@sturousephoto Are you still happy with this setup? Has anything in the setup changed? My main reservation with the Benro Short Column that is provided for ground-level macro work is that the Diameter of its Mounting Platform for the head is a MUCH smaller diameter compared to the standard center column, AND it also does not have even a single anti-rotation lock screw to keep the head from loosening and spinning off the short column base. This would most likely be an issue when using a flat base video fluid head, or larger base ball-head such as the RSS BH-55, etc. After many years in the field shooting action sports, wildlife, landscape, and catalog & advertising photography with models/actors, I still like to have some type of "short" center column that will give me up to ~4" of quick height adjustment for rapid framing/composition fine tuning. This small amount of column extension does not generally compromise the stability of the tripod and camera significantly, at least when using fairly robust tripods with 28mm or larger center column tube diameters. But just that little bit of ability to QUICKLY adjust the vertical height without fussing with any or all of the tripod's legs can change the perspective and composition drastically depending on the lens that's being used and the elements in the background. This might, of course, be a hinderance for ultra low ground-level/macro work with the tripod legs fully splayed... However, in those instances, I will usually opt to use a medium-size platter/frying pan type base such as the 10'' Diameter 15oz ''Skimmer Ground Pod II'' (see Duade Paton's video review), or simply a beanbag or shotbag (sandbag) for smaller lenses. Cheers.
Why didn't you simply choose a Benro GX ballhead? This GX ballhead has 2 panorama levels (one sitting right under the Arca Swiss base). Without the levelling base and this rather bulky Field Optics Offset Bubble Level your TMA38CL would be much lighter. 🤔
Stuart, very surprised you did not spot the obvious with the Benro levelling head (level bubble not visible when ball head added) I too have the same tripod and love it. But I have gone for "newer " ball head levelled version which like most have a spirit level that is visible no matter which head you add for your camera. I also got the Benro geared head, which works a dream, although I should have got their global head instead as it will also do Panos.
Nobody mentions so it must not be possible but can you take the center shaft and reverse it so that the camera hangs down from under the tripod for those low level macro shots?
You most certainly can, on both the short post and full length post. On the longer one you have to unscrew the hook at the bottom but that’s no problem, it’ll still go in upside down.
Very enjoyable watch. just bought a Benro geared head now iam going to get that Tripod. Its had lot of good reviews and looks the job. Thank you for sharing and all the best.
I’m very happy with the tripod, very sturdy and not too heavy. Let me know how you get on with the geared head!! I’d be curious to know. I used to have a mid-range Manfrotto one years ago and it was a bit too flimsy for my liking.
Hi Stuart, very impressed with geared head, it makes me slow down and tke my time ideal for landscape. tripod has arrived got geared head mounted on it. Have not been out yet with new setup but iam sure i will be impressed. All the best.
It seems as though you've come up with a solution for a problem that doesn't exist, lol. You said what if the tripod is wonky but tri[od legs are extendable so there should be no situation where the tripod isn't level, lol. A hill would be the perfect example, simply extend two legs out further than the third leg, the two legs extended on the downward of the hill and the third leg towards upwards on the hill. So you've bought all those extra bits for nothing sorry but you have. Plus if you needed a bubble level to make sure the camera is level why not buy a hot shoe bubble level from Amazon?
@djteknovibe93 It is MUCH FASTER to level the tripod base with this type of separate and independent Leveling Base attachment than to fidget with 3 separate tripod legs to get both the combination of a LEVEL tripod and the EXACT Height you want (when not using an extendable center column as in the example here). This is just one reason that ALL professional video tripods include either a 75mm or 100mm half bowl apex/spider & an articulating half ball leveling base built-in to every tripod... You simply and quickly set your legs to the height you want, and within 3-5 seconds your head is level instead of it taking 10-20+ seconds fidling with 3 tripod legs. I've been a pro photographer/videographer for over 25 years and this is my experience in real world conditions in the field and studio. With wildlife or people on the move, even a few seconds longer to get your tripod setup means you can miss the "MONEY" shot, or the animal disappears completely and you don't get ANY shots at all. If this wasn't an issue, these types of separate leveling base attachments wouldn't even be made as there would be no need. But many professional tripod manufacturers do offer them, and for good reason. In addition, separate hot shoe bubble level placed in a hot shoe of the camera DOES NOT tell you if the Tripod Base is level, it only tells you if the Camera is level. And no tripods that I know of include a hot shoe/cold shoe attachment on the apex/spider of the tripod or its center column mounting plate. Getting the actual tripod perfectly level is critical for consistently leveling and matching the horizon line of a multiple shot 360° panorama photograph, or for level horizontal panning that doesn't slope up or down as you pan left or right when using a video camera on a video fluid head.
@sturousephoto
Are you still happy with this setup? Has anything in the setup changed?
