Good budget carbon fiber tripod

[Disaster_Area]

I don't use the manfrotto quick release system, although it's not bad. Right now I have a enormous Schoon ball head on mine, which I really need to replace with a smaller, lighter one.. this ball head is made for medium and large format cameras and is a bit of overkill.. I just happened to get it cheap 🙂

 

[Traut]

THe Benro has served me well. I put a good head on it and I don't need to spend another minte thinking about it. I also use it with a wimberley head and it works flawlessly. It comes with a nice case too. I have zero issues. It's one less thing to worry about. $ for $ I have no complaints. It's just a tripod.

 

[Disaster_Area]

I think the big problem with the Benro/Induro line is quality control... people seem to either get a good copy and believe they're the deal of a lifetime... or get an horrible copy and can't stop cursing about it. The biggest complaints seem to be random bits breaking or falling apart for no apparent reason... which points to spotty QC on the manufacturing or assembling end.

If you compare specs as well.. most of the benro CF line (at least when I was shopping) all weighed in must heavier than all the other CF tripods from reputable manufacturers. The legs seem to be nice light CF, but all the joints and connectors aren't weight optimized. I don't doubt they're probably very sturdy... but if you're paying a premium for CF to reduce weight and their just as heavy as a good aluminum pod from Gitzo or Manfrotto... you may as well go for the aluminum at a better price. I can't think of any other advantage to CF other than weight.

 

[Disaster_Area]

I remember seeing an cut away of one of the Benro ball heads as well... there was a bare aluminum screw pressing against the bare aluminum ball inside and you could see DEEP gouges where the tension screw was digging in to the ball head ... and this was only after months of use.. not years. I've learned the hard way many times that buying cheap now will end up costing in the long run... I doubt many of the Benro heads will last the years and decades of the more expensive brands.

 

[Traut]

I think part of the Benro weight disadvantage is in the supplied head. Removing it was the first thing I did. I don't think the other hardware weight disadvantage is of much consequence.

 

[peter_n]

@Igor.Burshteyn: You don't have to buy an Arca Swiss ballhead to use the Arca Swiss type of QR system. There are many good ballheads that use this now standard QR; Acratech, Kirk, Markins, etc. The Markins, made in South Korea, is a very high quality product.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

I have both the Velbon El Carmagne 540 and the 630 very much like them.

I have used the 540 for 35mm, medium format, 4x5, and a Nikon spotting scope. With my EOS system, I have a 400/5.6 and it handles that just fine as well. With the center post extended, the 540 might seem a little precarious with larger items but I haven't had any trouble yet.

The head that comes with the 540 has turned out to be a good tripod head for me. It's a basic tilt and pan which I prefer to ball heads. It's not a quick-release head either but works with all my gear w/o investing in plates.

The 630 being taller is more comfortable to use, particular with things like large format cameras or big lenses/scopes. It's a tilt and pan head is larger and better suited to medium and large format cameras than 35mm. However, collapsed it's a bit longer than the 540 and about a pound heavier.

Between the two, I use the 540 more because it's lighter and less bulky, but the 630 seems a bit more stable and nicer to work with when set up.