Photography News Issue 30

Photography News Issue 30 absolutephoto.com

First tests

BenroMach3 TMA38CLV3 £479 Travel tripods offer great stability for their size and that is why they are rightly popular, especially when you are out on the off-chance that you might need the extra support. But when you need maximum support there is nothing to beat a full-size tripod and the TMA38CLV3 from Benro’s Mach3 collection certainly qualifies as a full-sized support. any tripod – it is one area where aluminium legs can be better than carbon-fibre options.

Specs

Price Kit £479, individually TMA38CL tripod £339, V3E head £170 In the box TMA38CL carbon-fibre tripod, V3E head, quick release plate, carry case, spiked feet, short centre column, tools, bag Leg sections Four Material Legs 9x carbon fibre with magnesium castings and twist leg locks Max height 1.88m, centre column extended 1.63m, centre column retracted Min height 46cm Max load 14kg Closed length 69.6cm Weight 2.6kg Contact benroeu.com

Getting a low shooting position is good. With the standard (reversible) column you can get a camera to 48cm while using the supplied short centre column you can get as low as 28cm. I’ve been using our test sample since last autumn and have enjoyed its reassuring presence in a wide range of conditions. It has been set up on solid ground, on sandy beaches, used on gale force days and in themud and I’ve always been happy with the results. The inevitable consequence of using a tripod on a sandy beach is grit in the leg locks even when you take measures to avoid it. I did extend the bottom legs by about six inches to try to keep the leg lock section above the sand. That was the theory but that got scuppered by the incoming tide, so I did end up with sand and salt water in the leg locks. Once home, I unscrewed the affected leg locks, gave them a good fresh water rinse to wash away anygritandsaltandreassembledthem once dry and grit-free. No tools were needed to do this and the tripod was soon restored to normality. The V3 ball head is a quality piece of kit. Robustly made and easy to use, it sports a spirit level and locks solidly with minimal effort. It also accepts Arca Swiss plates. The main locking knob has a friction control and on occasion I did somehow manage to inadvertently adjust this while I was carrying it or during its journey in the car boot but that was cured with a piece of tape. Using the head is a pleasure because it has a very smooth positive action that’s very reassuring. WC

The legs are carbon fibre which helps to keep weight down. The legs with the V3 ball head weigh in at 2.6kg, which is impressive for a tripod of this specification and quality. The leg locks are twist grips which work well and you don’t have to be too vigorous with tightening to lock the legs firmly. The grips are also quite large which makes them easier to get hold of and being rubber makes them comfortable to use on cold days with bare hands. I certainly appreciated the foam leg grip for the same reason. Gloved hand use is no problem at all. I replaced the default rubber feet with the supplied spiked feet. The four-section legs fully extended gives a very useful height. I’m 1.75m tall (5ft 9in in old money) and with legs splayed to their default position and with the centre column down, I was eye level with the camera monitor. To use the viewfinder meant standing on tippy toe for me. Should you need a really high perspective, extending the centre column gave me that option – obviously then using the tilt monitor to frame the shot. Camera stability at maximum leg extension with the centre column down is good. On a very windy day I did fully extend the pod for test purposes and you could feel vibration in the legs but that would apply to

You don’t have to be too vigorous with tightening to lock the legs firmly

Images The Benro TMA38CLV3 is a high-quality, capable tripod and gives a performance that is comparable with more expensive market rivals. It is available as a legs only option if you already have a tripod head.

Verdict

I used a wide variety of cameras, including medium-format film, and various long lenses on the Benro and it performed perfectly well. While I didn’t wander too far from the car or climb serious hills, I did on several occasions spend all day out walking and shooting and the Benro proved an excellent, amenable and very stable companion. If you are in the market for a full-sized carbon-fibre tripod you have got to consider this one.

Pros Excellent stability, useful maximum height, handling Cons Ball head tension adjust control could be firmer