For generations of photographers, Manfrotto would have been the first name that sprang to mind when buying a sturdy, reliable tripod. But times have changed, and there’s now plenty of serious competition from the likes of Benro, Peak Design, and Vanguard. So the firm has come up with an innovative new design that’s aimed at serious photographers and videographers – the Manfrotto ONE.

　　Manfrotto ONE Photo at a glance: $330 / £269 legs only $515 / £399 with XPRO head (either 3-Way or Ball) 3 section aluminium legs 3.1kg weight 164cm max height 10cm min height 65.5cm folded length 12kg rated load manfrotto.com Manfrotto initially released this tripod design as a ‘hybrid’ model, with carbon-fibre legs, a levelling centre column, and its clever XCHANGE system for quickly changing tripod heads. Bt now its produced a simplified, cheaper option aimed at photographers, aptly called the Manfrotto ONE Photo.

　　Manfrotto is offering the One Photo in three versions. You can buy the legs only for $330 / £269 and add your own head. Alternatively, you can add get it bundled with either the XPRO Ball Head or the XPRO 3-Way Head. Both of these kits cost $515 / £399.

　　Even at a cursory glance, you can see that this is a unique design. The big idea is how the three-section aluminium legs are adjusted for length. Each has a single large locking lever, and the legs extend freely under their own length when it’s released. This means that, in theory, you can hold the tripod where you want it, drop the legs, and then lock them in place.

　　In principle, this should dramatically speed up deployment, and promises to be particularly useful on uneven surfaces.

　　Elsewhere, though, things look more conventional. Each leg can be set to three different angles via a sliding switch on the side. They also have chunky rubber feet that can be pulled off to reveal spikes; however, I found this requires an excessive amount of force.

　　The centre column employs Manfrotto’s clever Q90 design. This allows it to be quickly set horizontally for overhead or ground-level shooting. You just pull the column right up through the spider and then flip it through 90 degrees its dead easy.

　　Unfortunately, though, the knob that’s used to lock the centre columns height isn’t captive, meaning it could potentially fall out and get lost. One great thing with Manfrotto is that it’s easy to get replacement parts, but that’s scant consolation when you’re trying to lock down the camera to shoot a sunrise, and a key part is missing.  

　　Manfrotto ONE Photo key features: Head attachment: Heads are fitted via a standard 3/8in screw, in contrast to the hybrid model which uses Manfrotto’s Xchange quick release Bubble Level: A large bubble level positioned directly under the head can be rotated to the most convenient position Easy Link Connector: Accessories such as lights can be attached via a 3/8in connector, complete with an anti-twist design Weight Hook: You can hang your camera bag from the tripod to give even greater stability In use In practical use, the defining factor of the ONE is its sheer size. It’s really tall (over 170cm with a head), which means it should easily lift a camera to eye level for most photographers. It’s also really sturdy, and I found it can it can happily support a sizeable load such as a full-frame camera with a telephoto zoom lens.

　　Unsurprisingly, though, the flip side is that the tripod is extremely large and heavy.  It weighs 3.1kg on its own, 3.7kg with the XPRO ball head, and 4.1kg with the XPRO 3-way head. You’re also looking at folded length of more than 75cm with a head attached.

　　I certainly wouldn’t want to carry it very far, especially as Manfrotto hasn’t provided any sensible means of doing so, either a shoulder bag or a carry strap. I tried carrying it both in my hand and attached to a backpack, and its hard work and awkward either way.

　　This all results in a curious contradiction. At first sight the Manfrotto ONE design looks great for landscape work, as it promises to be quick to set up on uneven ground. But I doubt many landscape photographers would contemplate carrying it around, when much lighter, but still very sturdy alternatives are available.

　　Our Verdict There’s no doubt that the Manfrotto ONE Photo is a clever feat of engineering that provides solid support for your camera, no matter how hefty your kit might be. However, while I’m sure the ONE is a great video tool, I struggle to see why most photographers would choose it, or at least beyond a studio setting. Ultimately, its sheer size and weight seriously limit its usefulness to situations where you don’t have to move it very far.

　　Related reading:

　　Best tripods for your camera in 2026 – 15 top tripods for different settings Peak Design Pro Tripod review – bigger and better in every way Manfrotto Befree Advanced AS Twist Carbon Fibre Tripod review Do you want to win some great prizes for your photography? Enter your photos in our International Amateur Photographer of the Year competition. Free entry for photographers aged 13-21.

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　　Manfrotto ONE Photo legs only:

　　Manfrotto ONE Photo with XPRO ball head

　　Manfrotto ONE Photo with XPRO 3-way head