Benro Mach 3 Tripod Extra Long

This video is designed to help a photographer out there somewhere who is trying to buy a tripod without getting to see it in person. I tried to show the tripod in action out in the field. I am 5'9" for reference as you see the tripod. Check the Benro website for current pricing and availability.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:21 Unboxing
0:53 Mach 3 is a series with many sizes
1:25 Weight
1:57 First day out in the field
4:15 Speed of a rapid set up
4:44 Comparing to my older tripod
6:33 Height
7:11 The center column (also more in the base plate section)
8:46 Leg Spread Area
9:22 Independently Adjustable Legs
10:42 The Base Plate
11:30 A macro photo
11:55 Extra Long leg use and max height column retracted
13:31 Ocean outing and a look at the feet
14:12 Leg Sections
16:18 Leg Thickness
16:58 Twist locks
17:47 Sunrise and tripod top part
18:46 Bubble spirit level
19:22 Cold shock
19:46 A Panorama at the Lighthouse
22:11 Final Thoughts
#Benro #tripodreview #benroMach3

[@travelthenrepeat]

I've had this same tripod for 3 years and just watched your video. You do a great job representing the functionality and impact that this tripod has on your work. I love mine and wouldn't trade it for the world!

[@RachelWhelton]

Wow, thanks. That is very good to know you still love it after 3 years. I think this sturdy of a tripod is life-changing for somebody who has lived forever with wobbly and weak tripods. I wish I had this years ago.

[@Cl4xX971]

hi Rachel, I saw a lot of videos, but yours is the one that convince me !! I really like your style and the way you explain and illustrates all different things.. you are so natural and you are the opposite side of all sellers or KZbinrs trying to sell stuff..... thank you for your video, stay as you are, and this is not a problem of "professional " photographers it s about sensitivity !! and I saw in your person this !! i m ordering NOW ! have a nice day . Regards from Guadeloupe (French West Indies).

[@RachelWhelton]

Thanks! I still love it.

[@JadeSmith68]

Thank you very much , Rachel for sharing. A great review. I am a novice photographer. I've got also a Benro GH2 Gimbal head and a Sigma 150-600mm lens. After watching your videos, I decided to buy a Benro tripod.

[@RachelWhelton]

Great, I hope it goes well for you. I still love mine. Maybe this Fall I will get a better ball head but for now I have a LeoFoto ball head that is good but sort of small (for backpacking).

[@rolandofuret2658]

Hi Rachel, very intuitive and explanatory with real world motivation and most important it suits your needs. Of course, we cannot compete with certain type of photographers, they don’t buy the gear they use, most of it is given to them for review. Keep up with your good work. Cheers mate.

[@RachelWhelton]

Yes, I agree. And even if we can buy their same gear, if we don't really need it, then it is kind of a waste of money that could be spent on travel. Thank you for the nice comment.

[@rolandofuret2658]

🙂

[@colinreed9587]

What a great video, thanks for making it.

[@RachelWhelton]

Thanks! I'm so glad it is finding some viewers.

[@NortonDudeque]

Hi Rachel, great review. A got one of this, and stability is the keyword!

[@RachelWhelton]

Awesome! Thank you! Stability is the best thing ever and I am reminded of it on the times I have no choice but to use a smaller and weaker tripod. I wish I could bring this big one on my hikes.

[@albuonanno5554]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and sense of humor during your tripod shoot! I found it informative and very entertaining. I was looking for a beefier tripod for my Nikon 200-500mm lens. My heart wanted a Gitzo but my brain said no. So I decided on two Robus carbon fiber tripods instead for less than the Gitzo! I shot my first bobcat this week and hope to take more shots of the critters around my neck of the woods. Your pano shot turned out really great! Enjoy your new tripod and stay warm!

[@RachelWhelton]

Thanks for the nice comment. Tripods are like cars I guess. We find the best one and if we choose well we are happy with it for a long time. But then there is always a possibility of wanting another one down the road.

[@johnconklin5180]

I bought the exact same tripod. I want stability over everything else and there is no question about that. Price was great and allowed me to get the Benro S6 Pro video head. To match with my Swarovski spotting scope. Very happy with the purchase and no criticisms worth mention.

