Review: Benro C2680T travel tripod

What size in the Head Mount stud on the Benro C2680? The reason I ask is because I have been researching some different heads. The Benro B1 head that comes with it has a 1/4" mount. You show it with the Markins head which has a 3/8"-16 mount. RRS BH-40 has a 3/8"-16 as well. Is there something else needed in order to use these other heads?

I guess this also leads to the question if I were to put this Benro B1 head or something else? What would I need.

Nightdiver13 wrote in post #12673462
... I recently purchased the leg/head combo from holgacamera.net. I was a bit suspicious of the website, but decided to give it a chance.

Great deal you made for yourself there! holgacamera.net is the web site of eBay dealer kghobbie, who is reputable.

Mr B Pix wrote in post #12676927
What size in the Head Mount stud on the Benro C2680? The reason I ask is because I have been researching some different heads. The Benro B1 head that comes with it has a 1/4" mount. You show it with the Markins head which has a 3/8"-16 mount. RRS BH-40 has a 3/8"-16 as well. Is there something else needed in order to use these other heads?

The Benro stud (see pic below) comes in both sizes; 3/8" and 1/4". All you need to do is unscrew the stud and reverse it. The bolt in the top base requires a 13mm socket wrench to unscrew.

Neil, that's a great deal! I'll keep that website if anyone of my friends ask about the tripod. And thanks for the thoughts on the B-1.

I actually received the tripod today. It only took 3-4 days from HK to NY; amazingly fast shipping by dc-stuffs! I've only taken the tripod out to make sure it wasn't damaged in transport, so there isn't anything that I can say about it that wasn't said by Peter already. Thanks again for the recommendation and information!

Well Alex it seems dc-stuffs is still doing the expedited shipping, but my delivery beat even yours! I got next day delivery through DHL from HK to Boston. It was picked up at 4:30am in HK and delivered to my door at 6:30pm the following day. Incredible, and you read about people being anxious about sourcing directly from China...

Anyway now you can see how you like the B-1 ballhead. It has a base diameter of 56mm so the legs won't fold back completely parallel to the center column. If that irritates you then you know you need a ballhead with a max diameter of 50mm for the ball housing and the base, so depending on funds, it's either the Photo Clam 33N or Markins Q3T. If you're OK with the width of the B-1 and want to upgrade the ballhead I suggest the Photo Clam PC-40N which has a base diameter of 57.5mm, just a smidgin wider than the B-1. It's a very good ballhead and you can get them at excellent prices on eBay and from two US-based sellers.

Like I said in the other thread, thanks for the reply.

A few questions:

1) I played with a 1541 (I think; the salesman brought it out but I needed to get somewhere so don't know if it was the 1541 -- when I went back to check it out in more detail, it was no longer in stock. So either it was the 1541 and it sold; or it wasn't the 1541 so the salesman couldn't find the 1541 when I asked for that by model) in a local store and the legs seemed to transmit vibration quite easily. For instance, if you extend the leg and tap it against the ground, it would visibly vibrate for a few seconds. Is the Benro the same way?

2) I put Gitzo's 2780 head on the 2541 and did a quick lens-tap at 200 mm (70-200 F4 IS with IS turned off). The vibration subsided quickly -- within 2 seconds, no matter if I tapped the lens, the camera, or the leg). When I did the same with a 190 CXPro3, the vibrations took longer to damp, and stomping on the ground near any leg would result in some minor vibrations, too. How does the Benro do?

3) How much bigger is the diameter of the "cylinder" of the Benro when folded than the 1541T's?

4) It seems like the ball head you show in your first post doesn't allow the legs to close fully; is that the case or just a 3D real-life -> 2D picture anomaly?

5) You had mentioned the 2-Series would probably be a bit heavy for extended hikes. My longest lens at the moment (with no longer lenses planned at the moment) is a 70-200 F4 IS, so is a 1-Series Gitzo sufficient (or just borderline)? Most of my shots with a tripod have either been night shots on firm ground or sunrise / sunset shots on slightly less stable (and typically not flat) ground, so stability in the sense of a flat-footed platform is important to me. I recently wasn't careful and my current tripod tipped over (no visible damage done, but this is a separate story!).

6) For longer hikes, would you bring a travel tripod or would you haul a 3-Series Systematic out to location? I've carried my Manfrotto and head (roughly 7 pounds total, IIRC) on a few hikes, but they've all been under 6 miles round-trip. The 2541 would give me more stability at about the same weight and size (although its cylinder diameter would be a bit larger).

