Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

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Fitmiss
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p.1 #1 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

I'm a relatively new DSLR owner and looking for a good, lightweight tripod. I don't know if it matters but I'm 5'2".

I've been reading a lot of posts on tripods and have been looking at the Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 and the Feisol 3441 based on many comments. Price and specs are fairly similar. Right now I only have the kit lens but anticipate purchasing the Canon 17-55 in the future and a zoom lens. I'll probably purchase either a Manfrotto or Feisol ballhead.

Why would I want one of these tripods over the other? I plan to use it locally to take landscape pictures and for travel to Europe.

Thanks for any input.

Oct 01, 2008 at 02:23 AM

DisrupTer911
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p.1 #2 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

the manfrotto is nice but doesn't go as high as the Feisol but you're 5'2" so the manfrotto would be plenty tall for you.
the 190 also has the hortizontally swinging center which is great for getting down super low to the group.

the feisol has a nice weight hook on the bottom of the center rod tho for keep the tripod weighed down in wind where as the 190 has a hook on the top of the legs.

is there anyplace near you where you can go and handle both at the same time?

Oct 01, 2008 at 01:58 PM

Fitmiss
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p.1 #3 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

DisrupTer911 wrote:
the manfrotto is nice but doesn't go as high as the Feisol but you're 5'2" so the manfrotto would be plenty tall for you.
the 190 also has the hortizontally swinging center which is great for getting down super low to the group.

the feisol has a nice weight hook on the bottom of the center rod tho for keep the tripod weighed down in wind where as the 190 has a hook on the top of the legs.

is there anyplace near you where you can go and handle both at the same time?

The Feisol is mail order only. Perhaps it is just easier to get the 190 which has gotten very good reviews.

Oct 01, 2008 at 02:42 PM

DisrupTer911
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p.1 #4 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

ahh, i did not know that about the Feisol tripods being mail order only...

in that case, going to a local camera shop and handling the 190 might be your best bet.

personally, i have a 190XPROB and i love it, but I'm 6' and it's a bit too short for me and i shoulda went with an 055 since it's taller w/o being extended

Oct 01, 2008 at 07:46 PM

Fitmiss
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p.1 #5 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

DisrupTer911 wrote:
ahh, i did not know that about the Feisol tripods being mail order only...

in that case, going to a local camera shop and handling the 190 might be your best bet.

personally, i have a 190XPROB and i love it, but I'm 6' and it's a bit too short for me and i shoulda went with an 055 since it's taller w/o being extended

I'm leaning towards the Manfrotto 190CX3Pro and the Markins Q3 ball head.

Oct 01, 2008 at 07:59 PM

howardm4
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p.1 #6 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

you should really check the weight difference between the 190 and the 3441. Light is in.

Oct 01, 2008 at 09:27 PM

roberto1979
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p.1 #7 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

Fitmiss, you're right on with the Q3 ballhead, but IMO you'll probably need 2 different tripods for what you want. You can get by with the Manfrotto in Europe, but it will be a pain in the butt. I'm in Europe now, and I really wish I had a much more compact tripod for travel. I'll definitely be buying a very small Gitzo before I come back. I'm traveling with a 2540 and a Q3 now, and while I love it for landscape stuff, it's a pain to carry here. It's approx the same size as the 190 will be when collapsed. The little backward folding Feisol looks pretty interesting as a travel tripod, but I certainly wouldn't use it for landscape stuff. If you don't plan on traveling soon, I would buy the Manfrotto for now, and start saving for Feisol down the road.

Oct 02, 2008 at 01:05 PM

Fitmiss
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p.1 #8 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

roberto1979 wrote:
Fitmiss, you're right on with the Q3 ballhead, but IMO you'll probably need 2 different tripods for what you want. You can get by with the Manfrotto in Europe, but it will be a pain in the butt. I'm in Europe now, and I really wish I had a much more compact tripod for travel. I'll definitely be buying a very small Gitzo before I come back. I'm traveling with a 2540 and a Q3 now, and while I love it for landscape stuff, it's a pain to carry here. It's approx the same size as the 190 will be when collapsed. The little backward folding Feisol looks pretty interesting as a travel tripod, but I certainly wouldn't use it for landscape stuff. If you don't plan on traveling soon, I would buy the Manfrotto for now, and start saving for Feisol down the road.

What is wrong with the Feisol for landscape stuff? Is there another model Feisol you would suggest? The Manfrotto and the Feisol are essentially the same price. It would be helpful to see them side by side but that is near impossible. I don't travel that much, so perhaps I can find a tripod that will serve both purposes.

I got an email from ReallyBigCameras.com that tells me that the Q3 is a great ball head but doesn't fit in the bag that comes with the Feisol 3441. My hunch tells me to stick with my plan for the Q3 and not get the 3441. Any suggestions?

Oct 02, 2008 at 01:39 PM

dcains
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p.1 #9 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

The 3441/Q3 is a fine setup, so don't let the bag issue bother you too much. Tripod bags are inexpensive and there are many choices. I use unpadded Kinesis bags:

Kinesis LINK

B&H has many, too:

B&H LINK

Oct 02, 2008 at 01:56 PM

Fitmiss
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p.1 #10 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

dcains wrote:
The 3441/Q3 is a fine setup, so don't let the bag issue bother you too much. Tripod bags are inexpensive and there are many choices. I use unpadded Kinesis bags:

Kinesis LINK

B&H has many, too:

B&H LINK

I'm pretty sold on the Q3. My question regarding the 3441 really has to do with whether or not it is the right tripod for everyday use, so to speak. I don't mean I'll be using it everyday but rather using it as my main tripod to take pictures locally rather than use it for travel. If it is a hassle to set up vs something else, I'd rather look at something else.

The previous poster indicated that the 3441 may not be a good choice for landscape use and indicated I might be better off considering the Manfrotto 190cx3pro.

Oct 02, 2008 at 02:02 PM

dcains
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p.1 #11 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

The 3441 is a lightweight tripod, and its capacity and stability are limited by its weight, design, and materials. If you're going to use a non-pro body, short lenses, and it's not a windy day, you'll be OK. You can further improve its stability by not extending the lower leg section and using an angle finder on your camera, and as an aside, this increases your flexibility in shooting landscapes if you want more of the foreground in your image (when using wide-angle lenses).

Same goes for the Manfrotto, BTW, as it's in the same weight class.

Oct 02, 2008 at 02:10 PM

dcains
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p.1 #12 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

Almost forgot, Markins now sells a Q3 version specifically made for use with Gitzo's "traveler" tripods. Its smaller base allows the Gitzo legs to be folded over the head - but I don't know if that will also work with the 3441. Kerry at ReallyBigCameras would likely know the answer to that question.

Oct 02, 2008 at 02:13 PM

Smiert Spionam
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p.1 #13 · Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 vs Feisol 3441

I owned a 3205, the predecessor to the 190, for years. A stable and solid tripod, but I'd take the lighter Feisol over it. The Feisol has larger diameter tubes, and would almost certainly be more stable. I'm also not crazy about Manfrotto locks, which stick out too much and hang up on things in use.

Oct 02, 2008 at 02:31 PM


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