Manfrotto 290 Xtra 3-Section Aluminum Tripod with 804 3-Way Pan and Tilt Head

Great tripod for the price. I find it to be very sturdy and compact. It's compact enough that it's not a hassle to carry with me to various events. Don't be fooled, this is not a $700 tripod made out of carbon Fiber but for the price this is a sturdy tripod that is not super heavy. So far after 3 months the Tripod has worked perfectly. If I have any complaints it's that the center post does not have a hook for supporting extra weight and there is a plastic cap for the center bolt and the cap keeps popping up when I lift the Tripod out of it's bag, so I have to keep pushing it back into place 1 out of 3 times when I take this tripod out of its included carry bag..The reality is that you do get a very sturdy aluminum tripod with a bubble level and nice easy locking legs for a very low price. Personally after hours and hours of research I could find nothing better in this price range or even for 50% more, so I am very happy with the purchase. It holds my Nikon D500 DSLR with 16-80mm zoom lens perfectly and without any vibration even on 20 second exposure Astrophotography shots.

This tripod has many things I like and nothing I don't like. Let's work our way from the bottom up.1) It has large rubber feet with tread and an angled surface to maintain contact as you lower the pod2) It only has two leg extensions, it makes for quick deployment3) It has quick clamps for quick deployment, speeds things up even further4) It has a nice rubber handle for moving around, better than foam found on many others5) The quick release clamps are adjustable and come with the adjustment tool attached to tripod6) The spider and components are of alloy construction7) The spider has four over all adjustment for legs to set height8) The spider has two attachment points for hanging weight and/or a bag as well, they are removed from the usual center post and that is a good thing. The spider is the best place to add weight9) The center post meets the spider with an angled contact. I believe it adds stability over perpendicular10) The head attachment surface on top is large, precision and has an extra screw from the bottom to secure headAll these fine attributes and no real complaints. It does what a tripod is supposed to does it very well, it is very stable. The overall size makes it very versatile for a range of applications. I find the form factor to be compact and streamlined in spite of its length. I worked my way to this model from cheaper models. I frist tried the Manfrotto Compact Action. No go, to flimsy and imprecise. Then I tried the Manfrotto Element MII, much better but still vastly inferior to this model. The Manfrotto 290 extra is a winner. I paired it with a Neewer Professional 35mm ball head ($30) and have a very reliable and effective tripod.

The media could not be loaded. Review of the 290 XTA 3-Way Kit:Legs:This has outstanding legs. They are very small, compact, yet they are so sturdy and can get exceptionally tall! I own several Manfrotto tripods and I have used many in the bast, and I am telling you that these are my favorite tripod legs I have ever used hands down!Head:The 3 way head is okay. Its built well and will probably last a long time, mostly metal and strong plastic. The only thing is, when you are adjusting the angles, its kinda jerky and hard to get in the right spot. Unlike my other, nice, fully metal Manfrotto tripod heads that smoothly adjust the angles. Its bearable, but I found it to me a little annoying on architectural shoots, as it was hard to get my "lines straight." Also it only has one bubble for leveling which I found made it even harder to level (vs a 2 bubble leveling system. A bubble for each plane of axes.) The plus side to the single bubble system though is that you can see it when you are in a tight situation, such as being in the corner of a room when photographing a house.Conclusion:If you are looking to buy your first tripod, buy the whole kit, its awesome and a great price! If you have a little more money, I would recommend that buy the legs on their own and then buy a tripod head of your choice to attach to them. (Its easy to do)Side note, if you want to film video with nice smooth pans, this tripod head will not do the trick. You will want to look into the Manfrotto 502 Video Head MVH502AH.I hope this helps! Thanks.

I love this Manfrotto Tripod. It was a replacement for a cheaper plastic one that was given to me, because it was so light that more than once I had concerns it would tip over with my Canon on it even in light wind.Someone I had met who was into photography had recommended the Manfrotto brand, and I decided upon this model. The Manfrotto 290 delivered exactly what I wanted, with great balance between weight and the stability that additional weight provides. The tripod is light enough to bring along on hikes, and easy to keep in the vehicle when not in use. There's enough weight to provide stability, without being too heavy itself.

Overall, I love this new piece of gear. I only have two issues with this tripod, both with the head.1. While it can point directly down, it cannot point directly up. While maybe I'm missing something simple, I think you'd have to turn the quick release plate around to do that. (see photo for how far it does go)2. The highest levelling handle doesn't have much range with tension. It's stiff and takes a good crank to get it to be totally tight.Thoughts:- I love how fast this tripod sets up; the leg locks are excellent.- It's a nice upgrade from shorter travel tripods. I'm just over 5'10" and when it's fully extended, the camera sits just above my head. Handy for situations like heavy brush in forests, etc.- The rubber grip on one leg is solid and a nice upgrade from cheap foam ones.

Es muy buen aliado para usar un cabezal de cardán por su ajuste de inclinación independiente en cada pata. Pensé que sería más distinto al 190X pero básicamente son iguales (cambian detalles y materiales en sus mecanismos). Es muy ligero para transportar y fácil de usar.Muy buena compra.

This tripod certainly gives plenty of height at full leg extension. It’s almost too high after the ball head is attached as the top dials on my camera are high up. Easily fixed … don’t extend the legs as far. The multi- angle legs are very sturdy and ideal for uneven ground and for near to the ground photography. While not the most expensive of the Manfrotto range it’s features are more than adequate for my present photography needs and no doubt for more advanced levels. The ball head is easy to adjust and provides a good hold for my mid weight Canon camera and zoom lens.

Me gustó mucho, ya he probado algunos otros tripies pero de precios más bajos y se nota la diferencia comparado con este. Los materiales se sienten bien y el cabezal que tiene me gustó mucho, también es de cabezal intercambiable así que lo puedes cambiar por otro y ponerle un fluid head por ejemplo. Tal vez lo que menos me gusta es el peso porque de vez en cuando me lo llevo de aquí para allá en transporte público, pero creo que hay una versión de fibra de carbono o podrías checar algunos tripies las ligueros, que ronden por ahí de los 2 Kg.

Manfrotto MT290XTA3US 290 Xtra 3-Sec Aluminum TripodI have used many "cheap" "budget" tripods in the past before buying this tripod. I searched and searched for many cheap alternatives but it just didn't do the job right. Cheap/Budget tripods are fine, you can make it work IF you have the TIME.Pros:- Heavy Duty- You can take really low shots with this tripod- Sturdy- Stable and no wobbles- Tall and Durable- Comes with free bag- Cheaper to price compared to local stores (London Drugs, Broadway Cameras)Cons:- Since the tripod is heavy it might not be best for travelingOverall:If you are serious about filming or photography and want to step up your game this tripod is a long term investment that you will not regret. It's a one time investment that would serve you a long time.I would also recommend investing in a fluid head. The Manfrotto 500ah or the 502hd (pro) would be a good choice.