Monopods, Tripods, Ball heads: Decent stockists in North West

sazzle

sazzle

Messages
180
Name
Sarah
Edit My Images
Yes
I'm looking to invest in some good quality kit (only having a Manfrotto 079 mono at the moment) and have been surfing around for quite a while checking what's out there and the general feedback. I've come to the conclusion I really need to have a look at these in the flesh to make a more informed decision.

Can anybody recommend any stockists in the North West with a decent range to have a play with? Know there's Wildings, Jacobs and Jessops but are there anymore?

I mainly shoot wildlife, birds, sport, motorsport, aircraft - anything that moves I guess! Max lens at the moment is a 400mm 5.6 but I'd want to future proof to 600mm (hire most probably!). I'm prepared to spend upto £800 for the lot.
 
Calumet in Manchester, just round the corner from Manchester Piccadilly.
 
There's quite a bit on this Sarah if you search my user name and 'Benro Gimbal'.

Basically what you want is a big Gitzo and a Wimberley gimbal head. But you'll not get that even for £800. The good news is that Benro make Chinese copies of both, for less than half the rpice, and the quality is exceptionally good. Quite a few folks here have got them both.

If I were you, and I already have smaller Benro and head, I would get a Benro C-397 for about £335 http://cgi.ebay.com/BENRO-C-397-M8-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a57785c7d and stick one these these on top - Benro GH-2 gimbal for £260 http://cgi.ebay.com/BENRO-Gimbal-He...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a58d7afd4 Flippin bargain - they also do it in camo colours :)

While you're at it, I would also get the detachable geared centre-column even if you don't use it for the long lenses - just a really nice thing to have. And a couple of spare lens/camera plates. Thinking about it, I would also get another ball head to put on that centre-column for general stuff - a J-2 or J-3 would be my choice. I think you could do the lot for £800.

That DC guy is a good ebay trader - recommended. Reliable and very speedy service and nothing else to pay - at least I've not got hit with any extra duty and I don't think others have either, but I guess it's always possible. Email him - you'll get a quick response.

Buying tripods is always difficult as very few dealers have much stock outside the popular Manfrottos and Giottos. Calumet is a good place though, and they also sell Induro tripods which are also made by Benro so you can check the quality. Not sure they'll have a similar model though, and their prices are obviously higher.
 
HoppyUK said:
Basically what you want is a big Gitzo and a Wimberley gimbal head. But you'll not get that even for £800. The good news is that Benro make Chinese copies of both, for less than half the rpice, and the quality is exceptionally good. Quite a few folks here have got them both.

.
Click to expand...

Based on previous glowing reports I recently purchased a Benro Gimbal head, I was taken by it's lightweight, as I was looking to get a lighter set up.

I already have a Kirk King Cobra, and a Wimberley Sidekick, unfortunately the Benro comes nowhere close to the quality and precision of these products, in fact it is an awful product, it looks the same but that is the end of any similarity.

It binds in panning with hardly any load on it, and it totally fails to function correctly in it's tilt access, even with my 500mm mounted on it totally unbalanced the thing does not move as it should.

I would strongly suggest that you stick with the reputable companies, Kirk, Wimberley or Jobu when choosing a gimbal head.
 
Martyn... said:
Based on previous glowing reports I recently purchased a Benro Gimbal head, I was taken by it's lightweight, as I was looking to get a lighter set up.

I already have a Kirk King Cobra, and a Wimberley Sidekick, unfortunately the Benro comes nowhere close to the quality and precision of these products, in fact it is an awful product, it looks the same but that is the end of any similarity.

It binds in panning with hardly any load on it, and it totally fails to function correctly in it's tilt access, even with my 500mm mounted on it totally unbalanced the thing does not move as it should.

I would strongly suggest that you stick with the reputable companies, Kirk, Wimberley or Jobu when choosing a gimbal head.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised, but fair comment. I have never compared the two gimbals actually side by side with a big lens, though others on here have and recommend Benro.

I have however compared my Benro tripod with Gitzo and other leading brands, and my Benro ball head to several other top end heads including Arca-Swiss and Acratech - it's as good as the Arca and better than the Acratech.
 
HoppyUK said:
I'm surprised, but fair comment. I have never compared the two gimbals actually side by side with a big lens, though others on here have and recommend Benro.

I have however compared my Benro tripod with Gitzo and other leading brands, and my Benro ball head to several other top end heads including Arca-Swiss and Acratech - it's as good as the Arca and better than the Acratech.
Click to expand...

I was disappointed as it did look promising, especially the lightweight of it, never mind nothing ventured nothing gained.

My first Gitzo served me for 30 years, and is still going strong with its second owner, a solid indicator of their quality, I have not seen a Benro tripod so cannot compare the two.
 
Martyn... said:
Based on previous glowing reports I recently purchased a Benro Gimbal head, I was taken by it's lightweight, as I was looking to get a lighter set up.

I already have a Kirk King Cobra, and a Wimberley Sidekick, unfortunately the Benro comes nowhere close to the quality and precision of these products, in fact it is an awful product, it looks the same but that is the end of any similarity.

It binds in panning with hardly any load on it, and it totally fails to function correctly in it's tilt access, even with my 500mm mounted on it totally unbalanced the thing does not move as it should.

I would strongly suggest that you stick with the reputable companies, Kirk, Wimberley or Jobu when choosing a gimbal head.
Click to expand...

Interesting post Martyn, a lightweight set of legs and gimbal head is on my list of "to buy" this year and I was looking at these,certainly puts questions in my head now..........:bonk:
 
HoppyUK said:
That flat jobbie looks neat :)

Re Martyn's comment on the Benro gimbal, that doesn't reflect what others on here have found, or from what I've seen. Only played with them, never used one in the field with a big lens, but I wiggled the bearings a bit ;) Did Martyn get a dodgy sample? It's still on my wanted list.
Click to expand...


I doubt that they singled mine out to use super glue on the screws, they are poor, and no comparison to the Jobu, Kirk and Wimberley build quality, for not much more than the cost of the Benro you can get the Jobu Black Widow LW2, which is superb, and offers a greater elevation than any of the others (the camera will hit the legs before it fouls the mount).

Ade for lightweight and rigid, plus the greater elevation covered I would highly recommend the Jobu.

The Kirk King Cobra is as solid as a rock, but it is heavy, and the lens soon fouls the mount as you try to tilt upwards.

The Wimberley Sidekick is a dream to use, but 500mm is starting to push it, and is not going to do your ball head any favours, great for a 300 f4 though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top