Yes very true. Thank you for watching. Hope you enjoy the tripod head. I have no idea why youtube insists on promoting older videps of mine over newer ones. My latest video also discusses geared heads.
In the market for a geared head, and I first looked at Arca Swiss... then Cambo, Linhof and quickly realised these are prohibitively expensive! So I looked down the pecking order starting from Manfrotto upwards and discovered this - Benro 3-Way Geared Head. It was great to hear your thoughts after some time of use, and to learn that there are no major drawbacks with it. Looks like i'll be shopping for this one in the near future. Bye bye ball head....
whit i use it for is manually tracking jupiter, for sure an EQ mount would be the best there but i'll leave that until i get a scope, where the 3way works for me is you can make small adjustments and still be precise enough you can keep a planet in the frame, at 1200mm+ with a ball head you can very easily loose a planet as its very small in the frame even at 1200mm, the 3way geared allows you to make single motions rather than everything at once,
Hmmm, can’t argue about the solidity and build quality as I haven’t owned one but using a plastic adjuster on a metal spline for the plate mount release/ tensioning doesn’t bode well in my opinion! Also noted quite a few people have looseness issues in all the movements fairly quickly! I just don’t think the build quality is there especially if used in outdoors conditions!
I mean this review is super old by this point firstly. Secondly - for thw price it's still one of the better ones around. Even now, my current one was double the price the sunwayfoto gh pro ii and as I said in that video - I wouldn't recommend that. So many just wobble at any price point - the benro doesn't, that's the key part.
Good gear head except the highest finger adjustment knob extends beyond the tripod plate's height to contact the bottom of my Gralfex SLR. Got rid of it for a Sun-Foto.
Thanks for the review! I'm looking into this head vs the benro hd3a pan head. I do a variety of photography as well as some videography. I was wondering how smooth the pan was with the geared head since it doesn't have an arm to assist with the movement. Thanks so much!! :)
Hey Courtney. On Monday I have a comparison video with a ballhead scheduled in to post. Check that out for more. But yes a geared head is smooth, especially higher end ones. But maybe not so much for video. You may need a dedicated head for video pans.
Hi James..thanks for the review I have just ordered mine..it’s a quick question.,I have benro 3 series tma48cxl tripod..is there any extra safety lock available after screwing the head on the tripod or just screw is ok to hold the head with other gear.? I mean we can unintentionally unscrew the head while panning it left or right and that can cause a serious damage ..I am looking forward for your reply.
I bought one as soon a it came out and its is very good ---- the only issue is that i have worn it out; there is now slop/movement in all 3 axis. The other problem is they are now twice the price so close to competitors
@hanswi336 great timing!! I am uploading a new geared head video tonight. These do wear out after awhile and I switched to a different manufacturer. However, likely to get another one of these very soon.
I am using Benro Rhino tripod and i want to buy this product. Few days ago i found a Manfrotto MHXPRO-3WG in mint condition with very good price.Should i choose Manfrotto or this one?
Hi James, you are using the canon 5ds (R) in this video with the Benro. Can you please advise what L plate you are using with this camera. A link to that would be most hepful too. thank you.. Michael
I have a Benro geared head like you and I am a big fan. I use a l-bracket as well. After using it for a few years, my l-bracket starts to slide in de geared head. I can't turn the screw enough to fasten the l-bracket in the slider. Do you have a simular exprecience? Br Ivo.
Thanks for watching. I wasn't great at video back then. Yes I would as long as you love to slow down and think more. Wait a week - I have a follow up video coming Thursday. Ballheads Vs Geared heads.
@@JamesKerwin haha, vid was fine, concise and no faffing around, yeah, slowing down and thinking is what I need to do more of, I’ll wait for your next vid and make my mind up then 👍, thanks for getting back !
Hello Naomi, always goes for one designed and made for your camera - usually off amazon is a great place to look! Generic and "one size fits all" never are the best in my opinion. Thanks!
@BANNED VIDEOS i don't reccomended universal models. They tend to come loose on the fixing point, and over tightening can wreck the bottom of the camera. Perhaps sunway do one for your camera?
Hello Juri - yes, I think the head works upside down. I find to shoot ceilings I have to mount the camera the opposite way around on the geared head - then bingo!
mine was defective after two months of use... the locking screw for the arca swiss plate has come loose. i was able to repair it myself, as always. i simply have no luck with gear heads..
I have a gear list on my website - not worth the channel being packed with links at this stage. But I would think I am using the canon 17mm TS lens. Loads about it on my channel.
Hi. Just got one but when I try to unlock , the locking wheel, a spring takes it back. And the knobs are very stiff to move as the spring keeps the locking wheel in place? Is it supposed to be spring loaded. Or is there something wrong?
