Anyone got a Benro? Don't fancy spending £350+ for a Gitzo when a I could get a Benro for £150 with very similar specification. I'm looking for a light weight, compact but very sturdy tripod. Velbon any good?
All info most welcome.
Tim
Posted by Rene de Heer on March 28, 2007 at 6:04 AM
Tim, i have a Benro ballhead, a la ARCA and its great for the money! I dont think you can go wrong with their tripods either. Another option would be Feisol or Velbon Sherpa CF-635 (approx same price as the Benro).
Rene de Heer
Yes, I have a Benro A-327, (not listed now) it is very good, like you I didn't fancy the expense of a Gitzo, the quality of the Benro is very good indeed, obviously not up to Gitzo standard but prob about 90%, I have no complaints at all.
I introduced a Photographic Journalist I know to them and they gave him the loan of one of their smaller CF models which I have had a good look at and again the quality, for the price is exceptional, Photopal in the UK are the distributors, Danny is Chinese and his english is not the best but is a very nice person to deal with, he actually delivered mine by hand here in London.
Hey thanks guys, I had a look at one at Focus on imaging and was impressed just wondered if anyone had used one in "anger".
Cheers
Tim
Posted by Jeroen Stel on March 28, 2007 at 6:58 AM
Hi Tim,
I know the Benro's are not bad, but i bought a Feisol CT 3371 about a year ago and would not trade it for anything! Its sturdy, lightweight, does not have a center column and has thick carbon fibre air-pressured legs. It will cost you about 320 US Dollar and you can buy it at www.feisol.com
I really recommend it!
Every time I see a tripod issue raised I keep meaning to ask the question,is'nt a tripod only as rigid as the base on which it is sitting?? now I am not talking very cheap modles, but lets say in the £150-£200 mark.If they are sat on concrete then may be you might find some movement, but when I am in Mud, reed beds, or very soft ground as seems to be the case so much, I am not sure of the benefits of a £500 tripod....
Hi Stewart,
I can't bring myself to pay £500 for a tripod either hence the post, good point regarding the ground. I want light weight, but strong so like racing bikes a lot of R & D goes on to make strong light parts and thus the cost.
hi Tim
I have been using a Manfrotto 055pro for about 2 years now and I dont think! I have had any probs as yet.Not sure if its the lightest thing on earth, but I am quite happy to carry it all day if needs must.Hope this may help
Some time back I played with a benro and liked it as much as a gitzo.
T
Posted by szekiat chan on March 28, 2007 at 12:30 PM
i dunno, u can get a used gitzo 1325 or 1548 for about the same price as new benro nowadays and i'm more inclined to go with the gitzo myself. I've cycle through a velbon 6 and 7 series as well as a manfrotto 055MF3 and in the end i went for the gitzo. Depending on your load (mine was over 6kg), the gitzo might be your only option. I got a good deal on a 1548 from the other site recently for about £250.
I have a Benro c-227-n6 ( I think!!!) 28mm dia. tube, 3 section, head height - 6 foot + (without centre column extended)/ low level with extra short column 4". Great piece of kit, light 2.3 kilos with Benro KJ-2 Ballhead fitted. Fitted with spikes or rubber feet and very well made padded bag, which stays in the boot
I bought the tripod from Linkdelight( eBay) and payed around £160 inc. p & p. The centre column from Bonnie.yl for around 24 canadian dollars inc. shipping, this compared to Photopal's quoted price of £35.
Hope this helps Hadrian
Posted by Major Gilbert on March 28, 2007 at 2:48 PM
Stopp kidding yourself Tim and buy a Gitzo. You know it makes sense.
It will go nicely with that 300mm VR.
Stewart Canham: " Every time I see a tripod issue raised I keep meaning to ask the question,is'nt a tripod only as rigid as the base on which it is sitting?? now I am not talking very cheap modles, but lets say in the �150-�200 mark.If they are sat on concrete then may be you might find some movement, but when I am in Mud, reed beds, or very soft ground as seems to be the case so much, I am not sure of the benefits of a �500 tripod...."
Using a tripod like a Gitzo1348 (which I invested in) with its long legs is exactly the kit for your boggy ground. Extracting the slim lower leg section and ramming it deep into mud/bog/heather whatever allows a degree of rigidity that other shorter tripods cant even approach. Similarly, working around rivers you can position the tripod fully extended in the river and perch on boulder and still work at eye level. The advantages of a lightweight, rigid, long-legged tripod with a decent ballhead have to be experienced to be appreciated. You can take images in circumstances that others would just walk on by in frustration. There are setup techniques enabled by the Gitzo variable leg locking mechanism that are little discussed in forums such as this, but which once mastered make such tripods incredibly versatile and quick to use. Thats why they are worth the entry price!
Good point John, I have the 055NAT3 which as i'm 6'2" is brilliant, as fully extended i dont have to stoop, though i recommend the 1/2 height center column.
Discussion
14 repliesAll info most welcome.
Tim
Rene de Heer
Yes, I have a Benro A-327, (not listed now) it is very good, like you I didn't fancy the expense of a Gitzo, the quality of the Benro is very good indeed, obviously not up to Gitzo standard but prob about 90%, I have no complaints at all.
I introduced a Photographic Journalist I know to them and they gave him the loan of one of their smaller CF models which I have had a good look at and again the quality, for the price is exceptional, Photopal in the UK are the distributors, Danny is Chinese and his english is not the best but is a very nice person to deal with, he actually delivered mine by hand here in London.
HTH
Phil
Cheers
Tim
I know the Benro's are not bad, but i bought a Feisol CT 3371 about a year ago and would not trade it for anything! Its sturdy, lightweight, does not have a center column and has thick carbon fibre air-pressured legs. It will cost you about 320 US Dollar and you can buy it at www.feisol.com
I really recommend it!
Greetings,
Jeroen Stel
I can't bring myself to pay £500 for a tripod either hence the post, good point regarding the ground. I want light weight, but strong so like racing bikes a lot of R & D goes on to make strong light parts and thus the cost.
Tim
I have been using a Manfrotto 055pro for about 2 years now and I dont think! I have had any probs as yet.Not sure if its the lightest thing on earth, but I am quite happy to carry it all day if needs must.Hope this may help
Stewart....
T
I bought the tripod from Linkdelight( eBay) and payed around £160 inc. p & p. The centre column from Bonnie.yl for around 24 canadian dollars inc. shipping, this compared to Photopal's quoted price of £35.
Hope this helps Hadrian
It will go nicely with that 300mm VR.
Major
Using a tripod like a Gitzo1348 (which I invested in) with its long legs is exactly the kit for your boggy ground. Extracting the slim lower leg section and ramming it deep into mud/bog/heather whatever allows a degree of rigidity that other shorter tripods cant even approach. Similarly, working around rivers you can position the tripod fully extended in the river and perch on boulder and still work at eye level. The advantages of a lightweight, rigid, long-legged tripod with a decent ballhead have to be experienced to be appreciated. You can take images in circumstances that others would just walk on by in frustration. There are setup techniques enabled by the Gitzo variable leg locking mechanism that are little discussed in forums such as this, but which once mastered make such tripods incredibly versatile and quick to use. Thats why they are worth the entry price!