carbon tripod with ballhead

Quite a few people are now buying Benro legs, heads and gimbals, including me :)

They are Chinese copies of Gitzo legs and Arca heads (and other primary grade designs). Specs and quality are absolutely first rank, at little more than a third the price of originals. From here http://stores.ebay.com/DCs-Photography-Store £300 buys "£800 worth" of kit.

My stuff arrived in less than a week, no additional costs at all. Extremely pleased. Even better value if you buy legs and head together. I got C-257 M8 three-section carbon, plus J-2 head. Search Benro for more feedback.

A bit more expensive from UK supplier www.photopal.co.uk
 
I got the Giottos MT8246B Carbon + MH1301-652 ball head and am really pleased - its a light and stable setup.

Got the tripod from College Cameras and the head and carry bag from My Memory - £180 all in (July 09)
 
HoppyUK said:
Yes 'Arca-type' and 'Arca-Swiss compatible' means they should be the same. There do seem to be some differences in the safety mechanisms used with different brands, but that doesn't stop them fitting.
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thanks for that, yeah i know some of the locking mechs arent the safest (like the really right stuff one, seems very plausible the QRP could be released inadvertently) can anyone vouch for the safety lock of the benro head?

cheers

d
 
discodavor said:
thanks for that, yeah i know some of the locking mechs arent the safest (like the really right stuff one, seems very plausible the QRP could be released inadvertently) can anyone vouch for the safety lock of the benro head?

cheers

d
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No, I mean the safety catch, not the locking mech.

Benro uses the same safety catch as most I think - basically just two bolts that stand proud of the bottom of the foot and slip into a recess on the shoe so that even if the lock isn't tightened the camera/lens can't fall out. Acratech for example have a spring-loaded pin, but I think the two methods are actually compatible (may be wrong - only looked at the two, not actually tried them together).

Standard Benro clamp is the regular screw jobbie - just under 3/4 turn to lock. Works well, easy, secure IMO. Benro also does a quick-release mech that looks, coincidentally ;) exactly like a RRS one here http://www.benro.cn/EnSite/EnProduct.aspx?id=167&SerName=Camera+Clamp - six different versions of it in fact.

Benro has a massive range of stuff if you look on that home site. Please post a link if you find another supplier that does some of the other bits, would be handy. Triopo is another Chinese brand that looks similar to Benro/Arca/Gitzo etc. I know their heads are highly regarded and I suspect their legs and gimbals are also right up there with Benro quality at bargain prices, but I've never seen Triopo in the flesh http://www.triopo.cn/index.html
 
+1 benro equipment - going to order one of their ballheads this week :)
 
You don't say what it is you want to do with the tripod or what kit you use but the Giotto's range seems to get some good reviews, these legs look good at £148
http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?Productid=9410
This heads also look good for sub £60
http://www.harrisoncameras.co.uk/productdetail.kmod?Productid=9308
Then this would replace the platform on the head to give you Arca compatibility
http://www.red-door.co.uk/pages/productpages/giottos-tripods/MH658.html
I think that all comes in sub £275
 
i have just ordered the Benro C269 tripod, b-1 ballhead and pu-70 QRP from ebay and the kirk L bracket from warehouse express . . should definately be an improvement for useability and portability compared to my trusty old 055CLB and 3 way manfrotto head!

d
 
discodavor said:
i have just ordered the Benro C269 tripod, b-1 ballhead and pu-70 QRP from ebay and the kirk L bracket from warehouse express . . should definately be an improvement for useability and portability compared to my trusty old 055CLB and 3 way manfrotto head!

d
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Sweet :)

Sounds to me like you have got a top quality and full height carbon tripod, that folds down to 15in all in, with an excellent ball head, that is half the weight of the Manfrotto combo :thumbs:
 
Cheap Chinese copies- so they may still be good quality but have you considered redsnapper? I think its pretty important to support our businesses over here and they are built in england, surely thats worth a few extra quid? And the fact you can call up and speak to 1 nice person about any queries or problems, thats a no-go when you buy chinese cr4p.

Maybe its just me, but being from a big family of small business owners and hard workers I always feel inclined to support our own before the big companies that dont care, copy others designs and take advantage of cheap labour!

Just my 2p's worth :shrug:
 
topcatproduction said:
Cheap Chinese copies- so they may still be good quality but have you considered redsnapper? I think its pretty important to support our businesses over here and they are built in england, surely thats worth a few extra quid? And the fact you can call up and speak to 1 nice person about any queries or problems, thats a no-go when you buy chinese cr4p.

Maybe its just me, but being from a big family of small business owners and hard workers I always feel inclined to support our own before the big companies that dont care, copy others designs and take advantage of cheap labour!

Just my 2p's worth :shrug:
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You make a good point. I used to feel much the same way, but just got fed up swimming against the tide and supporting ailing British industries that, frankly, didn't deserve it and got substantially out of pocket as a result.

Years ago I started by buying British motorbikes, then British cars, and when that industry died I refused to buy grey/parallel imports even though they were much cheaper.

I used to support Jessops but not anymore, unless they offer best value. And personally, I wouldn't support Redsnapper just because they're British, but because they are good, and good value (which I believe they are). However, I'm not at all sure how 100% British manufactured they are. What does 'built in England' mean? And what is original about their designs? If I am mistaken on this, and indeed Redsnapper are 100% British manufactured, I would like to know and I think they should publish it prominently on their website.

