Manfrotto 055XPROB and 488RC2

two slow · November 21, 2007

Anyone here using this combo? I plan on buying it soon if enough people say it is solid. I was also looking at the 3021 with the same head but this is rated a little heavier for the same money.

Jimbojack · November 21, 2007

two slow wrote:

Anyone here using this combo? I plan on buying it soon if enough people say it is solid. I was also looking at the 3021 with the same head but this is rated a little heavier for the same money.

I'm using the 3021 with the 488 RC2. Works very well, very stable, fairly quick to set up, never had any problems with it. Biggest lens I've used on it was the 70-200vr + 1.7tc + d200 body and it was very solid.

I'm not familiar with the 055X, but it should be just as good or better.

It is a bit heavy though, but you can't beat it for the price.

Hope that helps, If I had to buy a tripod again I would still chose it.

gryphonslair99 · November 21, 2007

What do you want to shoot with it? I have the 3021 legs with the 488RC2 head for general shooting. I use 3021 legs with the 322RC2 pistol grip head for portraits. Much faster to adjust. I also use the 3021 legs with a 3437 pan tilt head for macro type work. I love the 3021 legs with any of those heads depending on what I am doing at the time.

claudermilk · November 22, 2007

AFAIk the 055X is the new name for the 3021.

That combo is an often-recommended one. I have not used either, but have read from a lot of happy owners of that combo.

gryphonslair99 · November 22, 2007

claudermilk wrote:

AFAIk the 055X is the new name for the 3021.

That combo is an often-recommended one. I have not used either, but have read from a lot of happy owners of that combo.

Don't mean to be contradictory but the 055XBPro and the 3021Bpro are two different legs.

055XBRPro legs:
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/14791/lang/en

055ProB legs (aka:3021 legs):
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/2277?fullList=0|67|68|69|71&idx=71

055XBPro leg specs:
closed length 65.5 cm
minimum height 10 cm
maximum height 178,5 cm
maximum height (with center column down) 142 cm
weight 2.40 kg
load capacity 7.00 kg
color black
patent patented
material aluminum
leg cross section round
column cross section three-faceted
leg sections 3
bubble spirit level (no) 1
leg angles 23°,45°,65°,88°
center column rapid
section center column 1
column tube diameter 28mm
attachment 3/8"
legs tube diameter 29,4 , 25 , 20 mm
suggested dolly 127, 127VS

055ProB specs:
closed length 65.0 cm
minimum height 11.0 cm
maximum height 176.0 cm
maximum height (with center column down) 135.0 cm
weight 2.40 kg
load capacity 7.00 kg
color black
patent patented
material aluminum
leg cross section round
column cross section three-faceted
leg sections 3
bubble spirit level (no) 1
leg angles 25°, 43°, 73°, 90°
center column rapid
section center column 2
attachment 3/8'' screw

There are some differences.

two slow · November 22, 2007

gryphonslair99 wrote:

What do you want to shoot with it? I have the 3021 legs with the 488RC2 head for general shooting. I use 3021 legs with the 322RC2 pistol grip head for portraits. Much faster to adjust. I also use the 3021 legs with a 3437 pan tilt head for macro type work. I love the 3021 legs with any of those heads depending on what I am doing at the time.

That is an interesting option. different heads for different tasks.
For now though I will need to use the 488 head for everything. I used to have a pan and tilt head but didn't care for it then, but I never tried it for macro.

two slow · November 22, 2007

gryphonslair99 wrote:

Don't mean to be contradictory but the 055XBPro and the 3021Bpro are two different legs.

055XBRPro legs:
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/14791/lang/en

055ProB legs (aka:3021 legs):
http://www.manfrotto.com/Jahia/site/manfrotto/cache/offonce/pid/2277?fullList=0|67|68|69|71&idx=71

There are some differences.

I just read a little closer on the two different tripods. They are just different enough to study closer.
The main to me would be the center column. The 055PRO is a two peice deisgn and the 055XPRO has the new easier to use horizontal column.
Now to decide which center section I would prefer.

gryphonslair99 · November 23, 2007

two slow wrote:

That is an interesting option. different heads for different tasks.
For now though I will need to use the 488 head for everything. I used to have a pan and tilt head but didn't care for it then, but I never tried it for macro.

The 322 is not long for the 3021 legs. After the first of the year I am buying a dedicated studio tripod and the 322 will end up there permanently. Probably the 3046 legs on a dolly. To me that is where ithe 322 really shines, in portrait work. It can do anything the 488 does, but is a bit more cumberson to carry around.

As for a pan/tilt for macro, I really like it for that kind of purpose or for small product shooting. It is the easiest to set exactly where you want it the first time with out that tiny bit of lens dip that can happen with a ball head. It doesn't have to be a particularly expensive head, just one that locks tight and accurate in any position.

claudermilk · November 23, 2007

gryphonslair99 wrote:

Don't mean to be contradictory but the 055XBPro and the 3021Bpro are two different legs.

No problem. I know they changed up their naming recently & though that was the change there, obviously not. Better that correct information gets posted in the end.

Manfrotto 055XPROB and 488RC2

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