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I realise these have been discussed before but........I am looking to replace my metal Manfrotto with a Benro Carbon Fibre, but I have been having trouble locating a site with the full specs on the models I am looking at. These are the C-297N6 and the C-298N6. In particular the maximum extended height. The 297 (3 sections) looks to be about 5' 7" but I cannot find the same info on the 298(4 sections). Can anybody help please?

Parameters
weight 1.83kg
Max.height 1665mm
Min.height 335mm
Nomal height 1355mm
Load capacity 8kg

Which Manfrotto legs do you have?

Have a look here:

http://www.benro.com/content/tripods/fl ... odels.aspx

Also have a look at the Induro tripods, made by Benro but marketed by a big USA company. They are easily available in Australia as well.
http://www.indurogear.com/

Cheers,

André

the Benro website is-
http://www.benro.cn/ENbenro/AA_Product. ... l%20Tripod

the Tripods you are looking at are older models- from searching Ebay and the tables listed by sellers might help

Model Section Max. Height (mm/in) Normal Height (mm/in) Min. Height (mm/in) Folded Height (mm/in) Weight (kg/lbs) Loading (kg/lbs)
C-197 n6 3-sec 1585/62.4 1280/50.4 390/15.4 600/23.6 1.54/3.4 4.5/9.9
C-198 n6 4-sec 1585/62.4 1280/50.4 390/15.4 515/20.3 1.57/3.5 4.5/9.9
C-297 n6 3-sec 1725/67.9 1420/55.9 390/15.4 655/25.8 1.84/4.1 8/17.6
C-298 n6 4-sec 1665/65.6 1365/53.7 390/15.4 545/21.5 1.89/4.2 8/17.6



I did a lot of looking into Benro a couple of months ago and ended up getting a feisol- alot lighter and higher capacity for only slightly more money. Ordering from their website and the tripod took less than 5 days to get in my hands. I got the CT 3441s- its a whole lot lighter and folds incredicredibly small. $333 USD.
Specs norm height max ht min ht folded length weight capacity
CT-3441S 128cm / 50.3in 178cm / 70.1in 19cm / 7.5in 43cm / 16.9in 1.0kg / 2.2lbs 10kg / 22lbs
See feisol here
http://www.feisol.com/english/feisolen.htm

hope this helps
Robert

Thank you all for your help I know have the answers that I was looking for. My current Manfrotto is the 190 Pro.

Just sent Pm to someone re my feisol so thought I'd post it here as well. Might not be relevant to OP but may be of use to someone????

Hi ,
i'm currently using a Manfrotto 486 ball. Its off my old tripod- and am currently saving the $300US for a Markins Q3 ( http://www.markins.com/2.0/eng/ballheads.html) . No complaints about the tripod other than it is an ultralight so it is not "overengineered", though definately sturdy. It is also my first twisty so need to remember to twist tight enough to stop lower legs twisting when tightening.

Probably the most important factor you wouldnt see from the website is the head rests on a plate on the centre column (the feisol is a two piece centre column) and the plate has a diameter of about 42 or 43mm. This means my head hangs over about 3 or 4 mm.

Checking out the KB-2 it seems pretty heavy for a lightweight tripod. Do you need a "2" series head or will a "1" do it? I dont know what kit you use but i like the look of the KS-1 and its only $140 from photo shop studio in sydney. http://www.photo-shop-studio.com/eng/p2 ... ass2=BENRO
It might be worthwhile to see what people think of the manfrotto 488 which has similar specs and same price. Personally not looking into them more than a few minutes for some info here- i'd go the manfrotto just because you know what you are getting.Benro are slightly more mysterious or at least i suspect their QC is not as good as manfrotto. I would have no hesitation with their legs however.

comparison of benro KJ-1 seems ok with limitations-
http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/sho ... hp?t=18193

If you can afford it go the markins!! It is twice the price but half the weight (0.385g) and twice the claimed capacity (30kg).

Showing centre column raised by an inch each section and top plate



unique folding to acheive small folded size- the legs go 180.



hope this helps
Robert

Have you made the purchase yet John?

If not - I have been looking for quite a long time and still prefer the Gitzo tripods from what I have seen.

My eye is on the GT-2540 at about 1.4kg.... and then I would put a RRS ballhead on that to suit the L plate I have kicking around doing nothing ATM.

Guess I will have to pull my finger out once the 80-400 gets here as that amount of zoom will need a tripod in lower light situations. I have had some issues trying to test the 80-200 at night and I am not steady enough to get a good image.

Edit: I have posted links to a UK site which has good specs on Benro stuff in the past..... links from searching Benro with me as author....

http://photopal.co.uk/index.php?cPath=38
http://www.trick77.com/2008/05/03/revie ... on-tripod/
http://www.tincheungcamera.com.hk -- for Gitzo.....

Ian a Gitzo at twice the price cannot be justified for the amount of time my camera spends on it. I have been happy with the Manfrotto and will probably keep it for indoor work, but when I am out and about I want something a little lighter. That said most of the weight is in my RRS ballhead.