Today I wanted to give you my first impression of the Manfrotto Befree live video kit. It’s Manfrotto’s latest compact video kit designed specifically for videographers on the go. Manfrotto’s goal was to satisfy an increased demand for a sturdy yes lightweight tripod that is easy to carry and can be used with DSLRs and other compact camera systems.
The Befree Live tripod is really small and although it comes with it’s own carrying case, it can easily fit into your carry-on luggage or backpack.
This is mostly due to the unique folding mechanism Manfrotto used for the legs. As you can see, the legs can pivot 180 degrees and fold perfectly around the tripod head, even with the sliding plate attached.
The tripod and fluid head together weiguh less than 4lbs and when closed are less than 16” long.
Now Manfrotto claims that the BeFree Live’s small size doesn’t compromise on sturdiness and image quality. They guarantee very smooth movements as the results of this new fluid head which features a fluid drag system for both pan and tilt. The max payload for the BeFree Live is right under 9 lbs and Manfrotto says that the sliding quick-release plate should allow you to balance even longer-zoom lenses.
One of my favorite features is the leveling mechanism Manfrotto designed for this tripod. All you have to do is unlock it by rotating the leveling system, level the camera with the leveling bubble as your guide, then twist to lock in place.
The video fluid head can rotate 360 degree and has a front tile range of -90 to +70 degrees
Another cool feature is the flip-lock leg-angle selectors which let you quickly change between locking positions at 25 and 51 degrees. Minimum height for the BeFree live is just under 17” and with the 4-leg sections fully extended and the center column in its heights position you can reach a maximum height of almost 5 feet.
I’ve been looking for a good portable video tri-pod to take with me on shoots both as a primary tripod when on the go and as a secondary tripod for multi-camera shoots. I can’t wait to test the manfrotto BeFree Live video kit and I will post a follow-up video with a more detailed review.
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