Amateur Photographer - UK (2019-07-26)

50 20 July 2019I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113

Testbench ACCESSORIES

Ataglance

●165cmmaxheight

●46.5cmfoldedlength

●1.7kgweight

● 14kg load capacity

SERIOUSlandscapephotographerstendto

becomeobsessedwithresolution,andgravitate

towardshigh-megapixelfull-framecameras

andtop-notchlenses,whichoftenmeansusing

large,heavyweightkit.Butthisalsocomeswith

a needtousesmallapertures,lowISOsand

light-sappingfilterssuchaspolarisersand

neutraldensitygradients.Atthispoint,a properly

sturdysupportbecomesessential,butit alsohasto

berelativelylightweightandideallynotcosttheearth.

Overthepastfewyears,we’vebeenimpressedby

thewayChinesetripodmakerBenrohasprogressedto

becomea genuinelyhigh-qualitybrand.It maynotoffer

Gitzo-leveldesirability,butitsproductsworkreallywell

andarevastlycheaper.ThisSeries2 CarbonFibreiFoto

kit(modelFIF28CIB2)is a caseof point:it’sbig,sturdy

andversatile,yetreasonablypricedforwhatit offers.

Yougetfour-sectiontwist-locklegs,withrelatively

large28mm-diametertopsectionsforextrastrength.

Eachcanbesetindependentlytooneof threepositions

vialarge,easy-to-useanglelocks,thenreversefolded

aroundthecentrecolumnandheadtogivea shorter

packedlength.Thelegwiththefoam-rubbercarrying

gripcanbeunscrewedandattachedtothecentre

columntoforma full-sizemonopodthat’seasilylong

enoughfora 6ft-tallphotographer.

ThesuppliedIB2ballheadis a heftyitemthateasily

secureslargecamerasandlenses.It featuresa

separatelylockingpanningbasealongwitha useful

frictioncontrolknob,andit locksdownsecurelywithout

a shiftin thecameraposition.The

usestheArcaSwissdovetailpatte

particularlywell-designedunlocki

bepulledbackandtwistedtofull

Theoneflawis thatthere’snos

low-angleshooting.Insteadyouh

centrecolumnandslingthecame

underneaththelegs,whichisn’tth

practicalapproach.Butthetripod

seriouslystrong,andin mytestsh

troubleholdinga full-frameDSLR

batterygripandlargetelephotoz

whilestayingimpressivelystablee

thecentrecolumn fully extended.

Ve r d i c t
Selectinga tripodis allaboutfindinga compromise
betweencompetingfactors,heightversusfoldedlength
andweightversusloadcapacity.ThisBenroSeries 2
CarbonFibreiFotokitstrikesa greatbalance,beingtall
andstrongyetneitheroverlyheavynortoolargewhen
folded.It’sa fineoptionforusersof relatively heavy kit
ALL PRICES ARE APPROXIMATE STREET PRICESlooking for a sturdy, reliable support.

,

g

four-sectioncarbon-fibreTMA28Ctripodis

a similarsizetotheSeries2 iFoto,buthas

a longerfoldedlengthat53cm.It is more

expensiveat£269withouta head,buthas

theadvantageofincludinga short centre

column for low-level work.

Benro Series 2 Carbon

Fibre iFoto tripod kit

AndyWestlaketestsasturdy,

excellent-valuetripod kit

● £249● http://www.benro.eu.com

Bubblelevel

Thequick-releaseclamp

includesa spiritlevel

tohelpsetyour

camerastraight.

Recommended

Spikes

Thestandardrubberfeet

canbeexchangedfor

metalgroundspikes,which

canbeusefulwhen

shootinglandscapes.

Hook

Asprung,retracting

weighthookontheendof

thecentrecolumncanbe

usedtohanga bagfor

increasedstability.

Carrybag

Anyloncarrybagis

included,witha usefullylong

shoulderstrap.Butit lacks

aninternalpocketfortools

orgroundspikes.