The Manfrotto Beifree Carbon Tripod is the starting point of the aluminum pair, but with a new carbon construction that not only reduces weight, but also increases rigidity and load capacity.
The BeFree Carbon is clearly intended for travel photographers for whom weight and size are essential. When folded, the supplied ball has a short length of 40 cm and weighs only 1.1 kg. Packing the tripod in the bag or even in the carry-on is so simple.
From my first impressions, this Backpacking Tripod is certainly an eye-catcher. He has a red and white Manfrotto livery running along the thigh. I did not use the tripod long enough to know if the graphics work (and abuse), but so far they seem hard.
The eye-catching design certainly sets the tripod apart from my current tripod, the Gitzo GT1542T Traveler, which has opted for a more traditional style.
The leg angle adjustment system is a unique aspect of the BeFree series. BeFree-Carbon has simple plastic swivel caps that allow you to adjust the feet to two predefined angles and turn them around to envelop them.
This new type of leg angle lock is a bit of a habit, but once you've mastered it, you can easily switch from one angle to the other of the leg angles, which is useful when you want to set up your tripod, especially if you wear big gloves.
The BeFree Carbon leg socks are the classic style of Manfrotto, which are neither there nor for me.
In general, I prefer Gitzo-style screw caps because you can cancel all three legs in one turn, but in terms of runtime differences, you gain about 10 seconds. So, this is definitely not a compromise for me, and many people prefer the flipping style anyway.
With its fully extended legs, the BeFree Carbon reaches a height of 144 cm. This is certainly not a high tripod, but if you want to save weight and height, you need to make some compromises.
When the legs are fully extended, they are quite thin and at first impression, I was a little nervous. I have already used cheaper and extremely Carbon Fiber vs Aluminum Tripod , and I always pay attention to thin leg sections. So far, however, it seems that the tripod supports the weight very well and becomes much more robust with the extra weight of an overhead camera.
The ball joint provided with the BeFree is quite simple with a single lever to control the movement. If I used much heavier configurations, I would like to make a small adjustment for friction, but if I have my Panasonic M4 / 3 equipment with me, it is not really necessary. The ball joint is based on the Manfrotto 200PL-14 quick release plate but slightly different from the standard baseplate. The quick-change base plate of this tripod is cut so that the feet can be firmly inserted into the zomei tripod when they are packed together.
When I give lectures and seminars, I am often asked for a cheaper alternative to my Gitzo. I've long told people that the cheapest travel tripers sacrifice stability for their downsizing, but since using BeFree Carbon, I'm very impressed.
When you get the BeFree-Carbon for the first time, you may be surprised how small this tripod is, even if you compare it to my faithful traveler Gitzo. This tripod is at first glance like a toy really small.
When used, it's a surprisingly capable tripod. I've recently upgraded my device to M4 / 3, so I do not have much accessories, but I tested this tripod with Nikon DX devices and the Panasonic Lumix kit, which was not a problem. Problem. The payload stated in the technical data is 4 kg. This means that all camera configurations should be treated except for larger cameras.
The zomei z818 is extremely stable under weight and can handle your equipment in the most extreme conditions (but it is probably not a good idea to be outside).
The lightweight construction of the tripod makes carrying much more comfortable than with big tripods. After one working day on the back, you can save 0.5 to 1 kg compared to most standard tripods.
The big advantage of this tripod is its low weight and small size. If I'm traveling with a smaller, more compact system layout right now, I'd like to take a huge tripod last, which weighs just as much as the rest of my gear. The BeFree Carbon is perfect for on the go as it slides easily into a backpack or suitcase, making transportation easy.
A lightweight tripod means you are more likely to carry it with you and less wish that you did not leave your tripod in the hotel room because it's too heavy.