Home > Consumer Reviews > Manfrotto 728B Digi Compact Tripod with Integrated 3-Way Head and Carrying Bag (Black)

I needed a reasonably decent tripod for a Canon EOS 30D with a 70-300mm zoom tele lens, but I didn't want to break the bank. I decided on this one after reading the other reviews. I am quite pleased with this item. The head operates smoothly and locks down solidly. I often use it extended to near max height. It is very stable despite that extension. This is a very good tripod for the money. I have no reservations about recommending it to others.

This is a compact and stable tripod for the compact dslr user. I have used this tripod with my 70-300mm IS lens on my Canon XTI and am more then happy with it. Yes there are more professsional tripods from this company that offer more stability, but at a cost of increased weight. I use this tripod for outdoor work and when carrying my complete kit, weight is an issue, so this is a great tripod for me and the use I intended for it.

I was pleasantly surprised by the stability, finish and ease of operation this tripod provides for my camcorder. Make no mistake, this is not really a tripod designed for camcorders. The head does not pan quite as smoothly as a true fluid head, but unless you need to move your camcorder around a lot, it should be no problem. For keeping the image steady, even on a breezy day, it is great.

For SLRs and DSLRs, even with some fairly long lenses, this would be an excellent. choice.

It weighs about 4 pounds and comes with its own carry-bag.

One thing...if you are going to use it with more that one camera, get extra quick-release plates. It will make things a lot easier.

I debated over this Manfrotto tripod and the 785SHB. The 785, while much lighter and incredibly compact, felt really flimsy and didn't seem very stable. I might still purchase it for hiking and whatnot. But for everyday tripod use, the 728 has been a godsend. It feels very well made, is light enough, is easy to use, and feels quite stable. The quick release head mount is very useful. Saves a lot of time being able to just latch and unlatch my Canon 40d. The plate mount is small enough that it doesn't compromise the overall size and still fits in my camera bag with it on.

This tripod exceeded my high expectations. It is rated by Manfrotto for small point-and-shoots but it is so sturdy and well-made it works fine with my Nikon D40 with zoom attached.