Kentfaith K&F Concept - GD3W - Geared Head

Kentfaith K&F Concept - GD3W - Geared Head - Is it any good?

Рет қаралды 10,641

Күн бұрын

This week I'm out in my local woodland looking for Autumnal colours and testing out the ‪@kentfaith.official‬ K&F Concept - GD3W - Geared Head.
I explain my reasons for using a geared head for landscape photography and compare the Kentfaith K&F Concept GD3W against the popular Sunwayfoto GH-Pro II, which one comes out on top?
Written Review - mhlandscapephotos.com/kentfai...
Kentfaith K&F Concept Geared Head - GD3W - bit.ly/3S789Ep
Use the coupon code: MHPH17 for 17% off on all products - (2023.12.19 - 2024.1.10)
The links used are affiliate links. If you buy through these links I may receive a small commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price you pay.
Woodland and Landscape 1-2-1 and small group workshops now available - mhlandscapephotos.com/workshops/
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#landscapephotography #gearedhead #kentfaith #kandfconcept #kfconcept #mhlandscape

Пікірлер: 94

@richardstorier6172 7 ай бұрын

Very timely as I have been looking at these types of head!

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

They are a great investment, I'd never go back to a ball head.

@Colinpowellphotography 7 ай бұрын

Great review mate. After you let me have a bit of a play with it, I was impressed. It's definitely a contender if I need to replace my Benro GD3HW. Very solid and stable piece of kit. Neither the Benro or the K&F have a quick release mechanism for the Arca swiss plate. With both you have to use the thumb screw which in cold weather with gloves can be an issue. The build quality and materials used does give it the edge over the Benro. It'll be good to see how it performs over the next few months if it remains just as solid with use.

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Thanks mate, it's very similar to the benro, curious to see how it holds up in a few months, but seeing the build quality as it stands I don't foresee any issues. Good point about the quick release, I've only ever had thumb screw heads, would be cool if they offered both.

@Stainphotography 7 ай бұрын

They really are a game changer

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Really are matr

@AnthonyJohnson1 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the review Martin. Think this definitely something I need. I’ve been doing a bit of woodland photography recently and noticed just how much of a pain it is fine tuning the composition with a ball head. I have K&F filters and they are very good. They do seem to be making some good products at a decent price

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Thanks Anthony, honestly geared heads for woodland photography especially are a game changer. I've had a play with Steve's Benro one and couldn't really see a great deal of difference between them, only the benro uses plastics instead of metal on some parts.

@richardsisk1770 7 ай бұрын

I agree completely. I was shooting 617 panos with a view camera. Always preferred a geared head. Thanks

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Thanks Richard, geared head all the way for me from now on, a lot argue they are slower to use than a ball head but I think if there was a race set up between two photographers one with ball, one with geared, to frame up a composition I don't think there would be much in it.

@trials6 17 күн бұрын

Wobble after 2 weeks? Must have been a defect as my Sunway is going on 2 years and it's still solid as day 1. The KF does look good especially for the money and I like the fact they added the quick adjustment.

@MHLandscape 14 күн бұрын

Like all manufacturers I guess some just have defects, but I know a few people who had the Sunwayfoto and it failed on them. I've been using the KF for a good few months now and no issues.

@allenfutrelle9090 6 ай бұрын

Well done.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

Thank you Allen

@ianthomson9363 6 ай бұрын

I watched this with great interest- I've been dithering over which geared head to buy as the fine adjustments they offer appeals to me. I like K&F products and already have tripod (lightweight but absolutely solid), backpack (seems to make everything weigh less and very comfortable to wear for extended wanders) and ND/polarising filter (not yet tried using it) from the company. And now I've bought the geared head as well! Thanks for a very useful video.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for watching and commenting, I'm very glad to hear you found the video useful. I've used K&F for a number of years and find their products to be of great quality at a reasonable price. I'm sure you'll be very pleased with your new purchase. The fine adjustments really do help 😊

@ianthomson9363 6 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape As well as occasional landscape expeditions, I use a tripod-mounted macro lens a lot, photographing models that I've built. it's difficult to make precise changes to the composition with a ball head, so the new head will get a fair amount of use.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

The geared head will be perfect for that

@felixifloresrodriquez3306 5 ай бұрын

Fantastic content you gained a new subscriber

@MHLandscape 5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much, glad to have you onboard

@garrysugdenphotography 7 ай бұрын

Been using the Benro head for a few years now. Didn't even know the K&F head existed - might have to be a purchase to go on my spare tripod. Thanks for the honest review.

