Manfrotto ONE Hybrid tripod: Gear of the Year Awards 2026 winner
Posted on Nov 2, 2026 by Lily Smith
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Manfrotto’s ONE Hybrid tripod unites the best of photo and video support for modern creators.
Quick to set up, a clever levelling system, solid performance and the ability to switch between creative set-ups helped make the Manfrotto ONE Hybrid win best tripod in our Gear of the Year Awards, as voted for by thousands of Pro Moviemaker readers.
It’s a unique product that takes the world of support into a whole new and modern era. Where tripods for photographers called for absolute stability, while filmmakers needed smooth movement, the creators don’t work in such neatly separated worlds any more.
A single shoot might require a conventional landscape interview, vertical clips for social media, product stills and some carefully controlled camera movement. And it’s exactly this changing way of working that inspired the innovative Manfrotto ONE Hybrid tripod.
Rather than asking hybrid shooters to accept the compromises of using a photo tripod for video or lug separate support systems around, Manfrotto has bridged the gap. Even the legs have been reconsidered. Instead of conventional round tubes, the ONE Hybrid uses a new non-round profile designed to provide the stability associated with photo tripods while increasing torsional resistance for controlled video movements.
But on a real production, speed matters too. Manfrotto’s XTEND system allows all the leg sections to be released together rather than requiring each lock to be opened individually. That means the tripod can go from being carried to camera-ready rapidly – particularly useful when working alone or moving repeatedly between positions.
The centre column is similarly versatile. It can extend conventionally, tilt for unusual positions, assist with levelling or help take the camera close to ground level. Instead of dictating where the camera has to go, the tripod is designed to adapt to the shot.
Then there is Manfrotto’s XCHANGE quick-release system. This allows heads, sliders and other accessories to be swapped without tools, resulting in less a fixed tripod and more a versatile support platform.
Pair it with Manfrotto’s 500X Fluid Video Head and that hybrid philosophy continues above the legs. The head provides fluid movement and counterbalance for payloads up to 2.4kg, but one particularly relevant feature is its hinged plate system. This makes moving the camera between horizontal and vertical orientations much simpler – increasingly important when the same production needs material for both traditional screens and social platforms.
The ONE Hybrid is available in carbon fibre or aluminium, either as legs alone or paired with the 500X head. That gives the option to prioritise lower weight, price or a complete hybrid system.
One person can now be expected to deliver multiple types of content from the same shoot, often using the same camera – and the ONE Hybrid is designed for exactly this new world.
More details at manfrotto.com
