Manfrotto BeFree / Travel Tripod Review

The Manfrotto Befree Compact Travel Tripod is tiny and light. The carbon fiber version retails for about $350. The aluminum version is 0.6 lbs heavier, at 3 lbs and sells for $200.

Like most of the current crop of compact travel tripods, it fold back on itself. The plate adapter is specially designed with deep notches so that the legs will fold straight. But that only works if the quick release plate is not attached—not really an issue, since normally the quick release plate would be on the camera anyway.

Legs

The legs are thin. Spindly even, especially the bottom section.

Angling the legs out uses a locking system I haven’t seen before. There’s a kind of rotating latch with three possible positions: folded, normal angle, and splayed wide. Basically, whatever position its in blocks it from moving any further. It’s surprisingly simple, and it’s certainly novel, but I’m not sure I’m sold on it. I found that the catch sometimes missed, which can be a problem at times when you're focusing on other things like what's in front of you.

When extending the legs, the locks use a traditional Manfrotto lever style. They’re bulkier than most of the rotating twist locks on the Gitzos or the MeFOTO Globetrotter. On other Manfrotto tripods I’ve used with the lever locks, they can sometimes loosen over time, although it is possible to tighten the screw to adjust the tension. The levers can also snap off, in which case you can order a replacement lever. I also dislike how the levers tend to catch on things like camera straps.

There feet are fixed--you can’t remove them and replace them with spikes or some other kind of foot.

There’s no weight hook under the central column, a feature that can be used to add heft and stability to an otherwise light tripod in a breeze.

The lever locks.

The silver dials are 3-position locks for the angles of the legs.

The feet are fixed--you can't unscrew them and replace with something else.

Head

The ballhead that comes with the Manfrotto BeFree is very lightweight, and I found it a bit underwhelming. Overall, the head feels and looks a bit cheap and plasticky.

There’s a single plastic knob to lock and loosen that controls both the lateral rotation and loosening the ball. I found that getting a really secure lock for, say, using a heavy camera or making sure that it doesn’t creep during a timelapse shoot wasn’t easy. In fact, I found it almost impossible to get it to lock as tight as I’d like and am used to with other ballheads. It works well for mirrorless cameras, but is less suited to heavier DSLR's, especially when you're using them in portrait orientation with the ballhead angled to the side.

Manfrotto has several different quick release systems. The one that comes with the BeFree is the RC2 system with a 200PL plate.

From left to right, a Markins Q-Ball Q3 Traveler, MeFOTO Q2, and the ballhead for the Manfrotto BeFree.

Case

It comes with a case that fits snugly. It doesn’t have much padding and isn’t sturdy enough for me to consider checking it as luggage in a pinch. The zipper is also a bit flimsy and unlikely to stand up to regular use. Overall, the case is more of a storage case than a daily use case.

Options

The carbon fiber version comes in black with white and red racing stripes. The aluminum version comes with various trim colors (black, blue, green, grey, and red).

Wrap Up

The Manfrotto BeFree succeeds in being very lightweight and is impressively compact. For a light-weight mirrorless system like a Fujifilm X-T1 or a Panasonic Lumix GH-4 it works well. But I found it too lightweight to be useful for DSLRs. It's smaller and lighter than some others in its price range like the MeFOTO Globetrotter, but while the BeFree wins on weight and size, the Globetrotter wins on just about everything else. You can find my review of the Globetrotter here.

Specs

Model: Manfrotto MKBFRC4-BH
Made of: Carbon Fiber
Load Capacity: 8.8 lbs (4 kg)
Max Height: 56.7 inches (144 cm)
Folded Length: 15.75 inches (40 cm)
Weight (with tripod head): 2.4 lb (1.1 kg)
Includes carry case

Available From

B&H Photo | Amazon

Compared To

	Gitzo Traveler Kit (Series 2)	Gitzo GT1542T	MeFOTO Globetrotter	Manfrotto BeFree	Induro Grand Turismo CGT114	Sirui T-2205X	Benro GoTravel 2	Benro C1682TV1 Travel Angel II	3 Legged Thing Leo	3 Legged Thing Brian	3 Legged Thing Rick	3 Legged Thing Roger	Oben CT-3581	Sirui T-1024XL	Varavon Baby T3	Kirk Mini	MeFOTO Globetrotter Air
Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review	Review		Review		Review	Review	Review
Model No.	GK2580TQD	GT1542T	C2350Q2T	MKBFRC4-BH	CGT114	T-2205X	GC269TB2	C1682TV1	3LLEOKIT	E3BRIAN	3PKRICK	E3ROGERBL	CT-3581	SUT1204XL	BABY T3	TT-1	GTAIRBLK
Made of	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Alloy	Carbon fiber	Carbon fiber	Aluminum	Aluminum/Stainless Steel	Aluminum Alloy
Leg Sections	4	4	5	4	4	5	5	4 (also version with 5)	5	5	5	5	5	4	3	1	5
Folded length	16.9 in 43 cm	16.7 in 42.5 cm	16.1 in 41 cm	15.8 in 40 cm	17.3 in 44 cm	14.6 in 37 cm	16.5 in 42 cm	17.7 in 45 cm	13.75 in 34.8 cm	15.75 in 40 cm	12.6 in 32 cm	15.75 in 40 cm	16.9 in 42.9 cm	18.3 in 46.5 cm	10.8 in 27.5 cm	4.4 in 11.3 cm	16.7 in 42.5 cm
Weight	4.19 lb 1.9 kg	2.2 lb 1 kg	3.7 lb 1.7 kg	2.4 lb 1.1 kg	3.5 lb 1.6 kg	2.6 lb 1.2 kg	4.1 lb 1.9 kg	3.5 lb 1.6 kg	3.2 lb 1.45 kg	4.1 lb 1.9 kg	2.7 lb 1.2 kg	4.5 lb 2 kg	3.9 lb 1.7 kg	2.2 lb 1 kg	1.8 lb 820 g	9 oz 255 g	3.2 lb 1.4 kg
Max height	60.6 in 154 cm	58.7 in 149 cm	64.2 in 163 cm	56.7 in 144 cm	62.6 in 159 cm	56.9 in 145 cm	64.6 in 164 cm	63 in 160 cm	51.5 in 131 cm	76.4 in 194 cm	56.7 in 144 cm	68.6 in 174 cm	67.9 in 172.5 cm	63 in 160 cm	17.3 in 44 cm	4.4 in 11.3 cm	68.1 in 173 cm
Max load	15.4 lb 7 kg	17.6 lb 8 kg	26.5 lb 12 kg	8.8 lb 4 kg	32 lb 14.5 kg	26.5 lb 12 kg	30.9 lb 14 kg	30.8 lb 14 kg	< 66 lb < 30 kg	< 66 lb < 29.9 kg	< 44 lb < 20 kg	< 66 lb < 29.9 kg	26.4 lb 12 kg	26.5 lb 12 kg	17.6 lb 8 kg	100 lb 45 kg	17.6 lb 8 kg
Available w/Head?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (not removable)	No	Yes (not removable)
Monopod?	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
List Price	$1,099	$750	$399	$350	$490	$415	$525	$419	$349.99	$499	$249	$369	$349	$370	$150	$120	$225