$199 MANFROTTO M-Y KIT 732CY W/484RC2 BASALT
 

http://www.henrys.ca/59014-MANFROTTO...C2-BASALT.aspx

Can anyone give an opinion on if this is a good deal or not? Saw it posted on RFD!

I'm just starting out with photography so I only have my Nikon D3000 and 18-55 VR lens. Someone on RFD mentioned that these are not stable if you have a heavy lens but I'm probably not looking to go past 200mm lens, and if anything, I am leaning towards getting shorter lenses / fish eye!

Hope someone can chime in :)

Thanks!

four-sectioned legs don't lend themselves to rigidity nor does its lightness help with stability, but if its lightness and its relative compactness allows you to take it with you on your photo journeys without hesitation, then by all means. having a tripod > no tripod.

then again, it's a manfrotto so i'm sure i'm splitting hairs here.

i myself have a 190x ProB with the same head. relatively good all-around combo. paid 155(tripod)+77(head) back in 2008. :p

that deal you have there seems all right.

The legs are decent, but the head isn't very good, IMHO. That one knob loosens and tightens both ball and panning part of the head, so if you're trying to do a panorama, it's very difficult to get a smooth side to side pan.

^^^

that's true. also, when you're trying to compose a tightly cropped shot with a long lens, the camera setup will probably settle down a little as you tighten the knob so you have to adjust your shot for that - ie: aim just a touch higher then tighten so that the camera will drop down into position as you tighten it.

that same kit is at BB/FS i think. there's a carbon and aluminum version. both are quite flimsy despite the use of carbon and the manfrotto name. quite disappointing.

I think this is the one my GF has, I found the manfrotto at future shop was VERY heavy.

Also wondering what the durability of the ball head and the tightening lever is like, I guess not for professional usage eh?
The manfrotto looks pretty sexy though but IMO skip this series if it's the same one my GF has, I find it bulky and heavy. I'll stick with my el cheapo ebay tripod for now

well, heaviness is a relative thing, no? depends on how he's travelling around with it. whether he's going to be strapping it onto a backpack or on a sling or having to carry it around my hand.

that ball head is only for light use though. as i had mentioned before, as you lock the head into position, it will settle down some more if you're using a heavier lens/camera combo so you have to adjust for that.

ya man, i'm not sure if we're talking about the same set here. the 732CY i saw at BB/FS felt half as light as my 190XB/498RC2 combo. but again, very scary and flimsy

Hmmm, sounds like the overall consensus is that although this setup is enough to get by, it doesn't seem to be a killer deal or anything close to that. I guess I'll just wait for something better to come along :)

If nothing comes along, I'm thinking of picking up a Benro TRAB269, as per J____'s review, combined with a 498 head!

Thanks for your input guys!