It can be an expensive business buying the perfect tripod, but they’re one of those things that usually mean the more you spend, the better they tend to be. We throw caution to the wind, however and test out the very reasonable Giottos MH5001 3-Way Head to see if this statement really rings true.

Our first thought is that this is a heavy piece of kit. Obviously a good solid tripod needs some weight behind it to keep it grounded and stable, but you also have to carry the thing. With this in mind, the die cast aluminium MH5001 is a bit on the heavy side if you plan to be trekking across landscapes and long distances to find the perfect shot. For portrait and other less strenuous genres of photography however, you will enjoy the tripod reassuring weight and sense of gravity.

Each axis of movement can be locked individually for precise control over your composition. The head comes with a quick release plate, which is great for catching those quick spur-of-the moment shots and we found the head easy to attach and detach to  the camera.

Our main problem comes down to build and design. The MH5001 has a large handle, which would not fit in the tripod bag and had to be removed first. Secondly, the bubble level is covered by plastic, which is not the clearest, and we fear for its clarity after a few bumps and scratches.

Overall this is a fantastic price for a head that portrait photographers and those with not very far to go will enjoy. Landscapes photographers will not want to be laden down by the weight.

Final Verdict A great price, but if you want quality and portability you will need to spend more money OVERALL

Rosie’s big passion is travel photography, with a love of capturing different cultures on camera, from scenery and landscapes through to people and food. She studied photography at college and hopes one day find time to submit her images to the Royal Photographic Society for accreditation.