Posted by wade pettitt on June 22, 2010 at 8:44 PM
I was wondering if anyone has any experience with thse tripods, and what they thought of them. The techs look hard to beat for the money, and I have an opportunity to purchase one of there best for under a hundred dollars.
I have an A313 and I am very happy with it. Pretty big and not all that light but that is why I got it. I use it when I don't have to take it very far :-) My only nit with it is that I live next to the ocean and do a fair bit of seascapes. The bolts on it are not stainless steel so they are starting to rust. So far, that hasn't been a problem. My tripod is about two years old, so the bolts may be different on the newer generation.
As far as their carbon fibre tripods, I have been with other photographers that use them and they were very happy with them. On the Luminous Landscapes website, I think that Michael R. did a review of the C414 a year or two back and he had taken it to Antarctica, positive review.
I have a small Benro carbon fibre tripod that I use when going lightweight. I quite like it, I have had it for over 3 years now. Benro did manufacture the Induro tripods originally, not sure if they still do.
I had originally also been interested in the Induro line of tripods. I liked the resistance level in moving the legs. I was also impressed with the quality of the leg-section locks. I wasn't able to get my hands on the one I was truly interested in, so I went to shutterbug to see if they had it. They didn't, but I was very impressed by the Xplorer series aluminum tripod, and ballhead. I purchased those. They had a great price and fit the function I needed. They might need some tightening every once in a while, but it was definitely cheaper than buying the Induro. If you can get it for under $100, you'd be crazy not to get it. Just make sure all of the leg sections extend before buying. Someone once tried to sell me a tripod with 2 working legs.
I have no experience with Induro, but I have read generally good reviews, but with some reservations about build quality and materials. Based on those concerns, I opted to buy a Feisol CT3472. I have never seen a negative review on these. I had owned a series 3 Gitzo carbon and found that when using a 500mm lens I had a bit of vibration-related softness in my images. I really needed a series 5 Gitzo, but could neither justify the extra weight nor spending nearly $1000 for a tripod. From what I could tell at the time, the 3472 offered better performance than the series 3, approaching the 5 which I had rented several times. Upon receiving the tripod it turned out I was correct. Only 2 ounces heavier than a series 3, it was noticeably stiffer.
If you want to pick nits - the leg locks could have anti-rotation, which they have since added to their LV series, and the anodized finish on the machined head could be better, but by and large, this is the best set of legs you can get for under $550 that will weigh in under 4 lbs, or around $700 and 5 lbs for the LV. If you need something lighter and more portable, their CT3442 is also pretty hard to beat. They suggest their ball head which is designed to allow the legs to completely flip up around the head making for a very compact package that will easily fit into a suitcase. The legs weight 2.31 lbs and cost around $350 shipped.
Posted by danny parick on June 24, 2010 at 4:13 AM
i have been through (from my vague memory):
1) slik sprint 3 way
2) ppcp pro tripod
3) stetige from ppcp
4) calumet something tripod
5) manfrotto 725b (still using)
6) giottos 3261 + mh5001 (using, by far the sturdiest so far, i would say on par with the manfrottos i have gotten the chance to play with so far)
1-4 the legs fell apart, must be the extended saltwater exposure.
7) Benro C-269M8 + B-1 (solid, durable, is the adjective belongs to them,good market)
Hey Wade, a few months ago I bought an Induro C014 carbon fiber for my travel tripod and have been really happy with it. I've always been a lever lock tripod guy and was a bit concerned about the twist lock but after the first time I used it I started considering replacing all my lever locks with Induros.
Pros: It's remarkably sturdy for it's size and weight. It matches perfectly with my Markins Q3 which is a smallish head. It's quicker and easier to extend the legs than my lever lock Manfrotto tripods.
Cons: About the only thing I dislike about this tripod is the process of spreading the legs for lower level shooting. Manfrotto and most others I've used have a spring loaded catch that you release and once it gets to a detent point it snaps back into place. The Induro has a button on each leg that you have to pull out but it's not spring loaded so it has to be manually pushed in to lock the leg into one of the detent positions.
Bottom line: The very next time I have to spend valuable shooting time screwing my Manfrotto 441 back together so the legs will spread out I'm going to order a new Induro.
For $100 JUMP on it and don't look back! I own an Induro CF Tripod. Good quality; good price.
I bought the C414 last fall. Followed up with the matching Ball Head with Arca Swiss Mount this spring. Previously I have owned and used a couple Manfrotto Aluminum Legs and the Manfrotto Mounting System. The Manfrotto's are "tanks" and gave me 25+ years of reliable service. They also compared in weight to a tank. I bought the equivalent CF legs and like them alot --lighter and stiffer. I then got an opportunity to purchase the Induro CF legs at a great price and jumped on it. Checked the stiffness side by side -- the difference was unbelievable (hard for me to believe just a small increase in diameter can make so much difference). The are well built and I love mine. Lighter and stiffer (I bought the 4-section for ease of packing for travel -- would prefer the 3 section for stiffness).
I, too used the lever locks on the Manfrotto and thought I would miss them. Its really just a matter of getting used to the difference (and I haven't pinched my finger yet with the Induro :-) ).
It is not a Gitzo -- but for the price differential, its close enough.
And yes, Induro and Benro are manufactured in the same place and marketed by the same company (the same company that owns and manufactures Mamyi cameras). From what I can see the are virtually the same.
Posted by Fred Stearns on June 27, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Andy, I just looked to see the C-014 and -414. Both are listed by B+H as No Longer Available. Any idea what the new models are called?
