Thrillmere

A good tripod is one essential piece of kit for any photographer, but with so many different models, even from the one manufacturer, it can be a difficult decision to make. It can be all too tempting to buy a cheap tripod to start off with (which is what I did), but after a few months of use I can guarantee you’ll wish you’d spend the extra money to begin with! Cheaper tripods are usually sold as a one-piece setup; that is, the head is permanently attached to the legs. The head is usually of the pan/tilt variety, not the more flexible ball head. By being permanently attached to each other, if something goes wrong with either the legs or the head, you can’t replace them independently. 

By doing a little research and spending a few extra dollars, you should end up with a tripod and head kit that will last you for many years. So what should you look for when buying a tripod and head? 

• Avoid one-piece tripod kits where you can’t replace the head.
• Choose a tripod/head with a maximum load rating around twice that of your camera (i.e. if your camera and heaviest lens is 2kg, get a 4kg tripod/head).
• Go for a ball head rather than a pan/tilt – this will give you greater flexibility in the positioning of your camera.
• Choose something that feels like good quality. This can be hard if buying online, so check them out at your local camera store first. Find something that feels comfortable to use and doesn’t feel like it will fall apart. Check all the bits that are likely to wear out – locking mechanisms, plastic parts etc. Do they feel like they will last a while?
• How adjustable is it? Can you angle the legs independently? Can you angle the head in many directions? Is the centre column reversible for low shots (useful for flowers)?
• Is the centre column sturdy once locked? If it’s not sturdy, it will introduce vibration and shake into your shots.

When I bought my first SLR a little over a year ago, I knew I needed a tripod but didn’t know much more than that! Being a sucker for a “bargain”, I ended up with a cheap Inca tripod for around $60 from JB Hi-Fi. It did the job for a while, but over time the plastic clips started to wear and break. With a pan/tilt head and all the legs joined together with a brace, it was quite a hassle to manouver it into different positions. After many of the clips finally gave up the ghost (on my recent trip to New Zealand) I decided to look for a better tripod. 

A friend of mine had previously purchased a Benro tripod from an eBay seller and I’d had the chance to play around with it a couple of times. Despite being a brand I’d never heard of before (and coming from eBay), I was pleasently surprised by the build quality and features for a such a low cost. A quick look at their website reveals that they started off making tripods for other brands, but also market tripods under their own name. So when my tripod gave up the ghost, I was fairly confident in buying a Benro tripod instead of a more expensive (but similar quality) brand like Manfrotto. 

I made the plunge and ordered a Benro A-650EX tripod and BH-2 ball head from Photo Shop Studio‘s eBay store. So, without further delay, here are some photos and a review of my A-650EX tripod and BH-2 ball head. Apologies for the photos; they were taken with haste in my kitchen Scroll down for my take on this tripod (and click photos to enlarge). 

The tripod arrived well packaged by Photo Shop Studio, and was delivered very fast (next day) via courier from Sydney. Upon opening the box I found the tripod and head to be pre-assembled inside the nylon carry bag. Both the A-300 and A-650EX came with these great bags, so I assume all Benro tripods do. The bag itself feels like it will last a long time. It is padded throughout to protect the tripod, as well as having a padded carry handle and detachable shoulder strap. There is a small pocket inside the bag containing tools to adjust the tripod should it need any adjustments in future. 

Taking the tripod out of the bag, the first thing I noticed was the heft and quality-feel of the A-650EX. While the A-300 is rated to carry about 4kg, I decided to go for the heavier duty model which will take a load of 8kg (to accommodate my SLR body, battery grip, zoom lens and possibly flash). I have to wonder how much the tripods will really hold; check out these two photos from trade shows that I found on the web. 

The tripod legs and head were assembled before shipping, but are easy enough to pull apart and put back together if necessary; a simple turn of the head unscrews it from the 1/4 inch threaded bolt holding it in place. The A-series tripods are all made from aluminium, though there are more expensive carbon fibre C-series models available, should your budget allow for it. Carbon fibre is lighter and is less likely to be damaged by things like water – handy if you take shots at the beach! One of the reasons I chose the A-650EX is because of the clasp-type locks that hold the leg sections in place. I prefer these to the screw locks that feature on some of the other models, but it’s purely personal preference. 

It has four leg sections, and when fully extended it towers over lesser tripods. I’m almost 6ft tall, and with the legs of the tripod fully extended, my camera’s viewfinder sits at or above eye level. This can be really handy in situations like shooting over bridge railings (I’ve come across this situation many times). 

The legs slide into place quite firmly, and I don’t think the clasps will wear out any time soon. The legs themselves are made of hollow aluminium tubing, and feature a groove down the length of each one to prevent twisting. Around the top section of each leg is a comfortable foam handle, though I have seen that on some models this is only on one of the legs. At the top where they join the centre column is a small compass and a spirit level (which seems fairly useless, as there’s one on the head too), along with a clip on each leg that slides out to allow you to change the angle of each leg individually. 

It may never be necessary to extend the centre column with such a tall tripod, but (should the need arise) it seems quite sturdy, with little shake, and locks into place with a wingnut-type collar. At the bottom end of the centre column is a spring-loaded hook, from which you can hang your camera bag or any other kind of weight to make the tripod more stable (useful on windy days). Probably the best feature of the column is that you can remove it, and mount it upside down. This can give you a creative edge when you want to get a really low angle shot, like macro photos of flowers. 

The BH-2 ball head is also rated to 8kg, and is just a larger/heavy-duty version of the BH-0 and BH-1 models. It has one simple lever to tighten the head, and seems to do the job well enough. I have a bad habit of over-tightening things, so only time will tell how well this locking mechanism holds up. 

The mounting plate is a very solid piece of aliminium, and screws in simply to the base of your camera. The lever to remove the mounting plate squeezes together and locks open until the camera is placed on top, at which point it securely clicks back into place. This allows for easier mounting without having to hold the camera with one hand and operate the lever with the other. There is also a spirit level on top so you can be sure your shot is lined up perfectly before pressing the shutter button. 

Both the EX series tripods and BH series heads are the budget range from Benro, but both do an excellent job at keeping your camera exactly where you need it to be. I am impressed by the solid-feeling materials, and general build quality of the two kits I have used (A-300EX and A-650EX). The A-650EX and BH-2 cost me around AUD$200, yet have all the features one would expect of a tripod twice the price from any of the leading names. I highly recommend you consider them when looking at your next tripod!