Digital SLR Photography

Me FotoBuildqualityFeaturesStabilityValueOverall``````BuildqualityFeaturesStabilityValueOverallVERDICTVERDICTAmediumsizedall-rounder,butwithchunkierlegsandcollarsthanusual,makingitthatbitstronger–andeasiertouse.Comeswithaqualityshoulderbag.``````Lessofacut-down190CXPRO4,moreanimproved,streamlinedversion.The190Go!retainsallthebestfeatures,withbetterstabilityandlessweight.THEREARENOfrills,nothingfancyhere.Butifthatsoundslikeacriticism,it'snotmeanttobe.TheMach3TMA38Cconcentratesontheessentialsof agood,solidtripodthatcantakeonmosttasksandmakeadecentjobof themall.Thekeyisawellbalancedspec.At137cm,it'sbigenoughtobringthecamerauptoashoulderheightforeventhetallestusers.Butit'snotunnecessarilybig,andthatkeepsweightdowntoamanageable1.98kg.Andwithfourlegsections,theclosedlengthisonly55cm,thesecondsmallesthere.Minimumheightisjust18cm,achievedbydroppingintheshortcentre-columnsupplied.Thelegsectionsarefatterthanmost,measuring32mmat thetop,whichincreasesrigidityforverylittleincreaseinweight,anditalsomeansthecollarlocksareslightlybiggerfora fi rmandcomfygrip.Therubberfeetunscrew,andcanbereplacedwiththeprovidedspikes,anditallpacksawayinanicequalitysuppliedpaddedshoulderbag.Alltheusualsecondaryfeat uresarehere,likeaballasthookforaweighttoincreasestability,abubblelevel,afoamrubbergripandastrapattachmentpoint.THE190GO!APPEARSverysimilartothepopularManfrotto190CXPRO4,thoughactuallytherearequiteafewsmallchanges,andonemajordifference.ThemostobviousthingisswappingthebigQPLleverlocksinfavouroftwistcollarsforthe190Go!ThishaspromptedManfrottotoincreasethediameterof thelegsections,andreducetheheightby13cm.Whilethesechangeslookalittlelikecost-saving(the190Go!ischeaper)thenetresultisaslightlybettertripod,especiallyifyoupreferneatercollarlocksoverManfrotto'slargeleversthatcancatchundergrowth.Thefatterlegsectionsimprovestabilityandtheweightisreducedbyasignificant300g,makingthe190Go!only1.36kg.Thelossof maximumheightisapotentialdownsideifyou'retall,butat 123cmthe190Go!stillputsthecameraat comfortableshoulderlevelformostusers.Moregoodnewsisthattheexcellentarticulatingcentre-columnisretained,tiltingdown90°toliehorizontally,whileslidingfore andaft,androtating360°too.It'sveryeasytouseandlockssecurely,andwhilenotquiteasversatileassometiltingcolumnsthatofferagreaterrangeof angles,inpracticethefi xed90°positioncoversmostthings.Benro Mach3TMA38CManfrotto 190 Go! SPECIFICATIONSStreet price:£310Normal height:123cmExtended height:147cmMinimum height:8cmLength closed:46cmLeg sections/angles:4/4Standardleg angle:24°Leg diameters:25, 22, 19, 16mmLeg locks:CollarsCentrecolumn:Tilting, adds24cm heightMonopod option:NoAccessories:NoWeight:1.36kgLoad rating:7kg(claimed)Warranty:Te n yearsWebsite:www.manfrotto.co.uk``````SPECIFICATIONSStreet price:£320Normal height:137cmExtended height:159cmMinimum height:18cmLength closed:55cmLeg sections/angles:4/3Standardleg angle:21°Leg diameters:32, 29, 25, 22mmLeg locks:CollarsCentrecolumn:Sliding, adds 22cm heightMonopod option:NoAccessories:Bag, short-column, spikesWeight:1.98kgLoad rating:16kg(claimed)Warranty:FiveyearsWebsite:www.benroeu.comNove mber2016Digital SLR Photography 111Premiu mtripods\GearBESTFEATURECentre-columnswings down 90°–greatfor macro``````BESTFEATUREChunkyleg sectionsimproved performanceall round