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Manfrotto MKC3-H01 Compact Photo-Movie Kit (Black)

Manfrotto MKC3-H01 Compact Photo-Movie Kit (Black) by Manfrotto $48.95 At Amazon on 3-30-2012.

Unique grip action 2-way head Designed for both photo and video use Aluminum construction An ultra-compact and easy-to-use kit for shooting both photo and video. Easy to carry, it is a universal solution- fast and efficient for all applications. The unique photo-movie selector allows for maximum freedom to set the position of your camera when shooting photos and an easy-to-control movement when shooting videos. The ergonomic handle allows for an intuitive use and is perfectly foldable for packing the tripod in your bag. Folded length 18.1";Extended length 60.6";Maximum load capacity 3.3lbs;Weight 2.5lbs Executive summary: ideal for travel with light equipment. What's considered light? A compact SLR with plastic lenses below 250mm, or any single-lens camera or video camera. The stability isn't there for larger kits; it's the sort of tripod where you'd leave image stabilization on. The five leg sections are very thin and flex without much provocation, as do the plastic leg attachment joints and receivers. Stated weight capacity is 3.3 lbs. In exchange for this modest specification, you get an extraordinarily light and compact unit. Folded length including the pistol-grip head is only 18", about as small as tripods get that can also reach 53" without the center column extended. Weight is similarly portable at only 2.5 lbs. On the principle that the best tripod is one you're likely to take with you, this Manfrotto scores a win. There's little to complain about in use. The legs extend easily and lock securely along with the center column. The real star of the show is the pistol-grip head, which I found easy to adjust, strong, and stable. Like most Manfrotto tripods, the engineering on this one is polished and ideally balanced. No area exceeds the others in build quality and there's no significant showstopping weakness. It's not, however, a standout at the price among the others at Best Buy. That accolade belongs to a 47" Rocketfish, a tripod with vastly superior build quality and capacity for about $10 more. I opted for this Manfrotto because the Rocketfish was too short by about 10" and a half-pound heavier, but others may find more value for money there. A few miscellaneous features aren't present with the H01, though you probably won't miss them. The center column is completely integrated. You can't flip it upside-down or mount it for offset use. It doesn't have a bottom hook to hang a bag for stability. And, befitting the limited strength of the legs, they only lock at one angle. If you want to get closer to the ground, you'll be retracting sections. That's all, really. I'd rate this tripod 4.5 stars for consistent quality, no major compromises for travel, modest pricing, and adequate strength provided you don't aspire to professional lenses. I bought mine at $50, which is about what I think it should cost. Were it another $25, I'd expect much more weight capacity. Back To Top Manfrotto MKC3-H01 Compact Photo-Movie Kit (Black) Available from Amazon Price: $48.95 Updated on 3-30-2012.

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