Hi Gareth, don’t know if anyone has already commented on this or you already know but after speaking to Benro you can use the ball head as a levelling base and then the rotating clamp for panning. Thus removing the need for the levelling attachment
I just just bought a Gitzo, its a thing of beauty. Buyers remorse almost immediately but Ill stick with it . In fairness there is probably very little real difference between the Benro and mine. Its okay though as it will definitely make me an awesome photographer...that's what I keep telling myself anyway.
So I’m a windsurfer and a photographer. In over 25 years of trusting my neck to a boom in the open ocean we go with carbon fibre. It’s stiff, light and durable. Couple of things- it does not like to be scratched. It’s a bit like glass and tile - the scratch can produce a fracture line. But don’t worry about salt water - that’s BS. Aluminium (aluminum this side of the pond) does far worse in sea water - especially if any other metal (like steel) is next to it. I’ve broken several aluminium booms. I’m going carbon with my tripods every time. Btw, great review. I’m off to buy one for my Olympus MFT gear - perfect compromise between weight and rigidity. Keep up a great channel. Mike
RRS TVC 3L MK ll , $1160 US before NJ state tax. On top of that I purchased the leveling base for it, video head & 4 other accessories. I had a cheap Tripod & that is why I went for one that will last my life time , 61yr. old. Me like you will cry my eyes out the first time I scratch it. After I get home & realize I GOT THEE SHOT, it shouldn't hurt so much, I hope. I have my camera equipment 4-1/2 yrs. & not a scratch to date . You do know that you extend the bottom leg first for sand & salt water. Leave the bottom legs extended until you can rinse & wipe them off if you want the tripod to last as long as possible. I went to B&H just before the pandemic shut down & looked at all the big $$ tripods & a couple of smaller ones. The craftsmanship & tolerance's were above thee competition . To be fair , they did not have any Pro Media gear in a a comparable size to compare to. Good vid.
I have a Gitzo Series 3 Sytematic tripod with long legs. I bought this, because, like your Benro, it does not have a centre column. So it will go from flat to the ground to just under 6 feet in height. On top of that I have mounted an Arca Swiss Z1 DP (The DP stands for Double Panning which means I can pan without a levelling base.) To buy now, this combination would cost in the region of £1300. However, I have used this very hard for the last 6 years without problem and envisage using it for at least the same period again. Most of my work is landscape based, so it has been subject to a whole range of weather and water conditions. It is also very good for macro work with a focusing rail, where often the weight of the camera is well in front of the tripod, acting as a lever on the ball head. The Arca head locks absolutely solid, unlike other cheaper heads I have used in the past which start to 'creep'. It was a huge investment for me, but it is a great tool for the jobs I do with it.
I hate tripods, but I have 2 Manfrotto 190 cheapies which cost around £120 each. Not too heavy and very easy to use. I do use ball heads and have never had a problem with them, used in all kinds of weather in the Lake District ( is there any other kind of weather) and after years of use they still work very well. They are not as light as the carbon fibre ones but I dont see a massive difference in weight. I also have a cheap carbon fibre tripod which does the job, only paid about £175 including the ball head, cant really complain, always been sturdy enough for my needs and very compact. I have to say that IBIS has a lot going for it, but a tripod will always be the way to go for certain subjects Great insight as always Gareth. Just received the new F8 mag, looking forward to reading through that. I actually ordered them for my Daughter who is doing photography A level, "Cough" she really enjoys them too. Will be ordering the next 4 for sure. :)
Wouldn't worry what you spend on a tripod as long as it makes you happy. Many people spend 1/1.5k on a phone to go on Facebook/Instagram etc and take the odd selfie and then upgrade next year to do the same thing.. Decent tripods tend to last longer than a year.
Best answer. It depends on your style, your budget and priorities. Some years ago I wouldn't imagine myself spending more than 200-300€. But now my budget is larger, and I already have all the camera&lenses that I need, so why not invest in a good solid tripod? I'm looking for FLM CP34 that will cost almost like my camera, but I'm sure it'll last even more.
I needed…yes needed a new tripod, and decided to check out Benro more closely based on this video. I ended up buying the Tortoise 35C with GX35 ball head and I put the blame squarely at your door for the expense 😄
I recently bought the Rhino Series 3. That was £290 and came with the VX30 head. An amazingly good tripod that matches the MACH for sturdiness and height.
Peak Design Travel Tripod CF version...way to expensive but also very lovley. I bought it for the compactness and weight. Where I always left my tripod at home before, I now always have a tripod with me. It IS that light.
Who doesn't like a tripod video eh?! lol I've got a Gitzo...and I treat it like a tripod should be treated...in other words, not with kid gloves. Despite how I treat it I do love it...but I wouldn't buy another. They are over priced for what they are. I don't expect I'll need to replace the Gitzo any time soon, but when I do I will be looking at a Benro (I love their geared head). Oh and in relation to twist locks....I completely strip down my Gitzo to its components parts a couple of times of year for a deep clean and grease. Amazing how much sand comes out! I don't worry about salt water or water getting in the tripod. I always wash it down with water when I get home, and as I say, give it a deep clean every now and again. Anyway, you kept me watching for all 24 minutes, so good work mate!
Haha. Knew I’d find you here! Interesting mix of opinions on the Bentley of tripods ay. A few still claim they are. Nuts. That benro has to be equal to any gitzo. It’s faultless. And a steal! Tho I’d love a play with one 😊
@@GarethDanks It's like a lot of things over the last 5 years. The aspirational gear used to be Lee Filters, Gitzo tripods etc, but the market has changed and other manufacturers are producing products of equal (if not better) quality and at a better price. :-)
There is a Leofoto tripod that purports to be waterproof at the twist locks and leg joints. It is the Leofoto LP-284C+LH-30. It is 10 layer carbon fibre and supposedly has sealed leg joints and uses titanium fittings. The titanium is apparently corrosion resistant. It looks like a nice tripod but it is expensive - £430 for the one mentioned and £530 for the larger LP-324C+LH-40.
I work part time at a camera shop, PD offered us 50% off on all gear, including the tripod. I passed on it. Played with the demo at work, that last section (of 5 sections) is just too filmsy. It's not for everyone
Looks like a good tripod. Been thinking about buying one of these as a second tripod. My current tripod is the Sirui Waterproof 1204 and I have zero complaints and I haven't had any water leaks inside of the legs. Perfect for seascapes and shooting from the water.
