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B&H Photo / Benbo Tripod

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack A. Zucker
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Got the replacement today and it works great. I guess something bust have gotten bent in the original shipment from B&H and the replacement works very smoothly and similarly to the old Uni-loc I used to have. Much easier to adjust the legs now.

Thanks B&H!

Jaz

--
http://www.sheetsofsound.net
 
Hi, Baz,

Remember our correspondence on this theme about a couzple of years or so ago? I haven't been in contact with the man who had just become the owner of Uni-Loc then, but in the meantime I did purchase some little accessory parts for my Uni-Loc from Warehouse Express in Norwich.

I just had a quick look at their web site, and they actually do have the full range of Uni-Loc's listed, apparently for prompt delivery. I'm afraid the OP would be shocked when he finds out the eventual shipping fees, but anyway here is the link for at least a thorough perusal by him:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3037&brand=255

By the way, I still haven't found anyone I could have sold my Manfrotto to which to replace I had bought the Uni-Loc. That's a shame, because ever since the U-L arrived I have not used the M. for a single time!

Kind regards, and I hope everything is well over there on the other side of the Channel,

Cheers,

Johannes
 
Jack A. Zucker said:
Got the replacement today and it works great. I guess something bust
have gotten bent in the original shipment from B&H and the
replacement works very smoothly and similarly to the old Uni-loc I
used to have. Much easier to adjust the legs now.
Click to expand...
I am VERY sorry I didn't see this earlier and equally sorry for your frustration. OTOH I am quite glad this has been resolved and I appreciate your taking the time to say so.

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
 
Jack A. Zucker said:
I have a very dim view of chemo ...
Click to expand...
I can't argue with you, but my Mom did chemo and other unpleasant stuff before & after surgery and has since received a 100% clean a bill of health.

_
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
 
Jack A. Zucker said:
Got the replacement today and it works great. I guess something bust
have gotten bent in the original shipment from B&H and the
replacement works very smoothly and similarly to the old Uni-loc I
used to have. Much easier to adjust the legs now.
Click to expand...
Excellent.

You might appreciate this:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=19105651

An old post where I describe some of the modifications I've done to Benbo tripods (old and new) to make them a little more like a Uni-Loc, as far as resisting "creep", folding better, and reducing column vibration. I wouldn't do this to a brand new tripod, but it doesn't take long to get frustrated with it...

Modification 1, adding flat spots to the swivels, lets the tripod fold up much tighter. It's not a common mod, but I consider it a "must have". Do not overheat the plastic when making flat spots. Been there, done that.

Everybody does what I called modification 2 (which probably means I should have numbered that one 1, instead of 2) roughening up the swivel faces to reduce creep. You can also switch the swivels to "dry" operation and cut Delrin sheet into "washers". Delrin sheet makes such a lovely "dry clutch".

You can't see modification 3 in the picture, but it consists of thin Delrin rings about 1 inch long that I turned on the lathe so that the center column would just slide through them, would fit rather snugly into the "split tube" that holds the center column, and I glued them to one half of the split tube...

That one really helped. Makes it feel more like the Uni-Loc, which uses collets to do double duty, gripping the column tube and securing both halves of the split tube together.

Still have no modification 4. Got the problem defined, but can't come up with a solution.

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com
 
Johannes Czernin said:
Hi, Baz,

Remember our correspondence on this theme about a couzple of years or
so ago?
Click to expand...
I do, Johannes, I do! :-)
Johannes Czernin said:
I haven't been in contact with the man who had just become
the owner of Uni-Loc then, but in the meantime I did purchase some
little accessory parts for my Uni-Loc from Warehouse Express in
Norwich.
Click to expand...
Johannes Czernin said:
I just had a quick look at their web site, and they actually do have
the full range of Uni-Loc's listed, apparently for prompt delivery.
I'm afraid the OP would be shocked when he finds out the eventual
shipping fees, but anyway here is the link for at least a thorough
perusal by him:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3037&brand=255
Click to expand...
That is all most useful information.. thanks for posting. :-)
Johannes Czernin said:
By the way, I still haven't found anyone I could have sold my
Manfrotto to which to replace I had bought the Uni-Loc. That's a
shame, because ever since the U-L arrived I have not used the M. for
a single time!
Click to expand...
Yes, all other tripods do seem to be limited by comparison, don't they? Even when the extra flexibility of Benbo/Uni-Loc pattern is not needed, it is still really, REALLY nice to have it with you. :-)
Johannes Czernin said:
Kind regards, and I hope everything is well over there on the other
side of the Channel.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind thought. Actually, I have been having some cardiac problems... but am not too bad at present. My best wishes to you, too. :-)
--
Regards,
Baz
 
No, we do not import the MT8371. But we do import the MT7371. That is the version made from Lava (Basalt) rather then carbon. Other then that they are pretty much the same. Except Lava is slightly less expensive.
 