7) There's definitely no way I'm going to spend money on both a "heavy-duty" setup and a travel setup, so is the Benro sufficient on its own for a lighter kit (I might upgrade to a 7D or 5D, but the longest lens would still be my 70-200 for the foreseeable future), or would you choose a 2-Series / equivalent?

8) Is buying a Gitzo also buying the name? I will gladly pay more for a superior product, but I'm not sure what I'd be sacrificing by going off-brand. Another part of the problem is that Gitzo no longer makes the 1541T!

9) How do the leg locks compare to the G-lock of Gitzos? How do I guarantee that I'll get the twist locks and not flip locks, which are shown on Benro's US website?

I honestly don't use my tripod all that often; if I'm doing daytime hikes with no plans of using it for sunset, I don't bring a tripod at all (perhaps blasphemy, but that's been my philosophy with as heavy a tripod as mine is).

I think I've settled on a Gitzo 1541T or 2541 (or their equivalents from RRS, Benro, or Feisol -- but haven't researched these last options) and a Markins Q3t (is this sufficient with the kit I've described?) with RRS clamp + plate. The issue is that with the 1541T being obsolete, I'm also less inclined to go with the 1542T. The Benro thus looks really appealing -- if if is structurally sound and has as much longevity as the comparable Gitzo setup. The final challenge after I exhaust all the technical issues is to figure out whether Markins will ship to Germany, where I am for six months, and similarly if the leg manufacturers will ship here as well.

Edit: the Markins is available in Germany, albeit at a cost of €332 ($475). The US price is $303. sigh.

Great job on this review and comparison Peter! Dont know why I never did before, but Ive added it now to the Tripod FAQ sticky.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
A few questions:

1) I played with a 1541 (I think; the salesman brought it out but I needed to get somewhere so don't know if it was the 1541 -- when I went back to check it out in more detail, it was no longer in stock. So either it was the 1541 and it sold; or it wasn't the 1541 so the salesman couldn't find the 1541 when I asked for that by model) in a local store and the legs seemed to transmit vibration quite easily. For instance, if you extend the leg and tap it against the ground, it would visibly vibrate for a few seconds. Is the Benro the same way?

Well I tried this and I couldn't see vibration in either tripod; I held the tripod leg at the collar where it joins to the spider. However I could clearly feel vibration in the Gitzo 1541T leg, but no vibration in the Benro C2680T leg.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
2) I put Gitzo's 2780 head on the 2541 and did a quick lens-tap at 200 mm (70-200 F4 IS with IS turned off). The vibration subsided quickly -- within 2 seconds, no matter if I tapped the lens, the camera, or the leg). When I did the same with a 190 CXPro3, the vibrations took longer to damp, and stomping on the ground near any leg would result in some minor vibrations, too. How does the Benro do?

Can't do this as my longest lens is a 55mm. My sense is that the Benro is good on vibrations though, my first pic in post #3 above was shot on a floating dock with the regular rubber feet on the tripod. I thought of putting the spikes on but the sun was sinking fast so I just risked it. The dock was moving but it turned out quite well.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
3) How much bigger is the diameter of the "cylinder" of the Benro when folded than the 1541T's?

Good question. Can't tell you with a diameter but measured with a fabric tape at the collar the Benro is 11.75in and the Gitzo is 10.25in. The Benro's "cylinder" is much bigger because of its (a) wide and deep main casting (spider) and (b) its much larger diameter legs.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
4) It seems like the ball head you show in your first post doesn't allow the legs to close fully; is that the case or just a 3D real-life -> 2D picture anomaly?

No the legs are parallel to the center column, the way they should be. That's a Photo Clam PC-33NS ballhead which is within the dimensional requirements. For these fold back tripods you need a ballhead that has both a ball housing diameter and a panning base diameter of <=50mm. The design of the replacement 1542T has obviated that requirement, more on this below.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
5) You had mentioned the 2-Series would probably be a bit heavy for extended hikes. My longest lens at the moment (with no longer lenses planned at the moment) is a 70-200 F4 IS, so is a 1-Series Gitzo sufficient (or just borderline)? Most of my shots with a tripod have either been night shots on firm ground or sunrise / sunset shots on slightly less stable (and typically not flat) ground, so stability in the sense of a flat-footed platform is important to me. I recently wasn't careful and my current tripod tipped over (no visible damage done, but this is a separate story!).

