Manfrotto 055XPRO3 tripod + BHQ2 ball head kit

Manfrotto 055 MT055XPRO3 aluminum tripod + MHXPRO-BHQ2 ball head

The Manfrotto 055 is the tripod set that many people end up with at some point in their photography career and then stick with. This package includes the aluminum MT055XPRO3 tripod and the XPRO series ball head with 200PL quick release plate, so everything is ready to go, just attach your camera.

• Load capacity 9kg, maximum height 170cm and with ball head approximately 180cm
• The center tube rotates 90 degrees horizontally: macro, flat lay and shooting straight down
• Minimum height only 9cm
• Large Quick Power Lock levers that work with gloves
• Easy Link thread for accessories, e.g. LED light or monitor

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There are some products we really like and this is one of them. A pleasantly sturdy and versatile tripod, where both the leg locks and the ball head feel well-made and are easily adjustable. Manfrotto has stopped manufacturing this model, so we bought a large batch of the last pieces. Spare parts are still available, and in our experience, the 055 series tripods are pretty much a forever purchase.

Who is this suitable for?

This is a tripod for landscape, macro and product photographers, used near the car, studio or home, or if you want really stable images. The package weighs 3kg, so there are lighter options for a ten kilometer hike.

In exchange for the weight, you get stability, meaning the three-piece legs and thick 29mm top tubes quickly absorb vibrations, which is exactly what sets a sturdy stand apart from a lightweight one.

Long exposures

When the shutter is open for half a minute, the stability of the tripod is crucial to the image. The silky water of a rapid, the city lights during the blue hour, the starry sky or the northern lights on a winter night are all images where even the slightest wobble is visible.

The 055 series' stability and 9kg load capacity are more than enough for a full-frame camera with a long telephoto lens. There is no hook at the bottom of the center tube for weight, so on a windy beach it is best to keep the center tube down and spread your legs wider.

Center tube crosswise: macro and flat lay

The hallmark of the XPRO series is the central tube that can be rotated 90 degrees horizontally in one motion. The mechanism is hidden at the top of the stand and does not need to be disassembled or turned upside down.

In practice, this means that the camera can be pointed straight down onto a table. Precise product and food shots, Instagram flat lays and documentaries can be shot without the tripod legs coming into the picture. For macro photography, the horizontal tube takes the camera above a plant or insect without having to push the tripod next to the subject.

Another way to use it is to shoot from a low angle: with the legs at their widest 88 degree angle and the center tube across, so the camera is 9cm above the ground. An ordinary forest pond or mossy rock becomes a completely different landscape from this angle.

Tip for using a horizontal tube: when the center tube is horizontal, the weight of the camera is outside the tripod. Turn the tripod so that one leg is pointing towards the camera, and use the camera's own shutter release delay or remote release. This will keep the image sharp even at macro distances.

Feet and locks

The legs are three-piece and have two Quick Power Lock lever locks per leg. The levers are large, so you can grip them with gloves on, and the lock holds without using force. The legs fold into four angles (25, 46, 66 and 88 degrees), so the tripod stands firmly even on rocks and stairs. The angle lock is a spring-loaded slide lock on the side of the leg.

The legs have no foam coating, and the aluminum gets cold in the winter. Gloves are therefore necessary for photographers in freezing conditions, but on the other hand, the uncoated legs are easy to keep clean of sand and salt water.

The tripod's central bridge has an Easy Link thread for 3/8" accessories. With a separately purchased articulated arm, such as the Manfrotto 244 Micro , you can attach, for example, a small LED light for macro photography or a shooting monitor to the tripod.

MHXPRO-BHQ2 ball head

The ball head in the package is a magnesium XPRO Ball Head with a load capacity of 10kg and comes with a Manfrotto 200PL quick release plate. The same plate fits all Manfrotto RC2 quick release heads, so if you already have them, there is no need to change plates.

The head has three separate adjustments: ball lock, friction and panning. The friction adjustment allows you to adjust the head so that a heavy camera stays in place when the lock is open and you can fine-tune the composition without the camera wobbling. There is a dedicated lever and scale for panning, making it easy to take panoramic shots in a series. Two spirit levels help to straighten the horizon.

By changing the head for many other uses

The tripod has a standard 3/8" thread at the end, so almost any camera head can be used instead of the ball head. The videographer replaces it with a fluid head, making the 055 a stable platform for smooth panning.

For birdwatchers, the 9kg load capacity and 170cm height are more than enough for even a large telescope, and the ball head can be replaced with a video head, which makes tracking the subject smoother. So the same tripod can be used not only for photography, but also for binoculars and stargazing.

Technical specifications, MT055XPRO3 stand:

• Load capacity: 9kg
• Maximum height: 170cm
• Maximum height with center tube down: 140cm
• Minimum height: 9cm
• Transport dimensions: 61cm
• Weight: 2.5kg
• Material: aluminum
• Number of leg parts: 3
• Leg tube diameters: 29.2 / 24.8 / 20.4mm
• Leg angles: 25, 46, 66 and 88 degrees
• Center tube: rotates 90 degrees to horizontal
• Accessory connection: Easy Link 3/8"
• Head mounting: 3/8"
• Spirit level: yes

Technical data, MHXPRO-BHQ2 ball head:

• Material: magnesium
• Load capacity: 10kg
• Quick release plate: Manfrotto 200PL (RC2 system)
• Tilt: -90 / +40 degrees
• Panning: 360 degrees, self-locking and scale
• Friction adjustment: yes
• Spirit levels: 2
• Height: 11.5cm
• Weight: 0.5kg

The sales package includes:

• Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 aluminum tripod
• Manfrotto MHXPRO-BHQ2 Ball Head
• Manfrotto 200PL quick release plate