Photography News Issue 57

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Photography News | Issue 57 | photographynews.co.uk

Set your photography free Great support There’s no point investing a fortune in a high-resolution camera and quality lenses if you then use them on an inadequate tripod. Here we take a close-up at a new exciting tripod, the Manfrotto Befree GT Carbon, which has all the credentials for the perfect travel tripod

The best tripod in the world is the one you have with you, and really that is the thinking behindManfrotto’s Befree tripod collection. The tripods are designed to be compact and portable so ideally suited to keep with you on your photographic travels rather than left at home or in the car boot. Last year saw the arrival of Befree Advanced aluminium tripods. Now we have the introduction of carbon- fibre models, so whatever your preference or budget, you can enjoy great support for your camera in a really portable form. The Manfrotto Befree GT Carbon (product code MKBFRTC4GT-BH) sits at the topof theBefree range. This super lightweight carbon-fibre model has four leg sections so when folded down it measures just 43cm. This means it can be carried in a photo backpack but it will also fit a typical roller case when you are travelling hand baggage only. Despite its compact folded-down size the Advanced GT extends up to 162cm with the centre column fully extended or 138cm with the centre column down and even that is a comfortable working height. The carbon-fibre legs save weight without compromising great stability and rigidity. The legs themselves lock quickly and securely in place thanks to new M-locks. The rubber covered twist grips are comfortable in use and lock the legs firmly in position, even without too much pressure. The other advantage of twist locks is their low profile nature so that the tripod is not snagged when taken out from a backpack, for example. The newly developed spider (where the legs meet) is very solid and gives great stability in all sorts of shooting

situations and versatility too. Using the side pull selector means you can quickly splay out and lock the tripod’s legs at 45° for a lower shooting position or when you need maximum stability in a strong breeze. If you want a really low shooting position, the legs splay out to 90°. If you want to get very, very low, the centre column is quickly reversible. A short column is also available (which fits all Befree tripods); the BFRSCC or Befree Short centre column is £19.95. The side pull selector also makes folding the legs back over the centre column when you have finished shooting a quick, positive process too. The spider also has the Manfrotto Easy Link connection – which you get with Manfrotto’s professional tripods – and this allows the tripod to hold accessories such as lights or reflectors in position without your help. The really important thing though is that the Advanced GT, with the 496 ball head supplied in the kit, has a maximum payload of 10kg. That means users of full-frame DSLRs and long telephoto lenses can enjoy the benefits of this travel tripod too. The 496 ball head has two locks – one to control head rotation on the tripod, and the other large knob unlocks or locks the ball head. A friction control is available so you can fine-tune the ball head’s resistance to how you prefer to work. The ball head is smooth in use and can be quickly realigned for upright format shooting. The head accepts Manfrotto 200PL PRO and RC2 plates, and once the plate is in place it is firmly locked in position, eliminating any risk of the camera falling off as you move around. The plate supplied is the 200PL PRO.

Specs

Price £399.95 Legs Carbon-fibre, four sections Leg locks Twist grip M-locks Leg positions Three – normal, 45°, 90° Weight inc head 1.55kg Max payload 10kg

Min height

Supplied head 496 centre ball head (MH-496-BH) Plate 200PL PRO supplied. Compatible with RC2 and Arca Swiss Locks Two plus friction control Head weight 330g

43cm Folded length 43cm Max height (centre column extended) 162cm Max height (centre column down) 138cm Carrying bag Supplied

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