Manfrotto Group
Encyclopedia
Manfrotto is a brand manufactured by Lino Manfrotto + Co. Spa, a company headquartered in Bassano del Grappa
Bassano del Grappa
Bassano del Grappa is a city and comune in the province of Vicenza, region Veneto, in northern Italy. It bounds the communes of Cassola, Marostica, Solagna, Pove del Grappa, Romano d'Ezzelino, Campolongo sul Brenta, Conco, Rosà, Cartigliano and Nove...

, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

. Manfrotto is a worldwide leading brand in the manufacturing of camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...

 and lighting
Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or aesthetic effect. Lighting includes the use of both artificial light sources such as lamps and light fixtures, as well as natural illumination by capturing daylight...

 supports. Manfrotto is owned by the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 company The Vitec Group, which purchased Lino Manfrotto + Co. Spa in 1989. In 2010 Manfrotto established the Manfrotto School of Xcellence, and educational resource to support and help everyone to get closer to photography and videography.

History

Lino Manfrotto, an Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...

 photojournalist, began designing light stands, booms, and telescopic rods in the late 1960s. In 1972 Lino Manfrotto met Gilberto Battocchio, a technician working for a Bassano mechanical firm. In 1974, the company introduced its first tripod. The company grew, and in 1986 Manfrotto, already with 6 plants in Bassano, landed in Feltre
Feltre
Feltre is a town and comune of the province of Belluno in Veneto, northern Italy. A hill town in the southern reaches of the province, it is located on the Stizzon River, about 4 km from its junction with the Piave, and 20 km southwest from Belluno...

, in the industrial zone of Villapaiera, establishing 5 plants in the space of two years. Vitec Group Plc. purchased the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 company Gitzo
Gitzo
Gitzo S.A. is a manufacturer of photographic accessories, including bags, but specialising in tripods and supports.Founded in France by Arsène Gitzhoven in 1917 initially producing cameras, shutters, and cable releases, but between 1942 and 1944 with World War II, the company closed for the...

 in 1992 and the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 company Bogen Photo Corp. in 1993. Vitec Group Plc. chose to maintain the separate brands as separate lines in its portfolio. Manfrotto products are distributed in Germany, France, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States by Manfrotto Distribution. In Canada, Manfrotto products are distributed by Amplis Foto Inc.

Competition

Manfrotto's main competition on the low end is from such brands as Velbon
Velbon
Velbon is a manufacturer of photographic accessories, specialising in tripods.Based in Japan and established in the 1950s, it has three manufacturing facilities, one each in Japan, Taiwan and China....

, Benro, and Slik, and on the high end from Miller
Miller Camera Support Equipment
Miller Camera Support Equipment is the commercial name of R. E. Miller Pty Ltd, an independent Australian manufacturer of tripods, fluid heads and various accessories for professional camera systems .Miller is one of the leading suppliers of ENG/EFP equipment to broadcast and government.Miller is...

 and Gitzo
Gitzo
Gitzo S.A. is a manufacturer of photographic accessories, including bags, but specialising in tripods and supports.Founded in France by Arsène Gitzhoven in 1917 initially producing cameras, shutters, and cable releases, but between 1942 and 1944 with World War II, the company closed for the...

(which, as noted above, is part of the same group). Manfrotto is distinguished from the likes of Miller and Slik by virtue of not making one-piece tripods; the legs and head in all cases are sold separately, and interchangeable.

External links

Educational Websites:
Consumers Websites:
Distribution Websites:
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