I was wondering if anyone knows if Manfrotto makes a carbon fiber tripod, or do I have to jump up to Gitzo to get something like that? Just curious if people who have Manfrotto, care to recommend any models and why?
Manfrotto makes CF tripods. They are usually indicted by CX in the the product designation. Manfrotto and Gitzo are owned by the same parent company with Gitzo seeming to be the top of the line. I have never used a Manfrotto CF tripod althogh I have 2 sets of Manfrotto aluminum legs that I love. Gitzo was my choice for a CF tripod. They seem to be the leader in this field.
Manfrotto does make carbon fiber tripods and i do like their products. For carbon fiber tripods, I do also prefer Gitzo's designs.
The Manfrotto CF pods are really heavy and bulky for their size. Given their bulk, they still do not support as much weight as a Gitzo and seem to have more lateral play and stability isues. I started with a Manfrotto 190XPROB and moved to the Gitzo CF Explorer. Yeah, Gitzos are ridiculously expensive, but so is the gear you are putting on top of them.
Ok thank you...I was just curious now what is the benefits of Carbon Fiber...is it, its durability and ability to be relatively light while still being able to hold considerable camera weight?
The carbon fiber tripods are fairly sturdy and are rated similar to aluminum tripods. Their big benefit is a weight reduction. As for longevity obviously the CF portion of the tripod will not corrode. But like the aluminum ones the metal parts will corrode or oxidize. I have a Manfrotto Carbon 1 (since replaced by newer model number), and an ebay china carbon fiber tripods. I have had the Manfrotto one for 10 years now with no issues. I have even used a LF camera on it with no problems (very close to its listed max weight capacity). The cheap ebay CF does very well also. It does have cheaper feet and the hardware is a bit heavier (leg locks, upper leg connector). Although it still weighs less than an aluminum one. It's a bit more than the brand name one it copies. After 10 years the Manfrotto shows no signs of wear. For me it has been a good investment.
