Photography News issue 26

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Photography News Issue 26 absolutephoto.com

First tests

Benro Travel Angel FTA28CV1 tripod kit £349

Specs

In the box Carry case and strap, protective bag, spiked feet, wooden monopod knob, hand strap, short centre column, Allen key Max height 142cm Max height (centre column fully extended) 170cm Min height 47.5cm Closed length 62.5cm Weight 1.81kg Leg sections 4 sections, twist grip locks Max load 10kg

V1E ball head Material Aluminium Quick release Yes, Arca Swiss plate Independent pan lock Yes Ball friction adjust Yes Weight 400g Height 9.9cm Max load 10kg

Contact eu.macgroupus.com

Benro has a growing reputation for high-quality tripods at attractive prices. The FTA28C tripod featured in this kit is made from nine-layer carbon fibre for great stability in a lightweight form. One of the legs detaches and becomes a monopod and the supplied triple action ball head can take a load of 10kg. What’s more, a carry case, a bag and a set of spiked feet come with the kit, too. The Travel Angel series is Benro’s most advanced range of compact tripods and the FTA28C sits towards the larger end of the traveller-type tripod. It weighs in at 1.81kg and is robust enough for use with a full- frame DSLR and a long lens. As with most travel tripods its legs fold upwards to minimise length while on the move, measuring under 48cm. With the legs in their ready position, length increases to 64cm. The legs have two locked positions – normal use and a wider splayed leg setting for a lower camera position. The legs are firm and the pull-out, push-in locks are equally solid. Should you want a looser leg action, use the supplied Allen key to get the tension you prefer. The legs themselves are four sections with twist grip locks. Legs

lock quickly and securely with no strain and the wide diameter rubber grips are excellent to use, even in the cold, so set-up is quick. The kit comes with a set of spiked feet. One leg has a foam covering which identifies it as the leg that detaches to become a monopod. The foam helps you get a good purchase to unlock the leg which simply unscrews. You then need to remove the centre column by first unscrewing the ballast hook and the column then screws onto the monopod leg so the ball head can be attached. Two centre columns are supplied with the kit, a normal length and a short one for when you want to work at very low level. It is the work of a few minutes to get the monopod ready for action and, although not a new idea, it’s a very handy option. A wooden knob and carrying strap is supplied so the monopod can become a very usable walking pole. The supplied V1E triple-action ball head is a solid unit. It accepts Arca Swiss tripod plates and the platform has a spirit bubble to help you get the camera level. The main locking knob is great to use and locks the camera very firmly in position with a quick twist. At its

centre is a ball tension control. A minor issue but, because this control sits slightly proud of the knob’s surface, it can be altered intentionally, and the next time it’s used the ball head’s tension will be different from before. I used a small piece of gaffer tape to secure the control in place. In the main, this is a lovely tripod to use. The legs glide up and down and the twist grips are first rate with modest hand-tightening being enough to firmly lock the legs in place. A dust-resistant system will also help to avoid grit and other nasties getting into the legs too. I used the tripod for an extended period that including a trip to the Lake District. Onone shoot –ona calmday– I shot, as a test, with the centre column fully extended, spiked feet fitted, and found stability to be very good even with a full-frame DSLR fitted with a 300mm lens using the self-timer and exposure delay mode. On another occasion, it was very gusty and a little more challenging. I mostly shot with the legs in their more splayed position and tried to shield the camera from the wind with my body. Stability again proved to be good, with or without me standing in as a windbreak.

All in all, a very solid performance from the tripod and ball head combination. Oneminor thing Iwould like Benro to consider is supplying a carrying case long enough to accept the tripod in its normal collapsed state because I didn’t always want to fold the tripod up fully. WC

The twist grips are first rate with modest hand- tightening being enough to firmly lock the legs in place

How it rates

Verdict The Benro Travel Angel

FTA28CV1E is an excellent carbon- fibre tripod. It just about qualifies as a travel tripod but it also has the heft to be a fine all-rounder to the discerning photographer. The fact that it also has a monopod/ walking pole function and is supplied with spiked feet, a strap and a quality ball head makes it well worth considering. Pros Good stability, quality build, comes with a ball head, legs twist grips, comes with spiked feet, monopod option Cons Ball head tension control, carry case is too small

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