Before I switched from film to digital, for a few years with 5x4 and medium format film cameras, I used a Manfrotto geared head. Then digital came along, cameras got lighter and so I started to use ball heads.
As part of my move back to medium format though, I decided that a geared head was just what was needed, to slow me down and add some precision and be more deliberate in composing shots. As I was making a big investment in a big tripod at the same time, I decided to go for a quite economic solution, the Benro GD3WH.
The Benro bears a remarkable resemblance to the Manfrotto 410 Junior head I previously owned, except this time there is an arca-swiss compatible dovetail clamp built into the head, so no need to buy expensive conversion kits or (even worse) be forced to use Manfrotto’s own enormous and antiquated quick release plates. At the time of writing, in the UK the Benro is around £145 and the Manfrotto about £10 more.
The Benro looks well made and feels solid when you take it out of the trade-mark bright blue Benro box, yet doesn’t seem overly heavy. Referring to the manufacturers specs, the Benro is around 400g lighter than the Manfrotto. But at over 800g, it is still quite heavy given it’s max stated load of 6Kg, in comparison to a ball head, which would be substantially lighter and more compact for a similar payload. That is the penalty for the extra precision though.
Like all similar designs of geared head, on a tripod with a large top platform like my Gitzo Systematic 5 series, a spacer is needed to raise the head up to allow for the full range of tilt. Fortunately Benro have thought of this and offer the matching GDHAD1 spacer, albeit at an additional cost of £20.
In use now for about 6 months, I have found the head to be very satisfactory. Like the Manfrotto mentioned earlier, it’s a little ‘agricultural’ in design and feel compared to some of the more exotic (and expensive) geared heads out there, but it definately provides the required precision and rigidity.
I have one dislike, which is that the arca dovetail opposite the clamp is not continuous - there is a gap in the middle of about 30mm - which means you really need to use a plate or L-bracket at least 50mm wide, and pay close attention that it is centred in the clamp, otherwise there is a risk that the camera won’t be clamped securely, and/or the clamp will be damaged when it’s tightened. This is not really a problem for me, as all my L-brackets have dovetail sections that are sufficiently long, but it might be something you should consider if you are using a small plate on your camera (a 70mm plate is supplied with the head).
One other observation: I have seen quite a few pictures with the camera mounted in what I consider to be the ‘wrong’ way round on this head. I find it best to have the clamp knob pointing in the same direction as the lens, as then the knobs for the 3 axis are nicely placed and highly visible. If you flip the camera round, so the clamp knob is facing you, that’s no longer the case.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with this head. I would even go as far as to say it’s performance is beyond what you might expect at the price. There are other geared heads around at similar prices, but I haven’t yet found another one that is geared in all 3 axis, apart from the Manfrotto. I am so pleased in fact, I am considering buying a second as a spare, just in case. But, may be I’ll wait and see if Benro make a Mark II version without that interrupted dovetail.
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