Geared tripod head comparison - Manfrotto Xpro vs Benro GD3WH.

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Ian Middleton : Photography & Travel

Күн бұрын

In this week’s video I do a geared tripod head comparison and review two makes: Manfrotto xpro and the Benro GD3WH. While both proved to be excellent geared heads, both also had one particular downside. I look at all the pros and cons.
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#review #benro #manfrotto

Пікірлер: 80

@musiqueetmontagne 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the upload. I've been shooting for many decades and never quite liked Manfrotto gear. It's the small things with their equipment that lets it down. The professional geared heads are have much tighter tolerances but are expensive and heavy. The Benro is a good compromise.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 2 ай бұрын

Yes the Benro is a great head for the price

@nicola6323 Ай бұрын

I used to like Manfrotto, but I have a feeling they’re falling behind. Heavy, not innovative, sometimes questionable quality. I now have a Sirui tripod and put the Benro geared head on it.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Ай бұрын

@@nicola6323I've always used Manfrotto tripods and heads. The first tripod had really bad levers for locking the legs. That was improved on the next model I bought, and still have. The levers are still good after many years, and in general the tripod is still good. The only problem I had was the centre column fell apart when tried to pull it out once (I never really use it anyway). I managed to put it all back together and won't touch it again. It's not carbon fibre, but is not that heavy to honest, and aside from the centre column problem, it has always worked well and is very sturdy. The three way head though, did have a problem with the grips breaking and I ended up having to use a spanner to adjust them. I now have a Benro 34clv carbon fibre levelling tripod, which so far has been superb. And I have the geared head and a three way. The Manfotto tripod is now a spare.

@photozen8398 Ай бұрын

@ 12:12 there is a play in the Benro I noticed not as bad as the X Pro but none the less it is there.

@honzaskypala 9 ай бұрын

Another Arca Swiss advantage, some new collar tripod mounts for telephoto lens are Arca Swiss compatible, so you can attach them directly to the head and don't need a plate. For example Sigma lenses have that.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 9 ай бұрын

That's good to know, thanks.

@Michael-ps7ji 6 ай бұрын

Awesome video! Thank you!!

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 6 ай бұрын

You are welcome.

@ghosttownsentinel5288 Жыл бұрын

I watched this video before receiving my BENRO head, and thought maybe you were complaining of the big turning knobs for nothing. After receiving the head and using it on a cold California day without gloves, I realized your complaint was well founded. If the ridges were softer, it wouldn't have been so hard on the fingers. Other than that, I find the knob placements for each axis to be not exactly as I would like them, but I will get used to it. Right now I keep banking the camera when I really want to pitch it up or down. I mount a Hasselblad 503CW on this head and it's holding it fine, even though the head almost weighs nothing compared to other robust heads. The load capacity of 13 lbs is just right for my gear. All in all, I like it and I am getting used to it fast. Thanks for this video.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. Yes that my thought too that on cold or freezing days this would really be tough on your fingers. But you can avoid using them to be honest. I find that rotating the knobs seems to turn things pretty fast and you can do it all this way.

@vinstyles Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the vid. I have the Benro head and you're absolutely right, turning the dials/knobs can be difficult and sore on your fingers and in winter, it gets worse. However, it is a great head and I love it. Thanks a mill.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Thanks. I know. I just try to avoid using it as much as possible. It's easy enough when doing landscape photography as there isn't much need to move fast.

@thomasbjorkqvist5901 5 ай бұрын

Thank you for making this. I chose the Benro

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 5 ай бұрын

Excellent choice. I just got a Benro tripod too now. Really great.

@JeremiahTrue Жыл бұрын

I originally bought a Manfrotto 405 for the larger knobs and tighter controls but, when it developed a wiggle, I bought a Benro to fill in. The Benro is a fantastic head for the money and I’ve gotten a lot of use from it. The other thing that I added to both of my geared heads was a panning Arca clamp. They come with Arca plates on the bottom and add about an inch of overall height but allow for 360° panning with degree marks/indents to help with panoramic shooting or indexing your shots. That combo has been my go-to for over six years.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Yes I'm really growing to love this head. I used it recently for a long exposure in high winds and it didn't move at all.