I have a Manfrotto Element MII tripod but one leg has completely seized up because the leg pole has turned inside the leg above it and it's unusable. It too has a bottom leg which is so thin and I never trusted it. Plus the bal head is average at best, put a reasonably heavy lens on it and thelens droops downwards even though the ball head is as tight as it'll go. I'm in the market for a new tripod as we speak and am thinking the Benro BAT 34C + Benro GX35 head is what i'm going to go for. I'll never buy Manfrotto again ever, I used to have one a few years back too and that seized up too. Gitzo are the best tripods but in my opinion unless you're using a heavy camera and a lens along the lines of an 800mm which is incredibly heavy there really is not benefit over a mid range or top of the range Benro because some Benro tripods can handle 20kg weight. I have a Nikon Z6II.
I use a Gitzo tripod , and a Arcaswiss P-0 head , I’ve had loads of heads over the years and the Arcaswiss is the best head I’ve ever had, as for the Gitzo tripod, it’s a had a couple of issues which got sorted free of charge, it’s called the Gitzo traveler , and for me personally I’ve never been happier with my current setup . I did have a Benro head once, it worked very well but was just too heavy for me .
@@GarethDanks Because when I did bird and wildlife photography I had a huge Gitzo tripod and a wimberley head because I used a Canon 500 f/4 and sometimes I would hire or borrow a Canon 600 f/4 , always reliable and bullet proof , and very light , that was before Manfrotto took them over .
John, i just picked up a p0 head without any release plate as i thought i would just pop my quick release lever plate from RRS on top of it. unfortunately the silver lever on the head blocks the plate to fully bite into the screw and becomes easily loose. what plate do you use on the p0?
@@bosiefoobar Hi ya mate , when I had my Canon 5DMKIV I used the 3 legged thing L bracket , no problems , Now I have a Nikon Z7 I use the Three legged thing called Zelda , again works perfectly 👍
What height does it extend to Gareth as it has no centre column? I like the look of it. What length is it collapsed. I have a 3 legged thing Leo. The no springs on the leg locks drives me insane. The fancy bit they put between the legs & the head for hanging stuff on comes unscrewed when you have a levelling base on & that drives me nuts too. The weight of the tripod & head is important for me being a vertically challenged lady, I cannot carry all that weight.At the end of the day it is 3 sticks to hold up your camera, but it depends what conditions you intend to use it for. Windy mountain sides it needs to be a bit beefier. As an aside, have you looked at the geared head Simon Baxter uses, which maybe just what you need professionally. Take care & keep safe.
Very helpful vid Gareth, and a new sub from me. I ordered this kit on the back of your review. I actually found it new on Ebay (24C + GX30) for £220. I do own an expensive tripod setup, the Gitzo 3542LS Systematic legs + RRS BH-55 head + RRS quick release clamp + foam sleeves + extra long spikes etc. All in around £1200 I think and it is amazing and has been a rock for me for a number of years. But it's too big to strap to a regular day pack (comfortably at least) so not something I can take along on a normal hike or a bike ride, around the streets of a city or holiday destination, or anything that isn't a dedicated photography trip basically. So this (I think) will be the ideal tripod for those times, and often when spontaneous light appears. Many thanks for your review, and I'll be watching more of your content now!
FWIW since you struggled so much with pronunciation: "Mach" is a German word and pronounced "mock". I do need a travel-size tripod to back up my full-size FLM CP30-L4 II tripod, which is brilliant. I paid $459 USD for it; it's now on holiday sale for $390! That's legs only; I have a Really Right Stuff BH-40B head on it. Benro is a solid brand.
Just guessing, but I'd be inclined to think that the name Mach 3 is a reference to the so-called Mach number used to describe supersonic speed (which was named after the Austrian physicist Ernst Mach)
Gareth, Well, your ‘three legs and a head’ review of this tripod was what pushed me to buy one, which i just received. Lordy what a stunning piece of gear this is! Like you i have a bigger, heavier tripod for when i’m not hiking. But this Benro will be my travel and hike option. Appreciate your reviewing it.
Nice tripod, I'm using a Bresser BX-5 Pro tripod which came with a fluid video head. The centre column is a pain in the neck when you need to go low... I still haven't figured out how to use it without the column! 🤣 As a backup I'm using a Leofoto Ranger LS-224C.
Nice tripod Gareth. Very similar to one I have just purchased which is a Leofoto ls-285c. That’s got no centre column either and the build quality is insane.
I use the Feisol CT-3442 Tournament with a Markins M20 ball head. Great combo for my Olympus gear. Tripod weighs 1.15kg and head weighs 598g (and the head is way overspecced for my gear). Max height 55.7 in (141.5 cm) and folder height 19.0 in (48.3 cm) without ball head and 23 (58.4) with. Had it about 9 years I guess and whilst not used frequently it has always done what I needed when I use it.
Hi Gareth, nice review on the tripod. Is the white plastic rivet shown at 10:09 durable? Or its like a very cheap plastic material that will easily break? I'm using Leofoto LS284 tripod and the plastic rivet tend to easily break after a while due to the cheap plastic material.
Benro tripods are superb, used to buy Gitzo, but Benro offer great quality and excellent value for money. All you need now is a decent camera, lol may I recommend a Z6 or Z7, lol. Happy new year mate, hope 2021 bring all you wish for, cheers. PS Gitzo used to make a tripod called the "Ocean traveller" it came in two sizes, all fittings were marine grade stainless steel and it was designed for use at the coast and in the sea, they were approx £1,000, I think they have stopped making them now!
Great review! If you could only have 1 tripod out of the mach3 and the tortoise what would you chose? I have the mach3 and it’s is amazing but it is bulky to carry around all the time!
I have the same tripod as yourself, the TMA38CL with ballhead and it's fantastically sturdy and the ballhead is very nice. I also have another Benro, same height but aluminium with the gear head on it for macro and astro work. Both are excellent and at $500 NZD each, thats as much as I was prepared to spend.
I blanched at paying £80 for a tripod! To be fair I don't really use one, but I am hoping to get into landscape photography in 2021. I'll get a decent one then. That big Benbo looks a really solid bit of kit, but I'd literally tremble at paying that amount for one.
Hi, This is something I noticed from the video. The version of the tripod you have somewhere has am option as a monopod! I am not sure you notice that at all?
Amicable and likable chap. All these combined you coulda had a Gitzo? 😆 Nice Benro, Belated congrats Benro very solid Tripod. I used to be a Sirui ( Soo Ray ) fan, but nowadays I have gone to Leofoto. They are above and beyond in quality. Cheers and Happy Shooting!
