Manfrotto 055XB Tripod System with 501HDV Pro Video Head

Comments about Manfrotto by Bogen Imaging BO055XB501HD Tripod System with 501HDV Fluid Video Head:

I had to buy a sturdy tripod on a trip to the Fort Worth area (having left one of my own at home) and decided that this was the opportunity I needed to purchase a sturdy/heavy tripod. No doubt, WORTH IT! I bought mine out of necessity that day and definitely paid for it. I knew I could've gotten a better deal by checking B&H, but I needed it in a few hours and so I paid much more for it. Still totally worth it. I'm very happy with it. It is of course smooth as you would expect and hope for paying hundreds, but it is remarkably sturdy. It is heavy, BUT this was what I was looking for. In fact, I was looking for something a tad heavier, but this worked out better for my traveling. All of my other tripods are weak and don't tighten extremely well. I don't mind hauling the extra weight for the added sturdiness. All in all, I love it. I use the FX7 right now and it has worked great. I have gone cheap on SEVERAL other tripods and paid for it, but this is small enough to take on trips and sturdy enough to use as my camera for longer productions.

Comments about Manfrotto by Bogen Imaging BO055XB501HD Tripod System with 501HDV Fluid Video Head:

This is a great trripod. I use this model at work, was very impressed and had to get one myself. Manfrotto will not fail you[...]. This has a very nice fluid moving head, so even the slightest touch will get even your smallest results - as opposed to being jerky and getting your unwanted abnormal large movements. It also has a anti-tilt system where it will balance the weight of your camera (provided you're not using a heavy DVCPro camera, which this tripod is not suited for anyway) and keep it from tipping the tripod. Just for reference, I use the Sony HDR-FX1 and it works great with this tripod. With my other one, my camera controlled the tripod making it hard to do what I really wanted. With this Manfrotto, I control the camera.The only complaint I have is that this thing can get a little heavy, but oh well. A tripod for a Panavision would be a killer, just for a comparison.I recommend to anyone who is a serious video professional or in filmmaking.