Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Manfrotto MKBFRA4-BH BeFree Compact Aluminum Travel Tripod Black

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2014

This tripod delivers exactly what it says it will. It is a solid, steady tripod. Easy to set up and take down.

I am a fan of the Manfrotto line of tripods. I own a larger Manfrotto tripod as well as a Manfrotto monopod. I really like the rapid relase plate design that Manfrotto employs. It is very quick, and very sturdy. The ball head is very responsive and easy to use. It holds my camera and large lens very steady in any position I have placed it in.

I was in the market for a travel tripod for a while. I originally purchased a Giottos Vitruvian travel tripod before the Befree was released. The Giotttos tripod featured a ArcaSwiss quick release mount that I really was not too fond of. The Vitruvian had one nice feature in that you could detach on on the legs and attach it to the center pole and create a monopod. So, it was basically two devices in one. The Giottos was also a bit taller when fully extended, Although slightly less stable with my heavy camera.

When Manfrotto released the Befree, I purchased it and I gave my Giottos to my wife. We are both very happy.

A couple of my friends are ordering the Befree based on their evaluation of my Befree tripod. The Befree does not extend very high. I am 6' tall and as a result I have to bend a bit to use the device. But, it is a travel tripod. It is a solid device for TRAVEL. It fits in my carry on.

I still rely on my larger Manfrotto tripod for local photo activities.

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TheTofuEngineer

Better than I expected

Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2014

Verified Purchase

Originally, I wanted something small, light and still be able to carry the equipment weight. The biggest and heaviest combo I have is the 6D+battery grip, 70-200mm 2.8 MKII with the 580 EXII flash. Total weight comes almost over the 8.8 lbs max that it was advertised to handle. I did not use the tripod mount on the zoom, so this places even more stress (higher moment of inertia) on the tripod head.

The quick release ball was a bit awkward to use. I chose this because I also have the 468 Hydrostatic head and it is a breeze to use. This ball head is much smaller so it requires a little more time to align and tighten. Also, once you tighten the ball, you cannot pan (turn) the camera. If you release the ball, everything comes lose and you need to redo all the adjustments/alignments. There is no bubble level, but I would just place a bubble level on the head first before mounting the camera. As for performance, it held the weight of the equipment. Once I tightened the ball and let go of the lens, there is about a 1/4 inch sag at the tip of the lens due to the weight.

The tripod legs fold the opposite way when you are putting it in storage. The tripod head is extended all the way up (to the highest position) and then you fold the legs up vertical. The leg feet will meet up with the tripod head. The design is not bad but the legs are very stiff to move (which may be a plus) and it will require extra force from your arms. It would be nice it there was a button that locks/unlocks the leg positions instead.

The legs are sturdy. Metal feels and sounds solid. I did not find any danger of the gear tipping over, even when give it a slight push. I have a cheapo Dolica tripod collecting dust for years and you can instantly tell the both my Manfrottos can snap that Dolica in half.

So to summarize:

1. Small and light, fits in my backpack
2. Sturdy, can easily handle large cameras with a decent sized zooms, handles advertised weight
3. Manfrotto build quality, no surprise here
4. Quick release ball joint is acceptable, cannot pan, can be better for this price, interchangeable with other heads
5. Legs fold up to close, stiff to move
6. Max height is limited, slightly lower than eye level. In my experience, this is a good height for group shots

Overall, it does what it was intended to, travel photography. Its not made for harsh windy conditions or to hold your $5000, 15 lb gear.

I do not give it 5 stars for two reasons (I would give it 4.5 if I could):

The ball head could be improved. It would be nice if I can pan the camera while having the ball locked. Then again, thats why I have the 468. You need need to pay for more features.

For this price and size, there are some other options that may be better such as the Benro Travel Angel. My personal preference is that I prefer Manfrotto so I am going to keep it.

I will use this in the field and see how my experience goes and update as necessary.