@kennypringle4580 9 ай бұрын

I agree with your comments on these heads. I have them both.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 9 ай бұрын

Thanks. It would be great if we could combine the two to make one perfect one!

@GlennVanderbeke Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video Ian (y) Also a big fan of the Benro :)

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

You are welcome. Yes the Benro is certainly a good geared head. Heard great things about the rest of their stuff too so will be checking it out when I can.

@richarddutton6849 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed your video but I have to own up that I haven't yet got to the Benro section. The reason is simple: the Xpro you demonstrate looks very easy to rough align but then there were two issues which you showed that would have made it a no for me: firstly the "fine" adjustment was too coarse and secondly. the lack of rigidity I thought made this geared head effectively unusable. I got a 410 jr cheap some years ago and yes it is heavy and the controls are stiff as is manfrottos custom but it is as solid as a rock for medium loading. I have just bolted on RC2 and AS clamps to 2 off RC4 plates which works for me.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Thanks Richard. Glad you enjoyed the vid. Yes the lack of rigidity was a disappointment to me too, as I have always used Manfrotto up til now. Good the 410 is better. The weight is only really an issue if you plan to hike a lot with your gear, I think.

@madst7521 11 ай бұрын

Real advantage of arca swiss is with an l-plate where you can easily switch landscape to portrait

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 11 ай бұрын

True. I also did a video on that: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nd-Gapmfl7uxmWg.html

@davefoc 4 ай бұрын

Speaking as an amateur: I spent quite a bit thinking about this before I went with Arca. There was an alternative that I liked because it was quicker to attach with than the Arca system. However I do a little bit of different kinds of photography and the overall security, adaptability and variability of devices that come as Arca was enough to convince me that, at least for me, Arca was the way to go.

@leuallen3000 5 ай бұрын

Have the Benro, Arca-Swiss d4, Sunway, and Manfrotto 410. Yes I like geared heads. Manfrotto out, need Arca-Type Quick Release Plates. Arca-Swiss d4 the best but $1200. Benro more bulk than Sunway, not as smooth. Sunway practical winner.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 5 ай бұрын

Good to know, thanks

@MannyScoot 10 ай бұрын

own the Manfrotto XPRO 3-Way and will not trade it for nothing, I love the quick release lock mechanism and the quality and I got mine new on sale for $ 175.00 US dollars including taxes and shipping ......I use mine to also shoot short videos and the head is so smooth .....

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 10 ай бұрын

Excellent! As I said I also loved those quick release mechanisms, but just couldn't accept the flex. How is yours with regards to this? Is it solid or does it move a bit also?

@MannyScoot 10 ай бұрын

@@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel you should have the gears checked on yours ... because I use mine with a 24-70mm 2.8L and a 16-28mm f2.8 Tokina Opera on a FF Canon 5DSR with a battery grip and it doesn't wobble like yours does...... But mine is brand new....maybe with time it will develop a wobble.....the knobs need to be protected...do not throw the Manfrotto around in the trunk of a vehicle..... Those knobs cannot take any hits !!!!

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 10 ай бұрын

Mine was brand new when I tested it in the video. It was like that out of the box. Heard others complain about the same problem also. I sent mine back and then bought the Benro.

@oneeyedphotographer 5 ай бұрын

10:21 Manfrotto has at least three plate/attachment designs. Some are Arca Swiss compatible, some use a hex plate (I think these are its better heads), and some use this design (I think these are their cheaper heads). And then their are video heads, and we haven't touched on bowl designs.

@Shaka1277 Жыл бұрын

Great video, thank you Ian! I was wondering if I would have to abandon Arca Swiss compatibility but after watching your video and trying the Benro out, I think I can live with their choice of quick adjustment mechanism. If I need speed, I'm probably using my ball head anyway.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Glad it was helpful

@blockout5346 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for that video and comparison of these two gear heads. I've already put the Manfrotto XPRO in my Amazon basket, but had that slight doubts regarding Manfrotto's quick release plate that propably will not fit into my Peak Design camera holder. Now I will switch to the Benro and hope my Peak Design plate will fit to the Benro gear head. Nice side benefit: the Benro is 12% cheaper than the Manfrotto.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Glad it helped. The Benro uses the standard arca swiss, so hopefully that will fit. Or at least you could find an adapter for it.

