With all the new lens stabilization technologies out there, you would think that tripods would become obsolete. Well, clearly, that’s not the case. If you have shakey hands, you’ll get shakey pictures no matter how much vibration reduction there is. The key to getting those super sharp pictures is a steady camera and there’s no easier way to do that than with a tripod. Manfrotto, one of the leaders in tripod technology, have sent along one of their 190XPROB Pro Aluminum Tripods for us to have a look at.
As an Italian designed product, the Manfrotto 190XPROB resembles a finely crafted Ducati Street Bike than some aparatus to hold up your DSLR Camera. Manufactured from mainly high quality aluminum, the combination was so sleek and sexy that I was almost too afraid to take it outside and torture it. The 190XPROB is made for large prosumer digital cameras and of course, film and digital SLR cameras. It’s suitable for camera bodies with long telephoto lenses up to a weight limit of 11 lbs / 5 kgs when combined with a suitable tripod head.
To complement the 190XPROB, Manfrotto also sent along their 322RC2 Heavy Duty Grip Ball head. With a 5.0 kg weight limit, it was a good match for the 190XPROB. The 322RC2 also features a trigger system that makes adjustments quick and easy, while the tension adjustment allows you to further fine tune the grip strength. For more information about this ball head, you can click here. For the 190XPROB tripod review, read on!
Features
The signature feature of the Manfrotto 190XPROB is the horizontal split column which allows the center column to be repositioned quickly and then used horizontally as an extending arm, or vertically (both right-way-up and upside-down), via an innovative quick release system. In the horizontal, it can be turned 360° around the tripod, and is useful for macro work, low angle shooting, and allows the tripod to be placed in unconventional places, further increasing the creative possibilities.
The 190XPROB also features quick action lever locks, foam rubber leg grips for cold weather use and a bubble level that is cleverly integrated into the cast aluminum main clamp. This is all wrapped into a package that weighs only 3.9 lbs (or 1.8 kgs if you’re metric).
Some Assembly Required
Since the Manfrotto 190XPROB comes to you headless, you’ll need to attach one. The process is actually very straight forward.
Once you’ve spun your head of choice, like the 322RC2 that we have here, onto the top of the 190XPROB, you just need to fasten it down with some set screws on the bottom of the aluminum head. This provides sufficient insurance against loosening and spinning of the head during use. The only annoyance I had was with the orientation of the screws as I needed to use an L shaped flat head screwdriver to fasten the screws down. The handle of a regular one seems to get in the way.
How Does That Split Column Thing Work?
Manfrotto tripods have had this trick for quite some time where the vertical column could be removed and then repositioned horizontally. However, they couldn’t leave well enough alone. They figured out a way to this quicker and easier with the introduction of the split column design.
The original 190 series tripods required you to fully remove the center arm, and then reinsert it horizontally back into the center column. You also needed to unscrew a knob at the base of the arm before you could pull it all the way out, not to mention the moments of seperation between the tripod and your attached gear could mean risky business. The 190XPROB transforms with just a push of a button. Simply undo the column lock, pull the center arm up all the way, hit the magic button in the above photo, and then push it into place. This allows you to keep your equipment semi-attached to the tripod while performing this previously tedious manouever.
With the ability to easily breakout into horizontal column action, your creativity options increase. Matched with a set of tripod legs that can fold out to 90 degrees, you can get pretty darn low or manage some weird off balance positions. If you’re wondering where the hook is, it’s still there. It’s just been relocated to the side of the tripod as it’s no longer attached to the end of the center column.
She’s Got Legs…
The 190XPROB extends to a maximum height of 57.5 inches (146 cm) and shrinks to a height of 3.3 inches (8.5 cm), so again, pretty low. I’m about five-foot-nine, and at full extension, I just have to go on my toes to reach the eyepiece.
The two tripod sections per leg allow you to get everything in between the two extremes through the use of a set of sturdy leg locks. Just in case the locks loosen up, Manfrotto includes a tool that clips to a leg when not in use, that allows you to tighten them back up.
The bottom of the legs are tipped with rubber feet, allowing them to sit tight on most surfaces. The rubber seems to be of the slightly stickier variety which aids in its adhesion to more slippery surfaces. For those interested, I pulled the rubber tip off to see if there was some way to screw in spikes, but didn’t see any threading, just a big gaping hole. Sorry.
At the very top of the legs, you’ll find two foam grips. These are perfect for those chilly days where there is a chance that bare palms may contact the aluminum legs. Personally, I prefer gloves, but for those times where you forget them, you can still get the shot without freezing your palms to the tripod.
Steady As She Goes…
In order to check out the stability of the 190XPROB, we attached a Nikon D200 with a battery grip and a rather hefty Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 lens to the top of it. We kicked it, leaned on it and put it in all sorts of contorted, off center, positions to see if it would drop the camera. Thankfully, no one had to cry over spilt glass while the 190XPROB was attached and we were confident with its ability to hold up our gear. We also threw dirt on it to see if the mechanisms could handle some harsher conditions in the great outdoors. I actually think it looks better covered in dirt, and even dirty, the 190XPROB performed its duty and all the moving parts seemed to work just fine.
Granted, the 190XPROB isn’t as sturdy feeling as some ultra heavy tripods, or even the Manfrotto’s bigger brother, the 055X, but based on its reasonable 3.9 lb carry around all day weight, it was more than sturdy enough for most things you could throw at it. It’s one tripod that I wouldn’t mind carting around all day long.
Final Thoughts…
So what do I think of the Manfrotto 190XPROB? I have to say that this product really sets the bar high for any other tripods that I will meet. I’ve really enjoyed using this tripod over the last few weeks and I’m struggling to stay impartial because I just really like what this product brings to the photography experience. Compared to some of the tripods that I’ve been toting around in the past (really cheap, bulky, plasticky things), the 190XPROB really adds a lot quality in construction and design. I know it’s only a tripod, so is it wrong that I think it looks sexy too?
The split horizontal center column was one feature that I really had to experience to gauge its usefulness. However, I was sold the first few times that I used it. Manfrotto has made this configuration so easy to setup that it really leads to spontaneous creativity. The horizontal column really takes the strain off your back too because you don’t need bend down all the time to get those macro shots. Just let the tripod do it while you worry about your composition.
Overall, the 190XPROB is a sturdy set of legs at a reasonable weight. I can carry it around all day. But more than that, the 190XPROB does it in style and adds useful features that help you bring out the best in your photography. If you are one of those guys with the “Big White Lenses” look towards the 055X, which is beefier, but heavier, while keeping the same features that make this tripod great. However, for the rest of us, you simply can’t go wrong with the Manfrotto 190XPROB.
Pros
- Only 3.9 lbs and still super sturdy
- Foam grips for those cold days where you loose your gloves
- Horizontal split column feature is extremely useful and easy to setup
- Positive locking mechanisms provide slip free performance
- High quality with solid metal construction.
Cons
- It’s not cheap, but neither is a Ducati Street Bike (or a Gucci Hand Bag)
Overall Rating: 9.5 / 10.0
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