Manfrotto MTPIXI-B, PIXI Mini Tripod with Handgrip for Compact System Cameras, Black & MCPIXI Universal Smartphone Clamp, Pro Version

This mini-tripod has great looks coupled with the cachet of the Manfrotto brand - but what a let down!I already have a full size Manfrotto tripod which I'm delighted with. I therefore expected to be really pleased with its baby sibling. The mini-tripod arrived promptly and was well packaged. Looks great too but the problem came when I tried to use it.The clever design (too clever?) has a spring-loaded button release, which when pressed releases the tension on the ball head, allowing it to swivel. Then, when the button is released, the ball head remains fixed in place. The picture on the packaging shows someone's index finger pressing the button. That's the theory and so far so good.However, in prectice, the pressure required to fully depress the button required both my thumbs, one on top of the other. My index finger would've had no chance! Then, removing one thumb to free up one hand, I tried to swivel the ball head. It moved just a fraction before I applied a lot more force to move it a bit more. I thought maybe it needed a few more goes to loosen up, so I repeated the process several times until, red-faced, I gave up and handed it to my husband to try. He's far stronger than me but he also found it very difficult. Thinking I couldn't use this in real life as I certainly wouldn't want to adjust it with a camera attached, I decided it must be faulty. Well, anyone would, wouldn't they? It's Manfrotto after all! So I sent it back for a replacement.The replacement arrived but it is exactly the same! I can only conclude it's a faulty batch or, because of earlier criticisms of the head being a bit too loose, letting a camera flop over, Manfrotto altered the design to make the ball head be gripped more tightly with a stronger spring mechanism on the release button. Unfortunately it just doesn't work well enough in practice to be fit for purpose.Genuinely disappointed to return the 2nd one for a full refund.

My smartphone has an astrophotography mode I was keen to try, but it only kicks in when the phone is absolutely stationary and needs to remain still for about two minutes. I needed a tripod, and this one looked perfect.The tripod is nice and light and when folded up is about the size of a banana - 18cm long (without the smartphone clamp), and about 5cm wide. The three legs swivel out from the top - they don't extend - and it stands about 14cm tall. At the top of the tripod there is a screw fitting onto which you can attach a compact camera, and there's also a clamp for smartphones which you can either attach at the bottom, or on the back which is good for taking photos of the sky, or ornate ceilings, pointing straight up. The clamp pulls open and grips the sides of the phone. It doesn't pull very wide apart - narrowest width is about 5.5cm and the widest it goes is about 6.5cm - so don't buy it with the intention of putting a tablet in there. The back of the clamp also has an extendable kickstand of sorts, so if you want to take a photo with your camera but don't need the full tripod you can always unscrew the clamp, extend the kickstand, and just use that.At the top of the tripod there is a large red button. If you push this in the screw part of the tripod can now move freely on a ball joint, and when you release the button it locks in position. It feels sturdy and robust, as with the rest of the tripod.I really like this tripod and look forward to taking more pictures of the night sky, and also putting it in my case when we go on holidays.

I have done plenty of research looking for a way to get more steady footage with my phone and the Manfrotto Pixi Smart kept cropping up from various forms of research.The tripod and mount came today and the quality is actually better than I thought it would be. This product is rock solid and doesn't disappoint.Im looking forward to getting some great footage using this.GOOD POINTS:Stable in tripod mode.Great to use like a mini selfie stick.The ball joint is an engineering masterpiece.Very well priced.Strong phone grip, even on my iPhone 7 plus.BAD POINTS:I've wracked my brain trying to find any and I honestly cannot find a fault.

There are a lot of cheaper copies of this tripod but I decided to buy the "real thing" having owned a Manfrotto camera tripod for a number of years. This little tripod is great and with the phone clamp, it is ideal for shooting YouTube videos. There's no real height adjustment on the tripod itself, you just widen the legs as needed, but it's not really about that for me, it's about being a sturdy rigid tripod for shooting YT videos on a table. For this is ideal and the rotating ball and lock make it easy to position the phone as you need it.One slight grumble for me is the phone clamp doesn't open wide enough to fit my phone into it with the case on, so I have to take the case off. Okay so I have a large phone (Pixel 3 XL) with a full protective case but it's not that thick! It's no issue to take the case off, just a shame it doesn't open a few more mm to accommodate the phone. Get one!

Like: It’s cost £30 quid, The third Manfrotto product in our household. This one for iPhone photography.The Tripod has one strong press button to release the tilt and turn 360 / 45 degree ball which, when released locks it rock solid. The legs and body feel like aluminium and a product 3 times the price. I would gladly leave this out in a gale. The clamp fits an iPhone 11 Max well and is very secure, the springs are very strong.Dislikes : I’m ok, but the phone clamp springs may be difficult for some people with limitations. The press button which releases the 360/45 ball is so strong it’s only for adjustment, not using as a clutch for panning/scoping unless you have a thumb tougher than a metalworker like me.