Posted by wade pettitt on June 27, 2010 at 9:36 PM
OK so I bought the a414 from keh for 99.00 dollars as a demo model, and from what I can tell this is a great deal. I am looking forward to shooting with this tripod. Fred KEH has the c-014 and the price looks good.
Fred: I think their current numbering system for their 8-layer CF legs is CT with a number following. The last digit (3 or 4) refers to the number of legs. So theCT313 is a 3- leg and the CT314 a 4. The first digit refers to leg diameter size. On the site, it looks like the largest leg diameter the CT414 only comes in a 4-leg model. They do show a CT 014.
They use the same numbering system for their Alloy (aluminum) legs, e.g., AT413. I don't see the AT414 on their site, so I assume it is no longer available.
Here is the "Master" site (note it is where I got the information re: Benro, too) for their products: http://www.macgroupus.com/
Go to the Induro site to see all the specs, etc. on their tripods and heads: http://www.indurogear.com/pages/products.asp
I have the C313 and really like it. I have had it for about 6 months now and have used it a moderate amount for landscape photography. On a recent backpacking trip, one of the feet/rubber shoes fell off and I lost that. Its not big deal though. It is very steady, occasionally the legs get loose during use, but I seem to have that problem with every tripod I use so it is probably just me. For the money, it seems like the best deal around. It is also very easy to use and clean. I am sure the resale value isn't is good a Gitzo or Manfrotto, but I would highly endorse Induro.
Posted by Allan Birch on September 2, 2010 at 8:41 PM
I have had the Induro C213 for 3 years now. Prior to that I had a Manfrotto Aluminum tripod. I went with Induro because I wanted something lighter than aluminum but that would support a heavier load. At the time I compared a comparable gitzo to the induro. There was a $200 difference. Gitzo makes fine tripods, but they are overpriced in my opinion and there are other brands out there at a much cheaper price of comparable quality.
Discussion
11 repliesAs far as their carbon fibre tripods, I have been with other photographers that use them and they were very happy with them. On the Luminous Landscapes website, I think that Michael R. did a review of the C414 a year or two back and he had taken it to Antarctica, positive review.
I have a small Benro carbon fibre tripod that I use when going lightweight. I quite like it, I have had it for over 3 years now. Benro did manufacture the Induro tripods originally, not sure if they still do.
If you want to pick nits - the leg locks could have anti-rotation, which they have since added to their LV series, and the anodized finish on the machined head could be better, but by and large, this is the best set of legs you can get for under $550 that will weigh in under 4 lbs, or around $700 and 5 lbs for the LV. If you need something lighter and more portable, their CT3442 is also pretty hard to beat. They suggest their ball head which is designed to allow the legs to completely flip up around the head making for a very compact package that will easily fit into a suitcase. The legs weight 2.31 lbs and cost around $350 shipped.
1) slik sprint 3 way
2) ppcp pro tripod
3) stetige from ppcp
4) calumet something tripod
5) manfrotto 725b (still using)
6) giottos 3261 + mh5001 (using, by far the sturdiest so far, i would say on par with the manfrottos i have gotten the chance to play with so far)
1-4 the legs fell apart, must be the extended saltwater exposure.
7) Benro C-269M8 + B-1 (solid, durable, is the adjective belongs to them,good market)
Pros: It's remarkably sturdy for it's size and weight. It matches perfectly with my Markins Q3 which is a smallish head. It's quicker and easier to extend the legs than my lever lock Manfrotto tripods.
Cons: About the only thing I dislike about this tripod is the process of spreading the legs for lower level shooting. Manfrotto and most others I've used have a spring loaded catch that you release and once it gets to a detent point it snaps back into place. The Induro has a button on each leg that you have to pull out but it's not spring loaded so it has to be manually pushed in to lock the leg into one of the detent positions.
Bottom line: The very next time I have to spend valuable shooting time screwing my Manfrotto 441 back together so the legs will spread out I'm going to order a new Induro.
I bought the C414 last fall. Followed up with the matching Ball Head with Arca Swiss Mount this spring. Previously I have owned and used a couple Manfrotto Aluminum Legs and the Manfrotto Mounting System. The Manfrotto's are "tanks" and gave me 25+ years of reliable service. They also compared in weight to a tank. I bought the equivalent CF legs and like them alot --lighter and stiffer. I then got an opportunity to purchase the Induro CF legs at a great price and jumped on it. Checked the stiffness side by side -- the difference was unbelievable (hard for me to believe just a small increase in diameter can make so much difference). The are well built and I love mine. Lighter and stiffer (I bought the 4-section for ease of packing for travel -- would prefer the 3 section for stiffness).
I, too used the lever locks on the Manfrotto and thought I would miss them. Its really just a matter of getting used to the difference (and I haven't pinched my finger yet with the Induro :-) ).
It is not a Gitzo -- but for the price differential, its close enough.
And yes, Induro and Benro are manufactured in the same place and marketed by the same company (the same company that owns and manufactures Mamyi cameras). From what I can see the are virtually the same.
They use the same numbering system for their Alloy (aluminum) legs, e.g., AT413. I don't see the AT414 on their site, so I assume it is no longer available.
Here is the "Master" site (note it is where I got the information re: Benro, too) for their products: http://www.macgroupus.com/
Go to the Induro site to see all the specs, etc. on their tripods and heads: http://www.indurogear.com/pages/products.asp
Hope that helps