Manfrotto has announced three new models in its premium traveller tripod range -the Befree Advanced Carbon, Befree Live Carbon & the super-high-end Befree GT. Read on for more info on these new models for outdoor photographers

New product highlights:

• Befree Advanced Carbon, essentially the Befree Live Carbon furnished with a new set of carbon fibre legs for a dramatic boost in stability and lightness
• Befree GT [available in both aluminium and carbon fibre], this new version has been designed specifically for pros

Along with the of extended tripod range, there’s a new Ball Head [496] too: portable yet robust and natural in its usage, it promises sleek and exact movement with heavier equipment.

The whole Befree Advanced range is completely engineered, designed and manufactured in Italy A specially designed Befree backpack completes the range, exactly coupling with the tripod range.

The new carbon version of the Befree Advanced has been designed for photography on the move. The Befree Advanced Carbon [RRP £319.95] highlights the new Advanced 494 aluminium Centre Ball Head and carbon fibre legs that promise top performance, stability and sturdiness. It weighs just 1.25kg, too, so it shouldn’t cause too many issues for those shooting out and about for long periods.

The new Befree GT travel tripod is available in aluminium [RRP £239.95] and carbon [RRP £399.95], the new design, which has been inherited from the Befree Advanced tripod, promises users smooth function in a larger sized tripod. It folds to just 43cm and can take a payload of up to 10kg.

The Befree Advanced Carbon and the Befree GT both highlight the M-lock, a new twist lock system that’s been produced by Manfrotto to enhance compactness and speed of use. These new models mount a unique plate, the 200PL-PRO, which makes them compatible with the Manfrotto RC2 and Arca-swiss style.

The Befree Live Carbon completes the newly bolstered range [RRP £349.95]. A lightweight, travel tripod for videographers, built to record amazing video footage using DSLRs, compact system cameras or small camcorders.

This model’s small size and minimal weight [it weighs just 1.38kg] is coupled with the same brand new tripod legs as the photographic Befree advanced carbon, adding the feature of the levelling column, which allows for a quick horizon set up. This model features the Befree Live Fluid Head, which has a fluid drag system on pan and tilt and keeps the camera perfectly balanced thanks to its sliding video plate. Easy to use and set up, the Befree Live Fluid Head has two intuitive on/off knobs that lock and unlock the head’s pan and tilt movements separately.

Together with the new tripods, Manfrotto has announced a new backpack for travelling photographers and videographers, reinforcing and completing the Advanced camera bag series.

The Advanced Befree Backpack [RRP £119.95] will happily stow photography kit, tripod and
personal items. When additional capacity is needed, the expandable padded side pocket gives further room for a travel tripod [like the latest Befree Advanced or Befree GT model].