Bogen Photo Corp., marketed as Manfrotto after its purchase of that company in 1993, is internationally renowned for its photography equipment, including tripods, monopods, heads, brackets, clamps and carrying solutions. Bogen's line of tripods especially is highly lauded from amateurs to professionals who praise their versatility, weight and compactness, sturdiness and price. The 3021 model of tripod was universally praised and lasted for two generations: the original 3021 and the later, and upgraded, 3021N and 3021PRO.
Appearance
The appearance of the Bogen 3021 tripod reflects the primary material it is made from. With sleek aluminum legs, the Bogen 3021 stands out in most environments, making it easy to locate should you need to leave the area for a time. A model with identical features, the 3221, is available in black as well.
Height
When completely collapsed, the Bogen 3021 measures 25.75 inches in length and can easily fit in a large backpack or carry-on luggage. When assembled it has a minimum height of 10.5 inches from the feet to the head mount. With legs and center column fully extended the tripod has a maximum height of 70.5 inches, more than enough for a tall photographer to comfortably shoot for an extended period of time. None of these dimensions include the height that a head or camera would add.
Weight
The Bogen 3021 tripod weighs in at 5.75 lbs., not including the extra weight added by a head or camera, giving it an average weight among similarly marketed tripods.
Legs
True to its name, the Bogen 3021 tripod features three legs. Each leg is individually adjustable, allowing them to be angled at varying degrees, and contains three leg sections, each of which can be collapsed or extended independently of the others.
Functionality
The Bogen 3021 features a load capacity of 13.2 lbs., allowing it to operate stably with a wide range of cameras, from compact pocket cameras to larger digital single-lens reflex cameras with telephoto lenses. In tests, the tripod proved extremely stable while using up to and including a 300 mm lens. With a 500 mm lens attached to the camera, the tripod became slightly shaky, and its capabilities were compromised when any lens longer in focal length. For most photographers, however, this range should prove more than adequate.
The tripod also features a single-piece center column, which can be adjusted to reach the tripod's maximum height or decreased in height to provide a more stable base for the camera. Rubberized leg warmers located on two of the three legs are optimal for cold weather use and comfort while carrying.
3021N & 3021PRO Differences
Because of its popularity, the Bogen 3021 tripod was revised for a second generation, resulting in the 3021N and 3021PRO models. Many of the features that made the original 3021 tripod successful were retained or improved in the second-generation models, including a slightly shorter collapsed length of 24.1 inches and an increased load capacity of 13.3 lbs.
To outperform the previous model, a new quick-action leg locking system was introduced to the tripod, requiring only 45 degrees of movement before the legs snap into their first locking position. A fourth leg angle, as opposed to three in the model prior, was added as well, allowing the tripod to lie flat on the ground.
In addition, the 3021N and 3021PRO models feature a new "D"-shaped center column to allow for multi-faceted uses compatible with other Bogen and Manfrotto equipment. The 3021PRO model, specifically, also includes the ability to rotate the center column so that it can lie parallel to the ground, thus increasing the tripod's versatility through the use of the center column as a lateral arm.
Tags: Bogen 3021, center column, 3021 tripod, 3021N 3021PRO, Bogen 3021 tripod, 3021N 3021PRO models