Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I´ll second that. There are now two sizes of Benbos and Jim´s description fits the smaller one which is too small. I have the original - which I think is between the two current ones in size. If I bought one now, I´d get the bigger one although I have had no problems with my old one of 20 years. All the best! Raimo photos at http://personal.inet.fi/private/raimo.korhonen - -----Alkuperäinen viesti----- Lähettäjä: Tim Atherton <tim@KairosPhoto.com> Vastaanottaja: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Päivä: 25. toukokuuta 2000 1:55 Aihe: [Leica] Re: Benbo Tripods > >> A Benbo tripod always has the camera sitting "out on a limb" so to speak. >> The "center post" is always extended, the camera is hanging out there, and >> vibrations are inherent. There is no way of dampening them. This will not >> cause a problem with an M camera, Hasselblad C camera (using MLU), or even >> a 4x5 with a leaf shutter. But it sure raises hell with SLR camera >> exposures, especially if they do not have MLU. This is one reason that >> Benbo tripods are not popular with the "pro" nature photo folks. Except >> for, of course, Heather Angel. But she uses a Hasselblad with C lenses and >> MLU 99% of the time. >> >> Jim > > >I don't really use mine for nature photography anymore - just as a general >tripod, for which it does fine. But in the situation you describe, to take >those kind of pictures, isn't any tripod you use going to be out on a limb? >Unless you use one of those little stakes in the ground doodads. You are >either going to be using some kind of extension or you are not going to be >getting the view that a Benbo or an extension arm allows you to get. And if >you are reversing the column then the Benbo also allows you more flexibility >and a column which is sturdier than any on my other tripods of roughly the >same size an weight. So, if you are just using it as a straightforward >tripod, with no centre column extension, it is as good as most others in >it's class. If you are using it in streams on rocky ground, to reach close >to that flower in the middle of the clump or whatever, it does that better >than a standard tripod. And if you are shooting at a slow enough speed to >show mirror vibration from the column or whatever, then you probably should >be using the mirror lockup anyway. In my "nature days" I always used MLU >below a certain speed, whichever tripod I was using. I think most nature >pro's would use cameras with MLU for slow speed anyway. Now if you are using >it to support a 400, 600, 1000mm 2.8 lens, then you would need a bigger >tripod anyway - it's just not designed for that. > >As for 4x5, it still does good with a 210 lens, plenty of bellows extension >and a breeze. > >IMHO it's still a great tripod for its purposes, nature photography in >awkward corners - you can get a viewpoint no other pod can give you. It >makes a good GP tripod too - and at a decent price. Just don't expect it to >do everything. > >Tim A > >