ISSUE 124
44 / GEAR
TESTED: MANFROTTO ONE KIT
Tripod is One step beyond
£519 manfrotto.com It’s madness to carry two sets of sticks now Manfrotto’s new kit blends stills precision with video fluidity
Manfrotto tripods have been the backbone of photo kits for
decades, renowned for reliability, durability and value. But with the rise of hybrid creators who need to switch between stills and motion, the company has gone back to the drawing board. The result is the One – a tripod that redefines all-in-one support. The One is purpose-built for photographers and videographers that want stability for long-exposure stills, fluid motion for cinematic video and to be able to immediately switch from horizontal to vertical camera orientation for portrait-format stills or social media video. Available in carbon fibre or aluminium, the One can be bundled with Manfrotto’s new 500X fluid head. The aluminium kit we tested, which includes the head, costs £519. At just 400g heavier than the £669 carbon One, it’s arguably the sweet spot of the range. At first touch, the One feels reassuringly robust, with clean lines and slick engineering. The leg locks are the only area that feel a little plasticky when new, but they loosen up quickly after use. Once extended, the tripod feels rock solid, with no movement even under heavy loads. Two clever new technologies sit at the core of the design: Xtend and Xchange. Xtend allows all three leg sections to deploy at once via a single top-mounted lever per leg. So, no more
crouching to unlock each section. It is faster and more ergonomic, a small but significant time-saver when setting up in changing light. The Xchange system introduces a universal quick-release platform that lets you swap tripod heads, sliders or stabilisers in seconds with no tools required. For stills photographers who occasionally shoot video, or vice versa, this modular approach makes it easier than ever to adapt your rig on the fly. Most video-style tripods don’t have a centre column, but the One does – and it’s good too. It functions conventionally for height adjustments, but a button at the base lets it slide horizontally for overhead or macro work – that’s useful for food, product flatlays or copy photography. It can be removed entirely for ultra-low shooting angles, taking the minimum working height down to just 19cm, while the maximum extends to 170.5cm. The legs, which Manfrotto calls ‘non-round,’ have a slightly flattened profile that improves shoulder comfort when carrying and boosts torsional
rigidity during pans or when using heavy glass. Standard rubber feet hide retractable spikes for outdoor work, and there’s an Easy Link mount for attaching accessories. With the new 500X fluid head, the One becomes a truly hybrid platform. The head can support cameras up to 2.4kg, making it ideal for mirrorless systems. The standout feature is its hinged camera plate, which enables instant switching between landscape and portrait orientations. Its a godsend for content creators who juggle stills, video and social formats. The Fluid Drag System ensures smooth, controlled pans and tilts, while a selectable counterbalance helps when using larger lenses. The standard 501PL plate and integrated bubble level add familiar reliability for existing Manfrotto users. Levelling is also very quick and a must for video shooters. Just lift a side lever, adjust the head while gauging everything via the spirit level and lock it down. Together, these clever innovations make the One feel like a genuine leap
forward. Where most tripods force you to compromise – choosing between stills precision and video smoothness – the Manfrotto One embraces both. It’s fast to deploy, impressively stable and versatile enough for everything from macro and landscape work to hybrid interviews or social content. For photographers used to traditional stills tripods, the One offers a gateway into hybrid workflows without sacrificing the reliable feel Manfrotto is known for. For videographers, it delivers the kind of intuitive control and balance that makes panning a pleasure, not a chore. Verdict Overall rating 9/10 A genuine milestone in tripod design that offers a unit strong enough for cinema, agile enough for stills and smart enough for the hybrid future of image making
MASTER OF ALL TRADES The One offers fast set-up, vertical shooting and smooth pans for video or stills
Specifications Including 500X fluid head Tripod material Aluminium Base 60mm flat
Head maximum load 5kg Legs maximum load 15kg Working height range 30.8-181cm Centre column Removeable Legs Three-section single tube aluminium Leg lock Flip lock Feet Rubber and spiked
Closed length 81cm Total weight 4.77kg
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