800g is NOTHING... yeah... no, sorry, 800g is far from being "light" and certainly not lighter than a ball head as you said, or I don't know what ball head you've been using... B00 from Benro which has the same load capacity (6kg) weights 250g. so that thing is more than 3 times heavier. Get your numbers right!
I previously had the Benro G3. Which is 800 grams? Which has the correct weight capacity for a 17mm tilt-shift and a 5DSR!? Also not sure weight was the real issue for me... it is the fact a ballhead needs movement over 3 Axis to do subtle or tiny movements. It really depends on what you need from a tripod head... it isn't worth getting so worked up over to be honest. Especially on a piece of kit 3 years old!
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I have one. I love it. It's especially great for astrophotography. It's so easy to track the movement of the planets.
I plan on getting one for the upcoming eclipse in April. Have you put a telephoto lens on it? Did it handle it well?
Hi James. Great review. Thank you. You've convinced me to buy one😃
Excellent video! Thank you...I am going to get one!
Nice video, James. The Benro is a nice cheap alternative to the more superior, but also more expensive, Arca Swiss D4
Yes very true. Thank you for watching. Hope you enjoy the tripod head.
I have no idea why youtube insists on promoting older videps of mine over newer ones. My latest video also discusses geared heads.
@@JamesKerwin It was simply showing up on my front page, no idea why ;-)
@Floydian1311 nothing to do with you of course. Just the frustrating side of youtube creating.
Thank you for watching. 📷🎥
In the market for a geared head, and I first looked at Arca Swiss... then Cambo, Linhof and quickly realised these are prohibitively expensive! So I looked down the pecking order starting from Manfrotto upwards and discovered this - Benro 3-Way Geared Head.
It was great to hear your thoughts after some time of use, and to learn that there are no major drawbacks with it. Looks like i'll be shopping for this one in the near future. Bye bye ball head....
I have a comparison video up now as well where I mention some other options. It is my latest video!
In fact the options in my new video could be for you! one is a powerhouse!
Great review mate! Much appreciated, and great tip on the L Bracket. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
whit i use it for is manually tracking jupiter, for sure an EQ mount would be the best there but i'll leave that until i get a scope,
where the 3way works for me is you can make small adjustments and still be precise enough you can keep a planet in the frame, at 1200mm+ with a ball head you can very easily loose a planet as its very small in the frame even at 1200mm, the 3way geared allows you to make single motions rather than everything at once,
Hmmm, can’t argue about the solidity and build quality as I haven’t owned one but using a plastic adjuster on a metal spline for the plate mount release/ tensioning doesn’t bode well in my opinion! Also noted quite a few people have looseness issues in all the movements fairly quickly!
I just don’t think the build quality is there especially if used in outdoors conditions!
I mean this review is super old by this point firstly. Secondly - for thw price it's still one of the better ones around. Even now, my current one was double the price the sunwayfoto gh pro ii and as I said in that video - I wouldn't recommend that. So many just wobble at any price point - the benro doesn't, that's the key part.
Awesome review, thanks for the info!
i think im gonna get this model for real estate photography. ball head seems to slow me down on the shoot too much.
Yes - this would be perfect!
Same here! I think I'm going to buy this for real estate.
@@lizwolter560 ha! I got the geared head and have shot 1,200 houses with it so far!! its very fast and accurate compared to a ball head in my opinion!
Good gear head except the highest finger adjustment knob extends beyond the tripod plate's height to contact the bottom of my Gralfex SLR. Got rid of it for a Sun-Foto.
I now own a sunfoto gh pro ii as well!
Thanks for the review! I'm looking into this head vs the benro hd3a pan head. I do a variety of photography as well as some videography. I was wondering how smooth the pan was with the geared head since it doesn't have an arm to assist with the movement. Thanks so much!! :)
Hey Courtney. On Monday I have a comparison video with a ballhead scheduled in to post. Check that out for more.
But yes a geared head is smooth, especially higher end ones. But maybe not so much for video. You may need a dedicated head for video pans.
That video is up on my channel now!
Thank you this really helped. Its been a year since the release of the video. Does the Geared head still work fine ?
Sure does! Perfect. I have 2.
@@JamesKerwin thank you. It really helped me make a fine decesion.
I just picked one up. Can't wait. I also grabbed carbon fiber legs from Benro.
Hi James..thanks for the review I have just ordered mine..it’s a quick question.,I have benro 3 series tma48cxl tripod..is there any extra safety lock available after screwing the head on the tripod or just screw is ok to hold the head with other gear.? I mean we can unintentionally unscrew the head while panning it left or right and that can cause a serious damage ..I am looking forward for your reply.
Hey Ali sorry for the delay. Its strong enough to hold. As with most screw on heads. Also has a long needle would have to undo far to come off.
I bought one as soon a it came out and its is very good ---- the only issue is that i have worn it out; there is now slop/movement in all 3 axis. The other problem is they are now twice the price so close to competitors
Twice the price? £150 right? I don't have this head anymore - so unsure how it lasts over 3/4 years.
