Geared tripod heads offer precision and efficiency for various kinds of photography workflows. However, they often come with bigger price tags. Let’s see if this fairly affordable one from Benro is worth a look.
Geared heads are a unique type of tripod head that prioritize precision and control of adjustments over faster movement. While it might mean more steps to achieve the exact framing that you want, it allows you to move the camera through fine movements controlled by individual knobs that make it easier to achieve the exact camera angle that you want to shoot from. This translates to making it easier to correct perspective in architectural photography and shooting interiors, more efficient in achieving specific layouts in product or food photography, and basically just having better control of your camera angle through finer controls. While this tool is definitely not for all kinds of photographers, those who know how and when to use them agree that they make the process of shooting smoother.
The Benro GD3WH
This geared head from Benro is mainly made of black magnesium alloy and black rubber grips on the knobs. Each of the knobs has a secondary gear-shaped knob made of plastic that unlocks the friction to make bigger movements faster when turned clockwise, while the main knobs control the precise motion of each axis of movement. The movement of the main knobs is standard among most geared precision heads. However, the secondary release knobs require a bit of force and may require twisting the knob towards the opposite direction of your intended motion.
On the joints of the head are three blue circular angle indicators that show you how much you have moved within that particular axis and aid in achieving a leveled neutral position. On each side are also individual bubble levels that work as additional tools to achieve a leveled position in relation to the horizon. The two bubble levels correspond to yaw and tilt with the bubble moving up and down, while the third corresponds to the overall level of the camera, where having the bubble in the center of the circle means that the camera has perfect leveling.
The quick-release clamp an Arca-Swiss type compatible with its own release knob. However, when the head is positioned for the user to have a clear view of the indicators and easy reach of the gear knobs, this would mean that the quic- release knob would be facing away from the user and would be something to get used to.
Size and Capacity
Overall the Benro GD3WH is 4.5 inches (11.4cm) tall, which adds significantly to camera height, and 5.5 inches (13.9 cm) on the widest part. Something that might require some attention for some users is that the lowest portion of the knob for panning is very close to the level of the base of the head that connects to the central column of the tripod. This particular detail makes the head more compact than other geared precision heads on the market. However, it will have implications in some scenarios depending on what tripod it will be used on.
The GD3WH weighs 726 grams (1.6 lbs), which is notably light for a head variant that is usually known to be heavy. This comes with a payload of about 6 kilograms (13.2 lbs), which covers a wide range of possible camera and lens setups that fit in the context of what this type of head might be used for. Virtually, the limitation in terms of what this can carry are the heavier super telephoto zooms and primes, which are, of course, not typically the kind of gear one would use on a geared heads.
Application
Using a geared head is not always the best approach for any fast-paced shoots. Because of the fact that it offers finely controlled minute movements, this might mean taking more time to pay close attention to framing, which is why it is better suited for shooting relatively controlled or planned shooting scenarios.
The top-of-mind scenario where something like this comes in most handy would be when shooting architecture and interiors. Architectural photographers often have to be as meticulous as possible when it comes to perspective, especially when dealing with a lot of vertical details. At the same time, the placement of visual elements in frame, especially when photographing interiors, is affected by the slightest variation in camera angle. Architecture and real estate photographers often have to spend more time and give extra attention to the rhythm and visual flow of elements in their images, as being careless with them could change the way the space is perceived. Using the Benro GD3WH was an absolute breeze in such scenarios, but it did require getting familiar with the controls of the tripod head. In combination with a shift or tilt-shift lens, the geared head becomes a great tool to achieve a more meticulously done multi-row panorama to capture more of the space or photograph large exterior structures.
On the other end of the spectrum, using this geared head for photographing still life, products, and food will give you better control of your compositions, especially when subjects are placed in a styled area or surface. Between the two contrasting workflows, the common denominator is the fact that paying attention to placement and spacing determines how beautiful the resulting photograph would be. The benefit of using a geared precision head would boil down to better efficiency than how one would work to get the same shot with a less precise ball or pan-tilt head. The specific design of the GD3WH overall gives a good ergonomic experience and possibly a more efficient workflow once the user has gotten familiar with the controls.
Some landscape photographers also prefer to use geared precision heads when photographing nature, especially when following the same principle of meticulous framing. Using the GD3WH is good and efficient for shooting panoramas out in nature. However, there is one specific scenario where the GD3WH will have limitations, and that is when shooting low-angle perspectives with a tripod that does not have any center column. With the legs fully flat on the ground, the panning knob of the head comes into contact with the joints of the tripod’s legs and ultimately prevents any panning movement. This makes the GD3WH not usable for such low-angle shooting scenarios unless a spacer or short center column extender would be used.
Overall, aside from the mentioned limitation with tripods without center columns, the Benro GD3WH works very well for various kinds of photography. There may be some design features that can be improved, such as the rubber surface of the knobs that attract dust, the hard-to-turn secondary release knob, and the outward facing quick release knob. All that aside, especially considering the affordable price point, the Benro GD3WH is a good reliable and affordable choice for photographers who want to start using geared heads.
