Tripod: Benro SystemGo who is experienced?

[kolexndr]

Good day,

Who is experienced with new Benro SystemGo tripods? Model starting with GA or GC letters

Is new mechanism reliable and stable?

I know Manfrotto has similar system of central column (Quick Flip 90° Center Column), but i like very much compactness of Benro (reversed folding legs)

here is the tripod i'm asking about.

Any advices are welcome! Thanks!

 

[stefano martini]

object in question is interesting offers ability to use both macro and landscape, but there are some problems, which may limit use, all in all I prefer the classic series

 

[Docrum]

Has anyone purchased one of these? I like the versatility as they seem to have every feature I would like (plus more.)

 

[madecov]

I have the older Induro & Benro series that is similar. I like it a lot. The further you extend horizontal the less stable and the easier it is for the possibility of tipping. I usually use them for travel or some product photo's. Overall I like them a lot and have Tripods by Induro, Vanguard, manfroto that have the ability to use the center column horizontally.

I have way too many tripods for different situations

 

[Docrum]

Thanks for the info.

I'm looking for one that has the 90 degree centre column + can be converted into a monopod + can get low to the ground (if required) for macros. The Benro SystemGo seems to be the only line with both 90 degree and monopod?

I've looked at the online manuals and they say not to extend the 90 degree centre column past the line of the triangular area covered by the legs. (If that makes sense?) I'm only planning on using it at 90 degrees for jewellry shots taken at table height in a home made light box. The camera/ lens combo in that config would be very light (Sony A6000 and Sony 30mm macro lens).

 

[Docrum]

Has anyone got any experience with the Benro B1 ball head? I'd decided on a System Go tripod but then did some googling on the ball head- a review of the larger B3 on here wasn't very positive at all. They seem to be the same design, so the B1 would have the same characteristics.

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www.dpreview.com

I'd be looking at a max of 2-3kg load on it.

Sourcing the legs without the B1 ball head looks like it will be a problem here in Australia.

 

[Mark Banas]

Has anyone got any experience with the Benro B1 ball head? I'd decided on a System Go tripod but then did some googling on the ball head- a review of the larger B3 on here wasn't very positive at all. They seem to be the same design, so the B1 would have the same characteristics.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/8192473209/battle-of-the-titans-top-ball-heads-tested

I'd be looking at a max of 2-3kg load on it.

Sourcing the legs without the B1 ball head looks like it will be a problem here in Australia.

As the guy who did the reviewing in the article you linked to (thanks!), I can say that the B3 and B1 are very similar, and will have similar controls and feel (or lack thereof)... BUT the important thing is to look at what the B3 was up against in that group. Top-of-the-line Novoflex and FLM? RRS BH-55 and Arca-Swiss Z1? That's a tough crowd!

The B3 (and by extension the B1) is not a "throwaway" head at all, just nowhere near as refined as some of the $400+ heads in that big group. To be clear, it also wasn't as refined as the $200 head in the group, but that's the anomaly of Sirui. Furthermore, the MeFoto Q2 head that came with the Globetrotter tripod is almost exactly the same as the B1, and while it showed the same lack of feedback as the B3, it still held up and maneuvered decent amounts of gear (maybe not quite 3kg) without any issues.

 

[Docrum]

Hi Mark, thanks for the reply and expanding on the review.

I didn't realise the Mefoto Globetrotter used basically the same design. Ironically, it was one of the first tripods I found when looking for quality/features vs money.

My current tripods are 20-30yrs old, cheapish and have pan heads. So, having never used a ball head tripod, I probably won't notice the idiosyncrasies of the B1 as much. With my current gear the maximum load will also be closer to 2kg than 3kg.

So, I think I'll go ahead with the Benro.

Cheers,

David.

 

[Docrum]

I ended up buying the Benro SystemGo Gotravel GC168TB1 http://www.benro.com/Products.aspx?cid=208&pid=378&nid=382#

I've used it a couple of times and am impressed with the build quality and versatility. The 90 degree column has come in use for shooting close up shots of jewellery on a table, I've used it as a monpod for videoing and tried it out with my Sony A6000 and adapted Sigma 150-500mm. The ball head had no problems with the load of the 150-500mm.

As an "all in one" solution I think it works very well. The max height is perfect for me - the A6000 EVF is at the correct height for me to look through without any bending over (I'm 187cm or ~6ft 1".)

 

[General Toner]

Purchased the GC269TB2, not nearly as stable as the RRS34L when I 'thump' hard with finger during a 2 second exposure, however for lightweight and small was very impressed. Reality, how often will one be 'thumping' their tripod during a shoot, without weight hanging underneath.

Happen to test this yesterday since had them all out for the below quick shot of all four to make point of spend once vs going the tripod game that nearly everyone goes through.

The 2 sec exposure was using the J5, so super light camera on both the RRS and Benro to show worse case (rather solid thump). To see movement, it's most noticeable on lens caps at 100% for RRS and just about anywhere for Benro. Focus was nearly middle of frame on the wire shelving.

Conclusion for me is that for nearly a quarter of the RRS system pictured, the Benro did well and I would purchase again (as a travel/lightweight tripod).


Visible in front left of RRS is the Benro (blue just below head)


RRS w/o Thump to upper leg during 2sec exposure


RRS w/ Thump to upper leg during 2sec exposure


Benro w/o Thump to upper leg during 2sec exposure


Benro w/ Thump to upper leg during 2sec exposure

--
James
https://www.flickr.com/photos/generaltoner/

 

[xrqp]

I have the Benro SystemGo. Seems to be roughly worth what it costs. I would say "average" cost and quality. Nothing wrong with that. If you use it in ways that are limited it will be stable. If you go further towards the reaches of what it can do, it can become less stable.

Benro SystemGo is a little bit confusing to figure out what parts you need to do something and how to arrange them. I went to Benros website to get a pdf of the instructions, and I could not find them.

Benro has a very large product line in tripod related equipment, but they appear to me to have only about half the instruction pdfs. So they have a large number of instruction pdfs, and they are also missing a large number of instruction pdfs. I am disappointed in this.