Bogen / Manfrotto Pro Video Kit w/351MVB2 Aluminum Tripod Legs, 501 Pro Fluid Head, 75mm Half Ball, Spreader, Shoes & MBAG90P Padded Case

The padded case is very high quality and has protected the tripod well. I have another tripod that has had the shoulder straps break off, not with the case that came with this tripod.

The tripod itself is very sturdy and is of a decent height. There were some situations where it felt a little too short, but I do not think that the 351mvb2 legs were meant for height.

This tripod is definitely not a lightweight. For those who need to pick up and run with the tripod, then be sure that you can handle it. My finacee was used to the cheaper sunpak-type tripods and could not handle the weight. If you are more stationary (theatre events or use a different stabalization system for on the run) then this tripod works great.

I used this over and over again during a four month television shoot using the Panasonic HVX200 and while it was sturdy and very smooth, one of the aluminum joints easily snapped and would not respond to several bonding glues or cements. Replacement parts would take six to eight weeks from Manfrotto.

The level bubble is a nice touch, although not always accurate when looking through the lens or at a monitor.

Would have preferred a floor spreader, as this mid-level one is a bit useless and testy.

Overall, if you plan on using this in one place and are willing to keep it safe from travel and other hazards then, along with the great case, it's a nice value. Just be wary - it is some what fragile. But being mostly aluminum makes this a great lightweight mobile unit.

This is a great value for money tripod for the prosumer end of the video market, with the excellent 501HDV head providing smooth shots and the trustworthy 351MVB2 providing adequate support. The mid-level spreader does not offer much rigidity, I would suggest replacing with a floor spreader when working on flat surfaces.

The most important thing is getting the right tool for the job. If you've got a camera thats less that 6 kilos and are looking to get some super smooth tracking and panning shots for your film/documentary in a variety of conditions then this tripod system is for you.

As mentioned in other reviews a really pleasant surprise is the quality of the padding case which stores the tripod. The whole case is generous padding with dual extra large zips for getting the tripod in and out without any fuss.

The first thing you notice when you open the case and take out the tripod is the great feeling of quality. The tripod has a real solid feeling to it, with nothing feeling like it could easily break. The tripod head was also bigger than expected with the handle grip feeling great in the hand.

In this case the camera being loading onto the tripod is a Canon XL1, and I am happy to report the tripod handles it brilliantly. Panning and tilting smoothness was at a level unachievable by other tripods. All the jerkiness that usually came with quickly moving the camera around was gone. The horizontal and vertical friction control is great and allows you a new level of control as opposed to just being able to lock off the unit. The favorite feature, and certainly a requirement for our team, was the bowl head setup with leveling bubble. This great feature allows you to have the camera perfectly level on uneven ground.

All in all this is a great tripod system thats gives you brilliant results at a reasonable price. If your camera is less than 6 kilos then this quite possibly is the tripod for you. If your camera is bigger I'd recommend getting a larger head that can handle heaver loads.

This will be my second 501 fluid head with bogen/manfrotto sticks. This tripod system is great for various productions of any budget(if any). Its a stage one system, great for your lower end professional DV/HDV video as well as Digital Cameras. This is my back up tripod kit and to tell you the truth for its price range it doesn't get much better than this. It's extremely versitile, also it provides great pans/tilts if used correctly. I would reccomend this to any veteran/amature film maker. Its weight is about 20lbs so some would say its not to portable- but what are you going to do carry the tripod as you shoot. It is an A+ system.