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Manfrotto ONE Tripods and XCHANGE System

Manfrotto produces a broad variety of photography and video accessories, and their tripod lineup has always been one of the most popular ranges they offer. This is set to continue for 2025 with a completely new design for hybrid photo and video creators, with the launch of the Manfrotto ONE Tripods and XCHANGE System.

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The ONE Tripod System includes an aluminium ONE tripod and a carbon fibre ONE model, a new 500X Fluid Head, and a series of bags, and accessories, which are based around a new XCHANGE quick-release system.

While many tripods cater to either photography or filmmaking, the ONE range has unique features that fits both, so you only need to carry one without making any compromises to functionality.

Discover everything you need to know in our buying guide, which includes a hands-on video, specs comparison and much more.

Why Make a Hybrid Tripod?

Manfrotto has developed the ONE design through an extensive user research program with professional photographers and hybrid creators across Europe, Asia, and the U.S.A. The goal was to design a single tripod that is stable enough for shake-free photography, which also supports smooth video movements with counterbalance and resistance.

Several design decisions came out of this, including:

• A new non-round leg shape that improves torsional resistance
• A new XTEND mechanism for unified quick leg deployment
• A new centre column that can be levelled and tilted horizontally using the Q90 mechanism
• Compatibility with professional video heads, including the new 500X Fluid Video Head
• A new patented XCHANGE System, which features one mount for multiple applications

Let’s take a closer look at each of these new elements next.

New ONE tripods

The Manfrotto ONE Aluminium and Carbon Fibre Tripods are a new concept for hybrid creators who need stability for photography and fluidity for video. While they share the same design, the two materials offer a well-known choice between the affordability and strength of aluminium at 3.4kg (4.6kg total with head), and the lighter weight of carbon fibre 3kg (4.22kg total with head). As with any traditional tripod, these materials provide a choice for different budgets, workflows and travel requirements.

What immediately sets the ONE system apart is its redesigned leg profile. The oval non-round leg shape is designed to improve torsional rigidity, reducing flex when panning or locking off shots. This results in better performance with smoother video capture, without adding loads of weight with a twin leg or spreader design. Thanks to the new shape, the legs are more stable even when they are fully extended too, so you can take shots from around 180cm with a head attached, which is really very impressive.

Each leg also features a new XTEND mechanism, which delivers faster deployment and improved ergonomics when adjusting height, and the integrated centre column is equally versatile. It uses the Q90 design for horizontal or vertical positioning, giving users more flexibility when framing flat-lays, overhead shots, or vertical video.

Rubber leg locks have been ergonomically improved for fast adjustment, while the tripod feet have a new hybrid design that offers stability on both hard surfaces and softer ground.

Importantly, both tripods include the new XCHANGE mount at the top of the centre column. This allows for quick attachment and swapping of different heads or accessories, opening the door to a completely modular tripod system. We explore that system in greater detail later in this post, however next, let’s explore the column, as it offers a few capabilities that set it apart from traditional tripod columns.

The table below compares the key specs of these two tripods:

New Versatile Centre Column

The centre column on the Manfrotto ONE tripods plays a… central role for both photo and video content creation. The design has been developed on from the proven Q90 system, which is used in a number of Manfrotto tripods of all levels. Once unlocked, the column can be raised vertically or flipped horizontally in a matter of seconds, enabling overhead shooting, macro compositions, and vertical video without needing to adjust the leg positions.

Unlike typical centre columns, the ONE design allows for smooth tilting and levelling thanks to a redesigned locking mechanism at the base. This provides more precise control for fine adjustments, whether you’re aligning a shot for photography or balancing a product flat-lay for a review or other form of content creation.

The new column is ideal for creators who frequently switch between studio, run and gun and location setups, as it eliminates the need for boom arms or oftentimes cumbersome secondary supports.

Another key advantage is the compatibility with heavier payloads. The column maintains stability and rigidity even when extended with 15kg payloads (5kg with the 500X head), ensuring that hybrid shooters using mirrorless cameras aren’t in danger of tipping over when the centre column is in use.

When combined with the new leg geometry and XCHANGE system at the top of the column, the result is a highly adaptive and stable platform. You can quickly remove the head, reorient the column, or mount other accessories such as sliders, lighting arms, or monitors to the Easy Link adapters.

In summary, the column can be:

• Tilted horizontally using the Q90 mechanism
• Adjusted for levelling, allowing fine-tuned horizon correction without repositioning the legs
• Removed for ground-level shooting, enabling extreme low-angle shots
• Extended with optional column modules
• Slid vertically, allowing quick and precise height adjustments

A New XCHANGE System

Central to the Manfrotto ONE ecosystem is a newly developed XCHANGE system, which is a universal quick-release platform that makes life easier for hybrid creators who switch between setups. Whether you’re moving from a tripod to a slider to an arm, or even into a bag, XCHANGE is a single mounting system that keeps your workflow fast, secure, and consistent.

It revolves around a compact XCHANGE base and dedicated XCHANGE plates that mount to your camera, head, tripod, or other accessory. Once in place, you simply click the item into the mount for an instant, secure connection. There’s no threading or tools, and no wasted time. When you’re ready to remove it, with just a simple twist you can unlock the device and move to the next setup.