Hi Gareth, Can you explain why you need that leveling base on your new tripod. The pano rotation is at the top. You shouldn't need the leveling base. Just level the camera via the ball head. Or am I missing something? Thanks
because i can do a pano with the camera pointing at the floor with that.. the top spinny plate needs to be perfectly level where as the base doesnt.. sorry that prob makes no sense haha
Here’s what I don’t get about all the discussion about tripods: Everybody has a purpose for using their tripod, so that’s what their tripod is meant to do. If you buy a tripod and then find something it can’t do, you go out and buy another tripod. Why? It’s 3 legs and a head, why can’t you modify what you have to do what you want? If they had interchangeable parts, that would be the case. The brilliant thing about LeoFoto is that parts are interchangeable. Their numbering system is based on carbon tube diameter, a 32mm tube will slide into a 36mm tube, a 19mm tube will slide into a 22mm tube… all of their apexes are interchangeable for the same size top section, so I can swap between no center column, 75mm bowl or their built-in leveling head on the same legs. I can take the 3 lower leg sections off my 284, put them on the bottom of my 364 and I have an 8’ tripod. I can also replace one of those legs with the stubby leg from a 362 and I have a tripod for shooting over walls or fences. While LeoFoto doesn’t market it this way, it’s a system. Instead of buying another tripod that does one thing, you expand the system.
When I spent over a couple hundred Euros for a Manfrotto travel tripod I was quite happy with it...until I started carrying it around on my ruck for long periods. My advice: If you're going to carry it often, spend the extra money and buy carbon.
Up until very recently my main body was one that cost me $300 used and the most "expensive" lens was $350 also used so I had a real hard time justifying anything over ~$200 for a set of legs.
@@GarethDanks I do have one ace in the hole if I really need something extremely strong (and heavy). I've got an adapter plate for my CST/berger surveyor's tripod that lets me attach a photo head to it. I think the thing is rated for 45 or 50 pounds. 🤣
@@GarethDanks Indeed, not meant to go more than a few dozen meters from the parking lot! Initially I set it up so I could go to a jobsite, park my wife's D5500 on it and do a time lapse of a timber frame going up. Or at least that was the idea back when we used to gather for things like barn raisings.
My Main tripod is a Gitzo Mountaineer with a Arca P0 head. Just love the Arca head due to having the panning at the top. It negates having to have a leveling base. I did go for a Benro Go Plus with a small Benro IB0 head as a lighter travel unit. But really missed having the pano feature of the Arca P0. So I have replaced the arca plate of the IB0 with a sunway foto panning base. I now find the Benro being used more than the older Gitzo.
@James Hunt If the Benro VX20 isn't too heavy for your Benro Go Plus I'd simply change this for your small Benro IB0 head. Unlike the GX heads from Benro the VX have no scale but this double panorama function (you like at your Arca P0 head). 🤔
I recently upgraded to a Gitzo GT3543XLS for the extra height, plus on top of that i have an Arca Swiss D4 geared head, which is the best head i have ever used. I would never go back to a 3 way head now. :)
Just thought i would pop back and update this re the Gitzo GT3543XLS after 2yrs of use. It is a pile of crap, it flexes too much, the twist leg locks keep sticking despite me regularly servicing it and the rubbers on the twist leg keep turning on their own without the locks undoing. In fact on my last trip away in October it took me about an hour to release 2 of the twist locks on the legs. I would never recommend Gitzo to anyone.
Thank you for your review of your tripods in your use! One question about the ball head on your Benro tripod, do ever use it for panorama type of photography? I am about to purchase a ball head with the name: Benro GX35 Low Profile and it seems to be sturdy and the weight is only 400g and keeping up to 35 kg of weight! By the way, I like the SIRUI W-2204 Carbon Fibre waterproof tripod and this is because I often photograph in wet conditions at the archipelago of Stockholm here in Sweden! Do have any experience with this carbon fiber tripod made by Sirui? I do not know if Benro has also an equivalent waterproof carbon fiber tripos available for sale? Wishing you all the best and please stay healthy and safe during these perilous times we live in right now! Best Regards from Sweden! PS. Now also subscribing and of course, giving thumbs up! A big THANK, to you, sir!
I noticed that the arca swiss plate on the ballhead is a bit elevated. Can you use other generic arca swiss plates with this Benro ball head? Thank you.
the clip locks on manfrotto are made of magnesium and gets weaken by salt water and i know that because i had to replace all my clip locks but now i have the benro mach 3 and benro g2 head
I like it doesn’t have a center column which I rarely even use, I think it is sturdy enough for astrophotography. You can always add weight to the hook though. The lack of height also doesn’t really bother me. It should also be an amazing versatile and travel tripod. The Mach3 series looks also lovely but I think there just to big to travel with. 16kg of weight should be fine with my mostly wide angle use cases. Definitely thinking of buying this one. The panoramic head also looks to be amazing and a giant step up from my 50€ tripod and ballhead.
I currently use the Sirui Traveler 7C. (£139) I used to use an RRS ballhead on a Series 2, definitely not worth ten times the price. As, long as it holds the weight, the head is more important than the legs imo.
I use a Manfrotto 055, but it is heavy and old, I was looking at the Rhino but instead ordered a Fotopro Preadator which has not arrived yet, I chose it because of price, cant justify spending big bucks on a tripod.
I have the Sirui K-20 and I don´t really like it - how would you compare your Sirui to the Benro G2? I am considering a Benro B2 to replace the Sirui...
Good question! its hard to explain but basically your camera cant point down when you pan with this method because your already using the ball head to level your tripod.. you'll end up using the legs to level then panning normally with the ball head down slightly.. ok if you wanna shoot straight on.. not if you want the foreground included too.. does that make sense? :-)
I’ve just bought a Novo T10 from UK Digital with £50 discount so I got it for £199 I think it’s a bargain and has great reviews,it’s to replace a Ali Manfrotto 190art which is 36 years old so I’ve had vfm out of it
I feel like the fact this video dropped means I need to stop putting off investing in a good tripod. I’d be willing to pay up to £200 for my first non-entry level tripod. Great video mate!
Take a look at the iFootage Gazelle, two options with or without centre column, I picked mine up from ProAV for under £200. www.ifootagegear.com/products/gazelle-fastbowl.
Siri has a tripod with a W at the end of the model ( 3204 w maybe ) with some kind of seal in it I believe. Anyway the W stands for... Also I have seen tripod leg sleeves for sale at B&H but have not used or seen them. It is sort of like a water proof sock.
will it take a nikon z7 with nikon 24-200 with l bracket as im looking into carbon fibre bud and im actually looking at the rhino and the tortoise with the gx35 ball head is it arca swiss bud and hope well ive just ordered the new olympus om1 for wildlife but im keeping nkon did like look of mach3 but didnt want to pay extra for seperate ball head
I have two tripods , well one tripod and one monopod and both have an arm tilt adjustment and I noticed that none of yours i've seen have Is this a personal preference or just what you get from high-end ones ?
Ok Gareth, I did a video a long time ago that clearly nobody watched (lol) which explained why the likes of Gitzo and RRS are so much more expensive than others and, I guess, why they are worth the extra cost. Trust me, they are more expensive for a very good reason.
hey Greg.. if its down to vibration i get that, but can it really be much better than my big benro.?? ill look for you vid now.. interesting! hope your well mate :-)
@@GarethDanks it's partly down to vibration, which is dampened by the way the carbon fibre is laid down in manufacturing. The other is stiffness of the main components and how thick they are. Your big Benro is big for a reason, and it does it's job admirably by the way, but it's only as stiff (and strong) as a Gitzo/RRS/Feisol about half it's size. The reason a lot of 'Carbon' tripods out there are a lot cheaper than those brands is because those cheaper manufacturers use a composite tube of Carbon Fibre and Glass Fibre produced en-mass that is cheap to produce. Also, about 90% of hubs (the bit at the top that holds the 3 legs) are manufactured by a single factory in the far east, which is why they all generally look alike. Most people frown on the use of the centre column because they are extra susceptible to vibration, but the centre column of a Gitzo/RRS/Feisol is so much more resistant to vibration due to the stiffness of the tube...so there really is no problem using the column in all but the strongest of gales. A good in the field test of your tripod is to set it up on a windy day and then lightly touch each of the leg sections with your little finger. You'll feel the wind vibrating the legs straight away. As you move up the leg it should get less and less. By the time you get to the top, there should be very very little to none...that's the sign of a good tripod. Of course, the wind will also vibrate the camera on top, which is why a really good head is also essential. You'll never totally eliminate vibration in those conditions, but the real difference between a £300 and a £600+ tripod, in any conditions that you or I are likely to face, is the difference between getting a blurry and a sharp image.
Sorry for the delay man. Yeah I get you but if I’m honest I don’t know anyone who owns one and thinks they’re worth the money or would re invest in similar in future. Also there’s a dpregiew vid recently comparing 4/5 tripods (crappy peak design in there too) and the gitzo does crap on that vibration test. Unless your gonna say that’s a crap gitzo. I do get your point re the physics tho of course. Makes sense. Tho I don’t see how my big benro can be that much of a compromise in comparison. Buy me one and I’ll test it out. Happy to be wrong haha
When you look at your expensive tripod as an investment for the next 30 years (or so) then you can justify buying a Gitzo that is three times as expensive as your Benro. You could also ask yourself: How many Benros will I buy in those 30 years? Maybe my thinking is wrong (and yours is right) ... 😅 I guess tripods are as individual as their owners. Who could blame somebody for buying a Gitzo? At least I wouldn't. You love your Benro as somebody else loves his or her Gitzo. It's as simple as this. P.S.: Why do you need a leveling base when your Benro GX30 has a double panorama function? It simply doesn't make any sense to me, because the ball head can manage more than those + and - 10 to 15 degrees of a leveling base! 🤔
@@GarethDanks Yeah Pixie Evo - Something small to stick in my bag for street shooting. It might give me some other options to get creative / could always do a self portrait type thing if no one is around ha
Looks like another good piece from Benro mate. I'll get a can of that spray you mentioned and the gear head you showed is definitely a good option to shoot with. I much prefer making small adjustments with that over a ball head.
too short for you haha! but yeah damn good for the money!! thats my second can of that!! used the first a few times before elis broke the top off haha.. it would have lasted years else!!
Agree with you entirely with respect to cost. Anything over $500 is ridiculous. There is a perfect solution for your saltwater tripod. Buy one with wooden legs! 😁 😁 😁
I would also like to comment on the dual 3/8"x16 - 1/4"x20 combination screw mount from an 'historical' perspective. The first that I ever saw of these was on a Leica ball head that I acquired in the late 1950's (and still have). I have no idea if this was a Leica invention, but it has been around for awhile.
Hi Gareth, don’t know if anyone has already commented on this or you already know but after speaking to Benro you can use the ball head as a levelling base and then the rotating clamp for panning. Thus removing the need for the levelling attachment
I just just bought a Gitzo, its a thing of beauty. Buyers remorse almost immediately but Ill stick with it . In fairness there is probably very little real difference between the Benro and mine. Its okay though as it will definitely make me an awesome photographer...that's what I keep telling myself anyway.
Haha. I can well imagine ! And it’ll last you 200 years too lol. Worse than buying a Leica for landscapes lol
So I’m a windsurfer and a photographer. In over 25 years of trusting my neck to a boom in the open ocean we go with carbon fibre. It’s stiff, light and durable. Couple of things- it does not like to be scratched. It’s a bit like glass and tile - the scratch can produce a fracture line. But don’t worry about salt water - that’s BS. Aluminium (aluminum this side of the pond) does far worse in sea water - especially if any other metal (like steel) is next to it. I’ve broken several aluminium booms. I’m going carbon with my tripods every time. Btw, great review. I’m off to buy one for my Olympus MFT gear - perfect compromise between weight and rigidity. Keep up a great channel. Mike
RRS TVC 3L MK ll , $1160 US before NJ state tax. On top of that I purchased the leveling base for it, video head & 4 other accessories. I had a cheap Tripod & that is why I went for one that will last my life time , 61yr. old. Me like you will cry my eyes out the first time I scratch it. After I get home & realize I GOT THEE SHOT, it shouldn't hurt so much, I hope. I have my camera equipment 4-1/2 yrs. & not a scratch to date . You do know that you extend the bottom leg first for sand & salt water. Leave the bottom legs extended until you can rinse & wipe them off if you want the tripod to last as long as possible. I went to B&H just before the pandemic shut down & looked at all the big $$ tripods & a couple of smaller ones. The craftsmanship & tolerance's were above thee competition . To be fair , they did not have any Pro Media gear in a a comparable size to compare to. Good vid.
I just bought it today and i loved it, excellent built quality and very posh
I have a Gitzo Series 3 Sytematic tripod with long legs. I bought this, because, like your Benro, it does not have a centre column. So it will go from flat to the ground to just under 6 feet in height. On top of that I have mounted an Arca Swiss Z1 DP (The DP stands for Double Panning which means I can pan without a levelling base.) To buy now, this combination would cost in the region of £1300. However, I have used this very hard for the last 6 years without problem and envisage using it for at least the same period again. Most of my work is landscape based, so it has been subject to a whole range of weather and water conditions. It is also very good for macro work with a focusing rail, where often the weight of the camera is well in front of the tripod, acting as a lever on the ball head. The Arca head locks absolutely solid, unlike other cheaper heads I have used in the past which start to 'creep'. It was a huge investment for me, but it is a great tool for the jobs I do with it.
I hate tripods, but I have 2 Manfrotto 190 cheapies which cost around £120 each. Not too heavy and very easy to use. I do use ball heads and have never had a problem with them, used in all kinds of weather in the Lake District ( is there any other kind of weather) and after years of use they still work very well. They are not as light as the carbon fibre ones but I dont see a massive difference in weight. I also have a cheap carbon fibre tripod which does the job, only paid about £175 including the ball head, cant really complain, always been sturdy enough for my needs and very compact. I have to say that IBIS has a lot going for it, but a tripod will always be the way to go for certain subjects
Great insight as always Gareth. Just received the new F8 mag, looking forward to reading through that. I actually ordered them for my Daughter who is doing photography A level, "Cough" she really enjoys them too. Will be ordering the next 4 for sure. :)
Wouldn't worry what you spend on a tripod as long as it makes you happy. Many people spend 1/1.5k on a phone to go on Facebook/Instagram etc and take the odd selfie and then upgrade next year to do the same thing.. Decent tripods tend to last longer than a year.
Best answer. It depends on your style, your budget and priorities. Some years ago I wouldn't imagine myself spending more than 200-300€. But now my budget is larger, and I already have all the camera&lenses that I need, so why not invest in a good solid tripod? I'm looking for FLM CP34 that will cost almost like my camera, but I'm sure it'll last even more.
I needed…yes needed a new tripod, and decided to check out Benro more closely based on this video. I ended up buying the Tortoise 35C with GX35 ball head and I put the blame squarely at your door for the expense 😄
I recently bought the Rhino Series 3. That was £290 and came with the VX30 head. An amazingly good tripod that matches the MACH for sturdiness and height.
I just got my tortoise after seeing this review. I went for the 14c as its slightly slimmer. Feels really premium!
Peak Design Travel Tripod CF version...way to expensive but also very lovley. I bought it for the compactness and weight. Where I always left my tripod at home before, I now always have a tripod with me. It IS that light.
I recently purchased the Benro Mach3 TMA48CXL Carbon Fibre, used it for the first time yesterday, great tripod.
Who doesn't like a tripod video eh?! lol I've got a Gitzo...and I treat it like a tripod should be treated...in other words, not with kid gloves. Despite how I treat it I do love it...but I wouldn't buy another. They are over priced for what they are. I don't expect I'll need to replace the Gitzo any time soon, but when I do I will be looking at a Benro (I love their geared head). Oh and in relation to twist locks....I completely strip down my Gitzo to its components parts a couple of times of year for a deep clean and grease. Amazing how much sand comes out! I don't worry about salt water or water getting in the tripod. I always wash it down with water when I get home, and as I say, give it a deep clean every now and again. Anyway, you kept me watching for all 24 minutes, so good work mate!
Haha. Knew I’d find you here! Interesting mix of opinions on the Bentley of tripods ay. A few still claim they are. Nuts. That benro has to be equal to any gitzo. It’s faultless. And a steal! Tho I’d love a play with one 😊
Issue 3 is on its wayyyyy 🚀
@@GarethDanks Mate, you are a legend!!
@@GarethDanks It's like a lot of things over the last 5 years. The aspirational gear used to be Lee Filters, Gitzo tripods etc, but the market has changed and other manufacturers are producing products of equal (if not better) quality and at a better price. :-)
There is a Leofoto tripod that purports to be waterproof at the twist locks and leg joints. It is the Leofoto LP-284C+LH-30. It is 10 layer carbon fibre and supposedly has sealed leg joints and uses titanium fittings. The titanium is apparently corrosion resistant. It looks like a nice tripod but it is expensive - £430 for the one mentioned and £530 for the larger LP-324C+LH-40.
yes i saw it looks lovely too! tho very expensive and id need to see others use them for a while as its a brand id hear fail a lot.. shame!
Peak Design Travel Tripod carbon fibre. Brilliant design, solid as a rock, light as a feather and 100% maintainable. Oh and guaranteed for life
I work part time at a camera shop, PD offered us 50% off on all gear, including the tripod. I passed on it. Played with the demo at work, that last section (of 5 sections) is just too filmsy. It's not for everyone
Been looking for a review on this for so long! Thanks for sharing your insights!
Glad it was helpful! thanks for the comment
Fantastic video Gareth. Just what I needed to make a decision on a Benro tripod.
I Recently purchased a
Sirui N-2204SK N-S for $200usd on sale, cant wait to get it in my hands. Most expensive tripod I've ever purchased.
Looks like a good tripod. Been thinking about buying one of these as a second tripod. My current tripod is the Sirui Waterproof 1204 and I have zero complaints and I haven't had any water leaks inside of the legs. Perfect for seascapes and shooting from the water.
I have a Manfrotto Element MII tripod but one leg has completely seized up because the leg pole has turned inside the leg above it and it's unusable. It too has a bottom leg which is so thin and I never trusted it. Plus the bal head is average at best, put a reasonably heavy lens on it and thelens droops downwards even though the ball head is as tight as it'll go. I'm in the market for a new tripod as we speak and am thinking the Benro BAT 34C + Benro GX35 head is what i'm going to go for. I'll never buy Manfrotto again ever, I used to have one a few years back too and that seized up too. Gitzo are the best tripods but in my opinion unless you're using a heavy camera and a lens along the lines of an 800mm which is incredibly heavy there really is not benefit over a mid range or top of the range Benro because some Benro tripods can handle 20kg weight. I have a Nikon Z6II.
I use a Gitzo tripod , and a Arcaswiss P-0 head , I’ve had loads of heads over the years and the Arcaswiss is the best head I’ve ever had, as for the Gitzo tripod, it’s a had a couple of issues which got sorted free of charge, it’s called the Gitzo traveler , and for me personally I’ve never been happier with my current setup . I did have a Benro head once, it worked very well but was just too heavy for me .
haha.. trust you to own a Gitzo! they do look nice! but unless i got a belta of a deal, i dont think id get one.. Why Gitzo tho?
@@GarethDanks Because when I did bird and wildlife photography I had a huge Gitzo tripod and a wimberley head because I used a Canon 500 f/4 and sometimes I would hire or borrow a Canon 600 f/4 , always reliable and bullet proof , and very light , that was before Manfrotto took them over .
The Arca P0 is just a brilliant head. Love mine, its just so easy to use.
John, i just picked up a p0 head without any release plate as i thought i would just pop my quick release lever plate from RRS on top of it. unfortunately the silver lever on the head blocks the plate to fully bite into the screw and becomes easily loose. what plate do you use on the p0?
@@bosiefoobar Hi ya mate , when I had my Canon 5DMKIV I used the 3 legged thing L bracket , no problems , Now I have a Nikon Z7 I use the Three legged thing called Zelda , again works perfectly 👍
What height does it extend to Gareth as it has no centre column? I like the look of it. What length is it collapsed. I have a 3 legged thing Leo. The no springs on the leg locks drives me insane. The fancy bit they put between the legs & the head for hanging stuff on comes unscrewed when you have a levelling base on & that drives me nuts too. The weight of the tripod & head is important for me being a vertically challenged lady, I cannot carry all that weight.At the end of the day it is 3 sticks to hold up your camera, but it depends what conditions you intend to use it for. Windy mountain sides it needs to be a bit beefier.
As an aside, have you looked at the geared head Simon Baxter uses, which maybe just what you need professionally. Take care & keep safe.
Very helpful vid Gareth, and a new sub from me. I ordered this kit on the back of your review. I actually found it new on Ebay (24C + GX30) for £220. I do own an expensive tripod setup, the Gitzo 3542LS Systematic legs + RRS BH-55 head + RRS quick release clamp + foam sleeves + extra long spikes etc. All in around £1200 I think and it is amazing and has been a rock for me for a number of years. But it's too big to strap to a regular day pack (comfortably at least) so not something I can take along on a normal hike or a bike ride, around the streets of a city or holiday destination, or anything that isn't a dedicated photography trip basically. So this (I think) will be the ideal tripod for those times, and often when spontaneous light appears. Many thanks for your review, and I'll be watching more of your content now!
Hi spikes are best for muddy Hill sides and putting through hole on cds if on sand :)
FWIW since you struggled so much with pronunciation: "Mach" is a German word and pronounced "mock". I do need a travel-size tripod to back up my full-size FLM CP30-L4 II tripod, which is brilliant. I paid $459 USD for it; it's now on holiday sale for $390! That's legs only; I have a Really Right Stuff BH-40B head on it. Benro is a solid brand.
Just guessing, but I'd be inclined to think that the name Mach 3 is a reference to the so-called Mach number used to describe supersonic speed (which was named after the Austrian physicist Ernst Mach)
The Benbo tripods (not Benro) have the lower leg outside the upper and so the lower section is therefore waterproof. They are not light however.
Ah right. Not seen that. Will have a look 😊👍🏻
Gareth, Well, your ‘three legs and a head’ review of this tripod was what pushed me to buy one, which i just received. Lordy what a stunning piece of gear this is! Like you i have a bigger, heavier tripod for when i’m not hiking. But this Benro will be my travel and hike option. Appreciate your reviewing it.
Nice tripod, I'm using a Bresser BX-5 Pro tripod which came with a fluid video head. The centre column is a pain in the neck when you need to go low... I still haven't figured out how to use it without the column! 🤣
As a backup I'm using a Leofoto Ranger LS-224C.
Nice tripod Gareth. Very similar to one I have just purchased which is a Leofoto ls-285c. That’s got no centre column either and the build quality is insane.
Nice one! not seen them before!! just had a look! very similar to the Mach 3! seems a bargain! :-)
Hi. With what ballhead and is it high enough without the centre column?
I use the Feisol CT-3442 Tournament with a Markins M20 ball head. Great combo for my Olympus gear. Tripod weighs 1.15kg and head weighs 598g (and the head is way overspecced for my gear). Max height 55.7 in (141.5 cm) and folder height 19.0 in (48.3 cm) without ball head and 23 (58.4) with. Had it about 9 years I guess and whilst not used frequently it has always done what I needed when I use it.
i brought my Benro from Carmarthen camera shop for £250.00 its the travel flat so it sits in my travel case nicely and so easy to clean
Hi Gareth, nice review on the tripod. Is the white plastic rivet shown at 10:09 durable? Or its like a very cheap plastic material that will easily break? I'm using Leofoto LS284 tripod and the plastic rivet tend to easily break after a while due to the cheap plastic material.
same on most tripods now mate.. cheap or expensive.. as. long as they're joined together not separate like on some your ok
I'm hoping to get the 35c with the gx35 ballhead to use with my Sigma 150-600mm contemporary lens.
Benro tripods are superb, used to buy Gitzo, but Benro offer great quality and excellent value for money. All you need now is a decent camera, lol may I recommend a Z6 or Z7, lol. Happy new year mate, hope 2021 bring all you wish for, cheers. PS Gitzo used to make a tripod called the "Ocean traveller" it came in two sizes, all fittings were marine grade stainless steel and it was designed for use at the coast and in the sea, they were approx £1,000, I think they have stopped making them now!
Good to know! ive just bought a z7 haha
Great review! If you could only have 1 tripod out of the mach3 and the tortoise what would you chose? I have the mach3 and it’s is amazing but it is bulky to carry around all the time!
I have the same tripod as yourself, the TMA38CL with ballhead and it's fantastically sturdy and the ballhead is very nice. I also have another Benro, same height but aluminium with the gear head on it for macro and astro work. Both are excellent and at $500 NZD each, thats as much as I was prepared to spend.
Great review. I’m after a benro but can’t make my mind up between Tortoise or Mach3- any thoughts please?
I blanched at paying £80 for a tripod! To be fair I don't really use one, but I am hoping to get into landscape photography in 2021. I'll get a decent one then. That big Benbo looks a really solid bit of kit, but I'd literally tremble at paying that amount for one.
Do you really need the levelling base when the ball head of the Tortoise has the dual Panorama function?
Absolutely! they're no where near as good! :-)
@@GarethDanks Thanks for reply. I see. That's good to know. All that glitters isn’t gold then.
Great review! Are you still happy with the ballhead? I have a Benro Mach3 and am looking to add the GX30 ballhead.
Thanks but no. I don’t rate the ball head. Depends on your camera size and weight tho
@@GarethDanks you're not happy with it?
Not the head. M4/3 camera might be ok. Legs are fantastic tho
Hi,
This is something I noticed from the video. The version of the tripod you have somewhere has am option as a monopod! I am not sure you notice that at all?
Amicable and likable chap. All these combined you coulda had a Gitzo? 😆 Nice Benro, Belated congrats Benro very solid Tripod. I used to be a Sirui ( Soo Ray ) fan, but nowadays I have gone to Leofoto. They are above and beyond in quality. Cheers and Happy Shooting!
Hi Gareth, Can you explain why you need that leveling base on your new tripod. The pano rotation is at the top. You shouldn't need the leveling base. Just level the camera via the ball head. Or am I missing something? Thanks
because i can do a pano with the camera pointing at the floor with that.. the top spinny plate needs to be perfectly level where as the base doesnt.. sorry that prob makes no sense haha
@@GarethDanks Yeah not so sure. do you mean when you are shooting a vertical pano? Think this would make a good vlog. Cheers
Here’s what I don’t get about all the discussion about tripods: Everybody has a purpose for using their tripod, so that’s what their tripod is meant to do. If you buy a tripod and then find something it can’t do, you go out and buy another tripod. Why? It’s 3 legs and a head, why can’t you modify what you have to do what you want? If they had interchangeable parts, that would be the case. The brilliant thing about LeoFoto is that parts are interchangeable. Their numbering system is based on carbon tube diameter, a 32mm tube will slide into a 36mm tube, a 19mm tube will slide into a 22mm tube… all of their apexes are interchangeable for the same size top section, so I can swap between no center column, 75mm bowl or their built-in leveling head on the same legs. I can take the 3 lower leg sections off my 284, put them on the bottom of my 364 and I have an 8’ tripod. I can also replace one of those legs with the stubby leg from a 362 and I have a tripod for shooting over walls or fences. While LeoFoto doesn’t market it this way, it’s a system. Instead of buying another tripod that does one thing, you expand the system.
