantly attached to it including the battery grip and lens. The mount on this tripod inspires confidence, so for those of you nervous about mounting your SLR on this particular tripod, give it a try as I feel this product is far from being considered cheap. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the strength and competent construction of the 725B. The tripod comes with its own carrying bag and is definitely not made of some cheap material. The bag completely covers the tripod and would protect the tripod from rain. The black colored bag with gray and white trim has the "Manfrotto" brand name printed on it. The bag closes with a convenient red colored drawstring and the drawstring even has a little plastic lock attached that is simple to operate to keep it closed. With the tripod inside its bag, it can be carried on your shoulder using the adjustable shoulder strap or if you're like me, carried directly under the Canon Deluxe Backpack 200EG which has its own pair of secure tripod straps underneath. By appearance, the black colored 725B tripod does not look flimsy or frail. By performance, the tripod delivers strong support for my SLR camera with battery grip and standard zoom lens attached. Before I took this tripod outdoors, I tested it in my home with the legs and center column fully extended. For an entire day, I mounted my camera, battery grip, and lens on the tripod and the whole thing stayed in place. I would sometimes purposely shake the tripod with the camera mounted to stimulate a windy environment and the camera still stayed in place. Outside on the field, I was impressed with the sturdiness of this tripod. I won't say that the 725B can withstand all kinds of conditions because any tripod can be knocked over, some easier than others. However, this tripod more than met my expectations with its strength and durability for the price I paid for it. The 725B held up firm during moderate winds and it is unlikely to tip over if you bump it a little bit. As I mentioned earlier, I even walked around holding the tripod in my hand with the camera still attached to it. Now please understand that my experience with this tripod may or may not be typical for others. One should always be careful with their expensive camera gear. The point that I'm trying to convey is that this tripod inspired confidence in me when subjected to reasonable conditions. I'm telling you, I was very confident at all times while using this tripod. For actual photography, this tripod was very steady for every shot that I used it with. It definitely does the job well for shots that require a fully stable camera. One of my favorite shots that I took using this tripod was a "river of light" nighttime photo which required a 30-second exposure. On the field, setting up and taking down the tripod is a snap. In my opinion, this tripod is not complicated at all. The adjustable legs each have four sections that can lock and on top of that, the adjustable center column is long. This gives the user plenty of height flexibility. On a side note, the tripod's center column is reversible, meaning it can be inverted (upside down). The metal ball head is amazing and can be easily tilted, rotated, and locked in many directions. The camera body is mounted onto a solid plate that strongly secures the camera to the tripod head. You could keep the plate screwed into the bottom of your camera to take advantage of the quick release feature. This allows you to dismount the camera from the tripod and also put it back on with ridiculous ease as frequently as you wish. I personally keep the quick release plate attached to my camera even during storage due to this great convenience. For those of you who are tall like me, you have nothing to worry about with this tripod. I am 6'4" and when fully extended, the 725B easily accomodates my height even as I stand up straight with both of my feet pressed together. There is no need for me to slouch unless I truly have to for certain shots. To be clear, I'm talking about when my camera is mounted on the tripod and I'm looking through its viewfinder while standing up fully straight. What's funny though is that it seems 6'4" may be the maximum height a person could be to use this tripod without slouching. Anyone taller may likely have to slouch somewhat. Of course, those of you shorter than 6 feet in height should be able to use the 725B just fine as this tripod is not just for tall people and can be easily adjusted. Even though the 725B felt quite strong in my hands, it is lightweight and very portable. I have been carrying this thing around with me all day and not once was I bothered by its weight or size, especially when it's fully collapsed and carried on my back. I think this would be an excellent choice for a travel tripod. When carried under the Canon Deluxe Backpack 200EG, this tripod doesn't stick out far to the sides because it collapses to a convenient size. When fully collapsed, the 725B is under 21 inches long (20.25" to be exact) from head to toe. In conclusion, the Manfrotto 725B Digi Tripod with Ball Head is an exceptional value compared to more expensive tripods. If you're looking for an excellent first tripod that is sturdy and portable, I highly recommend this one. Whether you are a casual or serious photographer, this is a very competent tripod overall that can easily travel with you. Rating:  - Excellent Tripod ... Except When the Head BreaksWhen I got this tripod, I was very excited ... it was lightweight, compact, and very easy to use. I used it a few times ... and loved it. After using it at home for about 6 weeks, however, the ball head no longer holds up my camera. (I'm very careful with my equipment, and I would say this tripod saw light to moderate use). And there's no way that my camcorder (a Canon HG10) even comes close to the 7 pound weight limit that the specs say this head can hold. This is a wonderful tripod ... except for the integrated head. Once the head breaks, it cannot be replaced, thus turning the entire tripod into a paperweight. I'd suggest buying something else. PRODUCT UPDATE: Since the unit is still under warranty, I returned it for repair. The service department returned the unit "in working order." Now the head will hold my camera up about 50% of the time, and I find that I have to fiddle with the lock a great deal to get the head to stay. I don't trust the latch, so I'll continue to use this tripod (because of the portability and weight), but I rarely take my hands off my camera when it's on this tripod. From reading the other reviews, other folks seemed to have had good experiences with this unit. For me, even after going to the hassle of returning the unit for service, I am still not pleased with it, and would not recommend it to others. I guess you roll your dice and takes your chances. Rating: - Great tripod!This tripod is perfect for travel. It is very light (around 3lb - 1.2kg), and comes with a bag. It can support loads up to 7.7lb (around 3kg), which if enough for a small dSRL with a moderate lens. I have a Canon Xti (400D), and so far I have tried it with the 28-135mm and 70-300mm lenses without a problem. Definitely recommended! Rating: - Great ProductExcellent!!!!! Took some fireworks photos on 4th of July with lon exposures Got Great results. It is easy to use and transport. Rating: - I love this tripodI love this tripod, its quality and features, and using it, because: 1. The dove tail plate is permanently attached (screwed) to my Canon 40D camera. The camera, with its attached dove tail plate, is easily attached to, and removed from, the tripod's ball head. I am pleased with the ease and swiftness of this attaching and removing process. I was pleasantly surprised to see the pin that prevents me from accidentally opening the latch with my camera on the tripod. Nice feature; nice quality. 2. The ball head rotates in a complete circle when the lever is loosened. The camera can move to any orientation. Changing from horizontal to vertical shots or vice versa is easy. My Canon 40D has "live view", so it is easy to set up the correct orientation for horizontal and vertical shots. 3. The light weight and nice carrying bag make it easy to carry this tripod while walking. 4. The flip-style latch mechanisms on the legs are easy to use, and enable quick extending and collapsing of the legs. 5. Some people like tripods with three sections in each leg. I like this tripod because it has four sections in each leg. This enables the tripod to collapse into a short length, making it easy to carry and transport. This shorter length also enables the camera to be positioned closer to the ground when all leg sections are collapsed. 6. I agree with other reviews stating that this tripod is easy to set up and use. 7. The amazon price is good and the shipping is free.
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