Does anyone actually own a Benro C-268 that can comment?

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<p>1) did you all compare the benro to the feisol options?<br /> 2) are the benros available in the USA at all, or is ebay the only option?<br /> 3) will the arca swiss P0 ballhead allow the legs to fold up completely?</p>

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<p>1) Yes. I chose the Benro because I think the base of the tripod is where Feisol cuts corners; the spider section that connects to the carbon fiber legs is thin and prone to breakage, they use a very crude screw system to connect the leg collars to the tripod that will result in wear, the collars are too short so don't form a secure unit with the CF legs, and the CF legs are glued into the collars, not screwed in. IMHO all of this is an accident waiting to happen.</p>

<p>2) Yes. I know that B&H and Adorama sell them in NYC, so presumably lots of other retailers sell them too. Benros are also sold under the brand name Induro in America. I prefer to source from China as you get the latest model, they are always improving...</p>

<p>3) No. You need a max diameter on both the ball housing and the panning base of 50mm if the legs are to fold parallel to the center column. The Arca Swiss P0 has a max diameter of 60mm. I've used the Photo Clam PC-33NS and the Markins Q3T ballheads; both have a max diameter of 50mm. I prefer the Markins, and you can source them directly from Korea and pay $50 less than the price from the manufacturer in North America. They are fantastic ballheads and well worth the money.</p>

<p>For people who have found this thread through a search engine: After 9 months of using the Benro C2680T <a href="http://bit.ly/mCtWJN" target="_blank">I posted a review of the tripod</a> which includes some pictures of the internals.</p>