Benbo Classic 1: Old, but still the tripod I use for much of my industrial photography
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- An unusual design of tripod that's excellent for my close up, macro and industrial photography. The closed ends also make it impervious to mud and water.
It's the tripod I'll take on muddy building sites - really solidly built.
Closes to: 0.84m (33")
Extends to: 1.57m (62")
Weight: 3.4kg (7.5lbs)
Widely available used, and newer versions can be found via many suppliers
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Still have my MK 1 and I have the smaller version which stays in the back of the car... It's like wrestling a set of bagpipes but once set up they are very versatile and great on the beach or in water...
Spot on - one of the first things I said to Rogeti when they first asked for info about using some of their kit, was that I take photos on building sites and I was concerned with dirt getting into the tubes [hence the feet they now supply - which are quite good]
My Benbo is still the one for quarries and the sea!
Lovely. Totally agree. I bought my new Benbo Trekker c/w their high quality ball head back in 1986 as I was shooting with a Hasselblad and wanted a very sturdy tripod although I do shoot freehand with a Hasselblad but high shutter speeds. They used to say operating a Benbo Trekker was like wrestling with a set of bagpipes but once mastered it is a joy to use. No lightweight but worth getting one. I also have the Benbo Monopod. They will outlive us all.
Yes - that flexibility has been a real help on many a building site and factory floor...
Keith, after watching this subsequent tripod video I believe I am ready to kiss and make up! If you will recall I was the ill-mannered American who excoriated you in the comments regarding the toothpick tripod from the previous video. I was not aware of the existence of this Benbo tripod and I will look into it. I occasionally do tabletop-type work, think mechanical watch movements and similar, so a tripod with a boom capability would come in handy. I have a motorized sit-stand desk so being able to adjust the height of the table comes in handy too. If you don't have a motorized desk, I highly recommend one. I regret to inform you that neither you nor I are getting any younger, so periodically alternating sitting and standing does wonders for the back. I know your people and mine had that little, shall we say, "dispute" a couple hundred years ago, so likely you are of the opinion good riddance to bad rubbish, but at least regarding tripods, is all forgiven? :)
PS EDIT: A quick interwebz search seems to show that "Benbo" is a UK brand? Doesn't seem to be available in America. Is there any relation of "Benbo" to "Benro"?
Thanks - I was wondering what you'd think of it ;-)
I suspect eBay is one of the best sources these days, but for the shipping costs - there are loads of them advertised at the moment
They are different companies
Wow, Keith, this is the first time I've seen such a model with a retractable stick. I always struggle with macro because the camera rests and touches on the legs of the tripod. Good topic.
Thanks!
Bought mine when I was in college ‘82ish. Still use it but it is heavy…..would never sell it.
I think that's one of the oldest I've heard of.
Mine is off on a job tomorrow morning...
A wonderful tripod..only downside is the weight.
Yes - one reason it's something I tend to use for 'work', where I'll have plenty of kit with me and maybe even an assistant ;-)
I had one of these in the 1980s. I used it for botanical work. Eventually the bolt broke and i threw it out. Just recently i came across one being thrown out at work. It has a missing foot which i 3d printed a replacement. Imagine telling me 40 years ago that I'd be 3d printing parts! Anyhow chuffed to have one again. They are loke a set of bagpipes to work with. Trick i found was to grasp centre foot between your feet when placing the other feet. I saw one in cameratiks in Edinburgh the other day if anyone wants one!
Thanks - it's given me excellent service for lots of shots in factories and the like, 'inside' equipment, where the 'all over the place' legs have helped
One of the things that I like about my classic Benbo are the 'inverted' legs: the thicker tubes being at the bottom allowing them to be pushed into water or mud (especially useful for tidal pool photography). This really is an upside-down tripod!
Unfortunately, the legs’ end caps have not withstood the ravages of time (more than three decades!). Suggestions, please, on replacements or workarounds.
Yes - hence my liking for muddy building sites :-)
Have a look for end caps for walking frames and the like - they seem to be made of quite robust material and I'd imagine in a variety of sizes. A company making such assistive products might know a source for the size required
@@KeithCooper Thanks, Keith.
My dad has one of those tripods and it's still rock solid after 30+ years.
Yes - no signs of looseness with this one, and I got it 2nd hand 20+ years ago.
The name Benbo comes from the mechanism to loosen an lock the tripod which is a BENtBOlt.
Thanks - an interesting design ;-)
I have friends with this tripod and I must say many of the old models are great in a studio or industrial/architectural shoot. Where modern ones come into their own is lightweight , vibration absorbing carbon fiber travel tripods and stronger but still relatively light ones for telephoto lenses, sport or wildlife shooting. Some of the Benbo models were, as you say versatile in the studio. 😊
Yes, it's one I like for some sorts of industrial work, where I can get inside machines...
Interesting. I still have my Benbo Mk 2, which is the taller version. I haven't used it for years. I also have a Ben Trekker complete with bag and carry strap. One of the advantages of the Ben is that they can stand in Waterloo a level just below the joint without the risk of water getting into the tubes.
Not one I can see getting rid of myself - definitely my choice for muddy building sites ;-)
They are an acquired taste , mine had been around the block before I bought it second hand some twenty odd years ago so much so that all the coating has gone from the upper tubes. It still works as good as it ever did.
Yes - very much a choice for specific jobs for me.
I've got a 30 year old uniloc tripod, which is a similar design, but cheaper. At the time I used it as my main tripod, but now rarely gets used. I would never sell it though, as there are still times when it's versatility comes in handy.
Yes - when it's what you need...
Used a Benbo trekker for many years but not for a long time. Need to see if it’s in the loft as after several house moves I’m not sure if I still have it.
Would be good to use it again.
Yes, these tend to be kept... ;-)
I still have my Benbo Trekker which is used once in a while.
Yes, a nice tripod
I have the Uniloc. I bought it about 30years ago, but I find the tripod to be a bit heavy, but I find it not stable enough. I prefer my Gitzo.
Yes - very much a personal choice - I have different tripods for different types of jobs...
A very unusual tripod indeed. I had one, back in the 1990's, ordered it from the UK . Wonder what ever happened to it ....
Yes - I wanted to mention some kit still I use because it's useful, not just because someone asked me to look at it ;-)
Speaking of video ideas, I must admit I'm curious as to how do you transfer your needed gear to a job. Do you still use Peli 1535 Air case you showed about three years ago on a video, or do you have other solutions? Asking purely out of curiosity.
Yes - that Peli lives under my desk, with a ready to go selection of odds and ends in it and space for whatever lenses bodies I might want.
For 'lighter' jobs a Lowe pro shoulder bag will take the GFX100S and a couple of lenses
The key is having all the bits of kit/lenses I might need in just a few places.
Well, that and now physically writing a list in advance of the job... ;-)
I do have assorted lighting kit as well, but they all have their own bags/cases
@@KeithCooper Thank you for the answer. The writing a list of things you need sounds like a good idea. There was something I very nearly forgot, but remembered at the door, about a month ago. I was going out, to photograph the Finnish Cross Country Running Championships. Luckily remembered it then, and got photos I wanted in the end.
Yes instances of 'only just remembering' are more frequent than 10 years ago ;-)