Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber travel tripod review
While it’s tempting to spend all your hard-earned on exciting new cameras and lenses, a good-quality tripod really is worth its weight in gold. Or maybe that’s not always the case. The goal of a travel tripod is to provide a harmonious blend of stability and portability, a solid tripod that you can depend upon time and again, yet is light enough and portable enough to accompany you on trips to far-flung places.
Just like the best travel tripods, the Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fibre Travel Tripod excels when it comes to these prerequisites. It collapses into a carry-on sized package, is light enough to haul around on your back for hours on end and boasts Manfrotto’s exceptional build quality. The question is, does it have the legs to perform adequately out in the field?
Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fibre: Specifications
Material: Carbon Fiber (there is also an Aluminum version)
Folded height: 41cm / 16.1in
Maximum operating height: 150cm / 19.7in
Minimum operating height: 40cm / 15.7in
Weight: 1.25kg / 2.75lb
Load rating: 9 kg / 19.8lbs
Sections per leg: 4
Center column: Yes
Locking leg angles: 3
Feet: Rubber pads
Case/bag included: Nylon, Synthetic Fabric
Key features
The beauty of the Befree Advanced range is that you can select a travel tripod to fit your needs. Similarly specced variants are available with multiple heads (incl. fluid and 3-way), aluminum builds, tilting center columns, as well as Manfrotto’s M-Lock, and twist and lever leg-locking systems.
We received the ball head twist carbon fiber variant, which features standard twisting leg locks and Manfrotto's 494 Center Ball Head. Fully extended, the tripod's four leg sections and center column combine to stand at 150cm (19.7in). Packed down, the tripod measures 41cm (16.1in) and has a diameter under 10cm (0.39in). It also comes in a nice Manfrotto-branded tripod bag and weighs just 1.25kg (2.75lb).
The 494 Center Ball Head features three points of control: a pan knob and larger dual knob for friction control and locking the ball head. Manfrotto’s removable plate is Arca-Swiss compatible, so it can be placed on an Arca-Swiss-type mount, but the tripod head’s mounting plate is not Arca-Swiss compatible.
An RRP of $390 / £394 is pricier than many tripods in this class, but shop around and you should be able to find a decent discount, which is much more palatable. And of course, you’re investing in a quality Italian-made product from one of the industry’s leading tripod manufacturers.
Build and handling
Carbon fiber is of course renowned for its durability and lightweight, but the legs on the Befree Advanced feel particularly sturdy. This is impressive, since the thinnest of its telescopic legs have a diameter of just 11.2mm (0.44in). The 494 Center Ball Head is made from aluminum, but feels similarly sturdy.
The knobs on the ball head and the twisting leg locks feel solid and don’t need to be overtightened to provide a sturdy lock. The plate can feel a little fiddly to lock in place and remove, but this isn’t anything new. Ultimately, the locking mechanism you prefer comes down to personal preference and usage.
Overall, this tripod exhibits the build quality you’d expect from Manfrotto. It’s worth noting that you need to upgrade to the Befree GT to access Manfrotto’s premium M-Lock system, but the standard twist locks work just fine. Leg locks are a weak point on any tripod – especially during a trip to a sandy beach – but treat this tripod with care and maintain it properly and it should serve you well.
Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fibre: Performance
The Befree Advanced Carbon Fiber performs well out in the field. Twisting leg extensions and leg-angle selectors on each leg make collapsing the tripod effortless. The latter is unlatched and held down with a thumb or finger as the leg pivots right up until it rests on the head.
When pivoting the legs back down, the selectors don’t need to be unlatched and simply click three times to represent the three different leg angles. You can splay the legs at 90 degrees so the tripod lays flat (with center column fully extended). When fully extended to a serviceable – not towering – 150cm (19.7in), the non-pivoting center column is stable enough to achieve that extra height, even if this isn’t best practice.
The 494 Center Ball Head pans and tilts smoothly. It isn’t video smooth, but it’s smooth enough for photography and while the friction control can prove a little fiddly – you have to pinch it to turn it – the ball locks solidly into place.
When packed down, the tripod meets even easyJet’s meagre carry-on guidelines and is pretty thin. We’re not talking Peak Design Travel Tripod thin here, but thin enough that it’s easily stowed on the side of a camera bag. Add the light weight and the Befree Advanced doesn’t attempt to pull your camera backpack off-kilter like heavier tripods, making it much more enjoyable to carry on your back.
The 9kg payload is what you’d expect from this class of tripod and the build’s inherent stability does mean that it feels secure when loaded up. Still, it’s important to remember what this tripod is designed for. A huge super-telephoto prime support, it is not. So I’d recommend keeping within the 9kg payload if you want to maximize your tripod’s longevity.
Manfrotto Befree Advanced Carbon Fibre: Verdict
Look past the steep price of admission, lack of Arca-Swiss compatibility and relatively short maximum operating height, and this is yet another fantastic tripod from Manfrotto. It’s light, it’s highly portable and it’s rock solid. And if it features something you’re not happy with, chances are you can find the variant for you within the Befree Advanced range. If you’re looking for a first good-quality tripod, an accompaniment to an ultra-sturdy but hefty tripod or something that’s light enough to travel the world and survive the journey, the Befree Advanced Carbon Fibre Travel Tripod twist is worth a look.
Read more: Find out about other tripod options in our guide for the best tripod for photographers, or check out the best ball heads for tripods.