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Thanks Garry, The K&F has only been out a few months I think, it has many similarities to the Benro, which my mate Steve also uses. Been using for a couple of weeks now and it's been brilliant.

@IanElson28 7 ай бұрын

I've used a Manfrotto geared head for quite awhile now. Only reason because it allowed me to use the quick release plates and L bracket I use. Love the slow precise movement, with the ability to quickly set up using the release lever to move like a ball head, then fine tune. Anything happens to mine, won't think twice about replacing it. lovely video again.

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

I can't believe how slow I was to make the move to a geared head, I use to swear by ball heads but realise the error of my ways now 😂

@IanElson28 7 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape I couldn’t get on with a ball head, used a 3 way non geared head for 4 yrs before changing over.

@stephensmithphotography 3 ай бұрын

Great review 👍 lovely pics too 👍👍

@MHLandscape 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Stephen!

@stephensmithphotography 3 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape 😊👍

@Auhana50 6 ай бұрын

I came close to buying the ghpro2 bumped into your vlog because I didn’t want to spend a lot of money KF will be my first choice 👏

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

That's great to hear, still using mine now and it's working very well.

@qvarfoto 4 ай бұрын

Great video mate! Been looking at getting one of these, but man they sure are costly compared to normal ball heads, and even some fluid heads too. Cheers!

@MHLandscape 4 ай бұрын

Thanks mate, with the discount code you can get it for around £160, not too far off a decent ball head. Well worth it in my opinion

@HyperlapsePro 2 ай бұрын

I have Sunwayfoto GH-Pro II and I like it. But now I'm looking for something more stable. Because I can't use it with 100-400 mm lens. Is K&F Concept - GD3W stable enough even during the windy weather?

@MHLandscape Ай бұрын

I use it with my sigma 100-400mm, works great, I do recommend spikes on your tripod legs.

@malcolmcog 3 ай бұрын

I'm sold on a gear head ! The number of times I have faffed around trying to get the best shot manually !

@MHLandscape 3 ай бұрын

Great to hear, still using mine since last year and love the precision it offers.

@chrishomer 7 ай бұрын

And that’s how you review something. Brilliant mate. I thought about one of these recently when out using my 600mm. And I do like the K&F stuff.

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Thanks mate, quite enjoyed doing the review, something new for me. K&F stuff is great and nicely priced (and not just saying that cause they sent me this for free). Geared heads are a game changer for longer focal lengths.

@chrishomer 7 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape hmmm. Gonna have to get one I reckon. Thanks mate, consider giving me a shout if you’re ever Clent Hills way

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Definitely mate, need to get myself over that way, only ever been clent the once, a couple of years back for the blue bells.

@chrishomer 7 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape ah yeah, great for that. Bluebells and wild garlic, April May time, something to do with the soil

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Yeah struggled last time I was there, went for sunrise to that big open bit of bluebells and didn't account for a hill being in the way of the light.

@Ahrtaler 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. Ask, where do you see the differences to the Benro GD3WH?

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching, having had a play with a friend's Benro GD3WH, I would say they are very similar, the main difference being more use of metal construction in the K&F, My mate prefers the quick release mechanism on the K&F too.

@MatthiesWesche 4 ай бұрын

I really like your style of video and the way you talk to the camera....I should really try and work on my won ability to do so....might save me a ton of editing time getting rid of all my "uhm"s and pauses...Thanks for the insights on this geared head! I'm contemplating exchanging my current standard ballhead that came with my Rollei tripod with one like these for the exact reason you stated right at the beginning: I'm tired of framing up my comp only to have the ball head sag ever so slightly and ruin it. And the ability to change with this level of accuracy is a nice feature!

