Manfrotto Element Traveler Big 5-Section Aluminum Tripod and Monopod with Ball Head, Holds 17.6 Lbs, Extends to 65", Black

2019-05-04T08:30:55

I've been using this tripod for a few months now. I shoot a lot of macro, so need a tripod. While this thing feels well built, heavy, sturdy, somewhat ,as far as the legs, the plate does not screw tightly to my sony mirrorless camera. No matter how much I tighten the screw, it is never tight enough to support the weight of my lightweight, mirrorless camera and a fairly lightweight lens. Especially in the vertical position -- not a chance. It constantly slides down. Clearly, this makes the whole rig feel unreliable. Also, there is a screw protruding at the base of the plate and that makes a smooth attachment impossible. You have to work around it, and that requires opening the sides so much that it makes it a bit iffy while attaching your camera. You get what you pay for for a tripod and these issues make this one feel too unreliable for my expensive camera and lens.

Kimberly K.

2019-02-21T09:46:43

Out of the box I was impressed by the design and workmanship of this tripod. Converting it into a mono-pod is a slick feature that's well thought out. It's sturdy and adjusts with just a twist of the locking ring of each segment. When the time comes to upgrade I will definitely be looking to Manfrotto products first.

Kevin T.

2019-02-19T12:46:38

Had to wait months to receive this tripod on backorder, but after finally receiving it it seems like a nice, lightweight travel tripod. It’s about as sturdy as it possibly could be for being so small and lightweight for travel, but it seems like it could be a bit shaky in certain situations.

Matt U.

2018-12-11T08:37:55

I needed a tripod that would fit in my suitcase (interior length just over 18 in). All of my other tripods have legs that close downward so that the ball head and legs extend in opposite directions. This tripod has legs that close upward. To close the tripod, one extends the central column upward, then fold the collapsed legs upward. (I hadn't noticed this in the photos in the tripod's ad.) This allows the minimum length of the legs to be 16 in and still fit in my suitcase. Very clever design!

William D.

2018-11-15T06:51:54

I very pleased with the ruggedness of this tripod. Of course, it's not the same as the high end carbon fiber tripods, but it works perfectly for me.

THOMAS S.

2018-10-24T10:34:41

So far I am very satisfied. It is light, sturdy and gets job done. I really like a little bag included with a purchase. Hopefully this little triod will last me for a while.

Nicholas B.

2018-09-12T15:08:44

Great timing on the shipping. The tripod is great and the price is even greater. Will definitely buy more items from Adorama!

Roman K.

2018-08-02T12:07:55

I have heard Manfroto made good equipment but I was really surprised at the overall quality of each part!

Wayne M.

2018-07-11T15:55:25

This tripod is CLUTCH. I use it for my Coronado PST solar telescope and it’s solid, sturdy and very compact. It comes in a drawstring pouch and set up takes moments. I don’t know why I waited to long to pull the trigger on buying this, but I’m glad I finally did.

Michael U.

2018-05-24T09:16:48

I Bought it to bring on landscape shots. My full sized Manfrotto has been a work horse but too bulky and heavy to take into the field any distances or for all day, so I would tend to go without. I had been researching carbon fiber but had noted the small ones had issues with vibration. I decided on the small aluminum. It was a good choice. When I got it I was shocked just how small it was. Very light weight and compact. It kind of made me wonder it it were too light weight. The legs looked tiny. The extension and height were just right. I'm 6'1" and standing comfortably while using was no problem. It is sturdy enough for a magnesium Nikon body and a 70-200 lens. The shots come out sharp. Ball head works well. It has two level sites on it. The quick release is different than what I'm use to but easy to figure out and use after a little practice. The monopod works pretty well, the insulated leg unscrews and the ball head assembly screws into it. I have a heavy duty one that doubles as a walking stick so I don't need the tripods mono. The tripod comes with allen wrenches to tighten leg screws and spiked feet. It comes with a small draw string carrying bag. Over all it is a great little tripod for back country and at a very good price point.

JOHN P.

2018-05-08T08:31:54

Whether you are sitting or standing, this tripod can do it all. Sturdy flexible legs can spread wide or tight, for low angle or eye level and higher. Very light weight compared to other tripods, easy to strap to your backpack. Ball head is removable if you want to use another type of head. I'll use it this summer for all my outdoor photo trips.

Michael N.

2018-03-08T09:25:40

Smooth action slides in the legs, base and mount. I am use to the slide and clip in (which would be faster to mount the camera to the base) but this one has a screw to lock the camera in. it will take a fraction of a minute more to mount the camera to the tripod and sometimes you will need that. but a great tripod all around.

roger e.

2017-06-25T20:19:26

I recently purchased this for my trip overseas and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to stuff this into my check-in suitcase without taking too much space up. A lightweight and easy to carry tripod was definitely necessary for walking around at night and going from place to place. It was easy to set up and the ball head was very easy to use.

RYAN S.

2017-06-12T21:46:23

Ive been shooting manfrotto ever since i started shooting, i bought this tripod for my mountains scrambles, couldn't be any happier with this tripod

jeff h.

2017-06-01T16:54:04

When I bought this tripod I was looking for one that would work on day hikes with a DSLR and a 28-300 or 100-400 zoom. It fits on my combo photo day pack and is light enough to not notice it when hiking. It folds up to a really small size and extends to full size with good stability. The ball head is also well designed and very easy to use. The price just adds to the great deal.

GARY C.

2017-05-12T06:28:03

For being a travel tripod, this thing is super sturdy. High weight capacity combined with awesome ergonomics. Check out my video review on YouTube. Search "DesFit" or "Manfrotto Element Tripod." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzUIPwkIfRc

gwtbike

2017-02-07T11:37:17

I really like the mono-pole feature.

Jerry W.

2017-01-04T17:30:53

The only thing that would have made this purchase better, would have been if the red one were available. Otherwise she loves it.

Daniel C.