Manfrotto PIXI EVO tripod at a glance:
- Tabletop tripod
- Extendable legs
- Adjustable ball head
- Price: $42 / £42
- Website: www.manfrotto.com
The Manfrotto PIXI EVO is a small, lightweight, portable tripod. As the EVO name suggests, it is an ‘evolution’ of the original Manfrotto PIXI. It now includes a new solution for mounting your camera, with a wheel below the 1⁄4in tripod thread allowing you to screw into the camera’s thread. (Previously, you were required to spin the whole tripod around to attach the camera.)
The ball head has also changed, allowing the camera to drop to 90˚ portrait orientation thanks to a specially made groove on the side. A thumb screw is used to tighten the ball head, rather than the spring-loaded push-in mechanism found on the previous version.
Perhaps the biggest difference, though, is the inclusion of extendable legs. These have a button at the top to allow an extension to five different lengths. There is also a locking system for two separate angles – from standing upright to nearly flat to the ground.
Manfrotto has rated the PIXI EVO to take a 2.5kg payload. This is impressive, especially if you bear in mind that a full-frame Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.6-5.6L IS USM lens attached weighs around 2.3kg.
Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod with Smartphone clamp
Manfrotto PIXI EVO tripod – Key features
Height
The PIXI EVO has a maximum height of 19.5cm and a minimum of 6cm.
Lightweight
The Manfrotto PIXI EVO weighs just 266g, making it almost unnoticeable when slipped into a kit bag.
Ground-level operation
A switch on the side slides across to allow the legs to widen and drop closer to the ground.
Extendable legs
A button on the legs allows them to extend outwards for better stability on uneven surfaces.
Manfrotto PIXI EVO, legs extended
Manfrotto PIXI EVO tripod – Verdict
I must admit, when using the original Manfrotto PIXI I didn’t think I’d find much use for it. But over time it proved its worth, as I found myself using it to prop up my camera on tables, on the ground for shooting cityscapes and even for holding an off-camera flash.
The PIXI EVO expands this feature set and, while the extendable legs aren’t designed to give any height advantage, they very usefully allow you to steady a camera on an uneven surface.
However, this also means it flexes a lot more. For the most part, though, the PIXI EVO is very handy addition to a lightweight kit. It provides a stable footing for a camera and allows for better low-light and long-exposure photography.
You’ll also find this tripod can be used as a grab-handle when the legs are folded in, and with a Manfrotto MCLAMP it makes a useful mini-tripod for smartphone use as well.
Alternative options:
Manfrotto PIXI Mini tripod
Price: $20 / £18
Website: www.manfrotto.co.uk
The PIXI is the original version of the PIXI EVO and has many of the same benefits. It’s small, light, portable and keeps a camera steady. However, it doesn’t have the EVO’s handy extendable legs or 90˚ tilt. Shop around and you should be able to find one.
Manfrotto MP1-C01 Pocket Support Small
Price: Was £19.95
Website: www.manfrotto.co.uk
If you have a small CSC or compact camera, consider the Pocket Support. Designed to be left on your camera, it can be flipped outwards to support the camera upright on a flat surface. You may be able to find this on popular second-hand sites.
For more options have a look at the best camera tripods, or have a look at the best camera phone tripods.
