Manfrotto MKC3-P02 Compact Photo Kit - Grey

I bought this tripod as a lightweight alternative to my excellent day-to-day tripod Heavy Duty Professional Aluminium Camera Tripod with Pro Ball Head (which is a good price at the moment).

I wasn't after anything too fancy, just something to enable me to take longer exposures of the Northern Lights in Finland next year, as I regretted not taking a tripod this year due to luggage weight limitations.

It certainly is light (1kg) but isn't at all flimsy. It's rated weight limit is 1.5kg, but I've used my D7000/Sigma 150-500 without any problems, and together they weigh in at 2.6kg. You still get a bit of "drop" when using such a long lens (there's a bit of play in the quick release plate, so once set in position and you take pressure off the camera, the slack is taken up and the lens drops a tad). I've had this with more expensive tripods though, so not a fault with this one as such.

Fully extended it's at a comfortable height for me to use (I'm 6') and feels quite sturdy. Yes, the legs flex a tad when you try to move it all around, but when holding the camera it's hard to get it to budge unless you're really trying! Leg adjustment is uncomplicated and easy to operate. Packaged up it really is quite compact too.

The ball joint head didn't have and grease on it, but seems to be smooth and locks without any creeping.

There are a few reasons this didn't get the full 5 stars; Firstly it didn't come with a bag (not essential but what's the use of a lightweight tripod if you still have to carry it in your hand all the time?). It would have been nice to have a spare quick-release plate as well, and maybe one that didn't need a coin to tighten it up. Lastly, the legs fan out to the position shown, but no further, and don't lock into place. Not a problem as such, but it would be limiting if you didn't already own another tripod, or wanted to us it for macro photography, for example.

If you're after a tripod for a small camera then there shouldn't be any problems, and I'd fully recommend it.

For my purposes (a lightweigh, cheap and effective tripod that may well get knocked about a bit in a ski-bag, and that can take a heafty SLR) it's perfect. As a day-to-day tripod, maybe not so, but it's close.

EDIT: The weight limit I suspect is more to do with the weight the quick-release mechanism can take when held on its side. A heavy camera/lens combination would possible fall off if you tried to carry it over your shoulder. I found out before this happened, just by accudentally tugging the camera off the mount. Something to keep in mind - pick up by the camera, not the tripod!!

I've had this tripod for a few months now. I shoot with a Canon 60D with up to a 75-250mm lens and the Manfrotto can take the weight no problem. Its also extremely light and folds down to a nice compact size to fit easily into a cabin bag size case. And the price is attractive. But thats where the positives end I'm afraid.
The legs are quite spindly and she fully extended feels like your camera is on stilts. The stability does suffer as a result - the light weight and spindly legs are a recipe for camera shake with a slight gust of wind or small touch. The centre column doesn't have a hook so you can't weigh it down. The ball head is ok but you can't pan with it while staying absolutely level, so if you take panoramas by stitching shots together this is a real pain. I recently went on a shoot around London at night, so hopping on and off the tube with the tripod attached to the outside of my camera bag, and by the time I got back to my hotel I found one of the rubber feet had fallen off. This has been a nightmare to try and replace coz I can't get the right type anywhere. So I'm having to make do with a rubber foot meant for a chair, which is not an ideal fit and looks totally out of place.
I must admit though that I can't really fault the workmanship particularly. When i first bought it the look and feel is what I expected from Manfrotto, but in use I think in trying to be as light and compact as possible the performance suffers. If you are an occasional shooter who doesn't want to spend more than £75 AND wants something as light and compact as possible then this may be for you. But if you want a tripod which will do the job and last you as long as you expect then I will reiterate the advice I've read on countless photography websites and in magazines - "don't try and be stingy when it comes to getting a quality tripod, because a good one will outlast your camera and end up being one of your best investments in terms of photographic equipment".
I ignored this and am now regretting it! Enough said...

Longer when compact than I expected but still smaller than what I had. When fully extended it is taller than my previous tripod yet lighter in weight.

Fully compacted the tripod measures just under 16", 40cm; lowest working height is 18", 46cm; fully extended is just over 64", 164cm.

The clips to release the legs are easy and comfortable to use, not thumb-breakers. The ball socket head is easy to adjust. I find it very suitable for a small digital camera; there are no extending arms or pistol grips to get in the way. The small quick release plate is simple to operate. Once released, it has the 'coin slot' type of screw that can be tightened with a thumbnail or small coin to secure the plate to the camera.

On the tripod I received, the central column on to which the camera is attached was noticeably scratched on arrival. The surface finish of the tripod looks like it will soon get scuffed in use. I have found the releasing of this central column is fiddly. It needs to be wiggled and tugged to release it. I have needed to trim the excess plastic on the column's end cap to stop the end cap from snapping off during this inversion process. This snagging of the column when inverting the head from storage to working position is the worst feature of the tripod. Maybe I've been unlucky with the engineering on my tripod but to me it looks like a design fault.

Overall it seems a very nice tripod. I hope to get good use out of it. So far, I am happy with it but not delighted.