[@RachelWhelton]

Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to be out there using this again. It is a pleasure to enjoy that level of stability and I miss it when I am backpacking with a flimsy lightweight tripod.

[@philcool168]

Hi Helen, A thorough and very good review. I enjoyed your laid back style, and sense of humour. I was here tonight looking at buying a Benro tripod, and came across your video review. I'll probably go for the slightly shorter 4 section version as some good deals at the moment. But I might consider a three section if I find a good deal, but it will be a carbon one, as it's as you say cool haha. I have a lighter "punk billy three legged thing" but wanted something thats a bit more stable in the wind. Regards Phil in the U.K.

[@RachelWhelton]

Yes, stable is key!

[@andyvan5692]

uh, a correction, at 8:15 the column on the sirui doesn't spin, it has a pin and groove, at least on my M2204 ( the older 2003 version of the now current W2204); the columns on Gitzo's spin, as mine has the groove in the extension of the column, not the column itself.

[@RachelWhelton]

OK. Thank you for the info.

[@bbfoto7248]

@RachelWhelton Thank you for the informal but thorough overview of this tripod, and the lighthearted humor as well. 👍 😅 From experience, I think you would come to appreciate a good add-on half ball leveling base, especially when using your gimbal head (especially for video), and when doing Panorama shots. It really makes getting your tripod setup level so much quicker and easier. Every additional second of setup time could mean a missed opportunity, especially with wildlife. If you do decide on getting a leveling base, make sure to get one that is rated for more than double the weight of any of your camera/lens combinations. Just like the tripod itself, the leveling base needs to be extremely stable and lock securely, otherwise it will become frustrating and ultimately detrimental to your results. RE: the Spike Feet at 13:43 ...I'm glad to see you are using them in most circumstances. They really do provide better stability with less vertical fluctuation/movement of the tripod overall in 90% of outdoor environments. I'm also glad to see that you are extending all of the lowest leg sections a few inches to help keep the twist-locks out of the sand, mud, and water. 👍 Over time, keeping the retractable leg sections and twist-locks clean and free of any type of debris and especially salt water has the greatest impact on the longevity and smooth operating performance of your tripod. However, the small, short spikes that were included with your tripod are borderline useless, or at least somewhat inadequate. I've been using the following Spike Feet that are much longer & beefier with removable rubber tips since they were first released, and they are 110% better in every regard compared to using the common interchangeable short spike feet that come with most tripods. Search for the ''Leofoto TFS-US Long Spike/Rubber Foot Set - 3/8'' Thread''. I rarely use the padded tripod bag, so I simply keep the 3 small rubber foot tips for these spikes in a tiny soft pouch with a thin lanyard around the top of my tripod head platform base for whenever they may be needed for indoor/studio use. It's never gotten in the way and I know I won't misplace them. Seeing that you are an avid hiker/backpacker/camper, I was surprised that you didn't opt for the carbon fiber version, as our motto is usually, "every ounce counts!" 😛 And as you found with the aluminum gimbal head, the aluminum tripod legs are much colder to the touch compared to carbon-fiber. But I'm glad to see that you ended up with a great tripod that suits your needs and is a joy to use. 👍 It makes sense if you're primarily using it for shorter excursions close to your car, but just as a side note for others, carbon-fiber legs will usually damp any vibrations and settle the movement of the tripod as a whole much better and faster than an equivalent tripod with aluminum legs. This can be an issue when shooting at very low/long shutter speeds, especially in the wind...i.e. creating a photo with motion-blured water in a waterfall/stream landscape scene while wanting to keep the surrounding rocks or terrain extremely sharp. Just my 2¢ worth. 😉 Cheers!

[@RachelWhelton]

Thanks. I definitely want a half ball leveling base! It's on my list but I keep buying camping gear instead.

[@shanewoodbury669]

got tma 47 love it do great job keep up good wk

[@RachelWhelton]

Nice. 👍 Thanks!

