GEAR MINI TESTS
We try Manfrotto’s new One tripod and 500X head, a pair of Sigma primes, Lowepro backpack, Western Digital drive, Tascam recorder and DJI wireless
WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
MANFROTTO ONE ALU TRIPOD WITH 500X FLUID HEAD £519/$680 manfrotto.com
sections to deploy simultaneously using a single top-mounted lever per leg. Gone are the days of bending down to unlock each leg one by one. It’s best to unlock all three of the locks, lift the top of the tripod to the height you want and then lock them all down, a simple but decent speed improvement. You can extend each leg individually but it’s not as quick. The Xchange system is a universal quick-release platform that lets you swap tripod heads, sliders or other accessories in seconds with no tools required. For hybrid shooters moving between stills, gimbals or video set- ups, this means less time fiddling. The multifunctional centre column is another highlight. It can be used for quick height changes, as expected, but push a button at the bottom to release it from its catcher and it can also be used to slide horizontally for overhead shots. You have to be careful not to extend it too far so that your whole rig doesn’t topple over though. It can even be removed entirely so that the
Manfrotto is a seasoned professional at producing solid, reliable camera support that won’t break the bank. Its new One tripod is an impressive rethink of what creators need in the modern, hybrid era. Designed for creatives who shoot both still photos and videos, it’s the first tripod built to handle both disciplines with equal finesse. The stability required by still photographers is joined by fluid control demanded by video shooters. The One feels solid, with clean lines, clever design touches and intuitive leg locks. While so many of its features ooze precision, the leg locks feel a tad plasticky and are hard to open at first. However, after some use, they loosen up and all is well. While the tripod with the 500X head is also available in premium carbon fibre, the aluminium kit that we tried is £150/$200 cheaper but 400g/0.9lb heavier. At £519/$680, it’s a bargain. At its core, the One is built around two new technologies: Xtend and Xchange. Xtend allows all three leg
tripod legs can be splayed for ultra- low-angle work. This gives a minimum working height of 30.8cm/12.1in, while the tripod can also reach maximum heights of 181cm/71.3in. That’s a big range, ideal for everything macro as well as elevated interview angles. The legs themselves are particularly innovative. The best description that Manfrott0 has been able to come up with for their shape is ‘non-round’. They are flatter than round legs, which makes the tripod easier to carry on your shoulder and improves its resistance to twisting for greater stability during panning or heavy lens work. Standard rubber feet conceal retractable spikes for outdoor grip, and there’s also a handy Manfrotto Easy Link mount for attaching accessories like monitors, magic arms or lights. Bundled with the new 500X Fluid Head, the One becomes a powerhouse.
SOCIAL STAR A single press of a button sees the top- plate switch its angle to shoot vertically, great for Reels
MULTI TOOL Large levers help set level and leg length, while the centre column can be quickly moved so it holds the camera for top- down shots
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