Manfrotto Announces New Products - Outdoor Photographer

Ramsey, NJ (October 23, 2008) – Manfrotto, a world leading manufacturer of professional photo and video support products, today introduced its D.I.Y. series of comprehensive athome photography kits. Designed for the enthusiast, the D.I.Y. series comprises four kits, each of which combines specific Manfrotto support products that work together as a system to assure optimal lighting results for the most common and sought after photo applications.

FABRIC BACKGROUND HOME KIT (DIY01KIT) - Manfrotto’s Fabric Background Home Kit is the ideal solution for portrait photography. This kit includes everything a shooter needs to assemble an easy-to-use lighting setup at home. The DIY01KIT includes:
314B kit: supports and perfectly holds the proper background
004BAC stand, 024B boom: position and support umbrella for diffusing the main light
052BAC stand: position and support the fill light diffused by a soft-box
003 base, D700B collapsible arm: support and position reflector to help fill in shadows

PAPER BACKGROUND HOME KIT (DIY02KIT) – Manfrotto’s Paper Background Home Kit is an all-in-one system for companies and individuals looking to photograph their own products for use in the production of marketing materials or on web sites to help increase sales. The DIY02KIT is based on the Manfrotto Autopole system, allowing for the use of up to three different paper backgrounds. The DIY02KIT includes:
(2) 032B Autopole, (2) 032SPL spirit level, (3) Expan 046, (3) 062-2 counterweight: supports up to three different backgrounds, each of which can be unrolled using colored chains
008BU stand, 025BSL boom: position and support umbrella for diffusing the main light
004BAC stand: position and support the fill light diffused by a soft-box

EVENT KIT (DIY03KIT) – Manfrotto’s Event Kit gives photographers the right support products to help properly light their subjects at social gatherings or parties. The DIY03KIT includes:
233B bracket, 026 swivel: gives the photographer the ability to rotate and move the flash unit away up to 17.7 inches
003 base, D705B collapsible arm: support and position reflector to help fill in shadows

STILL LIFE TABLE HOME KIT (DIY04KIT) – Manfrotto’s Still Life Table Home Kit is a unique setup for taking brilliant product photography. Whether you’re shooting images of new products for your own business or are simply shooting objects of your hobby, the DIY04KIT combines the right Manfrotto support products to get the job done right.

The DIY04KIT includes:
320B still-life table: easy to assemble and occupies minimum space
004BAC stand, 024B boom, 018 wheels: position and support soft-box for diffusing the main light
Accessories for further lighting control, including: 013 adapter spigot, 237 flex arm, (4) 386B Nano Clamp, 819-1 Hydrostatic Arm, 175 spring clamp, (2) 035 Super Clamp, 244N variable friction arm, I1550KIT (Dot & Finger Kit)

Pricing:
DIY01KIT - $705.00 (list)
DIY02KIT - $1,460.00 (list)
DIY03KIT - $195.00 (list)
DIY04KIT - $1,660.00 (list)

Ramsey, NJ (October 23, 2008) – Manfrotto, a world leading manufacturer of professional photo and video support products, is proud to introduce the 055CX, the newest addition to the company’s high-performance and versatile CX family of carbon fiber tripods. Available in both PRO and CX3, the 055CX tripod was designed to meet the demanding needs of the professional or enthusiast shooter.

The new 055CX builds off the success of its 190CX sibling, and is highlighted by redesigned locking levers, new leg angle selectors, and reengineered magnesium castings (CXPRO only), all which grant significant improvements and add to the beauty of the new carbon fiber tripod. The new ergonomic locking levers are much easier for shooters to operate and thanks to their new design, become a seamless element of all CX tripods.

Like the 190CXPRO, the new three section 055CXPRO3 and four section 055CXPRO4 feature Manfrotto’s innovative and award-winning Q90° (Quick Center Column System). The Q90° system allows the center column to be rotated to a horizontal position with one simple motion, all without removing the head or disassembling the column itself, making switching between framing and positioning setups a breeze. Additionally, Manfrotto has resigned the top plate on the 055CXPRO. The magnesium top plate now incorporates a bubble to help aid in leveling the camera and tripod, and has also been refined for a more attractive look. The redesign of the plate also yields a significant reduction in weight. The three section 055CX3 features an aluminum top plate and spider casting. The 055CX3 does not feature the Q90° center column system.

Carbon Fiber Quality
In order to reach high-quality standards and high levels of performance, rigidity and lightness, the new Manfrotto CX tubes are made of 100 percent carbon fiber. When it comes to the use of composite materials-- especially carbon fiber -- in the manufacture of photographic supports, the end result can vary and ultimately depends on the production process and the ratio of carbon fiber material to epoxy present in the tubes. For its CX carbon fiber tripods, Manfrotto utilizes nothing other than 100 percent carbon fiber and employs pultrusion, pull winding technology to manufacture the tubes. The pultrusion product process allows for the manufacture of carbon fiber tubes that excel in both flexion resistance and torsion rigidity; features that matter most for camera support applications.

The 055CXPRO4 and 055CXPRO3 feature all carbon fiber tubes, including a tri-faceted center column, while the simpler CX3 version features carbon fiber tubes paired with an aluminum center column.

All 055CX tripods are available now.

About Manfrotto:
Gruppo Manfrotto are world leaders in the manufacture of professional camera and lighting supports for photography, video, broadcast and entertainment. For 35 years, Manfrotto has been building the world’s widest range of tripods, heads and dedicated accessories to support professional and semi-professional still cameras, from the traditional small, medium and large format to the latest digital camera. Every product in the Manfrotto range is designed to provide a perfect combination of important features such as: load capacity, size, stability, transportability, interchangeability and construction quality – guaranteeing unique inimitable reliability and longevity.

About Bogen Imaging
Bogen Imaging Inc is a leading distributor of key accessories brands for the photographic, video, cine and lighting production markets. Bogen is an international company within the Imaging Division of the Vitec Group, which owns the following leading international brands: Manfrotto, Gitzo, Kata, National Geographic Bags and Tripods, Avenger, and I.F.F. As the exclusive US distributor of Metz, Gossen, Elinchrom, Lastolite, Reflecmedia, Formatt Filters, and Rotatrim, Bogen offers the most complete range of exceptional camera and lighting accessories in the business. The Bogen Imaging international network covers the USA, Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan.