I bought this head and am very happy with it. But I take a lot of panoramas, and then I used the leveling base on the stand. I have two leveling base, but none of them fit this head because it does not pass the bottom screw / wheel on the head. So I wonder if you know of a leveling base or adapter that fits this head.
Thanks for this review. Learned something new.. have always positioned my camera so that sliding the plate slid the camera backwards and forwards, to achieve better balance with a long lens. Your method slides the camera from side to side (does nothing for balance) but gets the Arca-Swiss type release knob in a safer position where one is less likely to accidentally twiddle it.
I'm intrigued to see one of these first hand; I have an ARCA Swiss clamp screwed to the existing plate on my brand M head right now and it isn't the best arrangement. The only question is how it adapts to various plates, which never seem to be of consistent dimensions.
I have been sitting on the fence for over a year about investing in a geared head for my photography and like many I have a budget to work with - after researching and pondering I decided to pull the trigger on this Ball-Head over the Manfrotto 410 - and Arca Swiss was an important factor as well - I am looking forward to the delivery from the trusted Amazon and thank you for your review - regards from Co Meath... stay safe
I wonder if you could comment on the clearance between the top plate and the nearest adjustment knob. If you can imagine a 4x5 camera sitting on top which should be centred not forward like you have mounted the DSLR is there room to get in and adjust?
i ordered one months ago and the backorder finally filled. i am moving over from a Manfrotto 410 Jr. geared head. are the oblong "pill" spirit levels on the clamp crooked? one of mine is glued in really crooked which kind of defeats the purpose.
The head is made to be used with the plate screw facing away from the user. There are some video reviews in which the reviewers insist on using the head the wrong-way around or oriented sideways. Using the head the wrong-way around puts the bubble level on the wrong side of the platform, where the user can't see it. Using the head with the camera mounted transversely to the mounting plate and plate cut blocks the bubble level completely. But it also causes some users to mistake the purpose of the pitch and yaw controls. When not using an L-bracket, these sideways users use the pitch control as the roll control to turn the camera on its side, and then they complain that have no pitch control in this configuration! Wrong, wrong, wrong! Of course they've lost pitch control, they're using that control for roll control - it can't do both at the same time. Good to see that ali has it right!
Hi Alastair, nice video. Good to see it reviewed in the field. I am very much a begineer and am finding the ball head system a bit frustrating for reasons your describe, plus I have no L Bracket for my fuji xt-2. How are you finding the benro a few weeks on? I am seriously tempted to switch to a geared system, if only I knew about this at christmas when I got my ball system. I assume this would fit the Kirk "Arc-Swiss" compatible L Bracket for the Fuji? I was looking at the Manfrotto 410 geared head but it isn't Arc-Swiss compatible and I don't want to buy more adaptors or drill holes to make it fit off the bat.
The Q bracket that comes with it will screw into bottom of your camera and slot into the tripod arca sswiss head, so all good. It really is the best head i have ever used. Way better than any ball head. You wont regret it.
Hi Alister. I went shopping today and cane away with this benro head, a gitzo mountaineer series 1 tripod and a Kirk l bracket for my Fuji xt2. It's all awesome. Thanks for the advise.
mohamed abdel-hady hi , I’ve been using it since it was released. Is it perfect , nope. Is it worth the money,yes. Still value for money and best out there, at this price point.
However one thing I really do not like about Benro's "Arca-Swiss style" rapid release is that only the proprietary Benro plate works... I have four Arca-Swiss plates that are unusable.
I don't have that problem with Arca-style gear from Really Right Stuff that I mount on my Benro head, nor do I have a problem with another Arca plate from another manufacturer. My SmallRig L-bracket mounts via Arca-style rails and works fine too.
Good tip on putting the locking lever under the lens and out of the way
especially when its dark
I bought this head and am very happy with it. But I take a lot of panoramas, and then I used the leveling base on the stand. I have two leveling base, but none of them fit this head because it does not pass the bottom screw / wheel on the head. So I wonder if you know of a leveling base or adapter that fits this head.
I spoke to Benro about the leveling base, None can be used with this head, not even there own as it catches
@@aliM-cd4eu OK, thanks for the answer
Good to know. Thanks
Thanks for this review. Learned something new.. have always positioned my camera so that sliding the plate slid the camera backwards and forwards, to achieve better balance with a long lens. Your method slides the camera from side to side (does nothing for balance) but gets the Arca-Swiss type release knob in a safer position where one is less likely to accidentally twiddle it.
Robert Lightbourne the heaviest lens I use would be a 24-70. This is just my way, I’m sure others may have there own way of attachment.
I'm intrigued to see one of these first hand; I have an ARCA Swiss clamp screwed to the existing plate on my brand M head right now and it isn't the best arrangement. The only question is how it adapts to various plates, which never seem to be of consistent dimensions.
Jim's videos you wouldn’t need another plate, as you would use the one that comes with the head. Deffo worth looking at one.
May I ask what tripod make and model you are showing in this video?
Mojave511 benro Mach 3
Alastair Mann Thank you. Very helpful video.
I have been sitting on the fence for over a year about investing in a geared head for my photography and like many I have a budget to work with - after researching and pondering I decided to pull the trigger on this Ball-Head over the Manfrotto 410 - and Arca Swiss was an important factor as well - I am looking forward to the delivery from the trusted Amazon and thank you for your review - regards from Co Meath... stay safe
I wonder if you could comment on the clearance between the top plate and the nearest adjustment knob. If you can imagine a 4x5 camera sitting on top which should be centred not forward like you have mounted the DSLR is there room to get in and adjust?
It would be close. Best bet is to phone Benro up, they are very helpful.
i ordered one months ago and the backorder finally filled. i am moving over from a Manfrotto 410 Jr. geared head.
are the oblong "pill" spirit levels on the clamp crooked? one of mine is glued in really crooked which kind of defeats the purpose.
May I ask why did you leave Manfrotto 410 to this Benro head? what was not going well with the Manfrotto?
Good video review. I currently have a Manfrotto XPro geared 3 way head. A nice head for the money, but it is prone to vibration...
The head is made to be used with the plate screw facing away from the user. There are some video reviews in which the reviewers insist on using the head the wrong-way around or oriented sideways. Using the head the wrong-way around puts the bubble level on the wrong side of the platform, where the user can't see it. Using the head with the camera mounted transversely to the mounting plate and plate cut blocks the bubble level completely. But it also causes some users to mistake the purpose of the pitch and yaw controls. When not using an L-bracket, these sideways users use the pitch control as the roll control to turn the camera on its side, and then they complain that have no pitch control in this configuration! Wrong, wrong, wrong! Of course they've lost pitch control, they're using that control for roll control - it can't do both at the same time. Good to see that ali has it right!
What brand L bracket do you have? Mine doesn't fit too well.
Mark Anthony I use a kirk. Not tried with 3rd party brackets.
Hi Alastair, nice video. Good to see it reviewed in the field. I am very much a begineer and am finding the ball head system a bit frustrating for reasons your describe, plus I have no L Bracket for my fuji xt-2. How are you finding the benro a few weeks on? I am seriously tempted to switch to a geared system, if only I knew about this at christmas when I got my ball system. I assume this would fit the Kirk "Arc-Swiss" compatible L Bracket for the Fuji? I was looking at the Manfrotto 410 geared head but it isn't Arc-Swiss compatible and I don't want to buy more adaptors or drill holes to make it fit off the bat.
The Q bracket that comes with it will screw into bottom of your camera and slot into the tripod arca sswiss head, so all good. It really is the best head i have ever used. Way better than any ball head. You wont regret it.
Hi Alister. I went shopping today and cane away with this benro head, a gitzo mountaineer series 1 tripod and a Kirk l bracket for my Fuji xt2. It's all awesome. Thanks for the advise.
MrCraptakular deffo a setup that you will enjoy using.
May I kindly ask how long have you been using this Benro head for? and is it still performing well?
mohamed abdel-hady hi , I’ve been using it since it was released. Is it perfect , nope. Is it worth the money,yes. Still value for money and best out there, at this price point.
@@aliM-cd4eu When was it released plz? if not perfect, would you recommend the Manfrotto 410 Junior geared head instead of it?
mohamed abdel-hady early May. Nope the manfrotto, is way to heavy
Are you from the Ballymena direction by any chance?
Yup .. was born there
@@aliM-cd4eu I've been here 22 years and am finally managing to pick out a few accents.
However one thing I really do not like about Benro's "Arca-Swiss style" rapid release is that only the proprietary Benro plate works... I have four Arca-Swiss plates that are unusable.
I don't have that problem with Arca-style gear from Really Right Stuff that I mount on my Benro head, nor do I have a problem with another Arca plate from another manufacturer. My SmallRig L-bracket mounts via Arca-style rails and works fine too.
3:32 Oh man