Manfrotto MT055CXPRO4 Test Results

The MT055CXPRO4 is the four leg section version of Manfrotto’s top of the line still photography tripod.  It is built more like an all purpose tripod than the modular systematic lines, but includes a number of unique features such as the horizontal center column.  As we can see below, the MT055CXPRO4 performs well for its price.  However, it is less stiff, more expensive, and heavier than its 3 section counterpart, making it less of a value proposition.

NameManfrotto MT055XPRO4
ClassAll Purpose
Yaw Stiffness609 +/- 2 Nm/rad
Yaw Damping0.365 +/- 0.037 Js/rad
Pitch Stiffness2270 +/- 9 Nm/rad
Pitch Damping0.346 +/- 0.035 Js/rad
Retail Price$380
Weight4.45 lbs (2.019 kgs)
Manufacturer weight rating19.8 lbs
Maximum Height55.2 in (140.2 cm)
Minimum Height11.5 in (29.2 cm)
Max Height with Center Column66.4 in (168.7 cm)
Center ColumnYes
Base Diameter2.3 in (5.8 cm)
Folded Length21.0 in (53.3 cm)
Folded Circumference12.0 in (30.5 cm)
Folded Volume241.0 cu. in. (3.9 liters)
Leg MaterialCarbon Fiber
Leg Sections4
Primary Leg Angle25.0 deg
Leg LocksFlip
Top Tube Diameter29.2 mm
Second Tube Diameter24.8 mm
Third Tube Diameter20.5 mm
Fourth Tube Diameter16.1 mm
Exchangeable FeetNo
Foot TypeRubber
Bottom HookNo

The stiffness and damping data are the averages of 10 trials for each measurement.  The reported error is the standard error, except in the case of the damping data. I have set the error in the damping at 10% as the standard error metric does not appropriately capture the error in fitting to the data.  All of the reported specifications are measured, with the exception of the weight rating. The tripod is measured at full height, with the center column down.

Bonus Content:

Stiffness vs Height:

 

Example data for oscillations about the yaw axis of the tripod:


The fit is not great for the first several oscillations, but this is coming right after the tripod is given the initial impulse.  It quickly settles into well behaved oscillatory behavior.

 

Example data for oscillations about the pitch axis of the tripod:

There is some strange aliasing going on with the creation of the plot image here, but the fit is quite good.