For long exposures you absolutely need stability. It's why I bought the Gitzo 3541LS; it's very rigid and I totally trust it. Because I have the systematic I haven't used the Benro for night shots and traveling hasn't provided the circumstances for night shots yet either. However I would guess that if you pushed the center column down completely and locked all the twist locks - both the legs and center column - really tight the 1-Series Gitzo might be sufficient.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
6) For longer hikes, would you bring a travel tripod or would you haul a 3-Series Systematic out to location? I've carried my Manfrotto and head (roughly 7 pounds total, IIRC) on a few hikes, but they've all been under 6 miles round-trip. The 2541 would give me more stability at about the same weight and size (although its cylinder diameter would be a bit larger).

Tough one. If I had a car then hiking I'd bring the systematic. If I was carrying all day I'd bring the Benro traveler. If I was shooting night shots I'd use the systematic. Most of my night shots are urban; I use film Leica rangefinders and at night a 50mm/f1.0 Noctilux. You need super stability to get the effect you want with that kind of glass.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
7) There's definitely no way I'm going to spend money on both a "heavy-duty" setup and a travel setup, so is the Benro sufficient on its own for a lighter kit (I might upgrade to a 7D or 5D, but the longest lens would still be my 70-200 for the foreseeable future), or would you choose a 2-Series / equivalent?

Given that you're mostly doing long exposures I think I'd get the 2-series. Actually I'd also suggest the Benro C-358 M8/C3580T which you can get on Amazon for $385 (it used to be $211!) and on eBay for $316. Check out the specs at the Chinese eBay sellers.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
8) Is buying a Gitzo also buying the name? I will gladly pay more for a superior product, but I'm not sure what I'd be sacrificing by going off-brand. Another part of the problem is that Gitzo no longer makes the 1541T!

Yes. You're paying for the brand name but then I do the same. Leica costs a fortune but when you see the B&W silver gelatin prints it's all worth it. However I also go for what works and this Benro C2680T is a better solution for me than the 1541T. I have a couple of Voigtlander lenses as well.

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
9) How do the leg locks compare to the G-lock of Gitzos? How do I guarantee that I'll get the twist locks and not flip locks, which are shown on Benro's US website?

No comparison. I just used the 1541T again after several months to do the vibration thing you asked in (1) and those leg locks are horrible. Benro's US distributor doesn't sell the full range of Benro tripods and seems to want to sell the least interesting stuff actually. To get a twist-lock model make sure there's a T in the model number. An F means it's a flip-lock. This appears to be Benro's current naming convention but be warned; they seem to change their labels and upgrade their models about once a year...

tigerotor77w wrote in post #12733484
I think I've settled on a Gitzo 1541T or 2541 (or their equivalents from RRS, Benro, or Feisol -- but haven't researched these last options) and a Markins Q3t (is this sufficient with the kit I've described?) with RRS clamp + plate. The issue is that with the 1541T being obsolete, I'm also less inclined to go with the 1542T.

If you're 5ft 10in+ look at the Feisols; lots of taller people really like them and they're the only solution for big guys. I'm 5ft 8in so Benro/Gitzo are fine for me. Another thing is that because the Benro is a Gitzo copy some parts are interchangeable like the feet for example so there's a plus there.

Turning to ballheads for a moment I think the Markins Q3T is a fine ballhead. It's just about perfect for a travel tripod. However recently I was dismayed to find that it can't handle my Nikon 17-55/2.8 zoom lens. This lens is end-heavy as it's f2.8 throughout its range. Take a look at the last pic in my post #1 above, that lens is the 17-55. It's not that big is it? The issue is with the Q3T's sweet spot; set it up properly and you have an extremely limited range of motion, go more than 45º off center and the ball begins to bind. It's the ballhead because I have two of them and they're both exactly the same. Put the same rig on my Arca-Swiss Z1 ballhead and everything is silky smooth. So you cannot go by focal length as a determinant of ballhead suitability; some other measure is needed I think. The one advantage of the 1542T is that ballhead diameter isn't an issue any more; so if I had the 1542T I could solve my Q3T problem by selling it and getting a Markins Q10.

ben_r_ wrote in post #12733873
Great job on this review and comparison Peter! Dont know why I never did before, but Ive added it now to the Tripod FAQ sticky.

Ben thanks so much!

