Manfrotto Befree Live Travel Video Tripod with Video Camera Head and Lever Closure Aluminum Tripod for DSLR Mirrorless

I always undervalued the idea of spending large sums of money on anything that wasn't the camera or audio, and for the most part, this has always been a good idea until I cheaped out on a Vivitar Tripod. That tripod was hardly useful and could easily break into a pile of sticks with just a gust of wind, so by the time it was on its literal last leg I decided to look into Manfrotto, and boy was I blown away. There has never been such a mundane product that I have gushed over as much as this and have constantly recommended to those in the market for one. I've used and abused this on many sets and it still holds up like new. The pan and tilt are still as fluid as ever, the locking system is still sturdy, the legs are built to last, and the grip on the handle is like nothing I have ever used. When you buy a Manfrotto you are guaranteed a quality product that will last you a lifetime. I bought the aluminum model which is a fair bit heavy in shoots for hiking(if possible spend a little more for the carbon fiber if you plan to carry this for long periods of time), but the construction and use of the material really make it feel premium. Never cheap out on a tripod and go for this if you want a lightweight, easy-to-use solution. Read more

I shoot a great deal now with my smartphone - they’ve gotten so much better, and since I am not lugging around a camcorder, I wanted a lighter tripod but with a fluid head. I had used cheaper, under $50 tripods, which would cause my tripod to fall over during a wind gust. It has a hook in the center so that you can add a counter weight. More importantly, panning on those types of tripods is very difficult. The built-in fluid head on this works so smoothly - just like my heavy duty Manfrotto. But now I am so glad I don’t have to drag that big boy around. I like the clamps to extend the legs, and the legs flip up to place in the carrying back it comes with or a backpack. My only complaint, is the screw under the quick release, I wish it had a turning toggle so you can tighten the smart phone holder easily. A dime would be perfect but I rarely have a dime on me, though car keys work. But other than that, I use this with the Manfrotto smart phone grip which is the best on the market. Read more

I use this tripod to film my youtube videos with the Sony A6400. It has everything you need for all of your filming needs and there are lots of adjustments. It has a level and a nice fluid drag system to get you filming quality footage. The feet plant firmly on the ground. Like I said I use it indoors because its light but you may want to consider a heavier tripod if you are outdoors most of the time to get a steadier shot if there is any weather elements. It hasn't let me down and I would recommend it to anyone that wants a quality tripod from a trusted brand on a budget. Read more

First off, I got the Befree Live for a helluva deal. I was looking for a tripod like the Manfrotto for under $200 and this got really good reviews and I'm loyal to Manfrotto products. Turns out that I spent only $197 and now it's selling for $240+ I prefer the lock twist over the levers which I have on a lighter tripod but they feel too flimsy and could snap off if you aren't careful. The twist locks do take some getting used to for tightening the legs but I really, really like the quality. My only problem was that I wanted to switch the fluid head with a newly purchased Manfrotto ball head. I followed many videos and I just could not get it to come unscrewed. I rotated it counterclockwise at least 30 times and it would not come off. I was ready to send this back. What worked for me was tilting the arm all the way up then rotating it again and it finally came off. Be careful though because the fluid head is heavy and you don't want to drop and break it. A replacement is something like $100+ My biggest gripe is the hook placement that has moved to the side instead of being underneath the column. It's awkward and really small, and frankly I have no idea how you can hook anything onto it. I'll have to find a special hook attachment and see if that helps. I tried a carabiner but it was too big. Anyways, for the price I got a great deal. I'm debating whether to spend an extra $33 for warranty protection but being used as a mostly outdoor tripod I'll probably need it. It's a great all in one solution now that I have the Manfrotto fluid head for video, ball head for photos, a phone mount for a quick and easy setup and finally the Manfrotto quick realease plate that I mounted directly to the fluid head plate and can quickly remove my camera, change to the ball head and snap into that. You don't want to mount the fluid head plate to your camera. It's way too big and cumbersome. Are there better options? Probably, but at the price I got this and after doing lots of research, the Manfrotto Befree Live hit all the right points for me. It's a solid tripod, a bit heavier than I thought it would be, and the angling of legs take some practice, but the Befree Live is totally worth it. Read more

Very smooth, packs easily for travel and weighs much less than my last one. Easily holds my Canon R5 with 70-200mm lens, mic and light. It’s a good hybrid head for video and photography. Definitely not as smooth as my Benro video head but that weighs 4x and is far too big for travel. Love this one. Read more

It's a decent tripod: it packs small-ish, it's kinda light-weight, it's pretty sturdy... it's what you need it to be and nothing more. I wish it packed smaller and was a little lighter, there's so much extra space when it's all folded up. And the ball head works but isn't what I've come to expect with other manfrotto tripods. It works great for what I need but doesn't impress me in any way. Read more