Digital Photo magazine looked at six of the top carbon fibre tripods in the market to see which of them made the best investment. 

"If a light tripod is is just what you need the 190CXPRO3 is the way to go, offering all the rigiidity, strength and practicality you could want at a sensible price."


 

Digital Photographer magazine tracked down photo gear best suited for the great outdoors and the new Kata 3N1 bag got perfect marks.

"The 3N1 is comfortable and versatile: ideal for your next photo adventure."

Photography Monthly's (Will Cheung) Verdict: The Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 is the latest in a popular line of tripods. It has big footsteps to follow, but it does so very well indeed.

Stability is impressive, even at maximum extension, so is its ability to get low, really low. With a ball and socket head in place and the legs fully splayed out, I got my Nikon D700 to 15cm off the ground. It's true that I don't often shoot that low down, but it's great to know that you can.

All in all, highly recommended.

Overall Score: 5 Stars

Which Should You Buy...

Overall Winner: Manfrotto 190XPROB

'The 190XPROB acoops the DP Gold Award with its pro build, features and performance all at a competitive price point. The centre column mechanism is a joy to use, as are its thre-stage angled leg locks that allow you to shoot at different heights. The leg action is also smooth and with the flip-locks fastened the 190CXPROB provides a solid base for your camera.

You'll need to invest in a head to go with it - costing upwards of £25 - but you'll have the choice of a fully pro3/8in range to choose from. If you're after a pro quality tripod at a decent price, the 190XPROB is the one.

DIGITAL PHOTO GOLD AWARD