@MHLandscape 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Matthies, I have lots of uhms and pauses still, you just don't see them as I edit them out 😂 honestly I recommend trying out a geared head, I could never go back to a ball head now.

@carlb401 6 ай бұрын

Everyone is lucky now as there is a huge choice in geared heads available. When i was moving over from a 3 way head to a geared head, there was only the 2 from manfrotto and 2 from Arca swiss. I ended up with the Arca Swiss D4 as it was the smallest and lightest of them all.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

Loads of choice today, the K&F is very similar to the Benro which I've also had chance to try, the Arca Swiss looks an incredible piece of kit, far too steep in price for my pockets though 😂

@carlb401 6 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape Yeah photographer's are spoiled now for geared heads, there must be at least 20 now to choose from. Arca swiss is expensive but lasts a while, i bought mine in 2015 and it's still going strong.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

I guess it's a case of you get what you pay for.

@musiqueetmontagne 3 ай бұрын

Or use a Tripod with a narrower top, add a self leveller cup device to go e more hight making the whole package a bit smaller and lighter.

@MHLandscape 3 ай бұрын

Whatever works for you

@paulwbakerphotography 7 ай бұрын

Yep, as you know I also purchased the Sunwayphoto head, which has been good but also has the wobble. Their customer support is really poor too, probably because they’re in China. I might look at this one and as you are the one recommending it, might buy it too. Thanks mate

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

It's really good, Steve been sent one to test too

@paulwbakerphotography 7 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape they seem to have missed me out

@MarcAnthony_ 3 ай бұрын

... great video ! I can see you're using that "blue" spacer under the geared head and I trust it is there for purpose. Can you please share a link where to get one? Using the geared head on a larger tripod plate, that's the issue, right? ... my second question : how satisfied you are with the "geared-to-free-move" switchers? This is often an issue ...

@MHLandscape 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Marc, that blue thing isn't the spacer, it's the lever to allow me to raise the centre column. Unfortunately for this video I didn't have the spacer but have since purchased it, this is the one you would want www.cameraworld.co.uk/benro-gdhad1-geared-head-adaptor-6053.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw17qvBhBrEiwA1rU9wwHTd4bpR3cxwkfponzB_RYMsUAXpUHMXLHE5Xc0eRstkoLFUG6JjRoCOewQAvD_BwE

@pascalhibon7928 6 ай бұрын

I also own the Sunwayfoto geared head. Mine doesn't wobble like yours does. But I don't use it anymore. A geared head is way better than a bullhead but it still is not ideal for panorama shots. Since a couple of years I'm using the Leofoto VH30-R head. My tripod has a levelling base and this combination is my absolute favorite. An added bonus is the lightweight of the VH30-R, specially compared to the geared head. Highly recommended!

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

Thanks will have a look in to that, I do find the geared head very good for panoramic though

@pascalhibon7928 6 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape Geared heads share the same "issue" as balheads for making panoramas: you need to level the tripod legs. That is addressed by using a leveling base with the VH30-R. Once the head is leveled it is impossible to throw off the level by adjusting the head. I have been using this system for a couple of years and won't go back; it's that great :-)

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

@@pascalhibon7928 yes I use a levelling base with the geared head works a treat

@ericbarkhurst2951 5 ай бұрын

I know you are using a large lens with this - but normally you would face the camera 90 degrees the other way. So the back is towards that upper knob. Makes it much easier to use and compose. I mean you can use it either way though. I also own the Sunway photo gh geared head - I wanted to just let everyone know it has developed a huge amount of play. I do use it extensively for my business but that should not happen. I ended up taking it apart and the way the internal bearings are is poorly made. They end up loosening over time and ive taken it apart 4- times now to try and fix it. It firms up then the play begins again. I am not able to use it anymore. This is pretty common with the Sunway - which is a disappointment since it is so small. I also have the Benro which has been really good with no issues. I am hoping one of these companies makes a quick release or maybe use an adapter. Thanks for the review!