@georgedavall9449 3 ай бұрын

That was an awesome sky Ian, and beautiful and well made video. manfrotto all day Long! 😊 Stay safe and Happy Shooting! 👍

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 3 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@bday56 7 ай бұрын

I have the XPRo head and I have no issues with it flexing in the way that yours does in the video. Rock solid and always has been. I think yours may be faulty.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 7 ай бұрын

Good to hear. Mine was like it straight out of the box, so not a good sign in my book. I returned it and got a refund. Glad yours is okay though, because as I said aside from the movement it is a great design and I loved those quick release handles.

@flickwtchr 3 ай бұрын

I've used the Manfrotto XPro for several years and it has held up really well until in the last few months I've had two of the three springs that initiate the large movements when squeezed fall out causing me to switch to my backup while I try to decide whether to get it repaired, or just go with the Benro, etc. I've enjoyed the XPro and up until the loss of the springs I had considered it a very reliable and rugged geared head. I'm leaning toward just retiring it and investing repair money into a new head, likely the Benro displayed here as it is reasonably priced and has a good reputation at this point.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 3 ай бұрын

I suppose it depends how much the repair will be. I liked the Manfrotto because of the quick release handles and it was really smooth to use. I just didn't like the flex. Hopefully yours didn't have that. The Benro isn't off my tripod now. It's fantastic also for landscapes, being able to fine tune the composition so easily.

@williamtaylor8806 7 ай бұрын

great video! i just bought the Benro and so far i realy like it. the movement in the Manfrotto to me,, seems to be a loose gear/bearing area. i don't know but i can't see Manfrotto allowing that. i would take it apart and check.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 7 ай бұрын

That's possible about the Manfrotto, although I read about many others having the same problem. I also heard you can tighten it with an allan key, but you need to remove the cover. I wasn't about to do that as it would invalidate the warranty. Mine was like it straight out of the box, which for me was not acceptable. So I returned mine, got a refund and then got the Benro to try. The Benro was rock solid, and still is a year on.

@oneeyedphotographer 5 ай бұрын

Arguably you should be using an L bracket for those times you don't have a lens with a foot. The feet for some lenses are compatible with Arca Swiss heads. Some camera brands actively support Arca Swiss. For example, Fujifilm has an accessory L bracket for my X-T10. Pretty much all L brackets not from Manfrotto are Arca Swiss compatible.

@peterweiskemusitron2770 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the Video but the Benro has too much friction in general and i will sent it back. My fingers hurt when i move the placement b< the screws.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Yes I know. It’s painful on the fingers. If the Manfrotto didn’t have so much movement I’d have stuck with it. But for long exposures in strong wind it would be a problem. I recently shot several 30 second exposures and the Benro didn’t move at all. As I said, it’s a compromise I’ll have to accept for now.

@tomkirby3281 7 ай бұрын

I don't think you could go wrong with either head, but I went with the Benro. I'm not a pro, and don't think I'll do enough to make sore fingers an issue. This will be my 3rd tripod head, since I already have a ball type and a heavy duty Manfrotto pan-and-tilt head.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 7 ай бұрын

Actually I've rarely needed to use the quick release. Even for larger movements the knobs are big enough that you can move it around fairly fast.

@johnconklin5180 7 ай бұрын

Sold me on the Benro. Think it will securely hod a 50 ounce spotting scope? Thank you!

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 7 ай бұрын

Great to hear. It's a superb head.

@mordavian 8 ай бұрын

Should i tighten the screws with allen key after a time?

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 8 ай бұрын

Yes I've heard you can do that.

