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Thread: What about Benro tripods?

  1. #1

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    What about Benro tripods?

    The TAD18A is rated for 17.6# and weighs 3.13#.
    For $100 bucks it sounds like a good match for LF photography.
    It's aluminum, not carbon fiber,
    I'm curious as to your thoughts.
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

  2. #2

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    I know that the numbers say you can do it but it looks like a bad idea to me.
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  3. #3

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    I have a Sirui aluminium tripod which is very comparable, it holds my 5x4 up fine but there is a surprising amount of rotational flex in the spider/legs which makes operating the camera annoying (...springy) and it doesn't dampen in any amount of wind.

    I use it on days with good light when i want little weight *AND* and i know shutter speeds will stay over >1/30th, otherwise its the Berlebach...

  4. #4

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    There's many winners & loosers with small tripods these days, but you really have to see these in person to see for yourself...

    I was at a Fry's electronics and played with two Benro CF compact tripods... Both the heads were barely passable for a light DSLR, but the legs were pretty good... The more expensive one with the lever leg locks was worse, but the twisting locks on the cheaper unit were pretty good and might hold a press camera OK (if you don't raise the center column much at all)... BYO head...

    And there's always an old Tiltall...

    Look before you buy, or have an open return policy and play tripod roulette for awhile (online)... Or pay more and buy a compact tripod from one of the noted mfgs...

    Steve K

  5. #5

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    I have one of those tiny folding Benro copies, a Dolica, with like four or five section legs and a tiny ball head. My 5x7 will go on it, and you could even use it to take a picture. As locutus said, it's got a lot of flex if you let it. In the course of researching, I learned that the head is glued together, and the glue sometimes fails. The problem with this type of low-end product is that you never know where they took a short-cut that might bite you sometime down the line. Everything might pass the eyeball test, but modern cheap manufacturers are good at hiding where they shave quality. With that idea in mind, I'd trust a small Manfrotto before I'd trust one of those small Chinese tripods that all look alike and cost nothing.

    The Dolica mainly gets used to hold a portable digital recorder, not an expensive camera of any type.
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  6. #6

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    Quote Originally Posted by mdarnton View Post
    I have one of those tiny folding Benro copies, a Dolica, with like four or five section legs and a tiny ball head. My 5x7 will go on it, and you could even use it to take a picture. As locutus said, it's got a lot of flex if you let it. In the course of researching, I learned that the head is glued together, and the glue sometimes fails. The problem with this type of low-end product is that you never know where they took a short-cut that might bite you sometime down the line. Everything might pass the eyeball test, but modern cheap manufacturers are good at hiding where they shave quality. With that idea in mind, I'd trust a small Manfrotto before I'd trust one of those small Chinese tripods that all look alike and cost nothing.

    The Dolica mainly gets used to hold a portable digital recorder, not an expensive camera of any type.
    I must have gotten Benro confused with Benbo which IIRC is commonly considered a quality manufacturer.
    The switcheroo "r" for "b" is enough to earn my distrust.
    "I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority"---EB White

  7. #7

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    Now I'm confused!
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  8. #8

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    Quote Originally Posted by John Kasaian View Post
    I must have gotten Benro confused with Benbo which IIRC is commonly considered a quality manufacturer.
    The switcheroo "r" for "b" is enough to earn my distrust.
    John, just don't confuse Benbo with Bimbo.

  9. #9

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    blah, blah, why must I have 3 'characters'?
    Last edited by Peter Collins; 25-Apr-2017 at 17:26. Reason: posted twice
    Peter Collins

    On the intent of the First Amendment: The press was to serve the governed, not the governors --Opinion, Hugo Black, Judge, Supreme Court, 1971 re the "Pentagon Papers."

  10. #10

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    Re: What about Benro tripods?

    Last month I looked at the Benro tripods VERY closely from the comfort of my laptop and decided that I should not buy.
    Peter Collins

    On the intent of the First Amendment: The press was to serve the governed, not the governors --Opinion, Hugo Black, Judge, Supreme Court, 1971 re the "Pentagon Papers."

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