WHY USE A GEARED TRIPOD HEAD? | Benro GD3WH Review

For those of you who have followed my channel over the last 6 months you'll know that I changed my tripod setup around 6 months ago. I have started using the Benro GD3WH Geared Tripod Head and I have to say its been an absolute revelation for me. I've come to the conclusion that Geared Tripod Heads are massively undervalued and lend themselves fantastic well to a slow methodical approach in landscape photography. In this video I provide a short review of the Benro GD3WH and focus on the things which I feel make the Geared Head such a strong option for landscape shooters. As always thanks for watching and if you have enjoyed the video please give it a thumbs up. Plus if you have not yet subscribed please smash that subscribe button for more from me. Thanks :-)

#tripod #photography #benro

**My full equipment list at the time of filming this video**

CAMERA & LENSES

ACCESSORIES
L Bracket – SunwayFoto PNL-D850

VLOGGING GEAR

PHOTOGRAPHY FILTERS
Reverse Grad ND – Benro 3 Stop Reverse Grad

Please note that I earn small commissions from the Amazon links provided above if you decide to purchase any of the linked items. These commissions are microscopic but really help me to continue to support the channel and create content. Thanks very much for any support provided.
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SOCIAL MEDIA

Music - courtesy of YouTube Audio Library - CGI Snake

[johnwelch]

I got this head at christmas for macro use, as I too was suffering from "droopage" on a ball head when using a heavy macro lens. I'd set up a shot tighten the ball head and then it would drop, only by a fraction of a mm, but enough to throw the composition if I was in tight. This has solved these issues for me and I love it.

[mikehines]

Thank you for this review! I just bought one of these and I love it. I paid hundreds of dollars for a premium KLM ball head and I was still getting drooping and sagging after locking it in place. The Benro geared head is so much more accurate. I'll be returning the ball head immediately!

[bhuff]

Thank you very much for your thoughts on gearhead tripods. I was just recently recommended to use one. So I did a search on YouTube to find out information upon it and your video seem to be the best of the bunch so keep the videos coming and have a good day.

[Luigi]

James has a way with words. I like your through explanation with a twist of accenting your points to every detail. Nice, Cheers James.

[MrPhilbautista]

GD3WH is basically an acronym for Gear Driven 3 Way Head, or something like that, but I call mine Ben G3 for short.

[extremelydave]

Mr Brew, this is STILL the best video about this awesome piece of kit. You covered every issue of geared vs ball heads very clearly. For a non-factory video, you did awesome sir!!

[SniperPhotography]

This would be the best demonstration on this bit of gear from Benro on YouTube
I own the same head James.
Thank you for bringing this one to us.
Cheers

[johnbianchi]

I originally purchased this gear head for my macro photography, but quickly found out how well it worked with my landscapes, as well. It does take a while to get used to the three axis adjustments but the payoff is rock steady camera positioning and the ability to make small adjustments to one axis without changing the other axes. If I'm going to be in a situation where I need quick movement of the camera, such as sports or nature shots, I change to a gimbal head . The one area where this head has an issue is in astrophotography. The head can't tilt back more than 30 degrees. To get around this I just shorten the rear leg of the tripod. In my opinion this is the best head on the market at a very reasonable price.

[marklivesey]

Great video after using benro gh5c gimbal head with the telephoto lens for wildlife im now after a head for real estate and have no doubts about the reliability of their geared head 👍👍👍

[Sapphire]

Thank you James. all of the points you made are exactly why I am looking at this particular geared tripod head. And judging from many the comments it seems as advertised. I like the quality, and it is affordable compared with some of the Arca geared heads. thanks!

[stevemcguinness]

I love this tripod head, it really does slow you down in the field and gives you thinking time, I got mine new for £99!

[juanpsolf]

Thanks for your explanation, James. I think it's about more than one year since I saw your video for the first time and after that I have purchased that three way head and I have to say that I'm very happy with the results, during all these months.

For instance: shooting the Moon that after rising from the horizon is pretty much precise and easy to follow "her" with this Geared tripod head than using a ball head.

So thank you very much for your advice.

[bab]

Speed vs. ballheads: you have to factor in tweaking it after basic composition. Ball heads can be tough to get precise with a large telephoto. You get pan and tilt but realize your roll is off. So you try to nudge it, and it slips back and forth past level. Meanwhile your geared head you just dialed it in quickly.

[Kmalinois_dog_love]

It’s a great way to spend 3 hours on a single shot and enjoy it to the fullest. ❤

[philipsmith]

thanks for that I really found that helpful and helped me to make my mind up on these heads for what I do I think they will he helpful

[oscar]

Great review of a great head. Yes, I have more than a few ball heads, a gimbal, a Benro GD3WH. I really like the gear head, but you are right, it is bigger.

[thecleanchannelmusic]

I've been considering picking one of these up for the occasional real estate gig. I hadn't considered them for landscape, but it makes so much sense! I have to say, though it initially seems like having to adjust each axis individually would take more time, getting that precision dialed in without having to readjust would actually make my workflow faster overall.

[keithpinn]

UPDATE: Hi James; Since I last communicated with you I have purchased this gear head and I simply love it. I find the control offered by this product is amazing, and I really like that how it has forced me to slow-down my image creation process. We are heading to your Skye in the fall to work with your team-mates at Skye Photo Academy so maybe we might bump into each other. Keep safe. Cheers, Keith (Canada)

[AndreoPhoto]

thanks for this! definitely thinking of getting one to start my landscape journey

[dennish.]

Odly James, I had 'looked at' that geared head several months ago, but had forgotten about it at the time. It was very good to see your review, and I have (based on your review) put it onto my shopping list. Thanks for this mate.