I love my old Benbo Trekker - bought from a car boot for £10 a few years ago. They are so versatile, I'll be getting some more ball heads and using it for mounting a couple of off camera flashes after watching this. Also another good video!
have owned this tripod for almost 30 years now its still like new today. i have 4 tripods but by far this one is best incredibly versitile in all uses, takes your camera places no other tripod ever made can. used it in rivers within inches of fast flowing water for close up, never ever has it failed to deliver results. old but, no other tripod works like this one end of. awsome kit.
I remember seeing the Trekker used by a photographer on TV (Blue Peter I think). She used it in a river to photograph ferns at the water's edge. I vowed that one day I would own one. Well eventually I bought a Pentax ME Super and a s/h Trekker. Must be 30yrs plus ago. The Pentax is no more but I still have the Trekker! I wear Chest Waders and using the Benbo I can get really low in the water and everything is safe and sturdy. It's also very waterproof. It can feel a little clumsy but, as you say, practice and it soon becomes second nature. Great tip regarding shaking it to put it away. You're right it does work. Thanks for another practical and informative video. Bye the way 'Benbo' stands for Bent Bolt. Cheers.
Aye, theyre a bit old school but i rate em. It'll probably outlast me!! Good pub quiz question about the Benbo name, every days a school day. Like you say great for in water situations👍📷👊
Nice one Simon 👍. Great to see the Black woods as we call it. Mad how that sound travels from the motorway yet you dont really notice when you're in there with the birds etc. I remember the old escort well and when you got it nicked. Great use of the Prusic knot. Such a useable knot. Great bit of kit and a great thorough review with some top tips 👍👍. Cherrs Si cant beat a coffee n a jack russels arse hole 😃. Bit early for a Pork pie (might be nice with a little bit of Jack by the hedge though) 🙂
Cheers Rick, love that place, theres not many woods like it. Yeh its unreal how noisy it is on the vid. Need anew mic i think!! We need to sort a colab vid out and soon !!👊👍🎥
Another "Cracking Video" Simon - really enjoyed it. The trekker was my first serious tripod fro my Pentax ME Super. Ended up selling it - big misktake, wish I still had it
Cheers for the shout out Si, Great Vlog, as usual, Hope you enjoyed the Figs.. That Benbo Trekker looks too much like hard work, Actually I've got a new Benro Mach 3 s4 XL coming today so I'll be testing that out at Lunt Meadows soon. Anyway take care, and look forward to the next episode. Paul 😎
Nice one Paul, good luck with the new tripod. Always nice getting a new bit of gear, that knock on the door eh!! Might see you at Lunt sometime, last time went for the SEO but no such luck.👍
@@simoneardley Thanks Si, Had a few knocks at the door lately, As you know Wildlife Photography is an expensive hobby, nothing comes close to getting out there! Hope to cross paths with you, Cheers Paul 👍
I had a Mk1 Escort too, worth a fortune today. I also had a Mk1 Opel Manta, a Mk1 Astra GTE, a 1275 GT Mini, a 205 CTi, a Puma ( 1 owner, me 🤟) a TT Roadster and many more cars that are sought after these days. If only I knew back then I’d have a 1DX3 with a 600/4 today, instead I have 2 more Mk1’s, this time an ageing 7D and 500/4 🤣😂😜
Cheers Simon, just need to watch a few more You-Tubes on the same model and I'll get a second hand one for my macro world that I am gradually stepping into. Cheers
Great video, Simon, I could have sat for hours with you in the woods there! Nice to see a thorough illustration of what the Benbo can do; such a versatile piece of kit. I am loathe to hang anything from my tripod unless the load is actually touching the ground, as in windy conditions it might set up a pendulum effect, but I can certainly see me using Prusik loops for that in the future. Good luck with the owls! 👍🏼🦉
Cheers Steve, yeh the Prusik is a great little tip to have in the locker. Theres a few different ways of tying them too. Worth a look. Cant beat a bit of downtime in the woods eh!!👍📷
