Not going to trust Benros for a long time to come...

So here's how the story unfolds...

I'm the chief photographer for my Junior College's Photographic Society and I was tasked with teaching the newcomers on how to shoot formal class photos for yearbooks and stuff.

I hurt my back the day before and could only roll my camera bag to school filled with camera stuff. I didn't want to sling my manfrotto 190CX3 so I requested my friend to bring her benro carbon fiber tripod. We booked a classroom and I set up the small-flash setups, my camera, tripod, macbook connected to projector etc etc. The camera was tethered with a long USB cable.

So I started off saying that we're handling very expensive equipment for the shoot, pocketwizards, SB800's, camera and lenses etc. Half an hour later, one of the benro tripod legs furthest from me retracted, and the setup tipped over away from me. The camera crashed onto the floor, and I wasn't using a hood. The filter shattered, and dented inwards. I was fortunate that I used a long USB cable. Had I used a shorter one I had, the macbook would've been pulled to the floor as well since the USB cable is tethered to camera left, my macbook is on camera right, and the setup fell forward.

IMAGE LINK: http://img46.imageshac​k.us/i/21072010.jpg/

hmm... that is odd. I have never heard of benro legs just collapsing once locked.

I'm sorry to hear that Zexun. I hope there's no internal damage too.

Hardcore wrote in post #10580438
hmm... that is odd. I have never heard of benro legs just collapsing once locked.

There was an issue with the locks slipping a few years ago. Seems they knocked off the Gitzo parts and missed something important.

j.

Hmmmm....I was RIGHT about to buy one! Now what!??!?! I only got 250 to spend on a tripod!

Combatmedic870 wrote in post #10580679
Hmmmm....I was RIGHT about to buy one! Now what!??!?! I only got 250 to spend on a tripod!

The Manfrotto CF is suppose to be good.

Headshotzx wrote in post #10580188
........... Half an hour later, one of the benro tripod legs furthest from me retracted, and the setup tipped over away from me. ...............

I am not sure I understand you here. You mean one of the sections of one of the legs that is usually locked into place when extended suddenly retracted into the leg because the lock failed ??

If that were the case then you need to post a pic of the extension lock. The broken lens is the outcome the CAUSE is not yet clear.

If the lock still works and does not retract when you push really hard against it...then I would guess its human error NOT equipment failure.

If I totally misread your post, I am sorry.

Combatmedic870 wrote in post #10580679
Hmmmm....I was RIGHT about to buy one! Now what!??!?! I only got 250 to spend on a tripod!

Look at Feisol. It's better stuff anyhow.

J.

Combatmedic870 wrote in post #10580679
Hmmmm....I was RIGHT about to buy one! Now what!??!?! I only got 250 to spend on a tripod!

for $250 you could already get the manfrotto 055xprob + a good ballhead.

I would have gotten that set up if my budget was that much, unfortunately my budget is only $100-120 that time. so I bought a benro tripod A500ex... it only cost me $80. I think its good enough for my setup, although I might need a better ballhead next time.

gjman wrote in post #10580702
I am not sure I understand you here. You mean one of the sections of one of the legs that is usually locked into place when extended suddenly retracted into the leg because the lock failed ??

If that were the case then you need to post a pic of the extension lock. The broken lens is the outcome the CAUSE is not yet clear.

If the lock still works and does not retract when you push really hard against it...then I would guess its human error NOT equipment failure.

If I totally misread your post, I am sorry.

Ya, those are my thoughts as well. Lock the leg and then push very hard on it. If it doesn't collapse then I'd say someone didn't lock the leg properly.

As far as benro tech goes. Benro used to be a gitzo plant in china. Benro tripods are very good pods and I have used one for many years without fail.

Hardcore wrote in post #10580720
Ya, those are my thoughts as well. Lock the leg and then push very hard on it. If it doesn't collapse then I'd say someone didn't lock the leg properly.

As far as benro tech goes. Benro used to be a gitzo plant in china. Benro tripods are very good pods and I have used one for many years without fail.

Not true. This was explicitly denied by a Gitzo product manager at Bogen some time ago (Bogen is also owned by the parent company that owns Gitzo and Manfrotto). Gitzo makes all their own stuff in Europe (Italy?). Benro did, however, take a run at knocking off Gitzo to the point where the parts even fit.

J.

JohnJ80 wrote in post #10580850
Not true. This was explicitly denied by a Gitzo product manager at Bogen some time ago (Bogen is also owned by the parent company that owns Gitzo and Manfrotto). Gitzo makes all their own stuff in Europe (Italy?). Benro did, however, take a run at knocking off Gitzo to the point where the parts even fit.

J.

wow!! Bogen, Manfrotto and Gitzo are all owned by the same company?