31 people found this helpful

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chris

A great tripod for travel

Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2014

Verified Purchase

I received this just the other day and took it out the next day on a 6 mile hike through a local redwood forest. (A dark area to photograph!). I then used it at a beach area, and then took it to a small-venue concert last night and used it to hold my D90 for video recording. Here is what I found:

This is a sturdy and well-built tripod. It can fold up into a neat and short package if you bring the legs 180 degrees around, but I find that extra step is not needed. It comes with a nice carrying case, but also not needed. I carried this through a 6 mile hike, with the camera attached and legs partly extended, and found it was a very convenient way to travel. I used a D90 with either the 16-85 VR lens or a 60 mm Micro and they felt very secure in the rc2 plate (or whatever it is called). I felt that with reasonable care I was not going to lose my camera and held onto strap also just in case. When I came to a potential scene, I simply extended the legs and set up. The idea of strapping it on and off the backback seemed exhausting and unnecessary..

The ball head works well, but required me getting used to it. It held perfectly with the above gear and even an SB900 speedlight attached - even in the portrait position. It moves pretty smoothly, but last night I took it to the concert place and I could not smoothly pan the scene while shooting video. (It clearly is not designed for video). If I left it alone or just changed the zoom it was great, however.To be honest I am thinking about one of Manfrotto's heavy, smooth, ballheads with the hand grip - like the 322, 324, or 327. It's just moree money and weight, however.

By the way, I did use a timer or a remote clicker for all the shots. This rig is not like the big tripods that exists in studios. Tap on this to press the shutter and it oscillates. I can't imagine one that would not without being much, much heavier.

The problem with tripods is that they are tripods and not nearly as convenient as shooting handheld. However, I am learning that there is no substitute for a still camera. This tripod will not disappoint you if you bring it home.

3 people found this helpful

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BearDiver2002

It's the complete package.

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

I took this tripod with me to the big island of Hawaii 2 weeks ago. I packed it horizontally into a laptop case by pac safe. The size was a definite seller for me. The ease of using the tripod was excellent. You do have to unfold the legs around the center column, then engage the levers that allow it to stand like a normal tripod. This took at the most, about 40 seconds to do. The more i used it the quicker it was to setup. The leg clasps are awesome, strong, sturdy, and reliable. I consider myself a advanced hobbyist, and not a professional. It survived the mixed weather of the island the day we drove around it. The inclimate weather provided challenges, but the robust construction, well appointed rubber feet, and ease of use made even my more challenging shots with a still camera. Video was a different story. There is not a fluid cartridge, so video shots in motion required the handler to loosen the ball head while maintaining contact with the camera body. You cannot pad the videocamera without holding the camera, it will just flop down, damaging your camera and the tripod. By no means was a fluid camera pan possible. Static video was great though. I have a canon vixi a hf g30, and r50. I used the r50 because it was lighter and easier to transport. While you can replace the ball head with a micro video head, it would require unscrewing the head if the legs were to be folded up for transport home. The mere 3 lbs of weight of the tripod sounds light, but it has substance, and feels solid in my hands. It is absolutely perfect for stills. I would HIGHLY recommend making this your travel tripod. The case is padded, thin, but padded. In my mind, the padding is enough to protect the tripod without making it bulky. To be honest, you kind of forget the padding is there. That is how well engineered the whole package is. The rubber grip on the upper part of one leg was a nice surprise. I could not see the rubber grip on the carbon fiber version that recently came out. I was debating getting both, the aluminum pictured here and the carbon fiber, but the aluminum is quite sufficient for travel. It's only 3 pounds! Get one. Ok, I'm done typing.

