BENRO TORTOISE 34C CARBONFIBRE TRIPOD & GX35 BALL HEAD
Unlike its name, Benro’s Tortoise tripod is actually quick to set up, but it’s also designed to optimise stability.
The perfect tripod is an elusive animal, but some designs are definitely better than others and, as with camera bags, you definitely get what you pay for. Benro’s new series of carbonfibre tripods are designed to be lightweight and compact, but without compromising either strength or durability.
Looking for a new tripod can be a daunting experience. There are more brands than ever before and the choice of models is mind-boggling. Where to start? The first thing to accept is that there’s probably no such thing as the perfect tripod and, a bit like camera bags, it’s a case of finding a ‘best fit’ if you want an allrounder or realising you may need two – or possibly even three – for different applications (especially true if you’re also shooting video).
However, at the top of the list of requirements is likely always to be ease and speed of set-up followed by the combination of portability and strength. Of course, there are plenty of tripod that tick these boxes – anything with carbonfibre leg sections for starters – but one that caught our eye recently was Benro’s new Tortoise carbonfibre series. The interesting aspect of their designs is the absence of a centre column which, of course, saves some weight, but also eliminates what can often be the downfall of any tripod. Of course, the centre column gives you some more height, but it comes at the cost of stability and that’s becoming more of an issue with digital cameras that have ultra-high resolution
sensors. Even the tiniest of wobble will compromise sharpness, but if there isn’t a centre column, you’re not tempted to use it, are you? Let’s be honest, all of us will go for a quick single adjustment – i.e. raising the centre column – rather doing it properly and extending the three legs a little further.
There are five photo models in Benro’s Tortoise tripod line (and two for video), and we decided to take a closer look at the TTOR 34C which came mated with the GX35 ball-type head. You pay extra for carbonfibre over aluminium, but it really is worth the investment given the weight savings and the exceptional rigidity. The 34C legs weigh in at 1.45 kilograms, but they can support up to 18 kilos of camera and lens. Without the need to accommodate the centre column, the folded legs represent just eight centimetres in total diameter and the length is 49 centimetres so this is a tripod that may well fit inside your photo backpack or camera bag, rather than being strapped to the outside. There are four leg sections – with twist-type clamping locks – which extend to 1.44 metres, always maintaining the stability of having the three contact points. Another advantage of not having a centre column is that the legs can be angled virtually to 90 degrees, giving a minimum height of just 19.5 centimetres.
The 34C has a nifty automatic leg angle adjustment so you simply hit a release button which pops the angle lock and the leg can then be set at any of its three angles. This makes for very quick set-up, especially if the terrain demands one or more of the legs be set at different angles. The spider – that’s the bit at the top of the tripod to which the legs are attached – is a milled aluminium component and has both 3/8-inch and ¼-inch mounting screws for attaching a head. It also has three ¼-inch accessory mounts for attaching extension arms for items such as a video light. There’s also a hook for attaching weights (for example, a sandbag) for added stability. Also to give better stability on soft ground or sand, the rubber feet can be replaced by spikes which Benro supplies with the tripod. You also get a custom carry bag and a pair of Allen keys for basic maintenance. And, if you really insist on having a centre column, one can be fitted but is obviously an additional purchase.
ON THE BALL
Benro make a wide selection of tripod heads, but the more compact ball-type – such as the GX35 – compliments the 34C legs. It’s a nicely machined aluminium unit with a low-profile design and ArcaSwiss type mounting plate which includes a twist-and-pull safety lock. It offers dual, independent panning movements (both through a full 360 degrees) – one at the base and one at the quick release plate platform – and a built-in bubble-type level. The dual panorama modes mean that should the head be at angle, you can still rotate in the horizontal plane at the mounting plate once it’s been levelled.
The ball locking knob is a pretty substantial affair and allows for quite precise control over the amount of friction applied, so small adjustments can be made without having to loosen off too much
(and then the camera suddenly crashes forward). Together, the head and the tripod legs weigh in at 1.86 kilograms which is very light given it can support ten times this weight (the GX35 can actually support up to 35 kilos so it will work with heavier-duty tripods).
In the field, the 34C and GX35 combo certainly delivered on ease of use, especially in terms getting everything levelled up as quickly as possible. We tried it with the Fujifilm GFX 100S and the 40100mm zoom which is roughly a two kilos load so it really didn’t test the tripod for capacity, but we made some 30-second exposures (using a ten-stop grad on the lens) so any movement, no matter how slight, would have been revealed by the 100 megapixels resolution. There was a bit of a breeze blowing too, but all these test images were pin-sharp. Folded with the head attached, the tripod’s length is still only 58 centimetres so it’s very easy to carry and, thanks to the minimal weight, this remains the case over long distances too.
The Benro TTOR 34C and
GX35 ball head can be purchased separately or as a complete tripod which costs $549. The head alone is priced at $299 and the legs set at $379. Benro products are distributed in Australia by Maxxum Pty Ltd and for more information visit www.maxxum.com.au
Legs can be set to one of three angles with an easy push-button release arrangement for the locking lever.