Benbo Trekker

stuart38

stuart38

stuart38

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Joined
15 Nov 2002
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829
Location
Colchester
Does anyone own one of the Benbo tripods? If so what are your thoughts on it and its pro's/con's?

I have been wanting a new tripod for ages and like the idea of having the horizontal swing arm to do macro photography or studio type stuff. Looking around I can only really see the Benbo ones and some of the Gitzo Explorer ones (£200+) as giving me the kind of functionality I want.

The Manfrotto range offer fixed horizontal center colums on some models in their range but Im not sure if that would be as good as the Benbo or Gitzos with the option to angle in all degrees.

Any suggestions/thoughts?
 
what things put you off the benbo's - build quality, weight, lack of features?

Im thinking I could get the benbo trekker with head for about £60 2nd hand.. whereas a manfrotto would cost me about £90 for the tripod and another £30 or so for a head
 
I only know two people who have used Benbo's, and both have gotten rid of them because they found them impractical to use. They, apparently, take too long to set up and are generally "resistant" to manipulation. A bit of a nightmare to work with.

The Manfrotto's are expensive, but IMO it's well worth the money.

edit : I use a Manfrotto 190 Pro & 460MG head, and stuff like this is no problem.
I was lying flat on my back, with the tripod to the left of my body, camera horizontally mounted, so it was hovering over my head.
 
I've got the benbo mini trekker and it's a fantastic tripod. There simply isn't a position you can't get with it. It's stable and the mini will hold my 20D grip and 100mm macro quite happily. It even holds the 100-400 if you don't put it too tall. The full trekkers would manage with no problem.

The downsides: because of the leg design they don't collapse as far as a traditional tripod; the central bolt can strip but replacements are available for about a tenner; the unusual design does take getting used to but once you are accustomed to it it's very fast indeed.
 
I think I'm going to get one (Benbo Trekker) from an auction site and see how I get on with it.. at the end of the day I can always re-sell it if I dont feel comfortable using it for landscapes etc.

Cheers for the input
 
I have both a Benbo Trekker and a Manfrotto 190 Pro. Both tripods are designed for different uses, If I'm doing studio or city shots I use the 190. But if I am out in the field doing nature work then it's the Benbo every time. When you first use the Benbo you might be disappointed because there is aknack to using it. Do the folowing: Don't mount the camera until you have the tripod roughly set up, open the tripods legs and push the rubber spikes into the ground. The Benbo will now be rock solid because the spikes in the ground give it excellent support. now slightly loosen the main bolt and adjust the centre column for angle ( attach the camera now if you like). The centre column's hieght can be adjusted to suit your picture.
The advantage of the Benbo in "the field" (pun intended ) is that the legs have spikes and they are reverse designed, the lower leg section slides over the upper leg, so you not ingres of water or dampness.
On the other hand try using the Benbo on a tiled floor and it's like wrestling with a drunken octopus. I use a manfrotto 222 head on the Benbo and I find it an excellent combination. Best of luck
 
I bottled it with the Benbo in the end as I couldnt find one to try out and have heard more bad than good about it. I think I may keep an eye out for a 2nd hand one as a backup tripod to try out.

In the meantime Ive bought the following for £155 delivered from a UK retailer:

GIOTTOS MT 9170 INNOVATOR Tripod Legs
3 way Tripod Head MH-5000
180 degree centre column collar

I did quite a bit of research and considered a Feisol tripod from China which was very resonable until you add in all the extra parts (still very good value for a carbon fibre tripod though), I also considered the Manfrotto 190 Pro and a couple of others but for value for money I reckon this one meets all my requirements.

Cheers for the input
 
IIRC the guy who invented the trekker left the company and set up another producing similar designs but with an improved joint/pin design, maybe called uni-loc or something. But very unsure on this as it is only a vague memory :o
 
you are correct - however looking at the uni-lock tripods that he now makes look more or less the same despite reviews that say it's easier to use.
I'm sure they are great tripods but for now I'm sticking with a tried and trusted until I can afford to own both.
 
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