Product Review: Benro M-028 n6 Carbon Fiber Tripod
My latest (4th or 5th) tripod is certainly a keeper. Read the full report to find out why.
If you’ve ever used a Gitzo tripod - especially one of the modern, carbon fiber ones - you’ll almost certainly agree that its simply in a class of its own. The brilliant design and build quality are sure to please but not all of us can afford (or need) such expensive support gear. I’m guessing this was the thinking of Chinese brand BENRO which has managed to create very high quality near-replicas of the many Gitzo models and make them available at much lower prices. The model that is the topic of this report is the Benro M-028 n6 Carbon Fiber tripod which is a part of Benro’s Mountaineer line, named so after Gitzo’s own Mountaineer series.
First Impressions
While the Benro might at first bear a very close resemblance to its Gitzo inspiration it does not take long to notice that the level of detail applied to even just the appearance of the Gitzo isn’t duplicated on the Benro. The locks are very plain and rubbery unlike Gitzo’s fancy, metal-outlined G-Locks. Slight flaws can be seen on the metal components near the top plate, which certainly would not have passed Gitzo’s quality assurance. However, compared to most other tripods in its price range, I would have to say that the Benro easily smokes them all! The cosmetic flaws don’t take away from its build quality, performance and (albeit, borrowed) brilliant design.
Probably one of the most compact tripods in the Benro line, the M-028 n6 is a mere 18 inches long when collapsed. Even so, it provides sufficient support for a magnesium body DSLR, such as my Nikon D200 with a relatively heavy 17-55DX 2.8 lens. The 3-section tripod expands to the height of 56 inches which when augmented with the ball head brings the height to a very versatile and comfortable height. The ball head I installed is the Markins Q3, reviewed here. Together this combo didn’t break my back or my wallet, but has certainly had a positive impact on the quality and sharpness of my photos. The reason I opted for this, small tripod as opposed to the larger, more capable and stable models is that I have a tendency to leave my gear behind unless its portable and light. And while I had some concerns while waiting for the tripod shipment to arrive, these were largely put to rest once I mounted the camera on it and was reassured that the M-028 was up to the task. That said, if I had to do it over again, I’d probably go with the slightly larger model just to be on the safe side. Another reason I feel this way is that the very handy tripod bag (included) is significantly bigger than the M-028, so in a way I am already carrying a bigger package.
In Use
Easily my favorite feature of the Benro is the locks. Designed to prevent the rotation of the tripod legs the locks of a single leg can be unlocked (and locked, when collapsing the tripod) using one hand and all at once – in a single motion! This means that the tripod can be extended in seconds and just as quickly packed away. If you’re stuck with a tripod that uses clamps you might be thinking you can already do the same, but you only come close. I much prefer extend the Benro tripod than my clamp-locked Manfrotto monopod – and it has only 1 leg!
The ability to change the angle of the tripod legs (3 settings are available) is another great feature. Since each leg is entirely independent, you can adjust the angle of each leg allowing a wide array of setups which can come in quite handy when shooting in nature, especially in mountainous areas. This means that you can make the tripod legs extend allow you to bring the tripod head very low to the grown while at the same time proving additional support. Combined with the ability to reverse the main beam, this feature also allows placing the camera on the interior of the tripod – perfect for close-up photography.
And certainly, the almost difficult to believe light weight and strength of the tripod should not be left out. The carbon fiber composite has certainly become the material of choice for me when it comes to support gear.
Conclusion
Gitzo design at a much lower price? Yes, it can be had. I got mine for about $300, shipped. Give the Benro a try and you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend it!
Photo Review
For a full photo review of this Benro Tripod, click here: http://reviews.gallerama.com/gallery/694
Nice review. Would you mind posting a link to this product and how much you paid? Also, how much was the Benro? Thanks.
I have had a C297 Benro tripod for over a year now. With one exception I will talk about this pod had done a great job of some heavy use with up to 300mm f2.8+TC+D200+SB800+full Wimberley!….I once over twisted the leg lock on one set of legs and the rubber knob spun around and around. I swapped the stripped knob with another one and it seemed to recut the threads and continue to work. DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN the locks!!!!!!. The 297 is a real contortionist that gets in many weird angles, especially with the Acratech Ultimate ballhead…..The brand seems to be made for America under the name Induro now and comes with a 5 year warranty from B&H so who would want to go with Benro now? Worth the money IMHO.
Dear Aleksandar Kolundzija,
Thanks for the wonderful review, very useful to newcomers like me to the blog and the Nikon line. I am researching to buy a similar setup almost immediately.
Can you please indicate what would be a good combo for someone with a Nikon D80/Nikkor 18-200 lens, and more importantly where did you buy the equipment? I think I missed seeing that if you have mentioned it somewhere above.
Best regards,
Ram Ramachandran
I’m glad you found the review helpful. I’ve been using the tripod a lot this summer and am really happy with it.
Chris - I purchased my Benro through eBay, from a distributor in Hong Kong. Of the ~$300 I paid, total, about $50 was the shipping charge. I heard that the Benro line is available in the U.S. under a different name: Induro. Adorama carries these.