Benbo Trekker tripod

[Neil Grant]

... i' ve seen used used one in a junk shop - there's no head and what looks like a small diameter thread for attaching one. I'd guess it would take a small mf camera. I'm not really sure what model it is. Any info appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[AgX]

I assume the tables in this brochure will allow you to identify your model:

http://www.patersonphotographic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Paterson-Benbo-brochure-002.pdf

 

[itsdoable]

I've been using a Benbo Trekker with a basic Ampils ball head for 15+ years. It does not fold very compact (2 section leg), nor light (medium weight). But it is extremely flexible and quick, such that I use it all the time round home and near the car. For hiking, I take a lighter, more compact carbon unit.

It holds a light weight MF camera just fine. It'll hold a Fujifilm GX680, but you'll need a better ball head and pay attention to vibrations. It's main advantage is the quick setup, and flexibility in positioning a small SLR in hard to get places. It's very good for macro work in the field.

 

[AgX]

You overlooked the feature that makes it interesting for me since long, though I have never come across a sample yet aside once at Photokina : the reverse mounting of the telescopic legs.
That enables one to place the legs into dirty water or mud as deep as long the lower sections, without messing up the telescopic sliding.

 

[Mick Fagan]

The toughest tripod I have is my Benbo Baby tripod, which predates Patterson being involved. After paying for it in Australia, I picked it up at the Reutlingen post office on a trip to Germany around 36 years ago. If I remember correctly, it was unavailable in Australia at the time.

I also have acquired more Benbo tripods, a No. 1, No. 2 and the original Photo Trekker model. On all of them I run a 50mm ball joint, the Trekker model has a smaller ball joint. Somewhere I also have a Benbo mono-pod. All of these Benbo units have one extremely good feature, they are 100% snow, mud and waterproof up to their lower leg joint. For transport you can pull them apart into four pieces and place each leg and the camera arm in various parts of a backpack; which I did many times for air travel. You can also pull apart the bent bolt assembly to further distribute weight; can be tricky the first time you put it back together, but that is part of the fun of life.

One aspect I don't like about Benbo tripods, apart from my super strong Baby model which is as solid as a rock, they are iffy with heavy cameras on slippery floors. What happens, is that if you are on a linoleum or parquet floor, the strength required to super lock the bent bolt mechanism is super high to stop the legs very slowly spreading as they slide ever so minimally apart. If you can organise some kind of lower strap, chain or belt to stop the legs spreading, then they are beautiful.

These days with most of my photography being large format work, I almost exclusively use my Berlebach wooden tripod. The Benbo's are still pulled out for whenever I use anything else though. It is interesting to note that whenever there are others present who have never seen, heard or imagined the Benbo tripiod concept, get to use one of mine, they almost always have one identical question. "How much are they?" They are unbelievably versatile and allow one to photograph many things with ease that other tripods can do, but you may have to do some serious workaround practices to achieve.

Mick.

 

[johnha]

I have the similar Uni-Loc tripods (apparently the guys who designed the Benbo had a fallout and one set up Uni-Loc as a competitor). Some reports suggest the Uni-Loc is more refined due to being a later development.

In use they're essentially the same, however you have to be careful. Keep hold of the camera until you've tightened the main bolt (and checked it's secure) and make sure the rig is balanced before you let go - you can set it up in an unstable configuration. As mentioned above, the legs can splay apart if you're not careful.

 

[Steve Deacon]

I bought a Benbo Trekker tripod 21 years ago, in London, and all has been great until a couple of weeks. Went to use it and the handle/lever came off as I tried to unlock the legs. Try as I may, I can't manage to get the lever back on. Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[neilt3]

I bought a Benbo Trekker tripod 21 years ago, in London, and all has been great until a couple of weeks. Went to use it and the handle/lever came off as I tried to unlock the legs. Try as I may, I can't manage to get the lever back on. Any suggestions would be welcome.

A photo of the broken part would be best for getting some suggestions .
It's hard to suggest a solution when you can't see the problem .

 

[itsdoable]

...the handle/lever came off as I tried to unlock the legs. Try as I may, I can't manage to get the lever back on. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Did the pin for the flip lever fall out, or did the whole lever unscrew off?