Bear in mind, we stopped selling Rollei in 1998. We had nothing to do with the drastic decline in Rollei sales that happened after Samsung and their successors took over the distribution.

Additionally Samsung had taken over the distribution of the P&S cameras even earlier then 1998.
 
"Heliopan, the cheap B+W clone, to cost more in the US than real B+W). "

How do you figure that?

Heliopan and B+W were both founded after WW II in Germany. One by the Summer family (Heliopan) and one by the Berman and Weber families (B+W).

Both use brass mounts, Heliopan uses only glass supplied by Schott (Zeiss), B+W has other sources of glass as well.

Heliopan only makes brass mounts with slim rims and front threads for their non-rotating filters.

B+W makes thicker mounts with front threads and for extra cost slim mounts without front threads.

All Heliopan polarizers are fully edge calibrated. B+W polarizers are not.

Heliopan and B+W use the same machines from the same supplier to apply their multi coatings but Heliopan uses a slightly newer formulation that was developed after B+W began their coating.

Heliopan uses, and has used, a packaging that has no outer box so their is virtually no waste other then the small, break-off tab that has the peg board holes. B+W uses more packaging so the outer box is probably discarded.

Heliopan is closely connected to Zeiss and Rodenstock but is still an independent manufacturer that is still owned and operated by the Summer family in Munich.

B+W went into trusteeship after the founders passed away and was operated by trustees for several years until it was purchased by Heinrich Mandermann (who also bought Schneider after their bankruptcy and also owned Pracktika, made the Exacta 66, Rollei, etc) and folded B+W into the Schneider group of companies.

So at no point is Heliopan a copy or a clone of any other manufacturer. Heliopan is simply the finest filters sold today and have been for many years. They are the OEM manufacturer for companies like Linhof and were for Carl Zeiss as well as the manufacturer for the OEM filters for Arriflex and for cameras like the Kodak Retina.

they are premium German filters that represent the best that can be done with modern filter technology.
 
"played with my uncle (Monte Zucker's)"

I knew Monte and Sandy from 1969 and once did over 20 seminars with them and Gary in one year. Monte and Clay were the photographers at my daughter's wedding. Monte and Sandy took my wife and I out and commiserated with us when my father and grandmother died a day apart and 400 miles apart. I was with him when a flood at the Tropicana ruined his 2.8F cameras and worked with him in switching to 6006s.

I always appreciated Monte and valued his friendship and advice and had not realized that you were related until now. Are you also in MD?
 
Bob Sal said:
No, we do not import the MT8371. But we do import the MT7371. That is
the version made from Lava (Basalt) rather then carbon. Other then
that they are pretty much the same. Except Lava is slightly less
expensive.
Click to expand...
If you want to paint HP in a more positive light, don't mimic Gitzo. Why not take a big step in the right direction and and refer to "Lava" as what it really is...

Fiberglass.

Price it accordingly: cheaper than aluminum.

Now, how do I get a real MT8371, and why do you only import 1/2 the CF line?

--
Rahon Klavanian 1912-2008.

Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.

Ciao! Joseph

http://www.swissarmyfork.com
 
Bob Sal said:
Heliopan is simply the finest filters sold today and
have been for many years. They are the OEM manufacturer for companies
like Linhof and were for Carl Zeiss as well as the manufacturer for
the OEM filters for Arriflex and for cameras like the Kodak Retina.

they are premium German filters that represent the best that can be
done with modern filter technology.
Click to expand...
It would be better if you signed your name in full, Bob.

You ARE Bob Salomon from HP Marketing, which markets Heliopan in the USA, yes?

If so, you should follow the lead of people like Henry Posner who put their identities in the clear and on the table for all to see. Not doing so while plumping for your own products (no matter how good, or how accurate your statements) doesn't seem right, I think.
 
Because the factory that supplies Basalt tubes to the tripod industry has an exclusive agreement with one company that gives them the right to use Basalt as a name for their product. Therefore Giottos had to call it something else. Since the material is made from crushed volcanic soil which is then extruded (with a resin) Giottos decided to call it Lava. But like some of your other statement it is incorrect to call it fiberglass.

To my experience fiberglassing boats as well as sinks a resin was applied to a cloth like material made from some sort of plastic or nylon type of material.

That is very different then the crushing and melting of basalt rock and then mixing it and extruding it into tubes.

As for costs. Aluminum is cheaper. But heavier.

As to why not more models. The market won't support them. However we will be introducing several new models in the next few months that were shown at the last PMA and are just now ready for production. They will be in the stores in the fall.

And if you have a particular model that you particularly would like to see sold you should bear in mind that the factory does not produce or sell in multiples of one unit. They have minimum order quantities that are in the hundreds of units. So if a particular model does not have enough demand from dealers it is not sold.
 