@oneeyedphotographer 5 ай бұрын

Neither of those heads is well designed for panoramas. For panoramas it's necessary to have the panning plane level, neither of those supports that. To achieve this, you need one of two further accessories. 1. A levelling base that goes beneath the head. In this case you don't need a geared head at all. 2. A panning base that goes atop the head. If you have this, you might not need a head that does more than a straightforward tilt. I don't see the need for precision panning. I like a lot of pixels so I can shoot wide and crop. If the lens is not wide enough, I pan a bit and make another shot so I can finalise compensation later. In this case, neither of these heads is ideal. I have seen heads with a panning mechanism on top. I don't remember one that's not a ballhead. Video heads are good, but you do need a separate mechanism for levelling.

@chiaracatalini6601 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your video. It was nice to see the two in comparison. I used to have the Manfrotto xpro until it broke...Being made of Techno-polymer plastic, it is not as robust as it may seem. So if you travel around with it, maybe it's not the best option, just saying. I am now considering between the Benro and the Manfrotto 410, which both seem quite sturdy and reliable, and above all precise. Although the 410 weighs 1,2 kg.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

I've been using the Benro ever since and it's really strong and sturdy. I haven't done any extensive travelling with it yet, but many of my photographer friends have had one for years and say it's still working great.

@chiaracatalini6601 Жыл бұрын

@@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Thanks for the quick reply. Actually, I didn't mean traveling perse but more situations outside of a studio (like on set, or in the street for architecture photography). Anyway, I appreciate your opinion. What kind of material is the plate rest?

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure. They use carbon steel and bronze and magnesium alloy in its construction overall.

@berniestang2616 Жыл бұрын

Can i use the benro with my manfrotto tripod ?? EXCELLENT VIDEO… thank u !!

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Yes absolutely! As you saw, it fits perfectly on my Manfrotto 055 and I am using it all the time now.

@berniestang2616 Жыл бұрын

@@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel thx …..Ordered !!!!

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

@@berniestang2616 Excellent!

@torkalovolodymyr5097 Жыл бұрын

Wow, backlash in manfrotto is huge. It ruins whole point of geared head. Benro is really rock solid

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

Yes it is. However I will say that it was very precise in its movement, and works fine when there is no wind. But I would question its stability in windy conditions. The Benro on the other hand was rock solid when I did a long exposure in high wind at Swanage. You can see that in my recent video.

@oneeyedphotographer 5 ай бұрын

12:39 Why would you do that?

@ParadigmImagesVideoPhotography 11 ай бұрын

thank you, I made up my mind, the Benro head is my choice.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 11 ай бұрын

Good choice! I'm really happy with mine.

@henrykinney8979 Жыл бұрын

Sorry. Should have asked, " Where were these pics taken?" Sorry about the grammar.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

No problem! They were taken in Slovenia. The Manfrotto ones were taken in Ljubljana, and the Benro ones in a little called called Prezganje, about 30 minutes east of Ljubljana.

@erikswenson2659 6 ай бұрын

Why is framing precisely such s big concern? If your subject is big enough to fill the frame, can't you just shoot a little wide and then crop in post? To me, number one consideration is steadiness, then weight, then cost. Hard to believe ergonomics would be a decider as they should be at least ok, but does sound like the Benro might be an exception. This vid does not have me wishing for a geared head.

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel 6 ай бұрын

I think precise framing is critical, personally. Firstly when you crop you lose pixels, so the goal should be to avoid the need to crop. Although, even if you want to pull back wider to give scope to crop you still need to be precise in how much wider you go. For me the use of a geared head has made the world of difference. As well as framing, aligning your composition to accurately place objects within the frame, such as centralising a pier, tree or church. Getting the horizon perfectly straight is much easier with a geared head. Once you have all this set, the last thing you need is for it to move. So for me the Benro has proven invaluable.

@erikswenson2659 6 ай бұрын

@@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel thanks for the reply

@flickwtchr 3 ай бұрын

Once you get used to a geared head, they are easy to love. Not crucial except for architectural photography where leveling the camera is key to getting further precise micro adjustments to the geometry in post (especially when shooting one point perspectives).

@henrykinney8979 Жыл бұрын

Where was these pics taken?

@IanMiddletonPhotographyTravel Жыл бұрын

In Slovenia.