Manfrotto’s new “Fast” series tripods are optimised for setup speed
Sep 23, 2019
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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At IBC 2019, we stopped by the Manfrotto stand to check out their new “Fast” series video tripods. There are two products in the new line. There’s the 635 Fast Single Leg and the 645 Fast Twin Leg. The latter looks more like your traditional video tripod, while the Fast Single resembles a photo tripod, but with a bowl head at the top for a video head. Both offer setup speed and low weight for their size as their big advantages.
Both tripods are designed for video shooters, having bowl heads at the top. The 635 Fast Single bowl has a 75mm diameter, while the 645 Twin Leg tripods have bowls with a 100mm diameter, although a 100mm to 75mm bowl adapter plate is provided. The Manfrotto 635 Fast Single is available only as a carbon fibre tripod. The Manfrotto 645 Fast Twin is available in both aluminium and carbon fibre flavours depending on your needs.
But here’s a full spec comparison of the three.
| Manfrotto 635 Fast Single | Manfrotto 645 Fast Twin (Aluminium) | Manfrotto 645 Fast Twin (Carbon Fibre) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Carbon Fibre | Aluminium | Carbon Fibre |
| Ball socket | 75mm | 100mm (75mm adapter) | 100mm (75mm adapter) |
| Max Payload | 20kg | 25kg | 20kg |
| Closed length | 73.5cm | 73cm | 73cm |
| Max height | 155cm | 157cm | 157cm |
| Min height | 28.5cm | 27cm | 27cm |
| Spreader | Optional, variable arm length | Included, variable arm length | Included, variable arm length |
| Leg Type | Single | Twin | Twin |
| Leg Angles | 23°, 50°, 70° | 20°, 50°, 70° | 20°, 50°, 70° |
| Leg Lock | Twist Lock | Flip Lock | Flip Lock |
| Leg Sections | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Weight | 3.5kg | 3.9kg | 3.6kg |
All three tripods are available either as a standalone set of sticks, into which you can install your own head, or in kits with a Manfrotto Nitrotech head – either the Nitrotech 608 or Nitrotech 612. The 645 Fast Twin tripods come supplied with a spreader with variable arm length so you can either use it partway up the legs or at the base.
The 635 Fast Single does not come supplied with a spreader, although it has attachments for one, and you can buy it as an optional extra. But, even without the spreader, both models feature leg angle locks which, while common to photo tripods, is something relatively rare on a video tripod. And even without the spreader, the 635 seemed to hold extremely well under load during my brief time with it at IBC.
Prices are not published on the web yet, nor has an exact release date. Manfrotto tends to stagger the release dates of their new kit in different parts of the world, so they may be available very soon where you are, or you might have to wait a couple of months.
We’ll keep you updated when we know more, and we’ll have a review of the 635 Fast Single coming to you soon!
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DIYP’s coverage of IBC2019 is sponsored by Syrp, Manfrotto, Zhiyun, and Spiffy Gear.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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