Benro has improved on Manfrotto's version of a supported monopod with the A48FDS6. It's a little weird to get used to at first and I didn't fully understand an issue I was having with it until I contacted Benro technical support, but more about that, shortly.
The monopod itself is a trifle on the heavy side, but for the money, well worth it. If it was made out of carbon fibre, it would likely cost a great deal more. It has solid snap locks for each section and it's a fast adjustment. The quality seems good, but while I don't use this thing every day, I can well imagine that the section locks will loosen up (they do on every tripod/monopod I've ever owned), but Benro supplied Allen keys in that event. I also like it that the top section is covered in a comfortable foam, making it easy to hold.
Too, the S6 head is surprisingly well engineered for a relatively inexpensive fluid head. It's got decent drag adjustment (not quite as sophisticated as a high-end head) and I've found that it makes for smooth run-and-gun style shooting. The quick-release plate snugging screw is quite close to the top of the head, so adjusting it when you have a camera with a wide base, requires a bit of patience and practice. But the screw has a ratcheting design, so it's simple to pull it away from the head body, reposition it, and tighten or loosen it.
But the reason the A48FDS6 did not win five stars from me is due to the design of the monopod's base. The three leg mechanism can be locked in place or loosened with a red thumbscrew, so you can swivel the monopod on its base or lock it in a particular orientation. Locking it down is great, because it's quite stable and it will stand on its own (THOUGH I RECOMMEND THAT YOU NOT WALK AWAY FROM IT OR AT LEAST BAG IT!). But, when you lock the feet so that the monopod does not swivel and accidentally try to pan the head while it's locked, the base will start to UNSCREW from the base of the monopod! NOT GOOD!
So, I called Benro support and they told me that the only thing I could do was use Locktight on the threads of the three-legged base. This is not a perfect solution. If I ever wanted to use it without the three legs (they supple a screw-in cap with a rubber foot for the base of the monopod), I would have to wrench the thing apart and then re-Locktight it back together, again. I have no plans to use it with just a single leg, so I'm going to use Locktight, but it's not the best design.
All told, this is a good monopod and I recommend it to anyone needing a stable, if relatively heavy, camera support for run-and-gun style shooting... weddings, market research, sports, etc.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2015
Style: Flip LockSize: 4 Series w/ S6 Video HeadVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
Style: Flip LockSize: 3 Series w/ S2 Video HeadVerified Purchase
Benro Aluminum 3-Series Flip-Lock Video Monopod Kit is everything I had hoped for. It is sturdy and light weight. It is built solid and well finished. Everything works as it should and it is very versatile. It is a great tool for shooting video with my DSLR. I will be using it for shooting real estate videos.
I love my old Benro Tripod that I purchased a number of years ago. I use it on every real estate photo shoot and it has held up very well. I feel confident the new Benro Monopod will serve me equally as well.
My only concern was the quick release that came with the S2 Video Head. It doesn't work with my Manfrotto quick release system. I use the Manfrotto 323 RC2 System Quick Release on all of my equipment and didn't want to have two different quick release systems going on at the same time.
Luckily, I had purchased an adapter from Amazon a couple of years ago that resolved that problem. The adapter is still available on Amazon. Here is the link to the adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0111WY222/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It also requires a longer 1/4-20 screw then what is included in the Benro quick release plate. You will need to switch the screw if you want to make the same change that I did. Here is the link the the longer quick release plate screw from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Release-Flathead-Stainless-Manfrotto-Sachtler/dp/B00D97FMOU/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Standard%2B1%2F4%22-20%2BSlotted%2BScrew%2B15mm%2Blong&qid=1630246531&s=electronics&sr=1-6&th=1
See the Photos I have included in this review. It will show you how the Manfrotto quick release is attached to the Benro quick release plate.
I love my old Benro Tripod that I purchased a number of years ago. I use it on every real estate photo shoot and it has held up very well. I feel confident the new Benro Monopod will serve me equally as well.
My only concern was the quick release that came with the S2 Video Head. It doesn't work with my Manfrotto quick release system. I use the Manfrotto 323 RC2 System Quick Release on all of my equipment and didn't want to have two different quick release systems going on at the same time.
Luckily, I had purchased an adapter from Amazon a couple of years ago that resolved that problem. The adapter is still available on Amazon. Here is the link to the adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0111WY222/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It also requires a longer 1/4-20 screw then what is included in the Benro quick release plate. You will need to switch the screw if you want to make the same change that I did. Here is the link the the longer quick release plate screw from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Release-Flathead-Stainless-Manfrotto-Sachtler/dp/B00D97FMOU/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=Standard%2B1%2F4%22-20%2BSlotted%2BScrew%2B15mm%2Blong&qid=1630246531&s=electronics&sr=1-6&th=1
See the Photos I have included in this review. It will show you how the Manfrotto quick release is attached to the Benro quick release plate.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2015
Style: Flip LockSize: 4 Series w/ S4 Video HeadVerified Purchase
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