Awesome reply -- thank you. I'm not sure if someone else will be as OCD as I am, but if there is someone else out there, at least I'll have asked some questions.

As some background for people wondering where these questions are coming from, I don't have my 190 XDB with me because it was too heavy to go in checked baggage. I was already at 51.5 pounds without the tripod, so tripod + head would have easily pushed me over. So now that I'm in Europe for six months without a tripod, I'm freaking out a bit.

So, now for responses to responses.

Given that you're mostly doing long exposures I think I'd get the 2-series. Actually I'd also suggest the Benro C-358 M8/C3580T which you can get on Amazon for $385 (it used to be $211!) and on eBay for $316. Check out the specs at the Chinese eBay sellers.

Based on the first two, which the last then summarizes, it sounds like what I want is a Gitzo 2-series traveller, which doesn't exist outside of a kit (whose head I don't like). So...

1) Is the Benro C-268 really a 2-series copy? Its specs are kind of in-between the 1541T and the 2541.

2) If I do want a 2-series Traveler without head, does anyone make that tripod?

3) Relevant to this thread, can the C-268 function as a 2-series Traveler, or is the 2541 still going to be a bit sturdier than these legs?

Yes. You're paying for the brand name but then I do the same. Leica costs a fortune but when you see the B&W silver gelatin prints it's all worth it. However I also go for what works and this Benro C2680T is a better solution for me than the 1541T. I have a couple of Voigtlander lenses as well.

In your opinion, based on the entire tripod and its merits -- is the cost difference between the 1541T and the C-268 entirely due to the name/heritage of the Gitzo? In other words, is there anything relevant to photography that one sacrifices in buying a Benro? (If not, what makes it so much cheaper?)

What makes them horrible?

Ah, thanks. I know you bought on Ebay; it seems like Holga Camera sells the C-268T (without head, and ships to Germany!). Any knowledge of their reputation? (As in, did you consider seller reputations before buying on Ebay, deliberating avoiding Holga?)

I'm short (5'6"), so the Benro should work well. My 190 XDB requires me to lean a bit, but it's not a lot. I think the 1541T might be a bit short; the C-268T looks pretty on-par.

Well, uh-oh. I have the Canon 17-55, which I realize is a bit lighter than the Nikon, but how bad is the action of the ball with this type (i.e. front-heavy) of a lens? If the body were heavier, would this help, or do you already balance your setup regardless of how heavy it is?

As for the 1542T, having the ball extend beyond the legs does negate the ball diameter question but it also means that the tripod head would extend the overall length of the tripod. Would, say, an M10 be too heavy for the 1542T? I had figured if I went with an M10, I'd go with a 2-series legs.

Since we're on the subject of the Q3t, what is this about the Q3t's panning base not locking? I typically use a remote (now, anyhow hehe) and MLU with a 2 second delay, but does the ability to rotate allow for increased vibrations at all?

Thanks again for your help. Really appreciate the insight. Now that I'm actually likely to buy a decent setup, I'm trying to make sure it's the right one (and really, I am hoping there's "a" right one!)

The Benro C2680T isn't a Gitzo 2-series copy, it's a competitor to the Gitzo 1541T and 1542T travel tripods. A 2-series Gitzo or 3-series Benro is going to be sturdier.

Ask me in three or four years if the brand name really means something. I've kept my 1541T as a backup but maybe the Benro will still be right as rain in a few years time. Gitzo tripods are known for their durability, Benro not so much. We'll see. Benro are cheaper because manufacturing costs are lower in mainland China than in Europe and because if you source from China you cut out all the distribution and marketing costs. The Induro brand here in the US is manufactured by Benro, there are a few small style differences but the tripods are very similar. Induro are still cheaper than Gitzo here, but more expensive than Benro.

I shouldn't have said "horrible" about the 1541T locks but my hand was still hurting after trying to unlock one of them. They're just very stiff and jerky compared to the Benro. My 3541LS isn't so bad but I'm planning to disassemble it and replace all the lube to see if I can get the locks to be a bit smoother.

I bought on eBay by price and got great service. holgacamera.net is the web site of eBay dealer kghobbie, who is reputable (see post #17).

Part of the issue with the Markins Q3T is that a lens collar would also fix the problem but there are none made for that lens, and yes a Q10 might be a bit top heavy. I'm selling the lens anyway so it's not going to be a problem any more. The Q3T easily deals with my Leica stuff, and the thing about the panning lock is that it's actually designed to be a brake, not a lock. I believe the design has something to do with the dampening of vibration but don't know the details.

