Manfrotto 393 U : Specifications and Opinions

Manfrotto 393 U

The Manfrotto 393 U is a gimbal head. The average price, when it has been added to the JuzaPhoto database, is 249 €;

19 users have given it an average vote of 8.7 out of 10.


Type	gimbal head
Max payload	20 kg
Material	Aluminium
Height	25 cm
Weight	1.60 kg
Quick release	yes
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Reviews

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

DadaEos

sent on 24 Giugno 2020

Pros: Very robust, well-crafted, ideal for large optics and a considerable weight.

Cons: Very bulky, rather basic structure turns out to look more like a large and sturdy bracket than a real head. Inefficient tightening/locking system.

Opinion: The 393 of the house Manfrotto looks like a sturdy and rather bulky bracket, with a good and satisfying mobility on the 2 axes. Even when installing heavy optics, you can maintain good maneuverability without losing fluidity in changes of direction. Great for birdwatchers and needs rapid mobility. Unfortunately, the tightening system of the azimutal axis does not allow a satisfactory locking of the optical chamber group, which slowly tends to return to the equilibrium position.

user6737

sent on 08 Maggio 2019

Pros: Stable if reversed, massive and indestructible, solid and secure quick coupling

Cons: Too much weight, very basic construction, zero ergonomics, mechanic-free on the rotating axle, relatively high cost given the product invoice

Opinion: Big head in all senses, really massive, flaw for me is not very ergonomic, the transport with optics mounted, it destroys your shoulder and hands if you carry like a suitcase. I agree with those who preceded me saying about use, you have to use it upside down especially for large optics and if balanced well you can leave everything free. The weight is the mistress and considering also the optics, reflex and tripod starts to be a ordeal bring it behind, especially for hiking and itinerant photography. I have it for 10 years now and almost more, above everything has passed, from 100-400 to 300 2.8, from 400 2.8 to 150-600 sport and now to 500 F/4, has been tested in every situation, water, earth, sand, mud, snow and since it does not possess much mechanics (indeed nothing) is Always out unharmed, has his marks... The age you start to feel, the bearings on the tilting bracket start to creak a bit, but seen how it came up to now I think I have repaid it all. Once reversed it is possible to lower the shooting point further thanks to two other threads present on the inside U (I speak for myself that I like to be at the same level of the subject) unscrew the side screws and screw on the holes higher or lower in Based on the dimensions of the optics inside the bracket, but the vertical movements are limited according to the length of the optics, a problem that does not exist for those who shoot on the ground. The quick attack is a very large bracket that lends itself very well on all types of optics, just a pity that Manfrotto has not thought of an attack of the type Arca Swiss or however the possibility of a change for this 393. Now I have years that I do not carry more with me especially for the weight and footprint I preferred another type of head to balance lower price and made better especially in the transport and weighs nothing (REDGED). I believe that there will not be a successor to this bracket, and it is a pity that Manfrotto does not realize one in carbon for the sport/naturalistic use.

Oldbab

sent on 18 Settembre 2017

Pros: Very strong, well made, suitable for heavy and bulky optics. Very voluminous but I do not consider this a defect but an intrinsic feature to the type of head (in fact Manfrotto does not call it head but bracket for telephoto).

Cons: The only flaw (design, not constructive) lies in the attack (or tightening knob, as was called in the previous review, with which I fully agree) that also regulates the azimutal movement, or pano that you say you want. After careful reflection, I think I understand that this type of attack, as well as its "factory" regulation, have been designed for the use of "digiscopes" or observation scopes, and are therefore perfect for birdwatching. With large photographic telephotos, also usable for astrophotography, this solution is too mobile and not easy to adjust and, above all, lacks a locking system. The latter is indeed a serious gap.

Opinion: The Manfrotto 393 head was, in my opinion, too snubbed in favor of the wimberley-type (gimbal) heads, much more expensive. I am very satisfied with it and would not change it with a gimbal, but I changed the adjustment system to azimut, for the reasons specified above. I do not exclude, in the future, to describe how I did, although I can anticipate the principle: I simply blocked the attack altogether (the famous knob) and added a simple revolving plate for 360-degree photos (with a movement locking!) between it and the tripod. The change is completely reversible (i.e. head 393 does not change). Manfrotto would do well, however, to study a definitive solution. NOTE: On 5/31/2020 published article on the above edit mentioned in the section "Places & Other", Articles, by Juzaphoto.

Alby85

sent on 10 Aprile 2015

Pros: robustness, price range

Cons: footprint, correction of the resistance on the horizontal axis is not just effective

Opinion: 26ograve; a comment on my review quello.rnContinuo months later and after using it a bit with 70d and Canon 500mm f / 4 Is the first set and then heavy enough .. I guess that's a head definitely doomed to pairings where heavy expresses rather his strength and his strength! If you do not have problems of weight and size I would definitely recommend it!

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