5 people found this helpful

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K. Bernard

Lightweight with some compromises

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2015

Verified Purchase

Mixed feelings about this one. It's a sturdy tripod and I do love the lightweight and compact design. However, I don't like the amount of effort it takes to fold/unfold it, and it is a finger pinch hazard (seriously I have painfully pinched my fingers several times - ow!). The case's carry strap is too short. The included head does not have a panorama swivel function. The head does lock to the camera mount securely and it offers a lot of positions, and it's quick and easy to adjust. Legs lock into a couple positions (narrow & wide) which has helped me position the tripod on slopes, rocks, picnic tables, etc. It's overpriced but overall a good travel tripod, not "cheap" or "flimsy." If weight/size are your prime concerns I would recommend this. Otherwise I would recommend looking at a different tripod.

2 people found this helpful

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Jake

Tripod for the Fashion Road and Home

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2015

Verified Purchase

Firstly, I am writing this review for my uses a professional fashion photographer; and am happy with the Manfrotto BeFree Compact tripod thus far. Let me explain based off 5 weeks traveling to New York and Europe for Fashion Week:

Pros:
1. Light - brought it with me, even when I wasn't sure if I'd use it.
2. Slim enough to be a monopod - photographer risers are packed tight and to be able to use it as a monopod at a show and then shoot the New York skyline at night was appreciated.
3. Carrying case attaches easily to backpack - and this fit snugly in my Profoto B1 traveling case.

Neutral:
1. There were moments when I wished it would be just slightly taller; I can't much fault the tripod as it's designed to be light and portable and I believe the engineers maximized it's capabilities without compromising primary tripod elements (solid and strong).

Cons:
1. Non-intuitive set-up - it takes a minute to learn how to operate this tripod and even trickier to describe quite how. The legs unfold 180 degrees (from up to down) from the fully collapsed initial 'monopod' position:
- to switch to standard tripod mode, turn each silver dials to it's middle position
- to switch to wide tripod mode, turn each silver dial to it's furthest position (the legs will be splayed further out)
The main mast can be further extended by loosening the tightening screw at the leg intersection and lifting it up. Once you've gone through this a couple of times it becomes second nature and I appreciate the engineering elegance to it all (though it may be initially confusing).
2. Not strong enough to support countersink - this could support my Canon 5D mk II with 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS lens just fine but put much more weight than that on it and the legs will begin sliding in on themselves; on the plus, this is good news as it would be far worse if they bent.

As a caveat on the height: I've used this a couple of times on commercial projects and found that it's maximum height is pretty much ideal for shooting industry standard models using the 70-200mm focal length.

22 people found this helpful

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dave818

A nice little travel tripod with a few minor flaws

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2014

Verified Purchase

This tripod does exactly what it promises: A good, lightweight tripod for travel. It easily collapses into a size that will fit into carry-on luggage with room to spare. The legs flip to the open position quickly and firmly - just move the lever on each leg to the open position and flip it around. The locking levers on the sticks are nice and firm and don't have a ton of give when all of them are extended. The center column locks sturdily enough but like any tripod when it's fully extended things feel a bit tippy.

TIP: The instructions show how to collapse the tripod with the head straight vertical...this ONLY works if you remove the QR plate FIRST (there are notches in the plate to allow the legs to fit around it). But if you want to store it with the QR plate attached with a little fiddling you can position the deck so it fits between the legs when they collapse.

The ball head is sturdy enough for most travel uses. I have a Nikon D3 and it's fine with a 14-24, 24-70 and a 70-200/2.8 (collar mount). I even tried it with a 300/f4 not on the collar mount and it was sturdy enough - although you're not going to be shooting stars with it.

One ding is the head is it has no real friction adjustment - the lock is your only friction. But it locks firmly with no real bounce so it's not bad for positioning.

The quick-release has a locking tab to keep it from opening unexpectedly. You can trigger the tab with one hand with a little practice. Unlike other Manfrotto RC2 QRs this one does NOT lock open - you have to activate the tab both when mounting and unmounting the camera. It holds the camera steady when the lever is fully engaged - but you have to make sure it is or it'll wobble.

