Product Description

The 728B has a built-in smooth-moving 3 way head in cast aluminum suitable for use with small video cameras as well as with photographic equipment. The head has separate pan and tilt locks, a quick release camera plate and with a short pan/tilt bar for more ergonomic use, particularly while panning or tracking moving subjects. The leg pivot system uses a unique single hinge design in aluminum, which both keeps the cross section smaller and allows the leg to fold shorter than conventional tripods. The tripod is built with "D" profile tubular legs for extra torsional rigidity and quick flip leg locks for ease and speed of set-up. A quick action lever also blocks the reversible center column extension.

Product Details

• Brand: Manfrotto
• Model: 728B
• Released on: 2006-04-14
• Dimensions: 4.00" h x 4.00" w x 27.00" l, 6.00 pounds

Features

• Suited for compact, 35mm SLRs, or the new generation of lightweight camcorders
• Constructed of sturdy multifaceted tubular aluminum, 4-section tripod provides a stable platform for steady shots
• Quick flip lever leg locks for fast setup and breakdown, center column is reversible for low-angle shots
• Pan and tilt movements are extremely smooth to allow for clean video pans and tilts
• 64.8-inch maximum height, 7.7-pound maximum load

Manufacturer Description
Ideally suited for compact, 35mm SLR's, or the new generation of lightweight camcorders, the Bogen-Manfrotto 728B is a 4-section tripod that provides a stable platform for rock steady shots. Lightweight and compact, the legs are constructed of sturdy multifaceted tubular aluminum that features quick flip lever leg locks for fast set-up and breakdown. The shoulder of the tripod is made of cast aluminum to increase rigidity, and it incorporates a unique single hinge design which allows for a more compact leg section when folded. The center column is also reversible for low-angle shots, and the integrated 3-way head is also made of cast aluminum and features a quick release plate. Pan and tilt movements are extremely smooth to allow for clean video pans and tilts, and a rucksack-style bag (MBAGD) is also included.

Features include:

• Leg sections use three-faceted tubing for greater anti-torsional resistance Part of the Digi series of lightweight, compact supports for small digital point-and-shoot cameras Three-way head for use with both photo and video cameras. Separate locks on all three movements (pan, front tilt, side tilt) ensure full control over framing and movement.
• Anti-rotation tubing and leg collars make for a tripod that's easier and faster to open, position and close. Manfrotto uses several different types of anti-rotation system -- on Magfiber and Digi series tripods, the elliptical or three-faceted shape of the concentric tubes means they cannot rotate, while on round-tubed tripods small protrusions down the length of the tube keep sections perfectly aligned.
• Materials, design and construction techniques have been carefully selected to help save weight without sacrificing stability or strength.
• Tripod with built-in head -- unlike most Manfrotto models, this tripod is pre-fitted with an unremovable head. This ensures compatibility and keeps weight and size to a minimum, but means the head cannot be interchanged in the future.
• The rubber feet on DIGI series tripods are angled for a larger, more stable point of contact with the ground.
• The DIGI design uses a single-sided pivot between the tripod leg and the shoulder casting to keep the tripod's cross section even more compact and to reduce overall weight.
• The compact, rectangular 200PL quick release plate system fits neatly under small-bodied still cameras up to SLR (even with tele lenses) or small medium format, or under small video cameras or spotting scopes. Its rubber pad gives a good grip without damaging the camera, and its angled sides ensure that it also fits perfectly and tightly into a wide range of Manfrotto heads.
• The features of this product make it ideal for both photographic and video applications.
• With a separate lock on each axis of movement, this head can be precisely adjusted, and panning/tracking can be achieved on any axis.
• Three separate axes of movement -- panoramic rotation, front-back tilt and side tilt.

What's in the Box:
Tripod, rucksack-style bag.

Customer Reviews

The head is barely useable.
This is a very good tripod for the money. The only problem is the 3-way head. It has too much slack. Once you angle the camera in the direction you want, tighten the handle, it will settle a few degrees more down or to the side. It also does not have a mark for the horizontal position, so it's hard to align the camera to the horizontal plane. It will lean a few degrees to the left. Even the cheapest plastic tripods I've seen have a sturdier head.

A good entry level tripod
This was the first tripod since I started shooting seriously.

1. The weight is light, and the construction of the leg part is excellent. Considering the leg part only, it is very stable, easy to manipulate, including the fold and unfold - extension of the legs.

2. It is very tall - I am 6' 2" and I did not feel much uncomfort with that.

3. The head part is a bit fishy - compared to the leg part. There is a few problems I met with the head since 2004. First, it is takes some effort to point the lens to designated target. When I was shooting moon - given a 300mm lens on a 1.6x DSLR in New York, it takes great effort to point the focusing point to the moon. Second, the quick release board is not quite stable - in some degree it kills the stable legs.

Given the price of the tripod - it is a reasonable starting tripod for folks shoot seriously. Even in day time, shooting scenically, a tripod will offer you much sharper image than handhold with shutter speed slower than 1/200s.

I used it for more than two years now and I upgraded to a Bogen 3021BPro and a Benro ball head (a A-S compatible ball head made by a China manufacture, got on ebay), they works noticebly better but cost me $330.

Great tripod for vloggers on the go!
This is a great tripod for vloggers and citizen journalists. I'm a video editor in Tucson, AZ, and in my free time I like to take my consumer-level video camcorder (1 CCD, a Canon Optura 30) out to capture scenery, public events, live music, and other things for use on a video blog I infrequently produce. I therefore needed a tripod that was simultaneously durable, lightweight, and provided relatively smooth tracking motions (panning, tilting, etc.), and didn't cost an arm and a leg to buy.. I looked around for something that met this criteria and landed on the 728B.

I also travel quite a bit via bicycle, and the 728B fits nicely into my backpack during commute. It's made of hard plastic with sturdy pop-lock mechanisms on the legs and twist locks on the head. The plate is made of metal and is small enough to stay attached to the bottom of my camcorder without causing much issue. My only criticism is that the head is not removable, thus making it impossible to buy a separate, higher-end ball head in the future. Theoretically this forces someone into purchasing a whole new tripod when the time comes to upgrade. A shrewd economic decision that may benefit the company that manufactures these tripods, but is woefully inconvenient for working-class media folks like myself.

It is likely that most people will use this tripod for capturing still imagery with a digital camera. Though I can't speak to those individuals directly I can say that this is an excellent tool for amateur videographers, vloggers, or folks just wanting a stable tripod for capturing the impending internet video revolution!... or junior's soccer match. Whichever comes first.

Simple and sweet. 4 stars.