Benro A-198M8 Aluminum HVC Flexpod

Comments about Benro A-198M8 Aluminum HVC Flexpod:

I own a larger Benro and knew of the high quality in this line. This little gem is just great for hiking and for close-up work with lightweight cameras. It is ok for the larger DSLR bodies with the medium telephotos for the occasional shot, but not designed for the larger ball heads. I have been using it for about a month for primarily ground level shots and just love it.

Comments about Benro A-198M8 Aluminum HVC Flexpod:

I use this tripod for hiking, so far for closeups with my old Coolpix.

It is light, strong and easy to adjust.

I have no complaints at this point.

Comments about Benro A-198M8 Aluminum HVC Flexpod:

this is a great design but in no way, in my opinion, does it support the weight described. also, does not come with spiked feet, again not as described....

Comments about Benro A-198M8 Aluminum HVC Flexpod:

This tripod is actually a good choice for those that are 5'9" or shorter, and prefer to have light weight, compact tripod which they can trek all day with and have the horizontal center column capability. This is not for people 5'10" or taller (in my opinion) and not for large/heavy (any more than say 8 pounds) of camera/lens combinations. Real world testing (as I am 6'2" tall and have an Olympus E30 with the long and heavy 50-200mm lens/ EX25 extension tube and HLD4 battery grip all attached). This equipment probably doesn't exceed the 13 lb. mark. BUT when using my Benro BH-1M ballhead which is also rated for 13 lbs, I have some trouble when I put my rig into the portrait mode and the camera/lens is on its side. I feel it starting to slide adn move with gravity against in spite of the locked ballhead. With strong winds present, this is not the most solid tripod with my gear on it. And hanging my camera bag from the center column hook just goes way over the 13 lb. limit, and then legs start closing down on me. I reccomend if you like the brand/features... go a few models up that holds more weight so then it's more stable.
A good note is that this thing folds down pretty small, and feels pretty light. So with a short lens, and light winds, it's a good combination. The twisty legs I do like much, and they are not hard to operate- just don't twist them over thier designed amount (keep it under 1/2 rotation and you should be fine when locking/unlocking the leg sections). I would highly recommend this to anyone with a smaller SLR/lens kit and/or any point and shooter who is looking for a lightweight, stable tripod for smaller cameras. Comparing this with its Benro carbon fiber counterpart- given features and pricing, this one is lighter weight and way less painful on your wallet.