There are lighter and cheaper light stands in Manfrotto's range, but the MS0490A has enough additional features to make these compromises worth making.
+ It's still reasonably light.
+ It collapses down small enough to fit in a backpack.
+ If has an fitment adapter making it useful for both microphones (3/8") and cameras (1/4").
+ It rises to well above head-height (c. 195cm).
+ The centre pole is detachable making it useful as a boom pole or a really long selfie stick. (caveat below)
+ One of the legs of the tripod is extendable which make levelling easier on uneven ground.
+ There is a hook for attaching a weight to hold the stand in place in windy conditions.
- The screws for tightening joints in the telescopic pole are quite stiff so it is not always clear when a joint has been tightened sufficiently.
- Aluminium is not as stiff as carbon fibre, so has a tendency to vibrate and wobble in strong winds or if on a wooden floor while people are moving about. Carbon fibre would be considerably more expensive though.
- A bag would have been really welcome, making it easier to stow in a backpack without snagging on cables etc.
- through longterm use (and I have two of these and both exhibit the same problem) I have found the locking mechanism for the detachable boom pole to be unreliable. Perhaps due to wear, use or the ingress of dust and grit, the button on the side becomes stuck such that release is only possible by dribbling in oil and repeatedly pressing the button until it releases again. I do feel that there is a design shortcoming here on account of this happening so frequently and in different examples of the item.
On the whole a useful buy with uses from stereo recording of classical concerts to field recording and more.