'Dig the Fig' 😂👌 great video as always. Can't wait to see your kingfisher photos they're a bucket list bird for me I'm new to the DSLR and wildlife photography world 👌
Theyre a beautiful bird and worth all the effort to get them on film. I didn't have any luck that following morning though!! Best of luck in your new hobby📸😉
Great video Si, great to watch such a down to earth guy doing something he loves makes a change to from watching the pros with all the fancy expensive gear. Looking at a new tripod like the one your using the Novo explorer what's your opinion. Stay Safe 👍
Thanks Graeme, aye its not all about the gear. You make do with what youve got eh!! I think the Novo is a great tripod and real good value for money. When you buy it as a kit you get the CBH-40 Ball Head with the T10. In hindsight i would have gone for the T20 which is a bit beefier, for vlogging and using smaller lens' the 10 is fine but if youre going large telephoto perhaps think the 20. I removed the central column on my T10 to enable me to get to ground level. Check out UK Digital, they sometimes have ex-demo gear on offer👍📷
Aaah yes. The infamous Benro octopus 😳 If I recall correctly, the trekker was the lightweight version of the original Benro, which was a pretty hefty piece of kit. I think a company called Uniloc also produced a copy back in the early 80's. Very good and quite original tripods, particularly good idea to have the outer legs at bottom in order to use in wet environment without compromising the workings. As you state, difficult beasts to master but your tips within this video are excellent and has demystified the octopus! Great watching. P. S. Very handy knot, must give that a try.
Theyre just a good sturdy bit of engineering which is what i like. You can really give em some grief and they still do the job. Always handy to know a few different knots as well for hide building etc👍📸
Octopus playing the bagpipes, always wanted the Uni-loc, loving the videos Simon, I’ve been living in the states since 99, but just listening you talk about scran, butties, pork pies, sausage rolls, scotch eggs ;) reminds me of home, keep up the vids.
An excellent explanation of this wonderfully designed tripod (though behind the times by not offering carbon fibre...the tripod would still work with the newer material) I am seriously considered that I noticed used on FB marketplace here in Victoria, British Columbia. Cheers, Bruce (I subscribed)
I had the original Benbo Mk1 made by Kennett Engineering wish I had have kept it. Have now got the replacement one but I don't think they quite as good.
I've owned two Benbo Trekker tripods over the years. Brilliant bit of kit but I did sometimes feel I was fighting an octopus. When I moved house I had to adapt to a different style of wildlife photography, and found that the Trekker is an uncomfortable bit of kit to carry for 7 hours/15 miles a day. My Vanguard carbon fibre tripod is not as versatile: but it is a lot easier to carry.
another super vid si was thinking about getting one just one thing I have a canon with the sigma 150-600 will it take the camera fitted with a gimble looking forward to next vid stay safe
Hi Simon, interesting tripod, great review, trying to discover more owl species myself, got a cracking barn owl site with three and hopefully young on the way but about to search for other owl species around Lancashire, give me a shout if you fancy a get together.
@@simoneardley yea I have been searching for other species for ages in my local woodlands, going further a field now lock down is almost over, just researching thermal and night vision gear to assist.
@@simoneardley yes deffinately .. manfrorro 502 on a benbo no1 tripod for full format dslr also patersons 😁😁 cheers .. i would like to shorten that panning handle a tad . as the lenses are lever enough .
Hey Si if you like doing a bit of macro as well as your wildlife photography, look my son up on Facebook, Lee Frosts capture of life, I know he's my son but is macro is amazing, he's a published photographer.
Not doubting the Benbo tripod. Nothing much comes close. Then you ruin it all with that Stanley flask. Looks great, nice & sturdily engineered, but just don't work; can't keep hot drinks hot over a 12hrs period. An Aladdin Challenger Delux is far superior.
