Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsFinest Build Material & Functionality For a Tripod
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2015
This is my review of the Manfrotto MK 055.
I love that this tripod only has two (solid) clamps per leg instead of four per leg like my older Manfrotto MK C3 lightweight version.
There is a very cool feature to expand the legs in an outwards position to accommodate different tripod positions in relation to different surfaces and angles
The MK 055 has extremely well built construction to the tripod head, I absolutely love it! There is one knob (on the lowest level) to shift the head left to right, the second knob (on the middle level) to shift the head forward and backward and finally, there is third knob (at the first front and highest level) that shifts the pan-tilt part. The construction is so sturdy that you do not have to worry about your DSLR camera, Battery Grip, Flash and Telephoto Lens outweighing that camera setup because this tripod can handle the weight.
Another amazing feature is the ability to elevate the center stem vertically to the top and the stem can be lowered in a horizontal position for ground shots. All pieces are connected extremely well.
Practicing shots and learning how to maneuver the MK 055 takes some getting used to because of the various components but it becomes very enjoyable because you know that you have a high quality tripod.
Another cool feature is the ability to hang of hook straps or bags to connector plastic piece on the tripod. In addition, you can connect a Manfrotto Arm to a 3/8 screw attachment on the tripod which is sold separately
The weight of the tripod over 7lbs, (but can carry over 17lbs, most tripods don't close to this carry capacity) but it does not seem to bother me at the moment. Having a lightweight tripod such as the MK C3 still serves its purpose for certain situations. However, the impressive build quality and user friendly functions makes the MK 055 an absolute winner in my book.
