Live Science Verdict
A serious tripod for serious photographers , the Benro Mach3 is part of the companionship ’s most forward-looking tripod range yet . Ideal for both indoor and outdoor shoots , it apply its own in slick weather condition and terrain and is easy to set up and take down , although it ’s not the most locomotion - well-disposed .
Strong and sturdy
Can shoot downhearted to the ground
There’s quite a big size difference between the Benro Mach3 (left) and the Benro Rhino (middle) and Benro Tortoise (right) when folded.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Comfortable wrench locks
Good payload
Fairly bulky — not ideal for frequent travel
The Benro Mach3 (left) comes with a bigger and better carry case than the Rhino (middle) and Tortoise (right).(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
No monopod changeover
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The Benro Mach3 9X CF Series 3 tripod is part of Benro ’s most advanced tripod ambit to date , and in this review , we are going to be test its mettle to see how it holds up against its competitors .
When unfolded, the Benro Mach3 (middle) is only a little taller than the Benro Rhino (right).(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Benro produces some of the most beautiful and exceptionally high - quality tripods on the market , so we were very excited to get our manpower on the Mach3 . It sits in the higher mid - range of mountains of their collecting in term of price , stool it idealistic for professional and enthusiasts with a grown budget . It ’s adaptable for indoor and outdoor shoot and will suit a number of dissimilar picture taking styles , and it ’ll more than hold its own with pretty much anything you throw at it .
Sturdy and authentic , it can produce stunning epitome of the nighttime sky when pair with one of thebest astrophotography television camera , and it can get really depressed to the ground to seize shots of wildlife and nature with one of thebest wildlife camera .
Benro Mach3 tripod review
Benro Mach3: Design
Weight:4.08 pound ( 1.85 kg)Folded length:24.6 in ( 62.5 cm)Maximum top ( with fundamental tower extended):63.58 in ( 161.5 cm)Payload:35.3 lb ( 16 kg)Leg sections : Three or four ( user - selectable)Material : Carbon fiber
The first affair we noticed when we unpacked the Benro Mach3 was its size . It ’s a fairish amount bigger than other Benro tripods we ’ve tested — our first thought when we took it out of the promotional material was that it looked big . We previously review theBenro RhinoandBenro Tortoiseover on our baby land site and the Mach3 is considerably larger compare to those two , even without a head sequester , as you may see from the images above . It ’s by all odds a tripod for studio apartment photographers and anyone in need of stability and enduringness .
Not only is the Benro Mach3 pleasing to the eye , but it also feels unbelievably luxurious to the spot . The smooth C fiber legs are inviolable and sturdy , the twist peg locks are vainglorious and well-to-do on the hands and the foam hold is delicate enough to gestate the tripod for long periods . Put plainly , the Mach3 oozes luxury and class , and we call back it ’s one of the finest Benro tripods yet .
Our resident reviewer conducting a thorough sniff test of the Benro Mach3.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The Mach3 came tuck nicely into a cushiony carry dish ( with pockets ! ) and include exchangeable spiky feet . you could pick out between the three - surgical incision leg or a longer four - segment . The latter costs $ 65 more , and is 15.5 cm taller when in full cover , a few centimeters longer when folded and 200 g heavier . For this brushup , we examine the three - section legs .
Benro Mach3: Performance
to test its sturdiness , we put it at full height in our garden in breaking wind of 15 mph with gusts of 33 mph — not on the dot storm story but still pretty windy . Although we were fair confident it would n’t lean over , we did n’t desire to take any probability by putting an actual camera on it , so we put a 1.5 kilo pinhead in a handbag and hung it from the counterweight hook . The leaden handbag was get around a fair amount from the confidential information , but the tripod itself did n’t budge .
The Mach3 has a generous 35.3 pound / 16 kilo lading capacity which is more than enough for most photographers , and will even suit more professional tv camera setups . We noticed that the legs were a passel compact than other Benro models we ’ve go over , which aid with constancy at high cargo — typically , the lower leg division tend to be very slight and can cause the tripod to dip slightly when fully extended .
We also found it effortless to put up and take down , even in the dark , make it neat forastrophotography . It does n’t have a blow folding design like the Rhino does , so you just call for to ramify the legs , twist the locks to continue them and away you go .
