Benro Mach3 TMA28A Series 2 4-Section Aluminum Tripod/Monopod, Twist Lock

2022-11-24T07:44:32

Bought this piece to support my petite Astrophotography rig. It keeps my Star Adventurer GTI very steady and provides 4 points of contact when it is deployed low. Excellent!

joseph d.

2022-10-16T05:26:04

has been top notch in replacing my Manfrotto. combines well with the Acratech tilt/pan

Robert W.

2022-09-17T00:42:30

I love these tripod legs! I have had them over a year now and they just seem to get better. At first, the center column slid down a little easier than I liked. But now when extended, it is as sturdy as the rest of it. And the rest of it is very sturdy. The diameter of all the leg sections are massive. Only three sections, which unlike a four or five section tripod, there is less difference in diameter between the bottom and upper sections. The lower leg section, the smallest diameter section, is bigger around than the upper leg section on most other tripods. (Thicker legs and fewer junctions mean less wobble, to me.) But it being only three sections doesn't make it short. I am 5'10", and with the tripod fully extended, I can walk underneath it and only have to bend slightly. It is almost comical how tall it is. With a head and camera attached, I have to get on a ladder to reach the shutter button. And the tripod is still super-stable! And it also does down-low really well. The legs lock in three positions: standard tripod angle (30 degrees, -ish?), about 60 degrees-ish, and widest at 85 degrees-ish (not quite 90). For the narrowest two angles the long column works. It doesn't bottom-out and it can also be inverted to get the camera upside down just above the ground. (But don't worry, one can always turn the print right-side-up before putting the image on the wall.) But if that is too low or too upside-down, there is also an included short column that will make use of the widest leg angle to put the top of the tripod just inches above the ground. Handy if using an on-camera flash and needing to be close to the ground. It is as light as a tripod this size can be, but it does have some girth, naturally. Benro also makes a carbon-fiber version of these tripod legs that shaves off a breezy pound. (But it also loses an inch or two of maximum height.) For every day work, this tripod is amazing. It is as sturdy as one can hope for. If one does landscapes on the side of hills or architecture/real-estate that involve steps and stairs, the advantage of being able to put a leg out to reach the lower ground is immense. Other than its forgivable weight, there is no compromise with this set of legs. It is one of my most rewarding purchases.

Joe T.

2022-08-16T08:36:02

Exactly what I needed to setup my Sky Watcher Adventurer Pro 2i, Nikon D5600, and 135mm Rokinon. Sturdy and easy to use. Only concern (nitpicking) is the hook to add weight or a bag at the bottom of the mount neck, is a little flimsy, but not a deal breaker.

Patrick M.

2021-11-18T02:43:33

I love this tripod. It stands tall and will support a lot of heavy gear. My 1dx mii, gimbal head,Canon 600mm f4 with Tele extenders III. Perfect for shooting on the downside of hills where a tall support is needed. A little heavy but like I said it supports A lot of weight...so that balances out in my opinion. Plus the cost is low for a tripod of this size and function.

FORSTER S.

2021-10-12T08:47:50

I bought this tripod to mount an expensive Dewalt Laser leveler. It is easy to set up and tucks away in its bag neatly. The quality is high and the adjustability makes it versatile.

Jason H.

2021-07-20T08:53:15

Nice sturdy stand for my small Astro setup.

ROLDAN M.

2021-03-31T09:31:20

Excellent product. Fast delivery. Tripod's quality surpassed my expectations. Light weight yet sturdy. Easy to use and versatile. Looking forward to use it for many years to come.

Arnaldo Y.

2021-03-17T19:43:34

Perfect for my entry into Astro photography

Donald A.

2021-01-19T03:31:43

The Benro Mach3 Long Tripod is wonderful for my purposes. I am 6'8" and is the perfect height. I typically use this with my Sigma 150-600mm lens on a Canon M6 M2. The head is a Manfrotto 502 Pro Video head and works great for wildlife. The tripod is VERY sturdy even with the extension. Little to no wobble. The only considerations are the bag is not large enough to fit the tripod with my head, bummer. Also, in cold weather the aluminium gets very cold quickly. If you do a lot of cold weather photos then maybe a carbon version, or wear gloves.

Jason W.

2021-01-06T15:19:19

Okay, I've been around for awhile, so maybe my brain's not comprehending things as they really are. I bought this tripod to replace an aging Bogen that I've had for about 40 years and is still in good working condition, just not as convenient as it once was. That's the preamble. So this Benro tripod seems well-built. I extended both sets of legs and added weight and it held firm. Everything moves smoothly. Overall it seems to be behaving the way it should be. The directions are okay, nothing great - small illustrations can be problematic. The biggest problem, and it's not all that big, is switching between 3/8" and 1/4" studs. The stud is held in place with a nut that screws down into a recess. That nut is supposed to be tightened and there's a wrench for this, one of those cheap stamped steel things. That part of the wrench is offset a little so it can reach down into the recess, but there are two problems here. First, the cut-out the nut fits into is kind of rough and as a result it's difficult to get a good solid grip on the nut. Secondly, the wrench's offset that's supposed to reach down into the recess isn't deep enough. That, coupled with the poor stamping quality, makes it very difficult to tighten the nut. I took the plastic and metal mounting plate off the center column, hoping that would give me easier access to the nut but it didn't. There's a rubber washer (more of a seal) that fits in there but there doesn't seem to be a good way to keep it centered, so as you screw the mounting plate back into place the washer/seal gets pushed out of position. To be honest, it seems to be working fine without the washer, but I'd rather have it installed as it's supposed to be. I'll have to figure out a way to do that. Would I buy another of these? So far I'd say yes, but ONLY if I knew while shopping what I know now.