@@JamesKerwin Why don't you have it anymore? Was there something opposite compared to this video? If - could you tell?
@hanswi336 great timing!! I am uploading a new geared head video tonight. These do wear out after awhile and I switched to a different manufacturer. However, likely to get another one of these very soon.
I am using Benro Rhino tripod and i want to buy this product. Few days ago i found a Manfrotto MHXPRO-3WG in mint condition with very good price.Should i choose Manfrotto or this one?
In my opinion the Benro is superior
@@JamesKerwin Thank you. Agree with you.
Hi James,
you are using the canon 5ds (R) in this video with the Benro.
Can you please advise what L plate you are using with this camera. A link to that would be most hepful too.
thank you.. Michael
I believe it is the Sunwayfoto L bracket for the 5dsr
Hi James , nice bit of kit! Do you think I can mount a small telescope on it i.e. with a vixen dovetail mounting. Thanks
Yeah I see no reason why not, as long as the collar is supported and the weight is not all hanging off the front of the camera mount. Cheers!
Hi James,
What exactly is that L bracket you are using? I would like to get one.
Steve
Hey Steven, that L bracket was the sunwayfoto version built for the 5DSR. I have a similar one now on my R5.
I have a Benro geared head like you and I am a big fan. I use a l-bracket as well. After using it for a few years, my l-bracket starts to slide in de geared head. I can't turn the screw enough to fasten the l-bracket in the slider. Do you have a simular exprecience? Br Ivo.
Sounds like the screw on the lock needs tightening. Never had that experience.
Prob best review I have seen of this head, toying with the idea of getting one rather than a ballhead, mainly shoot landscapes, would you recommend ?
Thanks for watching. I wasn't great at video back then. Yes I would as long as you love to slow down and think more. Wait a week - I have a follow up video coming Thursday. Ballheads Vs Geared heads.
@@JamesKerwin haha, vid was fine, concise and no faffing around, yeah, slowing down and thinking is what I need to do more of, I’ll wait for your next vid and make my mind up then 👍, thanks for getting back !
@@0191Marko that video is up now!
@@JamesKerwin thanks man, waited 3 weeks 😁
Mine arrives tomorrow! What L-Bracket do you recommend?
Hello Naomi, always goes for one designed and made for your camera - usually off amazon is a great place to look! Generic and "one size fits all" never are the best in my opinion. Thanks!
Good portrait lens, I used one for a self portrait on my Facebook page.
what is the name and model of the L bracket please?
It was the Sunwayfoto L bracket made for the canon 5dSR.
@@JamesKerwin thanks, I think there is a universal model !!
@BANNED VIDEOS i don't reccomended universal models. They tend to come loose on the fixing point, and over tightening can wreck the bottom of the camera. Perhaps sunway do one for your camera?
@@JamesKerwin thank you, SMALL RIG has one but discontinued... ruclips.net/video/Lc5mIgbkVPA/видео.html
Hello! You think this head will work in upside down position? Also is it suitable for video, so it doesn't change its position with time?
Hello Juri - yes, I think the head works upside down. I find to shoot ceilings I have to mount the camera the opposite way around on the geared head - then bingo!
well, there are some good adaptors for manfrotto to arca swiss, so thats just a minor point, isn't it?
Depends how much stuff you like to carry, or if you like the extra weight I suppose?!
mine was defective after two months of use... the locking screw for the arca swiss plate has come loose.
i was able to repair it myself, as always. i simply have no luck with gear heads..
The worst luck you!!!! Usually holds up well.
How strong it is ?
Very strong - 2 years of use in these places, held up well. I have two!
Hi you can put links to your gear and get affiliate links to them.. Would love to know what lens you are using there.
I have a gear list on my website - not worth the channel being packed with links at this stage. But I would think I am using the canon 17mm TS lens. Loads about it on my channel.
Hi. Just got one but when I try to unlock , the locking wheel, a spring takes it back. And the knobs are very stiff to move as the spring keeps the locking wheel in place? Is it supposed to be spring loaded. Or is there something wrong?
Perhaps - is it not working like in the video?
anybody knows the difference with GD3WHCN?
800g is NOTHING... yeah... no, sorry, 800g is far from being "light" and certainly not lighter than a ball head as you said, or I don't know what ball head you've been using... B00 from Benro which has the same load capacity (6kg) weights 250g. so that thing is more than 3 times heavier. Get your numbers right!
I previously had the Benro G3. Which is 800 grams? Which has the correct weight capacity for a 17mm tilt-shift and a 5DSR!? Also not sure weight was the real issue for me... it is the fact a ballhead needs movement over 3 Axis to do subtle or tiny movements. It really depends on what you need from a tripod head... it isn't worth getting so worked up over to be honest. Especially on a piece of kit 3 years old!
And nothing... surprising! 😂