With the central column fully extended, the Benro Mach3 (middle), is only slightly taller than the Benro Rhino (right).(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
We also like that the bubble spirit level was on the tripod itself — one progeny we found with the bubble level being on the tripod drumhead is that the photographic camera incline to get over it once it ’s impound .
Benro Mach3: Functionality
The cardinal column adds height for shooting at heights of up to 63.58 inch ( 161.5 cm ) — though keep in intellect that ’s without a head attach , which will add a few more inches — and the column can be reversed to shoot low to the ground , which can be utilitarian forwildlife and nature photography .
There ’s no monopod conversion with the series 3 , which we call back would be a useful feature and would add another layer of versatility , but it ’s not a passel - breaker .
The legs can also be put to any angle thanks to the simple branch - locking mechanism , and they can splay out to almost 90 grade . It did derive with a pocket-sized bond which looked like it swap out with the center column to be able-bodied to shoot lower to the ground , however , when we attempt that , we could n’t get it to meet for love nor money . Still , you may still get reasonably low even with the main center pillar .
The Benro Mach3 fits nicely into its carry bag even with the head attached.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
Should you buy the Benro Mach3?
✅ You require something hardy : It has a high payload for heavy equipment and can hold its own in windy weather. ✅ You require an investment : If you may give a Benro tripod , you ’ll get years of economic consumption out of it — they are built to last .
❌ You want to journey with it : There are other Benro tripods that are light and more compact than this one. ❌ You’re a beginner photographer : Beginners will probably require to get going out with something a little more low-priced .
user who are look for a perdurable , stalwart tripod that will last a long metre really ca n’t go wrong with the Benro Mach3 . It combines modern design with authoritative materials and it ’s part of the company ’s most advanced grasp yet , suitable for both indoor and outside photoshoots for a number of different photographic styles .
It comes with a padded carry bag for safe storage and transportation.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
It does come with a monetary value to fit , though . At the prison term of writing , it ’s just shy of $ 400 for the version with three - section legs and around $ 450 for the four - section — and that ’s without a head adhesion . But if you’re able to give it , we cogitate it ’s deserving it .
That said , if you ’re a photographer who travels a lot and you want something pocket-sized and lightweight to fit into your carry - on or suitcase , this is in all likelihood not the tripod for you — it has quite a large footprint when folded , both in width and length . We ’ve list some alternative selection below if you ’re looking for something more traveling - friendly .
If the Benro Mach3 isn’t for you
Best astrophotography camerasBest wildlife photography camerasBest binocularsBest laptops for photo editingBest telescopesBest iPad for scholarly person
If you desire a Benro tripod but do n’t think the Mach3 is quite good for you , consider theBenro Rhino , which we reviewed on our sister web site . It ’s littler and more compact than the Mach 3 thanks to its reverse folding intent , make it more desirable for photographers who need to travel with their tripod . It has a monopod conversion for added versatility , and it also has a slenderly high payload . TheTortoiseis also good for travel as it folds up much thinner due to there being no primal column .
For beginners or anyone on a budget , the Mach3 is most likely overkill . If you ’re wanting something more low-cost , check out theManfrotto Element MII . It ’s an Al as defend to carbon fiber structure , but still a bit light than the Benro Mach3 . you may sure enough recount the departure in quality when you liken the two , but for the price , we still thought the Manfrotto Element MII was a howling tripod .
The carry bag has two zipped pockets on the outside.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
We found the Benro Mach3 easily held its own in windy weather.
We liked that the tripod body has a bubble level that won’t be covered up by your camera.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The pull-out leg locking mechanisms are easy to use when changing the angle of the legs.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The tripod is made from 9x carbon fiber.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The large twist locks are comfortable and easy on the hands, especially in cold temperatures.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
We also like the electric blue accents.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
It comes with rubber feet as standard…(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
…that can be switched out for spiky feet on outdoor terrain.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The central column can be reversed for shooting low to the ground.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The camera can quite literally not get any closer to the floor.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
The legs splay out to almost 90-degrees.(Image credit: Kimberley Lane)