I recommend Benro as I know they are extremely high quality, both from personal experience and that of others I respect. They are better than either Manfrotto and Giottos for example, and as good as Gitzo as far as I can tell, both in terms of design, specification and manufacture. And that is as good as it gets.

Redsnapper have a deservedly good reputation though. Good gear, good prices :) :thumbs:

Edit: that reads like a bit of a rant. Sorry, not meant to be :)
 
echo hoppy's response - benro make fantastic equipment, half the price yes; half the quality, hell no!

drew
 
Mmmmm..have looked at the link that Hoppy gives to Benro's website.

Their stuff remarkably looks like Gitzo and Manfrotto stuff and looks good, although haven't used any of it myself.

Benro have been in the photography market for several years now and I seem to recall that their earlier stuff didn't get favourable comments, but to their credit, they conscientiously asked for feedback from photographers and promised that their products would get better..

Soooo, who knows. Maybe the quality has improved :shrug:
 
markta said:
Mmmmm..have looked at the link that Hoppy gives to Benro's website.

Their stuff remarkably looks like Gitzo and Manfrotto stuff and looks good, although haven't used any of it myself.

Benro have been in the photography market for several years now and I seem to recall that their earlier stuff didn't get favourable comments, but to their credit, they conscientiously asked for feedback from photographers and promised that their products would get better..

Soooo, who knows. Maybe the quality has improved :shrug:
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I don't know about Benro's past, and I have no axe to grind here - I'm just pleased to get such high quality without paying Western-style prices :)

Benro are unashamed copies of Gitzo, Arca-Swiss and Wimberley heads (plus a bit of Really Right Stuff design in there, too). They copy pretty much everything, including the quality. These are not cheap knock-offs.

The cost saving, as I see it, is: they employ Chinese labour, not at European or US rates; they sell directly through to retail and so don't have a distrubutor that takes 30% (just like RedSnapper I guess); and they don't appear to spend very much on marketing.

I also think they are happy to make rather less profit than the Western brands that I think are, honestly, a rip off. Just how much does it actually cost to make a tripod or ball head, even using the finest materials and high precision engineering? Bout time they got a wake-up call IMHO ;)

Here's an example - Really Right Stuff are now making their own tripod. It also looks mechancially similar to Gitzo. I'm sure it is superbly made, even though the basic spec is a bit disappointing - quite heavy for carbon fibre, and not very tall as it doesn't even have a centre-column. It is 100% made in the US, and costs £580 (head £270 extra).

Who are they kidding? At the end of the day it's a three-legged camera support and the critical bit that actually holds the camera on there is still no more than a feeble 1/4in Whitworth bolt :shrug:
 
HoppyUK said:
You make a good point. I used to feel much the same way, but just got fed up swimming against the tide and supporting ailing British industries that, frankly, didn't deserve it and got substantially out of pocket as a result.

Years ago I started by buying British motorbikes, then British cars, and when that industry died I refused to buy grey/parallel imports even though they were much cheaper.

I used to support Jessops but not anymore, unless they offer best value. And personally, I wouldn't support Redsnapper just because they're British, but because they are good, and good value (which I believe they are). However, I'm not at all sure how 100% British manufactured they are. What does 'built in England' mean? And what is original about their designs? If I am mistaken on this, and indeed Redsnapper are 100% British manufactured, I would like to know and I think they should publish it prominently on their website.

I recommend Benro as I know they are extremely high quality, both from personal experience and that of others I respect. They are better than either Manfrotto and Giottos for example, and as good as Gitzo as far as I can tell, both in terms of design, specification and manufacture. And that is as good as it gets.

Redsnapper have a deservedly good reputation though. Good gear, good prices :) :thumbs:

Edit: that reads like a bit of a rant. Sorry, not meant to be :)
Click to expand...

Good reply! I too am not sure about where the original parts are made so quite aware they may not be 100% british but as you said- I find it easier to support them as the quality is good too.

We all buy stuff from overseas, even without knowing it and there is nothing wrong with it- I just like to support our own when there is no reason not to, and the only thing that really annoys me is that the Chinese manufacturers dont do any proper R&D of their own- just copy the best products 100% and bang them out for less than half price because they dont have to pay proper wages. Its just a bit sneaky and low to me! I bet Gitzo and Wimberly for example have lost thousands due to copies.
...but it makes products cheaper and thats what 90% of people care about! (Yes even me every now and again)
 
topcatproduction said:
Good reply! I too am not sure about where the original parts are made so quite aware they may not be 100% british but as you said- I find it easier to support them as the quality is good too.

We all buy stuff from overseas, even without knowing it and there is nothing wrong with it- I just like to support our own when there is no reason not to, and the only thing that really annoys me is that the Chinese manufacturers dont do any proper R&D of their own- just copy the best products 100% and bang them out for less than half price because they dont have to pay proper wages. Its just a bit sneaky and low to me! I bet Gitzo and Wimberly for example have lost thousands due to copies.
...but it makes products cheaper and thats what 90% of people care about! (Yes even me every now and again)
Click to expand...

I checked. Red Snapper are 100% made in China, in the same factory as another big Western brand.
 
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