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Review on Black Manfrotto 290 Dual Aluminum 3-Section Tripod Kit with 3-Way Head (Model MK290DUA3-3WUS) by Patrick Matin

Revainrating 1 out of 5

You don't need this tripod; Cracked and broken leg locking mechanism

Chances are you don't want to buy this 290 Series tripod from Manfrotto. Of course, the price can be tempting, especially when you can get a tripod head and legs for such a low price. However, this affordable price will cost you more than just money; Time. Time you'll never get back. Due to the fragile locking mechanisms of the tripod legs, it will cost you time to return this tripod. When I receive a tripod from an online order, the first thing I check is that all the legs are articulated and extend smoothly. . There have been times when I've bought a tripod only to find that one of its parts was broken, so I had to exchange it or return it. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases again. In this particular order, I was able to move my legs to a certain extent with ease, but when I straightened my legs and locked them with the leg locks, one of the plastic mechanisms immediately broke off and cracked! I literally just opened it and it's broken! So I'm writing this review at my desk, unhappy and a little frustrated as I needed it for a project this week. The leg locking mechanisms on this Manfrotto model appear to be made out of mediocre plastic compared to other high quality products. . I am the proud owner of several Manfrotto products such as Manfrotto 055XPROB Tripod, Manfrotto 055XPROB Pro Tripod Legs (Black) and Manfrotto 562B0-1 Fluid Monopod, Manfrotto 562B-1 Fluid Video Monopod with Plate and I fully support these products all. They are great quality and I haven't had any issues with them since I bought them a few years ago. have problems when it needs to be repaired. You have been warned! If you bought this 290 series tripod, test it out and check the leg locking/unlocking mechanisms. I will be returning mine for a refund tomorrow and will likely spend a bit more to get a higher priced Manfrotto model. I hope this review was helpful! If you have any questions, let me know in the Revain comments and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Pros
  • Aluminum adjustable leg locks
Cons
  • Hard to tell