Benro Aero 4 Travel Video Tripod Kit - A2883FS4

Outstanding portable tripod. Usually tripods of this size can be wobbly or unstable. Or on the other hand, they'll be excessively large or heavy. The Benro seems to split the difference perfectly. I use this with a very light Canon XA-20, but its small enough to jam into a large-ish backpack or even strap to the back of a motorcycle, making it ideal for fast, in-the-field video work. I've also used it in more static settings with good results.The head could be a little more fluid and easier to work with, but at this price point, I have no complaints. Plus the fact that this thing doesn't cost an arm and a leg makes me worry less when the environment is less friendly.Had this for about a year of regular use and it's held up nicely, even the blue anodizing seems to be doing well. My only complaint is the blue-anodizing. I think it looks kinda' silly. But thats super minor.

This is a QUALITY and well made solid but lightweight SOLUTION. Do not be fooled by much cheaper tri-pods that "look just as cool". This is a great tool of durable aluminum that will last a lifetime of travels! It just feels substantial in your hands. The fluid video head provides ultra smooth panning. Writing this I realized it is so nice and smooth...it is actually FUN to operate!

I needed a light, easy-to-carry tripod that I could carry for hours when I am shooting video in a city or on a hike. I decided to go with this Benro Aero 2 tripod, and it is definitely light and strong. I like the good firm flip-locks for the legs, and I also like the chunky ring that twists to lock the elevator column to raise and lower the camera. The ball mount that allows for easy leveling of the head is excellent -- that is very nicely done. Overall, the Benro Aero 2 feels sturdy, well-built and long-lasting.One other neat feature of the Benro Aero 2 is that you can make a perfectly usable monopod by unscrewing one of the legs (the one with the pad on it) and pulling the vertical shaft out of its mount. Those two pieces screw together and form a good monopod. I've not had to use the monopod yet, but I did check it out and was impressed. It's not a super-quick change to create a monopod then restore it to a tripod, but it's nice to have the option.My first gripe with the Aero 2 has to do with the quick-disconnect plate, on which you mount the camera. The screw to attach the camera has only a slot in it, and there is no way to twist it with your fingers. You have to dig out a coin to tighten and untighten this screw. I find this strange on a tripod in this price class, as I have a much easier-to-use camera mount screw on a $50 tripod.My second gripe is the location of the knob that's used to lock the quick-disconnect plate on top of the pan/tilt head. If you look at my pictures, one of them shows that once the camera is mounted atop the head, you can't rotate this knob past a certain point. With my Benro Aero 2, that's the point at which the plate just starts to be locked -- another 1/8 of a twist would make me feel more confident that my camera won't slip. Edit: In a comment left by Brent Spiner (Data on Star Trek??), he said that there was a way to adjust the position of this lock knob. I tried it, and it works... thank you Brent! So the function of this knob is no longer a problem as I described, and I raised my rating of this tripod by one star (from three to four). However, my other complaints remain.There's a similar situation on the other side of the camera, where the lock knob for the pan arm can't be turned with the camera mounted on the pan/tilt head. If you need to change the angle of the pan arm, you have to move the camera. Also, the knob for the pan arm is right where the battery door is for my camera, so again, I have to move the camera if I need to swap batteries. Of course, moving the camera means twisting the lock knob for the quick-disconnect plate, and that can be rotated only 1/2 turn with the camera mounted.None of these issues represents the end of the world as we know it -- they are minor annoyances. It's almost like the person designing the tripod head never actually took a camera and tripod out on the street and did some shooting.I like the sturdy feel of the Benro Aero 2 tripod, but am irked by some of its marginal ergonomics. Yes, it's not a $1,000 tripod, but it is three (or more) times the cost of the cheap stuff, and the cheap stuff gets some of these usability things right. (My $50 tripod lets me adjust the pan arm without moving the camera, and I can easily screw the camera to its quick-disconnect plate with my fingers, for examples.) From a usability standpoint, I took a step backwards with the Benro Aero 2.May 23, 2019 edit: I'm going back to three stars for this tripod. I've used it now extensively and find that the tilt function is stiff and hard to work smoothly. The pan function is smooth, but the pan lock is difficult to set without causing the camera to pan as you tighten the lock. Annoying. Sometimes, you just need to lock the pan while shooting, and that is nearly impossible with the Benro Aero 2 without the camera moving -- sometimes a considerable distance. I like the legs and love the leveling function... nice! But the pan/tilt head is a mix of good ideas and good ideas not well implemented.Dec. 7, 2020 edit: The durability of the Benro Aero 2 is excellent. I use this tripod almost every day and it still looks/works like new. I'm going to bump the rating back up to four stars. All my comments about the Aero 2's negatives still remain, but I have to give the tripod credit for being durable. I also like the compactness of this tripod, and the sturdy carrying case.So the Benro Aero 2 tripod is a good tripod, but not the perfect tripod. It really is lightweight enough to take on a day hike -- something I've done a couple times now. However, keep your usability preferences in mind when you look at this and other tripods.

I watched a video advertisement for this tripod that really made it seem like the tripod for me. It was advertised as a travel tripod, lightweight and good for outdoor, semi rugged shoots. I didn’t plan to really travel with it, I just wanted light and portable. Well, it was flimsy, with plastic collars at the points on the legs where they collapsed, and not even sturdy plastic, it was TOO light, just flimsy with too much plastic in its construction. For about $75 this tripod would have been worth it, but almost $200? I could get used Gitzo tripod legs from an older product line built far better, then a little more for a decent fluid head - even the S4 head tat came with this Benro. The head was okay for basic video work or clogging at home, but my Gorrilla Pod was sturdier than these legs. I returned this product immediately

After having some experience with Benro products in the past and finding myself in the market for a a new tripod, I was ready to give this a shot. I've been nothing short of thrilled with the light weight, durability, and convenience of the Benro Aero 4.A big selling point for me was the tripod/monopod transformation. I shoot video, and the ability to go from one to the other, especially for events like weddings, was huge. I was literally buying 2 different mounts for the price of one. The extending middle section gives good height as well.The tripod head is smooth and removable for any slider use. It comes with 1/4" and 3/8" screws to fit your certain camera rig along with a nice Benro carrying case. Compared to other big-name tripod brands, I felt the price was right. I've owned this tripod for just over six months now and I've never looked back!Benro Aero 4 Travel Angel Video Tripod Kit (A2883FS4)