Soon after the launch, Benro instantly gained an excellent reputation in the market. Its tripods are known for being lightweight, high quality, and, above all, very reasonably priced. One of the latest releases from the manufacturer is GoPlus Travel FGP18A.
A small and lightweight tripod with all the features you might be looking for in your next tripod.
Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A – Simple but Useful!
The Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A provides about everything you’d want in a travel tripod. A sizeable maximum load capacity, a compact foldable length, a pretty generous operating height, and a pivoting center column that allows it to lock angles perfectly.
This tripod also comes with bubble levels to make leveling a breeze. It is a 4-section aluminum tripod with rear folding legs, making it very easy to carry around. It can quickly fix in the water bottle compartment of your traveling backpack.
The flexible center column is one of this tripod’s unusual but excellent features. It can be swung across 180 degrees and fixed in any position after being removed from its traditional vertical posture. This function and the three-leg angle settings make this tripod perfect for low-level macro photography and other shooting orientations.
Moreover, aside from all the features and specifications, Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A can also be used as a monopod. Unscrew a leg, and your tripod is now your standalone monopod. Having this one accessory in your photography kit, you won’t need to spend money on any other tripod or monopod.
Salient Features of Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A:
Load Capacity and Physical Features
The FGP18A has an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, allowing it to sustain up to 22 pounds while only weighing 3.5 pounds. This weight-bearing capacity covers most of the heavier cameras and lenses.
The tripod may be used at full height or ground level and can expand to a maximum size of 60.6″ or be lowered to a minimum height of 14.6″. The reverse folding legs, which compress the tripod down to only 18.1 inches, make it a very compact and travel-friendly design regarding length.
GoPlus Travel tripod comes in 4 different variations, but mainly the difference is in the legs section, load capacity, et cetera. FGP18A is more of a classical model made with Aluminium from these four variations.
Though nowadays, carbon-fiber tripods are more in trend, aluminum-built holds its significance. These tripods are slightly heavy. But it is a pro itself. Heavier tripods have more capability to resist shakes and stay firm on the ground.
It is also a perfect tripod from ergonomic aspects. It is easy to carry around and loaded with “get to” grips. It has a smooth finish, and the locks are easy to operate. Just one twist, and the tripod will stay in place.
And last but not least, the body features a comfortable foam grip. An incredibly thick coating of closed-cell nitrile rubber (NBR) gives you an ergonomic grip for transporting your Benro tripod.
A carry case and shoulder strap also come with the package. The durable case and high-quality strap provide protection and transportation for your head and tripod.
Legs
The tripod has four legs that stand stable enough to meet all your photography stabilization needs. Benro’s twist-locks are additionally sealed on the legs, which helps to keep moisture and dust out.
A leg marked by a blue ring can connect to the center column to convert the tripod into a monopod, which can come in handy for shooting in places where tripods are prohibited.
The tripod legs are independently locked at various angles and positions. Besides opening unlimited doors of creativity, it allows shooting in tight spaces and on irregular or even ground-level surfaces.
The tripod legs can be turned upside down and folded 180 degrees back, making them compact enough to be carried anyplace. Moreover, at the top of the legs, there is an anti-rotation lock.
Once locked, your tripod will stay at the desired place unless you unlock it. The tripod also features a reversible changeable folding leg that can be re-asked down to 46 cm, making it tiny enough to take just about anywhere.
This tripod comes with screw-in feet that can be interchanged and stainless spiked feet in steel. The feet are further covered with rubber heads which can be easily replaced if lost or old. The rubber feet also protect the tripod from any damage.
When combined with anti-rotation legs, the tripod’s rubberized locking grips allow rapid and effortless setup with dust and weather resistance not present in other tripods.
Central column
You can change the position of the versatile column’s center of Benro GoPlus Travel Tripod FGP18A from horizontal to any angle desired without the requirement of tools. It can be quickly transformed into a monopod without any tools. Join the removable leg and the center column to make a full-sized Monopod.
The middle column also has a unique lateral arm feature, which allows it to tilt horizontally and lock into numerous angles and positions. The tripod’s reverse folding legs wrap around the central column, making it a more portable device.
The flexible center column, adjustable at about 180 degrees when combined with the three leg angle options, makes FGP18A excellent for macro photography at low levels.
It also features a detachable hook that can be screwed to the bottom of the center column, allowing the user to hang extra weight off the tripod’s center of gravity to provide more stability.
Multiple usage possibilities
The 180-degree adjustable center column allows for various camera orientation possibilities, including horizontal, vertical, and inverted positions. The Quick Leg Lock technology increases stability by reducing deployment time and increasing dust resistance.
With the inbuilt Monopod, you may remove the leg and use it as a monopod.
The design folds down into the tiniest tripod possible. It’s compatible with System Go accessories, allowing you to turn this tripod into a portable workstation.
Compatibility
The tripod’s top plate has a standard 3/8″-16 mounting screw. This mounting screw is compatible with most of the ball heads.
Benro GoPlus Specifications:
- Weight: 3.51 lbs or 1.59 kg
- Physical Dimensions: 46w x 18.1d inch or 46 x 18.11 cm.
- Built material: Aluminium.
- Legs lock twist-lock system.
- Maximum load capacity: 22.1 lb or 10 kg.
- Minimum height: 14.57 inches or 37 cm.
- Maximum height w/column retracted (in): 49.61
- Maximum height w/column retracted (cm): 126
- Maximum height (in): 60.63
- Maximum height (cm): 154
- Height w/ center column attached (in): 18.11
- Folded height w/ center column attached (cm): 46
- Maximum height when converted to a monopod (in): 64.76
- Maximum height when converted to a monopod (cm): 164.5
- Base mount thread: 3/8″
- Base mount diameter (mm): 44.7
- Foot mount: 3/8″ inch
- foot type: exchangeable rubber foot.
- Foot size: 29.2 mm
- Monopod: Yes
- Clоѕеd lеngth: 46.0 cm
- Colour: Black
- Legs Section: 04
Benro GoPlus Travel FGP18A comes with a five years warranty. It has a three years warranty at purchase and additional two years after if you register your purchase online on the manufacturer’s website.
Pros:
- Easily convertible into a monopod
- Value of money
- Allows to explore the multitude of options
- Stable and compact
- Light and compact tripod
- The hook of the tripod can be attached for additional weight to improve stability
Cons:
- Ball head not included
- In the same price range, some manufacturers are offering additional features.
Bottom Lines
The Benro FGP18A Go Plus Travel tripod is a highly suitable option for people looking for a tripod with good height but is not very difficult to carry around. It can be easily converted into a monopod anytime, anywhere. Just buy this tripod, which will meet most of your needs.
It has a flexible center column that can be rotated 180 degrees and locked at any time, which, when combined with the three leg angles, makes the tripod excellent for macro photography at low levels.
Though it doesn’t come with a ball head, a turn-off standard 3/8″-16 mounting screw at the top plate allows it to be attached with most of the traditional ball heads on the market.
Overall, a pretty good gadget and recommended by me! <– Affiliate Link 🙂
