Manfrotto MKC3-P01

I bought the Manfrotto MKC3-P01 to go with my new Manfrotto Unica VII bag which I won recently. Anyway, seeing as I have now had chance to go out and give it a try, I thought I would give my impressions. This isn't a technical review (it is basically a Manfrotto tripod with the usual thumb-grip type leg fasteners and a well design ball head - loads of technical reviews online I'm sure), more of an opinion of what I think of it from the experience I have of it.

First off, the tripod is pretty light at about 1Kg, meaning that with my two Fuji cameras and a couple of accessories in the shoulder bag AND the tripod in the special compartment, it doesn't weigh down on the shoulder as much as I thought it might. If you are walking around town for a few hours, say doing street or architecture type stuff, then this tripod added to the weight of your normal gear shouldn't be to much of a drag.

It is designed to fit into the Unica VII bag's bottom compartment, which it does once the centre column is reversed and the head tucked inwards - it doesn't take much doing. Note that I originally purchased the MKC3-H01 which does not fit, even though the leaflet that comes with the bag suggests it does!!

It extends out enough for what I might use it for around town. I sometimes like to do long-ish exposure street shots, or the occasional panoramic, and I rarely have need for anything more than the 5'4" (165cm) this tripod offers.

Disappearing umbrellas

It's pretty sturdy, but not like my 190XPROB quite obviously, so no good for any serious landscape stuff I guess, but then I don't think it would be purchased for this kind of thing in the first place. The legs hold together without any movement that I could tell, but when I was out with it the other day, it was windy and it did shake about a bit, so I held it down and slightly more secure by hand.

The overall feel and quality is exactly what you would expect from Manfrotto (and a £45 tripod - lets be realistic here): very good! Although the camera plate is plastic, it fits snugly and doesn't have any give, which I was pleasantly surprised about. It's also easy to clip in and out of the holder.

I can't say what it'd be like with any heavy DSLR + huge lens type setup, but with my Fuji X-Pro1 + 35mm, it was sound. The spec says a max load of 1.5Kg.

My conclusion: £45 well spent and I see me using it more than my expensive, and heavy, 190XPROB.