Found it! Here's the link where the Gitzo product manager explains that Gitzo never was made in China by Benro or anyone else:

https://www.naturescap​es.net …330c2c04a9b341e​3&start=20

Specifically:

by gitzodave on Tue May 29, 2007 3:55 pm

Hi, Everyone!

Wow...What a Thread!!! I'm sorry that I didn't respond sooner, but I've actually been at the Gitzo factory working with the International Brand Manager. I returned over the weekend (had to check my tripod for the first time - just a heads up to anyone travelling through Marco Polo Airport) although a traveling companion was able to carry his onboard - weird.

I want to clarify one thing first and foremost - GITZO HAS NEVER CONSIDERED OUTSOURCING TO CHINA. While Gitzo is constantly bombarded from Far East manufacturers that offer to manufacture Gitzo, the brand is and has always been developed, designed, and manufactured in EUROPE. First, for over half a century in France, and now, since 2004, in ITALY - at a state of the art facility in Feltre.

Regarding the quality issues of Gitzo vs. Far East Imports - specifically Induro & Benro - by far the biggest difference is the manufacturing process of the tube. Gitzo uses a process known as pultrusion, in which long, very thin strands of carbon fibers are woven (no seams!) at precise angles and consistent thickness to maximize strength to weight ratio, and vibration dampening. Benro/Induro use a roll table method of production. They use a sheet of carbon fiber, a layer of glue, lay another sheet at a 90 degree angle, another layer of glue, etc. etc. (6, 8, 12 layers - it's irrelevant). The sheets are bound together and rolled, then seamed! This is a popular method for the manufacturing of fishing rods because it allows for the tube to be bent/whipped. The best fishing rods in the world are manufactured using the roll table method.

The 2nd most important factor in tube construction is the ratio of carbon fibers to resin used to make the tube. Gitzo uses a 65/35 blend of carbon fibers to resin - the highest ratio of carbon to resin in the industry. Benro is 55/45. More Glue = Less Strength + More Weight

Next, let's look at the casting. That's the collar of the tripod that holds the legs. Gitzo uses gravity fed aluminum castings to make their tripod mounts. Gravity fed castings require the molten aluminum to be poured into a die and it eliminates the possibility of air pockets and anomalies to form inside the castings - which is what happens when pressure castings are used (Benro/Induro). Pressure castings are much cheaper to manufacture, and can be made much faster than gravity castings.

Leg locks are a vital piece of the tripod puzzle. G-Lock is the latest and most technologically advanced leg lock on the market. There is not enough space here for an in-depth comparison of leg locks - you need to see the difference for yourself. There are enough G-Lock owners on naturescapes.net that will agree the difference between non-GLock Gitzo and G-Lock Gitzo is astounding and immediately noticeable.

As for price, there are always going to be those who pay more for quality. Gitzo is not a brand everyone can afford. It never will be. I'm not sure whether the folks questioning the "manufacturing costs" of a Gitzo tripod have any basis for their bottom line assumption. I don't think the comparison to the U.S. Auto market is fair, because my understanding is the U.S. automakers stopped making cars U.S. citizens wanted to purchase. I don't see many Japanese or Korean car manufacturers stealing designs from Ford, GM, etc. There is a high cost associated with the development of an idea, and the transformation of that idea into an end product for a consumer beyond simply "manufacturing cost." A Gitzo customer is paying for quality and innovation, not "look alike" and "seems good enough".

To the best of my knowledge, Gitzo is the only photographic tripod brand offering U.S. consumers a lifetime warranty. A warranty protects the consumer against manufacturer defect in workmanship and materials. Bogen Imaging stands behind that warranty in the U.S. Gitzo tripods go through quality controls at each step of the manufacturing and distribution process. We do not guarantee against destruction, wear and tear, damage, etc. There is some great information on this site and others for the best way to care & maintain your tripod.

I hope this post is informative. I love the passion and enthusiasm naturescapes.net users have not only for their craft, but also for their equipment. While you may agree to disagree on the price/performance index, I felt it prudent that I contribute factual information regarding the materials, processes, and intellectual foundations that go into the Gitzo brand.

Thank you.

Regards,

David Fisher
Gitzo Product Manager
Bogen Imaging US
gitzodave
Forum Contributor

Posts: 96
Joined: 03 Feb 2006
Location: Ramsey, NJ

monk3y wrote in post #10580867
wow!! Bogen, Manfrotto and Gitzo are all owned by the same company?

Yep. Google "Vitec Group" - owns Bogen, Manfrotto, Gitzo, Kata, National Geographic photo equipment, etc...

Go to Bogen Imaging and it says "Vitec Group" right in the upper corner of the banner.

J.

gjman wrote in post #10580702
I am not sure I understand you here. You mean one of the sections of one of the legs that is usually locked into place when extended suddenly retracted into the leg because the lock failed ??

I'd also like to know whether the lock actually failed, and whether there is any evidence it failed, rather than user error causing the accident.