When I spent over a couple hundred Euros for a Manfrotto travel tripod I was quite happy with it...until I started carrying it around on my ruck for long periods. My advice: If you're going to carry it often, spend the extra money and buy carbon.
Height and stability are my most important needs with a tripod. That's a nice tripod but not high enough for me.
Like the look of that, and the levelling base
Swap ya for a Nikon haha
@@GarethDanks I don’t like it that much 😂
Up until very recently my main body was one that cost me $300 used and the most "expensive" lens was $350 also used so I had a real hard time justifying anything over ~$200 for a set of legs.
i get ya mate.. depends where your using them i guess.. low level your fine :-)
@@GarethDanks I do have one ace in the hole if I really need something extremely strong (and heavy). I've got an adapter plate for my CST/berger surveyor's tripod that lets me attach a photo head to it. I think the thing is rated for 45 or 50 pounds. 🤣
Haha. If you’ll ever carry the thing. I still have heavy tripods. They never leave the office as I hate carrying them
@@GarethDanks Indeed, not meant to go more than a few dozen meters from the parking lot! Initially I set it up so I could go to a jobsite, park my wife's D5500 on it and do a time lapse of a timber frame going up.
Or at least that was the idea back when we used to gather for things like barn raisings.
My Main tripod is a Gitzo Mountaineer with a Arca P0 head. Just love the Arca head due to having the panning at the top. It negates having to have a leveling base. I did go for a Benro Go Plus with a small Benro IB0 head as a lighter travel unit. But really missed having the pano feature of the Arca P0. So I have replaced the arca plate of the IB0 with a sunway foto panning base. I now find the Benro being used more than the older Gitzo.
@James Hunt If the Benro VX20 isn't too heavy for your Benro Go Plus I'd simply change this for your small Benro IB0 head. Unlike the GX heads from Benro the VX have no scale but this double panorama function (you like at your Arca P0 head). 🤔
I recently upgraded to a Gitzo GT3543XLS for the extra height, plus on top of that i have an Arca Swiss D4 geared head, which is the best head i have ever used. I would never go back to a 3 way head now. :)
Just thought i would pop back and update this re the Gitzo GT3543XLS after 2yrs of use. It is a pile of crap, it flexes too much, the twist leg locks keep sticking despite me regularly servicing it and the rubbers on the twist leg keep turning on their own without the locks undoing. In fact on my last trip away in October it took me about an hour to release 2 of the twist locks on the legs. I would never recommend Gitzo to anyone.
Thank you for your review of your tripods in your use! One question about the ball head on your Benro tripod, do ever use it for panorama type of photography? I am about to purchase a ball head with the name: Benro GX35 Low Profile and it seems to be sturdy and the weight is only 400g and keeping up to 35 kg of weight! By the way, I like the SIRUI W-2204 Carbon Fibre waterproof tripod and this is because I often photograph in wet conditions at the archipelago of Stockholm here in Sweden! Do have any experience with this carbon fiber tripod made by Sirui? I do not know if Benro has also an equivalent waterproof carbon fiber tripos available for sale? Wishing you all the best and please stay healthy and safe during these perilous times we live in right now! Best Regards from Sweden!
PS. Now also subscribing and of course, giving thumbs up! A big THANK, to you, sir!
I noticed that the arca swiss plate on the ballhead is a bit elevated. Can you use other generic arca swiss plates with this Benro ball head? Thank you.
What Arca bracket are you using here?
the clip locks on manfrotto are made of magnesium and gets weaken by salt water and i know that because i had to replace all my clip locks but now i have the benro mach 3 and benro g2 head
yeah mine just went solid.. couldnt get it apart either!! Manfrotto couldnt even fix it
Kase Filters do waterproof covers for legs now. Apparently Leofotos new tripod series The Poseidon has titanium parts and waterproof legs
hey man.. i knew about the kase covers.. not sure about them.. didnt know about that titanium tripod tho haha! wow.. bit posh!!
I like it doesn’t have a center column which I rarely even use, I think it is sturdy enough for astrophotography. You can always add weight to the hook though. The lack of height also doesn’t really bother me. It should also be an amazing versatile and travel tripod. The Mach3 series looks also lovely but I think there just to big to travel with. 16kg of weight should be fine with my mostly wide angle use cases. Definitely thinking of buying this one. The panoramic head also looks to be amazing and a giant step up from my 50€ tripod and ballhead.
I currently use the Sirui Traveler 7C.
(£139)
I used to use an RRS ballhead on a Series 2, definitely not worth ten times the price.
As, long as it holds the weight, the head is more important than the legs imo.
100% agree mate.. id love a free one to own lol but i couldnt ever buy one..
I use a Manfrotto 055, but it is heavy and old, I was looking at the Rhino but instead ordered a Fotopro Preadator which has not arrived yet, I chose it because of price, cant justify spending big bucks on a tripod.
I loved the 055.. still got mine! ones like new, the others rusty and horrible from sea water.. ill check that out.. new one on me!
I have the Sirui K-20 and I don´t really like it - how would you compare your Sirui to the Benro G2? I am considering a Benro B2 to replace the Sirui...
Hello Gareth, very good review. I was wondering though why you added an additional level base since your Benro balhead has 2 rotation plates ?
Good question! its hard to explain but basically your camera cant point down when you pan with this method because your already using the ball head to level your tripod.. you'll end up using the legs to level then panning normally with the ball head down slightly.. ok if you wanna shoot straight on.. not if you want the foreground included too.. does that make sense? :-)
I’ve just bought a Novo T10 from UK Digital with £50 discount so I got it for £199 I think it’s a bargain and has great reviews,it’s to replace a Ali Manfrotto 190art which is 36 years old so I’ve had vfm out of it
i saw them at the photo show one year.. look smart! old manfrotto's were tanks!! amazing!
I feel like the fact this video dropped means I need to stop putting off investing in a good tripod. I’d be willing to pay up to £200 for my first non-entry level tripod. Great video mate!
Take a look at the iFootage Gazelle, two options with or without centre column, I picked mine up from ProAV for under £200.
www.ifootagegear.com/products/gazelle-fastbowl.
