Manfrotto 190XPRO3 Tripod Review – Lightweight Upgrade for Landscape Photography

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(Pictured above left, mounted below my Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head, above right.)

While not essential for creating distant panoramic images, the Manfrotto 300N certainly makes the process far easier, and more precise, than hand-holding your camera or relying on a standard tripod head. It’s a tool that quickly proves its worth through consistent results and ease of use. 

The build quality is excellent. In fact, it looks and feels like it should cost significantly more than it does. Weighing around 1.3 lbs (roughly 590g), the 300N features 10 click-stop positions. These correspond to various degrees of rotation, adjustable via a simple screw system. The number of degrees per stop is determined by your chosen lens focal length and the type of panorama you’re aiming to create—whether it’s a sweeping landscape or a tighter stitched frame.

A nice design touch: the click-stop selector screw is tethered by a cable to prevent accidental loss. There’s also a handy lever that lets you rotate the upper part of the unit independently, which makes recomposing shots easier when the stop is locked in.

Despite its somewhat technical appearance, the 300N is actually straightforward and intuitive to use. It can be mounted directly to a camera or attached via a Manfrotto plate adaptor using the 3/8″ screw thread. It’s flexible enough to integrate seamlessly into your current setup.

Personally, I pair the 300N with the Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head, mounted atop a 190XPRO3 tripod. The combination is solid, precise, and ideal for both horizontal and vertical panoramic shooting.

Sample Image:
Below is a panoramic photo captured using the 300N unit—a 10-shot stitch of the Forth Railway Bridge from South Queensferry. I used a Canon 5D Mark III with the Canon 70-200mm f/4.0 L lens at 131mm in portrait orientation. The preview is 2000 × 664 pixels, but the original image clocks in at a massive 19,760 × 6,565 pixels—an incredible 129.7 megapixels.