Tripods may not be the first thing people think about after getting a digital camera, but it should be. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint), there are so many features to consider that it can be hard to choose. Do you want something lightweight? Should it fold up into a small package? What type of head should it have? How much weight should it hold? And more. While searching, I looked for a tripod that was tall (minimum of 50 inches), folded up as small as possible, was relatively light weight, would hold a DSLR with long zoom lens, and not break the bank. I eventually ended up on the Benro Travel Angel line of tripods.

This review will focus on the Benro TRA269, but I will also give you some helpful information on the other options in the Travel Angel line. Let's start with the maximum and minimum heights. As mentioned, I was looking for something that was pretty tall, as my last tripod was 52 inches. The TRA269 is a full 10 inches taller at 62 inches. When extended this far, I don't have to bend over to look through the camera viewfinder! However, at this height the tripod is the least stable, so if it's being used in a windy environment, I would recommend using the retractable hook in the center column to add some counterweight (often, your camera bag is a good choice). But another important specification to look at is the minimum height of a tripod. The minimum height of this tripod is 20 inches, but that is with the center column coming out of the top. The travel angel line allows you to pull out the center column, and insert it from the bottom. This provides excellent flexibility, allowing the camera to be only millimeters off the ground. This is a great feature for macro photography.

The TRA269 is the tallest of the travel angel line, but it's still very portable. The legs are made up of 5 sections, all that extend with the twist-lock method. This method allows for quick setup, as you can unlock all 5 sections with a single twist. For portability, the legs fold up around the center column/head, which gives this tripod its compact travel size (plus, Benro includes a nice carrying case). The other tripods in the line all fold up in a similar fashion, they are simply shorter and lighter. While folding the legs, there are two locking positions that allow for multiple leg angles on uneven surfaces or to provide extra stability. On top of all this, the legs are designed to repel dust and water, increasing the durability of the tripod. Optionally, you can purchase spiked feet inserts to replace the rubber feet, in case you will be shooting in areas where affixing the tripod to the ground is to your advantage.

A very important consideration that many people overlook when first researching tripods is the head type. The Travel Angel line offers a few options here. The TRA269 (and it's smaller TRAxxx siblings), use a single locking ball head. This type of head is very quick and easy to adjust, and provides a huge range of flexibility for angles. However, this type of head isn't great for panoramic shots, as keeping it level can be tricky. The TRABxxx line offers a ball head that is dual locking. You can lock it vertically, so the panned shots are much easier to take (this will make stitching photos together in post processing a breeze). However, this head type is heavier and slower to use than the single locking ball head. The final head type is a pan/tilt head. These heads are great for both photography and video where exact placements are a must. However, they are the slowest to use, and bulkiest of the three types. For an amateur photographer I would recommend the single locking ball head, as you will spend much less time setting up the shot, and more time actually shooting.

I wanted a tripod that I could carry with me, but also be built well enough that I knew my camera would be safe. The Benro TRA269 fit this bill better than I expected. This is a great tripod for someone on a budget who still needs quality construction.

Pros	Cons
Very tall, yet still portable Multiple leg angles 5 leg sections plus center column Retractable weight hook in the center column Fluid, easy to use ball head Comes with a carrying case Head and rubber feet are replaceable Very sturdy build Quick-release plate uses dual locking mechanism Center column is reversible	Heaviest tripod of the line Not carbon fiber When folding legs, have to loosen to tripod head to move the locking lever out of the way
9/10 stars