One thing I'd suggest is that you should try to get to a large dealer and try a number of tripods out for yourself. There are definite personal likes and dislikes and when I bought my Gitzo 1228 years ago I spent two months at three dealers trying out brands. It really helped.

I'd love to try out some stores, but so far I've only found one here that sells tripods of this quality (and their best heads are Gitzos). I definitely like the Gitzos (compared to the Manfrottos, for instance), but they don't really have anything else to try out. Certainly no heads from the States or Korea. :-/

I was impressed with the 2541 (Mountaineer) legs, but the issue is that they're too long. Like I said, I want a 2-series Traveler. I'll try to see if I can find one -- by anyone -- that's less than 1.5 kg, smaller than 20" folded, and that is comparable to a 2-series Gitzo, but I maybe forced either to sacrifice some structural integrity and go with the Benro or give up on size and go with a Gitzo and call it a day. If you have any suggestions, I'd be glad to take a look at those!

Do you have another suggestion for a traveler-sized ball? If I were to go with a 2-series or 3-series legs, would you still choose a Markins -- or would you stick with the Arca-Swiss? (or another brand, for that matter)

For a quality traveler-sized ball alternative I'd suggest the RRS BH-40 which has a 40mm ball diameter and a 53mm base. For a value alternative I'd look at the Photo Clam PC-36N with a 36mm ball diameter and a 53.5mm base. Both of these ballheads will cause the folded legs to be very slightly off parallel. The Photo Clam PC-33NS meets the 50mm requirement but only has a ball diameter of 33mm (the gold ballhead in my posts #1 and #2 above). All other things being equal try to select the ballhead with the biggest ball diameter. For a Gitzo 2-series tripod I'd stay with the Markins Q10, for a Gitzo 3-series tripod I'd recommend the Arca-Swiss Z1. That's the ballhead I have on my 3541 LS.

Cool, thanks.

Is your review the only review of the C268/C2680T out there? I wish I could try out this thing in a store!

I did a search before I wrote mine and I didn't find any then. Hopefully others who have bought the tripod will chip in eventually; I know that there are members here who use it as well as me.

this ballhead (arca swiss p0) looks like it would be great with the foldover type tripods as there are no knobs to get in the way of the folded legs

http://www.adorama.com​/AWMBP0.html

peter thanks for the nice review. since you own both the benro and the gitzo 3541ls let me ask your opinion. the gitzo has some attractive pricing currently. the foldover feisols have gone up in price and the gap is closer than it used to be.

when i hike i prefer carrying my tripod in my pack rather than lashed to the outside, and the smaller size of the feisol is an advantage for this. however, once out and in use i would prefer the 3541ls and believe that in the long run the gitzo will be more reliable. gitzo plus ballhead however won't fit in my pack due to length.

how much of a hassle do you think it would be to carry the gitzo and ballhead separately, attaching and detaching the ballhead as necessary?

is the weight difference of the gitzo over the benro quite noticeable?

thanks

The Arca-Swiss P0 will not work particularly well with a folding travel tripod as the max diameter of the ball housing is 60mm. For the legs to fold back parallel to the center column on most travel tripods the max diameter of both the ball housing and the panning base must be <=50mm. The Arca-Swiss P0 will however work on the new Gitzo 1542T traveler as the legs on that model don't fold back.

I agree that the 3541LS will probably outlast most tripods, and can really only see two drawbacks. First the weight; it weighs 3.8lbs and the Benro weighs 2.8lbs which for me anyway is enough of a difference to get the travel tripod. My use of the tripod is mostly in urban areas so I'm carrying it all day and sometimes all night on top of that. OTOH if I'm using a car and hiking from it I can take the 3541LS as I'm not carrying it all day.

Second, just contemplating spinning the ballhead on and off has me thinking I wouldn't like it, but that's just me. Have you thought about a lower profile ballhead like the RRS BH55? That has a height of 3.7in versus the 4in of my A-S Z1. I think once again though it comes down to how you shoot. In an urban area I'm constantly setting up and breaking down, moving on, setting up and breaking down. It's really not practical to be spinning the ballhead on and off all the time. But when I've gone hiking my use of the rig is less frequent so maybe having the two pieces separate is possible. I still don't think I'd fancy it though...