Customer Reviews

Benro A-157M8 Mg-Aluminium M8 Tripod Supports 13.2 lbs with Quick Release, 3-Leg Sections and Magnesium Die-Casting

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Benro A-157M8 Tripod is part of the A-x57M8 series of Benro Aluminum-Magnesium 3-Leg section tripods rated for up to 13.2 pounds. At this price point the A-157M8 is positioned one or probably two steps above the toy tripods found at Best Buy priced from $50 - $100.

The fit and finish is excellent. Mechanical movement is precise, snug, and yet smooth. The tripod includes useful features such as bubble level, compass, and ballast hook at bottom of center post. The screw stud for mounting the tripod head can be reversed to accept either 1/4" or 3/8" tripod heads. The legs can be locked at angles 24, 55, and 80 degrees.

A good quality tripod case is also included. The padded semi-hard case is vinyl exterior with nylon interior liner. It has a handle as well as detachable shoulder strap. The case is about 5" inches longer than the collapsed tripod to leave room for a tripod head. Also included are two allen wrenches for the head retaining screws and adjusting of leg angle tension. There is a third wrench included for reversing the head mounting screw stud. Contrary to the information on the Benro website, spiked feet are not included.

Fully collapsed the tripod is about 22.4" inches. With maximum leg extension and column height it is about 58" tall. Adding 5 to 8 inches for tripod head and camera, it can probably work for someone up to 6 feet tall without stooping. Weight is 3.2 pounds. People wanting something that folds up shorter than 22" for travel should look at the A-x58M8 series with 4-Leg sections, or the travel angel series.

Please ignore reviewers who complain they don't know how to mount their camera on a tripod legs.

Much has been covered by other comments so I won't re-hash everything here.

While I like the Tripod I have no clue why the listing mentions 'Quick Release'. The legs are screw locks, so that's not quick.
I had hoped that perhaps the tripod top had some sort of mounting plate that could release but that's not the case.

The Tripod arrived with the wide screw mount, which usually acts as an adapter to various ball heads - sold separatley (I have a manfrotto 3229 which fit nicely).

I don't remember seeing any details in the small instruction manual that was in the box, so it wasn't until I read a review here that I realized the entire screw and nut can be removed and flipped over. The other side has a smaller diameter screw that mounts directly to the camera (you'll lose ability to 'tilt' if you chose this option and forgo the ball head though. NOTE: I did not see it originally, but the case has a hidden pocket inside with a wench and allen key set as well as a manual.

The Tripod is well built and rigid. I do like the liquid level and small compass. The shaft height does affect the lower limit height with the legs spread out. It would have been nice to see that shaft come in two sections so that the head would have been self supported.
(Min height without ball head - 13in. & with my ball head it's: 15 1/2 in). The manual says that you can remove the shaft and insert it bottom-up. This will allow you to get your camera very close to the ground while shooting but I'm not a big fan of using my camera in upside down mode.

All in all, this is a solid unit and well worth the price compared to others out there in the marketplace with similar specs.

This is a carbon fiber reinforced lightweight tripod ONLY. The head is reversable from 1/4 " standard mount to 3/8" mount for fluid heads, and for microphones (stereo bars and reach bars are often 3/8" mount which I have used with my Benro).

Included with the lightweight camera are

1 - a nice protective cary case - very well made.
2 - a shoulder strap for carrying the tripod only
3 - a precision bubble level on the leg assembly to get things setup
4 - a magnetic compass for repeatability also in the leg assembly
5 - an adjustable center post to fine tune your height after leg extension.

If you want a lightweight sturdy adjustable tripod that can do many functions (still, audio, video) this is a high quality system. The choice of heads is left up to you - pick what you need for sound, still, video, or even weather (I use this often with my kestrel portable weather station Kestrel Rotating Vane Mount to give me enough height for accurate wind readings)

Once setup and leveled out it is rock sturdy with no vibrations. I find it amazing that a material so light can be so strong. I have used it with everything from a bogen 503 fluid head to a temporary antenna for my spectrum analyzer.

Pros: Complete, lightweight, solution with compass and bubble level. Very strong.
Cons: Does not come with a head so it will work for level pictures only until you select and add an appropriate head such as the 503.

The light weight will be appreciated by anyone who lugs camera gear around all day!

I purchased this to use as a secondary tripod, and maybe even for traveling, because of the "quick release" legs. I do a lot of photography in places where I don't have much time for setup, much less to break things down. This, however, at least in my experience and opinion, is not what is known in photography circles as "quick release". It takes me more time to lower one leg completely on this tripod as it does all three on the tripod I'm currently using. Another issue I had was with the description which says that it weights 13 pounds, to me it feels like it weighs much more than that. Even before I took it out of the box, I was shocked at how heavy it felt. I figured there must have been something else in the box besides the tripod, which there wasn't, and as a former lineman in college football, I'm no little guy either.

In regards to the comments about the camera mounting, keep in mind that this tripod is designed to be used with a 3rd party head that mounts on top, such as a ball head, pan and tilt, pistol grip, etc. The camera is mounted on the head, which then gives you the ability to position the camera at the angle or level you need. The camera is not intended to just mount on the tripod itself. This, however, should have been made more clear in the product description. In Benro's defense, however, the description was most likely written with professional and semi-pro photographers in mind, who would have known that already.

Overall, I would say it's a nice tripod for those who have the time to go somewhere and set things up, however, if you're looking for something that sets up and breaks down quickly, like I was, I would keep looking.

this is a decent tripod, but i'm not sure i would consider it quick release. it took me a few minutes to get the legs all extended. also to keep in mind - it doesn't have the ability to turn your camera sideways (portrait), so it must be done in landscape.

I really don't know what to say about this tripod. This tripod doesn't work the way tripods work! Seriously, you can't turn the head to the sides or up and down. You can't tilt it to any angles other than moving the whole tripod which to me doesn't make any since. I'm still trying to figure out why they are selling it with this price. I'm returning this item right away!

After reading all the info about the type of metals used to manufacture this tripod and how the leg locks were sealed to prevent dust and moisture from getting inside I thought about purchasing one and then it dawned on me that the one most important fact had been left out......there was NO mention of what the maximum height of this tripod is ???