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DIYP reviews the Manfrotto Befree Live Twist travel tripod – A great travel companion for video

I’m going to save you all a lot of time and tell you from the start that I really like the Manfrotto Befree Live Twist (BLT – Yes, I’m calling it the BLT) video tripod. If you’ve been on the fence about buying one and wondering whether or not it’s decent… Well, for the most part, I think it is.

In many ways, the BLT a lot like its predecessor, the regular flip lock version of Befree Live. But it has received a couple of significant changes. The flip locks have gone in favour of twist locks (hence the new name), and the adjusters at the top of each leg have had a much-needed redesign. But let’s take a look at how it handles overall.

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Manfrotto beefs up its travel range with 4 new tripods and 2 ball heads

It’s the time of year, at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere where the days are long, and we’re starting to get that travel bug. The sun’s well and truly back, and we want to get out exploring with our cameras. To do this, especially if we want to shoot any long exposures or video, we often need a tripod. But they can be big, heavy, cumbersome things.

Well, Manfrotto’s got your back, with four new tripods, three of which are carbon fibre. There’s a new Befree Advanced CF, a Befree Live Twist CF, and two new Befree GT tripods – one aluminium, one carbon fibre. And there are two new ball heads to go with them.

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DIYP Reviews the Manfrotto Element Carbon – Small but mighty

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The Manfrotto Element series of aluminum travel tripods have become quite popular since their initial release.  Now they’ve updated the line with the new Element Carbon. I’ve had one for the last few weeks, so here are some of my thoughts.

I’m not typically one to go for small tripods. Well, with the exception of the Manfrotto Pixi, those things are awesome. But sometimes I need my camera a little higher up. On location, when I need it to clear ground clutter or foliage, the little Pixi just doesn’t always cut it.

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2017 DIYP Gift Guide – Accessories

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Accessories are the unsung heroes of photography. They’re the items we own, that aid in our photography, but of which we rarely speak. They help get us out of a bind, or become invaluable to our workflow.

Here are some of our favourite accessories that we use on pretty much every shoot.

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First look at Manfrotto Nitrotech N12 video head

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Manfrotto recently released two new video heads, the Nitrotech N8, and the Nitrotech N12. Those are high-load video heads which support 0-8kg and 4-12kg respectively.

What is interesting about those heads is their counterbalance mechanism. Unlike lower-end heads, these heads have a nitrogen gas piston for counterbalance. We looked at the Nitrotech N8 and it supports quite a load (up to 8kg). The head provides continuous counterbalance power. This means that when you let go of the handle, the head keeps its position as if it was locked in place.

There are two models in the Nitrotech  family:

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Manfrotto launches new Element Carbon tripods – A photographer’s best travel companion?

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Manfrotto have just launched a new range of entry level carbon fibre tripods aimed at enthusiast travel photographers. The new Element Carbon range currently features two tripods, Big and Small, which pack up pretty small for easy packing. The Small model handles loads up to 4KG (8.8lbs) while the Big can take a whopping 8KG (17.6lbs).

Each of the carbon fibre legs locks into three positions, and features twist locks to adjust the length. The larger of the two also has a detachable leg, which connects directly to the centre column to create a full size monopod. The ball head also features the popular Arca-style quick release plate rather than the proprietary Manfrotto plate.

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Manfrotto and Sony team up to make accessories for Sony Alpha cameras

After buying Joby and Lowepro, Manfrotto’s owner Vitec Photographic has announced its collaboration with Sony. The two companies will work together with the goal to develop a new line of tripods, plates and heads for Sony Alpha cameras, and the expected launch is in 2018.

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Manfrotto just bought out JOBY and Lowepro to expand into vlogging markets

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It looks like vlogging has turned from being the strange pastime of a select few “self-absorbed” individuals into a more mainstream pursuit. When companies like Vitec, owner of Manfrotto, start taking an interest in the genre, you know it has probably become a big deal.

Vitec today announced that they have acquired two of the companies most associated with vlogging equipment. JOBY, makers of the GorillaPod, and Lowepro, probably the most popular brand of camera bag out there amongst vloggers.

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This Is How Your Tripod Was Made

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Tripods are, quite literally, a solid foundation upon which you can create your photography, but have you ever wondered how they’re made?  Assuming you’re not using a fancy carbon fiber tripod, it was probably something like this.

In this video, the Science Channel takes us through the workflow of the Manfrotto assembly line to demonstrate the construction of their 190 Series tripods.

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