Benbo Tripods 1 “Standard†Tripods
Benbo Tripods 1 “Standard†Tripods
USER REVIEWS
[Apr 15, 2023]
Toddclo
Strength:
My main tripod is this one. I've used it to trek all over the East Coast and I've discovered that it has helped me get some really tough images. Its adaptability is unmatched. Although it isn't light as some Gitzos, it is not at all burdensome. This is recommended to me by one of Hamilton tree service staff. Weakness:
None so far... Purchased: New
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[Feb 03, 2022]
elizabeth
Strength:
Its solid construction and versatility make it equally well-suited for studio and remote location work. Weakness:
None so far.https://sacramentodryrot.com Purchased: New
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[Jun 04, 2006]
Kaelastreet
Intermediate
Strength:
Solid, metal, simple, easy to maintain, no gizmo's or gadgets and nothing to break off if you twist it a bit further. Legs wont buckle, ever. Can stand in any terrain. Can be used underslung for ground level close ups, or as a cantelever for lying on your back and shooting straight up. Highest reach is about eightfeet.
Weakness:
1) it wont fold up and fit in my back pack, or the trunk of my Smart Car
I needed a tripod that was strong, stable and capable of being used in any situation, on the side of a hill, on a bridge, in a field or in a workshop. It has to be capable of holding my heavy camera and lens and to be reliable, once set, forget it. I chose the Benbo for good reason, its large, its heavy, its of solid construction and its chunky with no frills. It does not have laser balancers, dangly bits with hooks or bubbles in green goo for deciding on horizontal.
Customer Service Bought through ebay, remember, Caveat Emptor. For £70.00 it was a bargain. It is pre-used, and banged about a bit, but it is just as relaible and as strong as the day it was manufactured. |
[Jun 10, 2002]
wa8edx
Intermediate
Strength:
Fast, Flexible setups in the field. easy to carry, light weight.
Weakness:
Total Bent Bolt failure after approx. 200 usages in field. Can't get internal replacement parts. No MFG WeB Site. I have owned the Benbo Trekker for about 5 years and have used it about 200 times. The Benbo drift has been a problem. At present the Tripod is useless. The main Bent bolt is stripped and I can't locate a replacement. The Outer Clamping nut (handle) became stripped after 20 or Thirty uses, and I welded a wrench to the nut itself. It's too bad, as I really enjoyed using this tripod because of it's multi capabilities, but I've had so many problems with the drift and the stripping on the nut and the bolt that I'll be moving along to another similar product if I can find one with a better bolt. They should have used a hardened, stainless bolt. I'm really disappointed with this product. Customer Service To the best of my knowledge, there is no customer service. If there is, They can't be found via a search engine. |
[Feb 02, 2000]
pikabike
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
Benbo 1 “Standard”
Strength:
Better range of angles than anything else I've tried.
Weakness:
None. This was my first tripod and I still use it for anything requiring great stability (high wind, long exposures, heavy gear) or great flexibility of set-up (macros, many interior home shots and still lifes, some landscapes). Similar Products Used: Benbo Trekker |
[Feb 01, 2000]
Tyler Hawke
Intermediate
Model Reviewed:
Benbo 1 “Standard”
Strength:
This is my primary tripod. I've hiked all over the East Coast with it and find that it has helped me attain some very difficult shots. It's adaptibility is second to none. It's not heavy (not as light as some Gitzos) but far from being a burden. Once you get the swing of using the Benbo - there's hardly a shot that can't be had. The standard head is great and I haven't had any problems locking down my camera with up to a 300mm lens with a 1.4x attached to it. I love this pod.
Weakness:
The learning curve is kinda big. The Benbo takes patience to master. Because of the uni-lock device, some photographers shy away from it because it deviates from the norm. If you enjoy nature/Landscape photography and like to get in the mix - You need this tripod. It's built well and bends to the shots you want. Also excellent for macro pictures because it lets you get right on top of your shot. Similar Products Used: I have an old bogen (A#1), have used Slik (cheap) and have used Gitzo (dream weight). |
[Oct 29, 2000]
Jarl Petersson
Professional
Strength:
Stable, flexible, unique
Weakness:
Non so fare This tripod is a very useful tool especially for the outdoor Photographer. Customer Service Never used Similar Products Used: Many |
[Nov 27, 2000]
Alexander Koedijk
Intermediate
Strength:
The ultimate tripod for everywhere, flexible...
Weakness:
Needs some training to handle it properly. As I said before, the ultimate choice, despite the price! Customer Service Not needed Similar Products Used: Manfrotto, Cullmann |
[Mar 22, 2001]
Bill Ward
Professional
Strength:
Flexibility
Weakness:
Full verticle extention would not be good for heavier medium format or larger cameras I shoot mostly macro nature and flower shots. It is impossible to imagine using any other tripod for low to the ground macro work. With a ball head, I can set this tripod up in less than a minute on uneven ground, extend the camera holding column and attach my camera and focus in another minute or two. Because there is only one leg tightening knob per leg and the knob is high on the leg, it's very swift to adjust leg height. The one bent bolt frees the legs and column and with a little practice, you can easily and quickly configure this pod into more positions than a yoga master. The legs telescope from the bottom upwards and are sealed, so sand and mud are no problem. This is the only tripod I am aware of that has been designed for Nature Photography from top to bottom. The larger XL model would be great for studio illustration work because the camera column could be used in a lateral position and the longer legs and camera column would be very helpful. I hate tripods, but this one is fun to use and has to be the most flexible on the market while remaining rock firm and solid. I prefer it to the Gitzo tripods I've used. I would recomend this tripod to all outdoor photographers. Customer Service Not Needed. Similar Products Used: Velbon |
[Jun 16, 2001]
Charles Everitt
Expert
Strength:
Quick setup, once you learn how
Weakness:
Learning curve I owned the original Benbo and stupidly sold it several years ago. I just bought a new one, and it's even better: much nicer finish and detailing. Customer Service Never tried Similar Products Used: Tiltall, Bogen, Gitzo |