Siri has a tripod with a W at the end of the model ( 3204 w maybe ) with some kind of seal in it I believe. Anyway the W stands for... Also I have seen tripod leg sleeves for sale at B&H but have not used or seen them. It is sort of like a water proof sock.
Snap locks on a tripod are better than twist locks and I’m tired of pretending that they are not.
Looks like a nice bit of kit, always liked Benro, have a couple myself. Now, how can I justify buying the new model....... 🤣
will it take a nikon z7 with nikon 24-200 with l bracket as im looking into carbon fibre bud and im actually looking at the rhino and the tortoise with the gx35 ball head is it arca swiss bud and hope well ive just ordered the new olympus om1 for wildlife but im keeping nkon did like look of mach3 but didnt want to pay extra for seperate ball head
I have two tripods , well one tripod and one monopod and both have an arm tilt adjustment and I noticed that none of yours i've seen have Is this a personal preference or just what you get from high-end ones ?
Hey Alan. Sorry not sure what you mean mate? Send me a link mate
@@GarethDanks Sorry I couldn.t get the pic on here so I tweeted it to you
Ok Gareth, I did a video a long time ago that clearly nobody watched (lol) which explained why the likes of Gitzo and RRS are so much more expensive than others and, I guess, why they are worth the extra cost. Trust me, they are more expensive for a very good reason.
hey Greg.. if its down to vibration i get that, but can it really be much better than my big benro.?? ill look for you vid now.. interesting! hope your well mate :-)
@@GarethDanks it's partly down to vibration, which is dampened by the way the carbon fibre is laid down in manufacturing. The other is stiffness of the main components and how thick they are. Your big Benro is big for a reason, and it does it's job admirably by the way, but it's only as stiff (and strong) as a Gitzo/RRS/Feisol about half it's size. The reason a lot of 'Carbon' tripods out there are a lot cheaper than those brands is because those cheaper manufacturers use a composite tube of Carbon Fibre and Glass Fibre produced en-mass that is cheap to produce. Also, about 90% of hubs (the bit at the top that holds the 3 legs) are manufactured by a single factory in the far east, which is why they all generally look alike. Most people frown on the use of the centre column because they are extra susceptible to vibration, but the centre column of a Gitzo/RRS/Feisol is so much more resistant to vibration due to the stiffness of the tube...so there really is no problem using the column in all but the strongest of gales. A good in the field test of your tripod is to set it up on a windy day and then lightly touch each of the leg sections with your little finger. You'll feel the wind vibrating the legs straight away. As you move up the leg it should get less and less. By the time you get to the top, there should be very very little to none...that's the sign of a good tripod. Of course, the wind will also vibrate the camera on top, which is why a really good head is also essential. You'll never totally eliminate vibration in those conditions, but the real difference between a £300 and a £600+ tripod, in any conditions that you or I are likely to face, is the difference between getting a blurry and a sharp image.
Sorry for the delay man. Yeah I get you but if I’m honest I don’t know anyone who owns one and thinks they’re worth the money or would re invest in similar in future. Also there’s a dpregiew vid recently comparing 4/5 tripods (crappy peak design in there too) and the gitzo does crap on that vibration test. Unless your gonna say that’s a crap gitzo. I do get your point re the physics tho of course. Makes sense. Tho I don’t see how my big benro can be that much of a compromise in comparison. Buy me one and I’ll test it out. Happy to be wrong haha
@@GarethDanks aye, depends on Gitzo. I don’t think the traveller series are that great. As far as knowing folks, that depends who you know, lol.
wish i could get a good tripod.but not sure were to get them from
Where are you based?
@@GarethDanks Northumberland
Which L-Bracket do you use?
Induro Hydra 2 Waterproof Carbon Fiber Tripod
This is advertised as waterproof! Also owned by Benro I think!
ooo.. ill look into that!! thank you!
What is the bowl level head you have please?
I never realised I needed to watch a tripod review /info video. Until now. ☺Cheers Gareth.
😂 in honesty I was shocked I could talk so long about a flippin tripod haha
Does this Benro GX30/35 ball head supports the SmallRig L-bracket? and have you tested the Benro FGP28C, any suggestions?
It does. But I’ll admit it’s not the strongest ball head. 👍🏻
@@GarethDanks ohhhh I thought it is, any alternate suggestion. Thank you so much.
Benro Has a Waterproof version
aren't bicycle front/rear suspensions waterproof and have the same leg movement as photo tripods?
definitely not haha.. mine used to lock up with water all the time!! good ones too! Much better tho! good point! :-)
@@GarethDanks that's a shame, didn't realise that. time to construct a waterproof front suspension then ;)
When you look at your expensive tripod as an investment for the next 30 years (or so) then you can justify buying a Gitzo that is three times as expensive as your Benro. You could also ask yourself: How many Benros will I buy in those 30 years? Maybe my thinking is wrong (and yours is right) ... 😅
I guess tripods are as individual as their owners. Who could blame somebody for buying a Gitzo? At least I wouldn't. You love your Benro as somebody else loves his or her Gitzo. It's as simple as this.
P.S.: Why do you need a leveling base when your Benro GX30 has a double panorama function? It simply doesn't make any sense to me, because the ball head can manage more than those + and - 10 to 15 degrees of a leveling base! 🤔
Quality control of Gitzo's, in my opinion, has really dropped.
Just treated myself to one of those mini Manfrotto things
what a pixie?
@@GarethDanks Yeah Pixie Evo - Something small to stick in my bag for street shooting. It might give me some other options to get creative / could always do a self portrait type thing if no one is around ha
Looks like another good piece from Benro mate. I'll get a can of that spray you mentioned and the gear head you showed is definitely a good option to shoot with. I much prefer making small adjustments with that over a ball head.
too short for you haha! but yeah damn good for the money!! thats my second can of that!! used the first a few times before elis broke the top off haha.. it would have lasted years else!!
£200 max for me but i am not a professional so hey
Sir Thank You Very Much for another So exciting Vide 😍❤😍
Agree with you entirely with respect to cost. Anything over $500 is ridiculous. There is a perfect solution for your saltwater tripod. Buy one with wooden legs! 😁 😁 😁
I would also like to comment on the dual 3/8"x16 - 1/4"x20 combination screw mount from an 'historical' perspective. The first that I ever saw of these was on a Leica ball head that I acquired in the late 1950's (and still have). I have no idea if this was a Leica invention, but it has been around for awhile.
One word:
Leofoto
I hope James Popsys doesn’t see this.
Why?
@@GarethDanks lol he has an irrational hatred of tripods, it’s a running joke on his channel, you should check out his stuff 👍🏻
I wouldn't pay more than £150 for a tripod, anything over in my opinion is totally over priced. Unless it comes with a free camera or lens.
2:34 minutes in I stopped the video. You just said the same thing over and over. Sorry
1 Billion Dollars