Bob Sal said:
But like some of your other statement it is
incorrect to call it fiberglass.
Click to expand...
No. It is fiberglass.... or, as we spell it in UK, 'fibreglass'.
Bob Sal said:
To my experience fiberglassing boats as well as sinks a resin was
applied to a cloth like material made from some sort of plastic or
nylon type of material.
Click to expand...
The cloth or matting to which you refer is generally made from glass fibres. Glass is fused silica, originally sand, and the most common element in the earth's crust.
Bob Sal said:
That is very different then the crushing and melting of basalt rock
and then mixing it and extruding it into tubes.
Click to expand...
No. Not different. Crushing rock to get the sand is a rather laborious way to go about it, but in the end it is still fused silica... or glass..... and the tubes are indeed made of glass fibre, regardless of any fancy names applied in marketing.

Note: To get aluminium you also have to crush the rocks first.... (shrugs) ;-)
--
Regards,
Baz
 
My sincere apology to anyone who may have been offended by my post. I was not aware of Mr. Zucker's passing.
 
Hi, Baz.

As someone who has been involved with technical things for most of my life I always like to cite the old saying that there is no thing like a machine that will not eventually need the intervention of a mechanic. But I'm glad to hear things are allright once again!

The most recent postings in this thread here, particularly those from people in the US who cannot find a source for Uni-Loc in their country, has made me curious, and so this morning I tried to contact either Uni-Loc themselves or Mr. Dante Brody, the gentleman of Indian origin who in 2004 had acquired the company. A call to what then was his photography shop in North London resulted in a recording of "... this number has been changed to...", and surprisingly the number it has been changed to is the original one of the Leighton Buzzard company.

So I called that one and got an immediate reply, and it was Mr. Mody himself who was on the phone. I was careful to remain anonymous and asked him where one could buy his products. He asked if I was in the UK, and then he said "I could send it to you....!" And he gave me an E-Mail address for any further correspondence or ordering. I also asked about a Web site but he told me that "... at present our Web site is not active..."

So for anyone interested in acquiring a Uni-Loc product either call this phone number:

+44 (01525) 372-030

or write to this E-Mail address:

[email protected]

And just to give complete information I also add their mailing address:

Unit 10, Firbank Court
Firbank Way
Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire, LU7 8YJ
UK

I sincerely hope Henry Posner reads this posting too, so if B&H were interested in carrying Uni-Loc perhaps he could contact them directly.

For anyone who might suspect this could be illegal (for the forum!) advertising please let me add that I have no connection whatsoever with Uni-Loc, apart from the fact that I own one of their tripods (bought as used on eBay!), and later I had some Fax and phone contacts with Mr. Mody in order to get a few spare parts.

If any reader in the forum takes any further action to try and buy a Uni-Loc please make sure to report your success here. After having used mine exclusively for the past four years I think it is a bland shame that such a good product appears to be almost unattainable, with the manufacturer himself not caring to do anything about it! - unless, of course, the whole thing, including the current offers on the Warehouse Express site, turns out to be nothing more than a sellout of remaining stock after the collapse of the original company.

Kind regards,

Johannes
Barrie Davis said:
Johannes Czernin said:
Hi, Baz,

Remember our correspondence on this theme about a couple of years or
so ago?
Click to expand...
I do, Johannes, I do! :-)
Barrie Davis said:
I haven't been in contact with the man who had just become
the owner of Uni-Loc then, but in the meantime I did purchase some
little accessory parts for my Uni-Loc from Warehouse Express in
Norwich.
Click to expand...
Barrie Davis said:
I just had a quick look at their web site, and they actually do have
the full range of Uni-Loc's listed, apparently for prompt delivery.
I'm afraid the OP would be shocked when he finds out the eventual
shipping fees, but anyway here is the link for at least a thorough
perusal by him:

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3037&brand=255
Click to expand...
That is all most useful information.. thanks for posting. :-)
Barrie Davis said:
By the way, I still haven't found anyone I could have sold my
Manfrotto to which to replace I had bought the Uni-Loc. That's a
shame, because ever since the U-L arrived I have not used the M. for
a single time!
Click to expand...
Yes, all other tripods do seem to be limited by comparison, don't
they? Even when the extra flexibility of Benbo/Uni-Loc pattern is not
needed, it is still really, REALLY nice to have it with you. :-)
Barrie Davis said:
Kind regards, and I hope everything is well over there on the other
side of the Channel.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind thought. Actually, I have been having some
cardiac problems... but am not too bad at present. My best wishes to
you, too. :-)
--
Regards,
Baz
Click to expand...
 
Johannes Czernin said:
I sincerely hope Henry Posner reads this posting too, so if B&H were
interested in carrying Uni-Loc perhaps he could contact them directly.
Click to expand...
I am. I'll share this with the buyer. No promises, of course.

--
Henry Posner
B&H Photo-Video
 
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