Manfrotto 190XPROB Tripod Review

Manfrotto is one of the most respected names when it comes to good quality, sturdy tripods. I've used one for years, and it's still going strong with no signs of wear or tear. The 190 range is designed to be a smaller and more compact tripod that is easy enough to carry around. The 190XPROB is the "top of the range."

Pros

• Reasonably lightweight and compact
• Pivoting central column to allow for horizontal use

Cons

• Horizontal extension is limited to 90 degrees from the axis of the legs
• Still a fairly clunky tripod compared to a carbon fiber model, and it's even heavier when you add the head

The 190XPROB measures 48 inches (122 cm) when its legs are fully extended. You'll need a tripod head on top of the tripod so as to be able to attach the camera, and that will add at least another 5 inches. It's not the tallest tripod that Manfrotto makes, but its compact size means that it's ideal for taking out and about (for instance, while hiking or to take on location shoots).

All Manfrotto tripods are extremely sturdy, and the 190XPROB is no exception. The legs are solidly built, and they'll work with all sorts of extreme terrains. The legs extend into three sections and are secured by large flip locks, which are easy to operate and click into place firmly. To give you an idea of this tripod's longevity, I've owned mine for more than a decade, and the legs are still as sturdy as the day I bought it! The center column is also surprisingly stable (as these are usually very flimsy on tripods), but, even so, it's best to only extend this as a final resort after raising the legs.

The tripod is made from aluminum, and it is very lightweight in comparison to other aluminum and plastic tripods. However, it is no match for a carbon fiber tripod! If you can't absorb the expense of carbon fiber, this is a great compromise. It also comes with two leg warmers and a bubble level, so there's no excuse for not getting a perfectly straight photograph!

Now we come to the really clever feature on the 190XPROB. With just a click of a button, you can pivot the center column of the tripod from a vertical to horizontal position. This makes it possible to shoot with the camera facing entirely downward, or to even invert the camera upside down! Doing this does require you to ensure that the tripod is in a very stable position, as the legs lose some stability when the weight of the camera is not evenly balanced. It's also best to use the camera on self timer when shooting like this, as the center column does have a tendency to vibrate slightly when fixed horizontally.

As mentioned in the "Cons" above, the only real drawback here is that the horizontal column is limited to 90 degrees from the axis of the legs. You can avoid this by using the leg extensions to change the camera angle, but this is a lengthy process and not always very precise.

In Conclusion

The 190XPROB is Manfrotto's cheapest tripod with the pivoting center column feature and, as such, is highly in demand. It might not be as lightweight as a carbon fiber tripod, but it has a very attractive price tag! The only real thing to take note of, apart from what's been mentioned here, is the relatively compact height of this tripod. If you're very tall, this tripod will mean that you are stooping over a lot. It might well be worth considering Manfrotto's larger range of tripods, such as from the 055 series.