This is very useful for hybrid photo/video shooters who work across different environments and need to reconfigure gear quickly. XCHANGE also caters to heavier professional loads as the locking mechanism is solid, and the plates don’t twist under pressure.

Because XCHANGE is being integrated across a number of Manfrotto products it creates a modular system where your gear becomes truly portable.

Manfrotto 500X Fluid Video Head

The Manfrotto 500X Fluid Video Head is a newly developed video head that meet the needs of hybrid content creators using the ONE or virtually any other tripod system. It develops Manfrotto’s popular 500 series of Fluid Video Heads with a new support for mirrorless camera systems and compact rigs.

The head features a flat base with a 3/8” mounting thread, which is fully compatible with the Manfrotto XCHANGE system as well as traditional supports. This allows for rapid mounting and removal when switching between systems or when adjusting your setup.

Key specifications include:

• Payload capacity up to 5kg
• Counterbalance system, which is fixed at 2.4kg @ 55mm C.O.G.
• Fluid drag system with independent pan and tilt drag controls with continuously variable resistance
• Tilt range -70° to +90°
• Pan range 360° continuous
• Camera plate system Uses Manfrotto 501PL standard plate, with side-lock mechanism for quick, secure mounting
• Illuminated bubble level
• Weight: Approx. 1.1kg

The 500X supports smooth pans and tilts for video content, with resistance that balances small-to-medium sized cameras, including those with accessories like a mic, monitor, and lights.

You can buy the Manfrotto 500X Fluid Head on its own, or included with the ONE Aluminium Tripod with 500X Fluid Head tripod kit and the Manfrotto ONE Carbon Fibre Tripod with 500X Fluid Head.

Finally, lets explore the new bag range, which was released alongside the ONE system.

Pro-Light Tripod Bags

To accompany the ONE Tripod System, Manfrotto has introduced a new selection of Pro-Light tripod bags, which offer professional-level protection for a range of tripod sizes, including the new ONE Aluminium and Carbon Fibre models. These soft structured bags offer an improved fit, greater protection, and updated carrying options compared to other models.

There are three sizes available with the Manfrotto Pro Light Tripod Bag 69, Manfrotto Pro Light Tripod Bag 80, and Manfrotto Pro Light Tripod Bag 88, which is named for their internal length. These accommodate a selection of Manfrotto tripods, with or without heads attached, including the 500X Fluid Head. All three bags support the ONE range, with the TB-80 and TB-88 providing space for tripods with fluid heads or extended leg sections.

The new Pro-Light bags feature high-density padding for shock absorption, a reinforced base that protects against impact, and durable, weather-resistant materials on the exterior. A full-length YKK zip gives you durable access, while internal straps help secure the tripod in place during transport.

Whether you’re carrying a single tripod to location or packing multiple supports for a shoot, the Pro-Light tripod bags offer a good balance of protection, portability, and rather nice styling.

Full Tripod Bag range

A wide range of tripod bags are available from Manfrotto to suit any size and type of legs, with or without a head attached. The table below lists the dimensions for each bag in the current lineup, including the latest Pro-Light series.

Responsible Production and Sustainability

According to Manfrotto, the ONE system redefines sustainability in tripod design, placing environmental responsibility at the core of its development. Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) show that manufacturing a ONE tripod significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared to previous models. This is as much as by at least 20% for aluminium versions and up to 40% for carbon fibre models. Over its production cycle, a single ONE Hybrid tripod can save between 7kg (Alu) and 32kg (CF) of CO₂ emissions, reducing the environmental footprint of material sourcing and manufacturing.

As well as carbon savings, the design is supposed to be repairable and offer and longevity. The use of glue has been minimised to allow for easier disassembly, part replacement, and recycling at the end of the product’s life.

Packaging has also been overhauled, with every ONE tripod shipped in 100% recycled, FSC-certified cardboard and no plastic whatsoever.

Manfrotto’s environmental claims are supported by measurable data and independent certification, offering transparency and reinforcing trust, which is something we really appreciate.

The Manfrotto ONE system combines innovations across each component to meet real-world demands of today’s hybrid content creators. Whether shooting stills, cinematic video, or ideally both, the system minimises your gear requirements while maximising control, speed, and portability.

With the choice of aluminium or carbon fibre models, a newly developed Q90 centre column, and the 500X Fluid Video Head, users can build a setup that suits their exact needs. The addition of the patented XCHANGE system simplifies mounting and switching between accessories, while new Pro-Light tripod bags offer padded protection and transport for the whole system.

Explore the full Manfrotto carbon fibre tripod range and browse aluminium tripods to find out how the system can support your photography and video projects with one unified solution.

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By Nick Dautlich on 11/06/2025

Nick Dautlich

Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer

Nick Dautlich is the Senior Content Writer and Product Reviewer at Park Cameras, with over 15 years of photography experience. A Sony Imaging Professional and expert reviewer, Nick has worked with major brands such as Canon, Sony and Nikon. His work is also featured on Vanguard World UK’s website, Capture Landscapes, and Shutter Evolve. Nick’s photography includes National Trust projects and magazine covers and he is passionate about landscapes and storytelling. Nick also enjoys hiking and teaching his children about nature. Learn more on his profile page.