Manfrotto One kit review

What is the Manfrotto One kit and who is it for?

Manfrotto tripods have been the backbone of photo kits for decades, renowned for reliability, durability and value. But with the rise of hybrid creators who need to switch between stills and motion, the company has gone back to the drawing board. The result is the One – a tripod that redefines all-in-one support.

The One is purpose-built for photographers and videographers that want stability for long-exposure stills, fluid motion for cinematic video and to be able to immediately switch from horizontal to vertical camera orientation for portrait-format stills or social media video.

What are the key features of the Manfrotto One kit?

Handling

At first touch, the One feels reassuringly robust, with clean lines and slick engineering. The leg locks are the only area that feel a little plasticky when new, but they loosen up quickly after use. Once extended, the tripod feels rock solid, with no movement even under heavy loads.

Xtend and Xchange

Two clever new technologies sit at the core of the design: Xtend and Xchange. Xtend allows all three leg sections to deploy at once via a single top-mounted lever per leg. So, no more crouching to unlock each section. It is faster and more ergonomic, a small but significant time-saver when setting up in changing light.

Stills and video adapitility

The Xchange system introduces a universal quick-release platform that lets you swap tripod heads, sliders or stabilisers in seconds with no tools required. For stills photographers who occasionally shoot video, or vice versa, this modular approach makes it easier than ever to adapt your rig on the fly.

Most video-style tripods don’t have a centre column, but the One does – and it’s good too. It functions conventionally for height adjustments, but a button at the base lets it slide horizontally for overhead or macro work – that’s useful for food, product flatlays or copy photography. It can be removed entirely for ultra-low shooting angles, taking the minimum working height down to just 19cm, while the maximum extends to 170.5cm.

Leg build

The legs, which Manfrotto calls ‘non-round’, have a slightly flattened profile that improves shoulder comfort when carrying and boosts torsional rigidity during pans or when using heavy glass. Standard rubber feet hide retractable spikes for outdoor work, and there’s an Easy Link mount for attaching accessories.

Head construction

With the new 500X fluid head, the One becomes a truly hybrid platform. The head can support cameras up to 2.4kg, making it ideal for mirrorless systems. The standout feature is its hinged camera plate, which enables instant switching between landscape and portrait orientations. Its a godsend for content creators who juggle stills, video and social formats.

Fluid Drag System and levelling

The Fluid Drag System ensures smooth, controlled pans and tilts, while a selectable counterbalance helps when using larger lenses. The standard 501PL plate and integrated bubble level add familiar reliability for existing Manfrotto users. Levelling is also very quick and a must for video shooters. Just lift a side lever, adjust the head while gauging everything via the spirit level and lock it down. 

Conclusion

Together, these clever innovations make the One feel like a genuine leap forward. Where most tripods force you to compromise – choosing between stills precision and video smoothness – the Manfrotto One embraces both. It’s fast to deploy, impressively stable and versatile enough for everything from macro and landscape work to hybrid interviews or social content.

Manfrotto One kit price and availability

Available in carbon fibre or aluminium, the One can be bundled with Manfrotto’s new 500X fluid head. The aluminium kit we tested, which includes the head, costs £519. At just 400g heavier than the £669 carbon One, it’s arguably the sweet spot of the range.

For more information, visit the Manfrotto website.