[@KimHojbergJensen]

Very interesting. I was looking at this tripod for my K&F gimbal (looks identical to your Neewer. I was wondering if I should get the extra long vs long. I think I will get the same as yours 😊

[@RachelWhelton]

I hope it works out perfectly! I still love mine and just need to get out and use it more often.

[@MannyScoot]

one pound double the price doesn't make sense to me........ I got the Aluminum TMA28A and I am very very happy .....

[@RachelWhelton]

Yes, I agree.

[@bbfoto7248]

@MannyScoot Choosing Carbon-Fiber is not only about the weight savings. A well made Carbon-Fiber tripod will usually damp and settle any vibrations better and faster than one with aluminum legs. There are several KZbin videos that demonstrate this using the same model tripod, with the only difference being one is the aluminum version & the other is the C-F version. But if yours is working well as it is, that's obviously all that matters.

[@Blacksheep1B]

Thank you Rachel, finding a stable tripod, without breaking the bank is a tough chore. Have you had the chance to do any astrophotography with this tripod? The current tripod I have shakes so much looking at saturn, that I can’t even take a timed photo because it takes about 12 seconds for the tripod to stop wiggling getting the shot in frame. How has this tripod performed with shots like this?

[@RachelWhelton]

Just did some on my last trip (video processing but viewable soon). The tripod is superbly stable and easy to adjust. So the key (or missing link) then becomes your choice of ball head. Now that I have no tripod complaints, I find myself complaining about ball head slippage.

[@Blacksheep1B]

@@RachelWhelton I plan to use the benro geared head, and a sky watcher motorized head, that will follow the rotation. I like the idea of fine adjustments, turning the knobs for windage and elevation. I just need a sturdy tripod haha. Thank you for your response!

[@bbfoto7248]

​​​​​​@@Blacksheep1B For astrophotography, you really need an incredibly stable and vibration-free tripod, especially for long exposures using the tracking head, and/or if there is any wind whatsoever. In use, try to keep the tripod and Telescope/Camera as low to the ground as possible and work in a kneeling position. For this purpose I carry an extremely light 1.5" thick x 12" x 20" foam kneeling pad with a built-in slot opening as a handle that I tie a short loop of paracord through and clip to a carabiner on my backpack. Something like Rachel is using at 10:10 in this video. They usually sell these foam kneeling pads in the gardening section of your local big box home center/hardware store...or online at Amazon, eBay, etc. Or there are extremely lightweight and comfortable 1" thick all foam knee pads that will strap to your legs over your pants with simple stretchy velcro straps that are comfortable enough to walk or hike with. In addition, some of my "tactical" cargo pants have built-in pockets or slots inside the front knee area where you can install a cut out piece of foam from an inexpensive camping sleeping bag foam pad or thick yoga mat. Try to get at least 1/2" thick neoprene type "sponge foam". The better "tactical" cargo pocket pants also have expanding waistline functionality and gusseted crotch and knee panels for ease of mobility when kneeling. If you want your astrophotography images to be successful, I would highly recommend a good VIDEO TRIPOD with a 75mm or 100mm bowl + half ball leveling platform base for your heads. Tripods with a center column may be convenient, but they inherently reduce the rigidity and stability of the system overall. These types of video tripods with multi-tube legs are bulkier and heavier than standard single tube still photography tripod legs, but the ease and quickness of setup and the EXPONENTIALLY greater stability and lack of vibration will quickly win you over! Get a video tripod with an adjustable, locking mid-leg spreader, which further helps to stabilize the tripod/camera/lens/telescope and reduce vibration. If you want to stay within the Benro lineup, look at their BV series C673TM Dual Stage 75mm Bowl CF Tripod. Satchler and Manfrotto make excellent versions as well, and you will probably want a carbon-fiber model to reduce the weight. The tripod head itself also needs to be extra "beefy" and able to lock and secure heavy torsional/lateral loads that large lenses and telescopes will incur. Unfortunately, we have to "pay to play" and use expensive professional gear if we want professional results. 😉

[@gz-n3gzmail142]

What model were u using

[@RachelWhelton]

TMA47AXL. I paid about 200 bucks on Amazon for a new tripod from a third party seller, probably a small camera shop.