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| |  | Two-Way Radios & Accessories | | Home » » » | | | | | | | Product Details: | | | Product Weight:
| 3.7 pounds | | Package Length:
| 20.71 inches | | Package Width:
| 4.8 inches | | Package Height:
| 4.57 inches | | Package Weight:
| 4.81 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 8 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 8 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 56 found the following review helpful:
 A great tripod for the beginner to serious hobbyistSep 28, 2009
By Cuttooth
As a photographer, I'm what you'd call a "weekend warrior". Just a hobbyist that enjoys capturing images and sharing them with friends and family. I've been using a DSLR camera for the last couple of years, starting with a Canon 400D, then moving up to a Canon 40D. When I first got the 400D, I purchased an inexpensive, starter tripod that, for me, worked fine for the occasional low light or portrait shot. But after I upgraded to the 40D, I realized that I needed a higher quality tripod. The weight of the 40D compared to the 400D was quite significant and my cheap tripod was just too unstable. On numerous occasions, this resulted in blurry shots due to camera shake on shots with longer exposure times or on extreme macro shots where the slightest movement will ruin your photo.
After researching tripods I decided on getting a Manfrotto simply because of their reputation for quality and from recommendations from many other photographers, both professional and hobbyists like me. The cost of a Pro class Manfrotto was a bit too steep for me so after some research, I decided on getting the 7301YB. This tripod replaced Manfrotto's 728B model which got good reviews all around and the cost of the 7301YB fit into my budget perfectly.
SOME OF THE PROS I FOUND WITH THIS TRIPOD:
*Its light weight and compact design. When I travel, my camera gear always comes along with me so a tripod with this size and weight are perfect.
*Stability is head and shoulders above my old generic aluminum tripod. My usual setup is the 40D with the BG-E2n battery grip, and either a Sigma 17-70 2.8 lens or a Canon 70-300 IS USM lens. The combination of these is equal to about 4 lbs and with the tripod rated to safely hold up to 7.7 lbs, it's very solid and stable.
*The height of the tripod is perfect for me. It extends to maximum of 56.3 inches.
*Quick release plate is made of metal and has a much lower profile than my older tripod so it's not an inconvenience for me leaving it attached to the camera 24/7.
*The center column can be removed and inverted so instead of the head sitting on top of the tripod, it can be set up so it hangs down under the tripod, making it possible to get the camera even closer to the ground.
*The quality and construction is solid all around.
*Comes with a carrying bag.
SOME OF THE CONS I FOUND WITH THIS TRIPOD:
*The head is permanently affixed to the tripod so there is no upgrading to a higher quality, professional head in the future. If you want to upgrade, you'll have to buy a whole new setup, legs and head.
*There is no level built into the tripod.
*The forward and backward movement on the head could be a tad bit smoother.
I also tried the tripod with my Canon ZR80 compact DV camcorder with a 0.70x wide angle lens attached and it was equally stable.
Overall, I think I made a great choice and I'm glad I did my research beforehand. It's a great upgrade from the starter tripod I had to one that is more of a serious part of my photographic gear.
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
When times are rough, this is definitely the bang for the buck!Feb 16, 2010
By MARTIN KIM
I'm a new photographer hobbyist working myself towards amateur to pro some day. As I first got my camera, I realized I needed more gear such as carrying bag, lens filters, cleaning kits, flashes, etc. As we all started once in our lifetime, we don't know too much to begin with and have no knowledge of why having really good equipment matters, let alone whatever pleases us at first choosing quanity over quality. The one thing I needed was a tripod, and I bought myself a very cheap $30 Sunpak tripod from Best Buy. To my knowledge at the time, I thought this was good enough for me...boy was I wrong! Yes it was only weighing at 4 lbs or so, flimsy legs, plastic clamps were somewhat very easy to use with no struggle, quick release plate was plastic, and the clip holding the plate was so weak you could probably yank the camera off the head. I was adjusting the legs one day and the the leg supporters where the center column is, snapped and broke, all I could think is...YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR!
So I did some research and shopped around coming across Benro and Manfrotto tripods which are known to be very high quality tripods...it's just a tripod, how much "higher" quality can it be to hold a camera? Benro was a little pricey for me so it lead me to the Manfrotto 7301YB Model that has the maximum height of 56.3in, 3.69lbs, maximum weight can be held of 7.72 lbs. The moment the delivery came in, I opened the box and literally FELT the difference immediately!
The DIFFERENCE:
1. Overall composition is Metal (Aluminum to be exact) heavily weighting at 3.7lbs, it seems like it could take a beating for years to come.
2. The legs are very stiff to pull apart, so the legs are very strong and sturdy, not flimsy and plastic.
3. The head and quick release plate is metal and the head itself has a very strong plate lock!
4. The hard plastic clamps do what they're designed to do, locking and securing the legs, the locks define tightness and security.
5. Using the 3 way head is a breeze~ Very smooth flow of rotation, tilting, and moving back and forth from portrait to landscape with a simple twist & lock.
6. There are gray locks around the head that can spread the legs apart even farther for more surface coverage.
7. The tripod itself is so sturdy you could raise the neck (center column) itself and it'll still be stable and shake loosely in which cheap tripods can't.
8. It also comes with a very nice handy strap carrying case for protection and traveling purposes.
The minor blunders...
1. The head can't be replaced with another advanced head, you have to completely buy a new headless tripod and buy a head together.
2. Has no level meter to see if the surface or the camera is balanced.
Overall, I definitely recommend this to anyone who is starting out in photography or needs a secondary tripod! Don't let the price fool you, just go ahead and order because the difference of $70 bucks or more comes a long way when it comes to quality. I'm so amazed with this tripod for only a $125, I can't imagine what $200 and above tripods can be in terms of "quality".
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 High quality product, very useful.Jan 18, 2010
By J. Graham
I bought this tripod to use basically for a Sony Alpha 350 digital camera with a zoom lens.
I didnt want a cheap tripod because I didnt want my camera to be in danger of falling or something like that.
The tripod materials and construction feels very sturdy and high quality.
It works perfectly and even when it doesnt have a level bubble like other tripods, i have found that its not really necessary for daily use.
It might be necessary for pro photography, but again, a pro would maybe buy a more hi-end tripod.
It includes a carrying case which its a great feature because you dont want to scratch it when traveling as I did.
In conclusion, I would definetly recommend it for an amateur photographer who has a digital SLR camera.
6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Great tripodFeb 28, 2010
By D. Adhikari
Right out of the box, very nice and well built tripod - easy to use and sturdy which can hold my D90 with SB600 flash and lens attached - without any problem. The tripod bag is also nice looking and well made. I would recommend this tripod.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Great Tripod For The PriceMay 23, 2010
By Chris
Very sturdy and dependable... I love it. Hard to believe you can get a Manfrotto at this price. Glad I purchased it!
See all 8 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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