Another ding is the QR locking lever is inexplicably plastic instead of metal like every other RC2 QR in existence. It will probably break if you drop the tripod on it and I would be wary using it in extremely cold temperatures. It's a shame they didn't make this very important piece out of metal like every other component in the head.

The pouch that comes with it is nice and compact and will keep your clothes from getting any dirt or oil from the tripod. It's a shame they didn't include a little sewn-in pouch to hold the included adjustment wrench - would have been a nice touch for a $200 tripod.

All in all I'm happy with this tripod. It has a couple of flaws but they're workable. It's lightweight and fits in carry-on luggage - which were the primary constraints for me.

13 people found this helpful

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Kathy

fu after trying to shoot super moon

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

Opens well. Has carry case for device. Light weight. I have change my mind with this after using it to photograph the super moon. I had only used this for eye level photos. With the camera pointed up, it would not hold the camera stable. It would "drop its head" every time. It would be great for a less heavy camera. I have a Nikon D7100 with a 50-200 zoom lens. I was got better pictures hand holding leaning on a tree.

2 people found this helpful

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Michael Nguyen

Manfrotto quality, for the most part.

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2013

Verified Purchase

Manfrotto is known for building high quality products. This product is no different. The design is very well thought out. Easy and quick to open and set up means you won't be fiddling around wasting time and missing the shot. The attached ball head includes the RC2 plate.

The specs says that it can support up to 8.8lbs. Tested it with a Canon 5D III and 70-200L lens and it felt sturdy. The legs are 4 segments long which allows them to fold away really short. The legs also have a lock for 3 different positions (1 closed position and 2 open positions) for quick set up. The tension for the leg segment locks as well as the leg angle selector are adjustable with an included key.

Here's the cool thing about the tripod. The center column can be inserted upside down. This allows for low angle shots. It's really quick to do. Simply pull out the stopper, pull out the center column, then put the center column in the other way and plug the stopper in. This leads to one of the drawbacks of the tripod:

The plug for the center column seems too flimsy to me, which is sad considering the high build quality of the rest of the tripod. If you plan to shoot with the center column on top this does not pose a problem. However if you want that low angle shot, I wouldn't feel safe. The stopper seems like it can only hold a couple of pounds weight.

This and the fact that there is no level on the tripod keep it from a full 5 stars.

So in conclusion...

Pros:
High build quality
Supports full frame body with telephoto lens
Handy carry bag
Folds up small
Light weight

Cons:
Cannot do low angle shots (at least not at full weight spec)
No level

All in all, a great tripod that will be more than enough for your standard outing.

3 people found this helpful

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Guy Ivie

Excellent travel tripod

Reviewed in the United States on October 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

I love my big Manfrotto tripod, but it's heavy to lug around on a hike, and kind of big to pack in a suitcase or carry on board when flying. This compact tripod is a good compromise in size and "heavy duty-ness" when you need to carry it for hours in the hills or out in the desert. The included carry case, with shoulder strap, is very handy if I haven't got anywhere left to tie it on my camera pack. It isn't as tall as my regular tripod, but I'm willing to live with that. I leave the big tripod at home more often now, or use both when I'm shooting with both normal and infrared cameras.

Because of the light weight, it's easier to knock over if you bump into it, so you might want to consider attaching a sandbag if that's a concern for you.

UPDATE 10 Nov 2013: Just wanted to add that I used this tripod recently during a landscape workshop in Yosemite National Park. I learned that you DO NOT want to use it with the center post fully extended if your shutter speed is below 1/90. At full extension, even the slap of the shutter from a dSLR can introduce a slight vibration that is noticeable as minor motion blur in the image; the slower the shutter speed, the more noticeable. For snapshots or images destined solely for the Internet at screen resolution, this may not be an issue for you. For anything that is going to be used at large sizes, it's definitely an issue. This only occurred with the center post at full extension. At half extension, I didn't see this problem. I stand by my earlier statements and am not deducting any stars. This sort of thing is only to be expected in a lightweight tripod.

217 people found this helpful

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