@MHLandscape 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Eric, The Arca Swiss connection on my 100-400 is at a 90 degree angle, normally I have it set up correctly, sorry to hear of your troubles with the Sunwayfoto, I know a couple of others with the same issue unfortunately. The Benro one is great, never heard of any issues.

@nicola6323 2 ай бұрын

Any thoughts on how it compares to the Benro GD3WH? I'd say that’s its main competitor.

@MHLandscape 2 ай бұрын

Hi Nicola, I haven't used the Benro myself but know many who do and even know those that have used both, honestly their feedback is that they are very similar.

@nicola6323 2 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape I've been using the Benro for a year now and needed a backup. I’ve ordered the K&F, it’s on its way now. 🙂

@MHLandscape 2 ай бұрын

@@nicola6323great stuff, I'm sure you'll love it.

@gee7102 7 ай бұрын

Does this geared head actually foul that Benro tripod? It looks like there’s enough clearance for most situations and only an issue when the angles are quite extreme? I only ask as I have the same tripod

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

In the configuration in the video it's no issue, but I normally use a levelling base (which unfortunately I'd broke just before this video) which is too wide and gets in the way of the knobs.

@gee7102 7 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape Good to know, thanks!

@steviem8466 Ай бұрын

I'd say that by raising the centre column slightly, this would alleviate that issue.

@Theflicker67 2 ай бұрын

bought one in January seemed lovely until one of the gears broke on second outing.................

@MHLandscape 2 ай бұрын

Sorry to hear that, had mine for about 6 months now and no such issues

@Theflicker67 2 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape Just taken the gear out, turn screw part metal the inner gear broken into 3 pieces and it's plastic. All that money for nice metal work and they stick cheap plastic gear on metal collar inside for the important part disappointing..

@MHLandscape 2 ай бұрын

Doesn't sound good, do reach out to their customer services, they are usually good.

@Theflicker67 Ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape contacted customer service and after sending a video of broken inner part they arranged a replacement part to be posted which was 12 euro post. Didn't get the part I wanted they sent a whole new head excellent.

@MHLandscape Ай бұрын

@@Theflicker67thanks for updating me, thats really good to hear 👍

@aparajito1 7 ай бұрын

The BENRO GD3WH is cheaper. (151£ ). K&F Concept just made a copy of it for (209£).

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

With the discounts you can get the K&F around the same price, I've tried the Benro, it's great, although uses a lot of plastics too.

@brianhenno4744 6 ай бұрын

Bought one of these geared heads after watching this video put it on my tripod and there is loads of play in it, contacted k and f about it but not get any help ofg them, AVOID

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

I'm sorry to hear this, I genuinely haven't had any problems and I know many people who have purchased this geared head and not experienced the issue you are experiencing. Hope K&F can sort it out for you.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

If you don't mind, drop me an email with your order number and I will email my contact at Kentfaith and see if I can get someone to help you. I don't work for them but hopefully I can at least get someone to help you.

@MHLandscape 6 ай бұрын

martin@mhlandscapephotos.com

@oneeyedphotographer 5 ай бұрын

It's a flawed design. It's got all that engineering to ensure the photographer can get the camera level, but as soon as you turn the camera in the process of making a panorama, the levelling is forr mothing. Proper design would have the camera rotating on a level base. And, if you want multiple layers, ....

@MHLandscape 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for commenting, it works great for me, especially when used with a levelling base.

@oneeyedphotographer 5 ай бұрын

@@MHLandscape I have a couple of levelling bases so good I wonder whether I need a head at all. Just a panning base.

@numptytwonk1680 2 ай бұрын

Developed a wobble after a couple of weeks for £210? ...that'd be straight back for a full refund!

@MHLandscape 2 ай бұрын

Don't worry I did in the end

@siriusgd4753 7 ай бұрын

I wouldn't buy anything from this company. They have the worst customer service. They take your money and then they don't send you the product and then play games with you for weeks not giving you a product NOR your money back. I'll never buy anything from these clowns.

@MHLandscape 7 ай бұрын

Never had a problem