Review: Benro A-550EX + KB-1A

Here is my quick review of a tripod I recently bought off eBay. If you are thinking about getting this tripod or a Manfrotto, this review should help you decide. I bought this bundle for about $150AUD and it is well worth the money.

Build Quality and Design

The Benro A-550EX has excellent build quality, made from aluminum, it is also very light. The KB-1A also has outstanding build quality. The Tripod has foam grips so you can grab it on a cold morning without freezing your hand off. The leg locks are quick and easy to use and feel solid. Weighing in at a not very heavy weight (I don’t actually know how much it weighs), it is very light.


The center column can be reoriented so it faces upside down.
The motion of the ball head feels smooth and well damped. The ball head can be positioned so you get vertical shooting.

Conclusion

Get this if you are after a high quality, cheap tripod that does (almost) everything the more expensive ones do. Build quality is excellent, the ball head is excellent and the supplied bag is excellent. All for $150, you can’t go wrong. This tripod will last you a very long time.

Pros	+Cheap +Build quality +Weight +Supplied bag +Ball head is good
Cons	-Center column doesn’t go vertical