What I Liked
- Overall functionality
- Affordable price point
- Arca-Swiss plate compatible
What Can Be Improved
- Counterproductive secondary knob motion
- Pan knob limits range of motion on some tripod variants
I know two (formerly three) photogs who use this head, and it sucks.
First photog, his seized up within first week. Returned it, got something else.
2nd photog has gone through two after the first one split (the metallurgy is kind of like die-cast)
3rd photog tried to use hers on a salon stand, but had to use washers and longer bolts so it could clear because the bottom knob goes below the mounting base.
This head really only works for small cameras, on small tripods, that are used occasionally, like a few times a year.
The two remaining photogs who use it, one is saving up for a D4 after attempting the Manfrotto flavors and coming to the same conclusion that their trash, the other is sticking it out till they can afford a Cube.
People, don't buy this product. It's terrible.
People think the 055's and heads like this are good.. until they use something like a BH-55, or a D4. Then it becomes real obvious how much slop, vibration, and poorly engineered they are.
Used Gitzo, Used BH55 or D4, and you're at the top of the food chain, for not a ton of dough.
Buy it for life.
I have this benro as well and have used it on easily over 50 shoots now. It’s pretty bad. The blue degree marker label fell off pretty quickly and the gears are always slipping. So it literally cannot do it’s only job
Confidently. On composites, I have to auto align layers in PS to make up for give.
I have had no issue with this geared head and have used one daily over the last 18 months with no problems at all. Real Estate, architectural work and the odd product shoot, it has been a rock solid head.
I have been using this head for four years now and the only problem has been the black circular covers on the ends of the three axes knobs falling off. I much prefer it to the Manfrotto 410, both for its Arca compatibility with L brackets and the feel of it in use. The restricted movements on a systematic type of tripod is readily solved by using the spacer that Benro sells specifically for this type of tripod. My main interest is landscape and I have found that when using a longer lens when there is some wind the geared heads are less rigid than any of the better ball heads. Under these circumstances you trade the precision in framing the shot for a faster shutter speed to stop camera movement. This is partly because geared heads are just less rigid however much they cost, and also because they present a bigger area for the wind to push against.
Looks like a knock-off of the Manfrotto.
I would recommend to read Mike Kelly's architectural photography pages for entire bunch of reviews of geared heads. Incl. Arca Swiss and Leofoto. The latter is really affordable, I use it for several years already albeit only rarely. The controversy about Leofoto is that their heads look like remakes of Arca Swiss, and that leads to some obvious issues with violation of patents, trademarks. I am no expert in this matter, just noticed that Leofoto apparently cannot provide some of their heads to all markets.
https://apalmanac.com/
Ive used the Manfrotto 410 for several years and was always put of by the large plate that is usually larger then the camera unless you go with Hasselblad H system or Phase1 or a larger system.
I got the Benro a few years ago but it suffered from the same problems as the manfrotto that the larger cogs after some time developed some space between them so the the camera was always a little bit lose in its position, this was not a huge problem since it was not vibrating or anything and as long as you did not hold the camera during the shoot it did not make any real issues and as long as I used the fine tuning knobs I could get a good precision in the movement.
In the end it annoyed me so much that I was looking around for a better solution but I have always preferred a geared head to anything else due to control and precision.
I looked at the arca cube but was always discouraged by price and limited movements and also the Arca D4 was also a bit hefty in price and also the cambos and linhofs looked really nice but I really wanted to try them before spending that money and no-one around me had these heads here, after some time I found the Sunwayfoto GH-proII and tried it and even though its small it really is a great head and I am still using it on one tripod.
Then I heard of the Leofoto G4 and G3 and they have a striking resemblance to the Arca D4 but when looking around I found one really great head from them called LH-40GR that is a really nice ballhead with a dual axis levelling head on top with a similar function to Arca cube but with the speed of a ball head.
The ball head gives the fast and big movements and the dual levelling head gives the precision and slower movements perfect for interiors and tabletop.
I have been using it now for about a half a year and since I do food and I am doing a lot of top down and table top shooting this has turned out so far a winner above the other ones.
In an ideal world I would prefer a slightly larger ball (for slower and more precis movements) and only one slit in the side of the head for shooting down or flipping for vertical. This has two slits and if I have to many options I get confused as to directions and my fingers sometimes does not find the right screw for adjustments and I have to look and feel that can sometimes disrupt my concentration.
The other thing I have found indispensable is the new rotatable camera mount that has a ring around the lens so I can rotate the camera between vertical/horisontal like with a lens collar mount like on a larger telephoto lens and its a lovely new gear that previously I did not know I needed but now I can hardly live without. Im using one from Nisi that is the bigger one so theres plenty of room for the chunkier lenses.