DAVID B.

2021-01-04T12:23:42

This is a very solid unit. I bought it to support a star tracker with a polar axis finder scope. With this tripod polar alignment stays steady in spite of working with the rig on top. The hook for a stabilizing weight is good to add extra stability. The 3-step legs are convenient but it is tall enough for my purpose with the narrowest legs not extended and the center shaft elevated. It will also elevate binoculars to eye level. It comes with a very nice sleeve and carrying case and fits my small trunk.

HAL H.

2020-12-17T07:25:11

fantastically great tripod

doug m.

2020-12-10T07:18:58

Great tripod legs for my gimbal and 500 mm lens. Steady!

Alfonso C.

2020-12-07T07:22:58

Used it 3 times until the leg fell off

ANTHONY V.

2020-11-16T07:37:16

Sturdy, easy set up, great height. Put an auto tracker, DSLR and a small scope on it. No issues.

ADRIAN M.

2020-11-13T09:18:58

Sturdy heavy tripod so it won’t rock in the wind. Good height so I don’t have to bend over. Wimberley II head fits on it nicely.

TOMMY E.

2020-11-12T10:11:44

Very solid tripod. I’ve used it with my Manfrotto MVH500AH and my 32’ GVM slider and it worked like a charm.

RICHARD B.

2020-10-29T08:41:55

I purchased this tripod for use with a gimbal head and larger lens. The majority of this tripods use has been for wildlife with some family portraits. The mechanics of the tripod extension are easy to use and have held in place without issue. The tripod itself is much more robust than I was anticipating, which Suits my purposes. though some may find it too large or heavy. So far this is a fantastic tripod that will preform well without emptying ones bank account. I would recommend this to others

NATHAN D.

2020-09-29T05:59:05

This is a great tripod for all around photography

JERRY C.

2020-09-22T12:05:25

I've been looking for a new tripod for months, I wanted to something really tall to shoot headshots while people are standing, since in I think their clothing lays way better this way, most tripods are almost but not quite tall enough for this. I bought a cheap knock off to use while I searched, I wanted a gitzo but holy smokes they are crazy expensive. I was on a shoot recently where the film crew ( I shoot a lot of still on set stuff) was using Benro's so I looked them up. I saw the mach 3 at 80+ inches at a not so bad price and bought one. So far I REALY love it, super smooth, very sturdy, and very tall. Hopefully it lasts a long long time,

DOUG M.

2020-09-18T15:09:14

I bought the 47AXL so I could have a taller tripod for shooting on rough and uneven terrain and it has paid in spades. Its also great for shooting video on with a fluid head, very sturdy. This set of legs has been the best purchase for my photography in many years and I expect it to be a mainstay for many years. For my opinions of this leg set, please see my attached video review.

MATT M.

2020-09-11T08:45:41

This Tripod worked out well, on recent shoot. It is sturdy, and holds the Sony A73 with 28-75 zoom lens & an Atomos Shogun 7" & Shinobi 5”with cages no problem. It can go “long" as the description says without wobble. The twist locks operate smoothly adjust nicely. Weight isn’t bad , Although more for studio or location, not hiking.

DANIEL D.

2020-08-03T08:55:21

I ordered this tripod & the Benro B3 Triple Action Quick Release Ballhead & am very happy with both. Tall, heavy duty,solid, well thought out simple design. An additional short center column is included, so you can also adjust the legs on the tripod to almost lay flat on the ground for ground level shots. Tripod comes with a nice case with attachable shoulder strap included & an additional liner case. Read the spec.'s before purchasing this, but for me it's just what I was looking for. Also, shipping & delivery by Adorama was Very quick!

GARY B.

2020-07-10T18:00:26

Beautiful. One of few times I got exactly what I wanted and no less no more. So, I got this tripod, added a great little gadget called a leveler, and this has made my panos sooooo much easier. This is my 4th tripod, and for my use, the best yet.

carl c.

2020-06-20T14:27:47

Wonderful tripod! It's heavy duty and easy to adjust legs. This tripod can handle the weight. Love it and use it all the time!

Sandra R.

2020-06-13T05:11:39

A rugged sturdy tripod perfect for wildlife photography. Usesd with my Fuji XT-3 100-400 f4.5 and 1.4 teleconverter. The twist lock legs and center column are essential for quick height adjustment which is an important feature. I chose Benro many years ago, I've a simliar center column tripod with flip lock leg adjustment which has been used in many adverse conditions. I never had a problem. Benro is highly recommended.

ROBERT M.

2020-06-11T09:39:43

Versatile, sturdy and priced right. I like the fact that it’s low profile for those near-ground level macro shots! Highly recommended!

MARLON G.

2019-12-28T06:17:47

I purchased this tripod for my TV-85 telescope (payload weight ~ 20lbs). My goal was to maximize portability & stability, without breaking the bank. Overall I am happy with it, with a few areas left for improvement. Size - fits in my checked bag, diagonally. In hind sight I wish it fit straight up and down, so I had more flexibility in packing my bag. I didn't realize how frustrated it would make me. - the padded carrying case it comes with is longer (maybe 5 inches), and doesn't fit in my checked bag. I wish it did. Stability - I chose a tripod with a much greater payload than I needed to try to maximize stability. Overall I am happy with the vibration dampening (although on an 85mm my max magnification is limited) - I wonder if I would have been just as happy with stability with a 4 section, or smaller payload (so it could have fit in my suitcase vertically)

Ashley D.

2019-11-08T16:27:52

It's very stable. I put a D750 on it w/ a manfrotto mount. I'm very happy. Will also use it w/ a sky quest star tracker.

STEVEN G.