My main reservation with the Benro Short Column that is provided for ground-level macro work is that the Diameter of its Mounting Platform for the head is a MUCH smaller diameter compared to the standard center column, AND it also does not have even a single anti-rotation lock screw to keep the head from loosening and spinning off the short column base.
This would most likely be an issue when using a flat base video fluid head, or larger base ball-head such as the RSS BH-55, etc.
After many years in the field shooting action sports, wildlife, landscape, and catalog & advertising photography with models/actors, I still like to have some type of "short" center column that will give me up to ~4" of quick height adjustment for rapid framing/composition fine tuning.
This small amount of column extension does not generally compromise the stability of the tripod and camera significantly, at least when using fairly robust tripods with 28mm or larger center column tube diameters.
But just that little bit of ability to QUICKLY adjust the vertical height without fussing with any or all of the tripod's legs can change the perspective and composition drastically depending on the lens that's being used and the elements in the background.
This might, of course, be a hinderance for ultra low ground-level/macro work with the tripod legs fully splayed...
However, in those instances, I will usually opt to use a medium-size platter/frying pan type base such as the 10'' Diameter 15oz ''Skimmer Ground Pod II'' (see Duade Paton's video review), or simply a beanbag or shotbag (sandbag) for smaller lenses.
Cheers.
Why didn't you simply choose a Benro GX ballhead? This GX ballhead has 2 panorama levels (one sitting right under the Arca Swiss base). Without the levelling base and this rather bulky Field Optics Offset Bubble Level your TMA38CL would be much lighter. 🤔
Because the GX was released after I bought my levelling base. Benro obviously came up with a new solution!
Stuart, very surprised you did not spot the obvious with the Benro levelling head (level bubble not visible when ball head added) I too have the same tripod and love it. But I have gone for "newer " ball head levelled version which like most have a spirit level that is visible no matter which head you add for your camera. I also got the Benro geared head, which works a dream, although I should have got their global head instead as it will also do Panos.
Nobody mentions so it must not be possible but can you take the center shaft and reverse it so that the camera hangs down from under the tripod for those low level macro shots?
You most certainly can, on both the short post and full length post. On the longer one you have to unscrew the hook at the bottom but that’s no problem, it’ll still go in upside down.
Very enjoyable watch. just bought a Benro geared head now iam going to get that Tripod. Its had lot of good reviews and looks the job. Thank you for sharing and all the best.
I’m very happy with the tripod, very sturdy and not too heavy. Let me know how you get on with the geared head!! I’d be curious to know. I used to have a mid-range Manfrotto one years ago and it was a bit too flimsy for my liking.
Hi Stuart, very impressed with geared head, it makes me slow down and tke my time ideal for landscape. tripod has arrived got geared head mounted on it. Have not been out yet with new setup but iam sure i will be impressed. All the best.
It seems as though you've come up with a solution for a problem that doesn't exist, lol. You said what if the tripod is wonky but tri[od legs are extendable so there should be no situation where the tripod isn't level, lol. A hill would be the perfect example, simply extend two legs out further than the third leg, the two legs extended on the downward of the hill and the third leg towards upwards on the hill. So you've bought all those extra bits for nothing sorry but you have. Plus if you needed a bubble level to make sure the camera is level why not buy a hot shoe bubble level from Amazon?
Maybe you’re right, but I’ve done this for speed and convenience. Benro solved the problem, not me!
@@sturousephoto Speed and convenience? How long does it take to extend legs? Seconds. But ok.
@djteknovibe93
It is MUCH FASTER to level the tripod base with this type of separate and independent Leveling Base attachment than to fidget with 3 separate tripod legs to get both the combination of a LEVEL tripod and the EXACT Height you want (when not using an extendable center column as in the example here).
This is just one reason that ALL professional video tripods include either a 75mm or 100mm half bowl apex/spider & an articulating half ball leveling base built-in to every tripod...
You simply and quickly set your legs to the height you want, and within 3-5 seconds your head is level instead of it taking 10-20+ seconds fidling with 3 tripod legs.
I've been a pro photographer/videographer for over 25 years and this is my experience in real world conditions in the field and studio.
With wildlife or people on the move, even a few seconds longer to get your tripod setup means you can miss the "MONEY" shot, or the animal disappears completely and you don't get ANY shots at all.
If this wasn't an issue, these types of separate leveling base attachments wouldn't even be made as there would be no need. But many professional tripod manufacturers do offer them, and for good reason.
In addition, separate hot shoe bubble level placed in a hot shoe of the camera DOES NOT tell you if the Tripod Base is level, it only tells you if the Camera is level. And no tripods that I know of include a hot shoe/cold shoe attachment on the apex/spider of the tripod or its center column mounting plate.
Getting the actual tripod perfectly level is critical for consistently leveling and matching the horizon line of a multiple shot 360° panorama photograph, or for level horizontal panning that doesn't slope up or down as you pan left or right when using a video camera on a video fluid head.