First test
If you’re a scenic photographer committed enough to get your feet wet in search of the perfect viewpoint, here’s the tripod for you Benro InduroHydra 2 PRICE: £450 UK.BENROEU.COM
SPECS › Price £450
› In the box Hydra 2, toolkit, carry case, drawstring bag, ballast hook with two hex ends › Leg sections Five › Leg angles Three › Max height (centre column up) 153cm › Max height (centre column retracted) 127cm › Min height 33.6cm › Closed length 46cm › Reverse-folded length 42.4cm
FOR ANY PHOTOGRAPHER who shoots in all weathers and locations, the Benro Induro Hydra 2 could be your ideal partner. It’s a compact, reverse-folding, carbon-fibre pod with waterproof legs. These are also five-section, providing you a useful maximum working height of 153cm. I took the Hydra 2 for a trip to the east coast and tested it with an Arca-Swiss ball head, shooting with medium format and full-frame cameras. It was a chilly, breezy day, with wind speeds gusting up to 25mph – according to my weather app. I shot at a range of shutter speeds, up to 120secs with a 10EV neutral density filter. The pod performed very well, giving pin-sharp results, even with long exposures. For these, I positioned it just ahead of the incoming tide, and pushed the feet firmly into the sand for stability. I tried various heights, including maximum extension without the centre column up. At one point, I was stood under a pier, so it was like a wind tunnel. To minimise the impact, I got as close to the camera and tripod legs as possible, acting as a windbreak – and used the self-timer. I also took a few shots at normal shutter speeds with the legs in the water. And to test the Hydra 2 fully, I made sure the legs got a good dip in the North Sea. Handling was great, although the twist locks are quite tight, probably thanks to the rubber seals. It’s worth loosening these a little further, so the leg tubes glide in and out smoothly. While I found the metal twist locks – with their smooth, grooved finish –
› Max payload 17kg › Bubble level Yes
› Leg locks Twist type › Monopod option No › Feet Rubber (one foot has a hex key), metal spikes supplied › Weight 1.5kg › Contact uk.benroeu.com
perfectly OK with gloves, it was much less comfortable with only my (soft!) bare hands. The design could be more user-friendly. Post-shoot care with the Hydra 2 was simple. For a standard tripod, I would have to disassemble the grips and rinse out any debris, before drying off the components and putting the kit back together again. Even then, grating and grinding can happen – that takes time and effort. But, on the Hydra 2, I unscrewed the legs until I could see the rubber grommets and the sand they kept out, rinsed the locks to remove the grit, and dried them off with a towel. It was a quick and easy refresh, but meant the Hydra 2’s legs were gliding in and out just like new – with no signs of any grating. Excellent! One shoot is not a full test, and only time and more dips in the sea will tell if the Hydra 2 is worth the money. But, signs are promising. WC
IN DEEPWATER A drenching in the North Sea meant the Hydra 2’s legs got a good test. After a thorough rinse, it performed as good as new
Verdict The Benro Induro Hydra 2 is not a cheap tripod, and its skills go beyond the needs of many photographers. But, if you are a scenic shooter who likes to push themselves and their kit, this is an excellent product that works supremely well. PROS Waterproof legs, very good stability, oversized centre column lock, nice design touches like three built-in hex keys CONS Twist grips aren’t great with bare hands
GETTINGTO GRIPS If there’s an issue with the Hydra 2, it’s the leg locks. They’re not too comfortable to use with my Fairy-soft hands, especially in the cold
54 Photography News | Issue 96
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