Just a few weeks before we left the mainland for a trip to beautiful Hawaii we were contacted by Induro. They wanted to send us a couple of tripods and ball heads, and they hoped we’d share our thoughts about them here on our blog. The trip to the islands would be a perfect opportunity to put the tripods through the paces, so we agreed. They sent us each a CT113 carbon fiber tripod and a BHL1 ball head, and off we went. We used the tripods while we were on location… and what did we think? Well… put it this way. We’ve already sold our old tripods. We like our new Induro’s that much.
Cost
First of all, the complete package costs less than our old tripods did – and the tripods come with a tool kit and a carry case with a shoulder strap. The tools come in a little pouch that I keep in my camera bag, and I think most people will really appreciate having a carry case for travel and storage. Of course, cost isn’t everything. The real question is whether or not the tripod can stand up to the abuse we throw at it.
Lightweight, Stable, and Sturdy
Hawaii is definitely a great place to abuse a tripod. It’s got everything. Sand, salt water and spray, rough terrain, dirt, heat, humidity, pouring rain… you name it. And we sure as heck weren’t sitting around on the beach enjoying margaritas while we were in paradise. We were traipsing all over the islands, getting nice and sweaty and dirty – and carrying our tripods everywhere we went.
They held up just fine. They were incredibly sturdy – both Jay and I agree that they felt sturdier than our old tripods… even though they weighed a few ounces less. These are carbon fiber tripods, so they are lightweight as well. We’re carrying a lot of gear out there, so we’re always conscious of how much our gear weighs. They feel very stable no matter the terrain, thanks to the solid construction and wide-stance cross-braced “spider”.
Comfort Grips
We also appreciated the comfort grips. These may not sound important, but when you get up early in the morning and you are carrying around a tripod in chilly weather, you hands can get mighty uncomfortable as you work with cold metal parts. Even a pair of gloves isn’t enough to keep the cold from creeping through. Chilly mornings were much more comfortable because of those comfort grips, and they are great for really hot conditions too. In fact, I was pretty grateful for them while we were shooting lava on the big island. We were so close to the oozing orange lava that my face and forearms were getting pretty uncomfortable in the heat… and my tripod was heating up, too. But it wasn’t a problem at all. The comfort grips kept my hands from burning, and they held up just fine in the heat. The grips did get wet when it rained, but because they are made of closed cell foam, they dried very quickly. (Most of the bubbles in closed cell foam are unbroken, so moisture doesn’t work its way deep inside. Closed cell foam is also more durable and longer lasting.)
Feet and Legs
I was a little concerned about the feet of the tripod when we were shooting on the lava beds. The ground was so rough and hot in this area, that the Vibram soles on my hiking boots show some obvious damage. The woman leading the tour tells us that she replaces her hiking boots about once a month. But the rubber feet of my tripod held up just fine. If you are worried about heat damage to the rubber feet though, the tripods also came with metal spikes. These are great for ice and uneven terrain as well.
Sand is another problem for tripod users. It tends to work its way into every little groove, and cause damage to threads and leg locks. Induro’s leg locks are moisture and dust resistant – and we found less gunk than we expected when we cleaned our tripods after the trip. We were happy with that. Some sand did get into the threads, though – that’s to be expected. No matter the brand, we highly recommend cleaning your tripod regularly if you use it in sand or mud or salt water or dust… you get the idea. We also recommend extending the lower legs a bit whenever you shoot in something you don’t want in the threads. If you can avoid pushing the leg locks into the muck in the first place, you’ll have a lot less cleaning to do… and a lot less damage over time.
The leg locks themselves work beautifully. A quarter turn releases the leg, and it slides smoothly out for a very quick setup. I could easily loosen both joints on one leg together for an even faster setup. Tightening them is just as easy – and they’ll stay nice and tight with a gentle twist. We like the three leg segments on the CT113, and there are four segment models available for those who want a tripod that will fit neatly into a smaller carry-on bag. The legs also move independently of one another – which is very important for us. We need to be able to adjust the legs to any length and any angle for maximum flexibility no matter the terrain.
Other Features
A few extra features came in handy while we were working. The spring loaded weight hook is great for stabilizing the tripod in windy weather, and the bubble level can help you get your horizon straight. The center column is reversible – which is great if you want to shoot at a very low angle – and grooved, so it won’t rotate when you adjust it. You can also purchase a shorter center column if you need one.
Ballhead
The Ballhead was very solid and locked firmly in place – even when we were using our heaviest lens combinations. I noticed absolutely no slippage whatsoever. The ballheads did take a little getting used to for us because they were built differently than our old ones. The knobs are located on opposite sides of the base and require a little more tension to turn than we’re used to. On the other hand, the spring loaded quick-release has a double safety lock that prevents accidental release – that’s is pretty darned important when you are trusting it to hold on to thousands of dollars worth of gear. We also liked the lock limiter tension control on the head lock knob. It let us adjust for the weight of different cameras and lenses as we worked. It was a bit tight when the tripod first arrived, but a quick twist with a coin loosened it up, and after that we could turn it easily with the pad of our thumbs. The ballhead also has a pan action lock and a 360-degree graduated base scale for positioning your camera for panoramic photography. Oh yeah – and a bubble level too.
Overall, the Induro CT113 tripod and BHL1 ballhead are exactly what we need when we are shooting on location. They are lightweight, sturdy, and flexible – and they have lots of features that add value. They held up to shooting in a variety of difficult conditions, and were easy to clean as well. (Keep an eye out for our new How To Clean Your Tripod video. It should be ready for release in a few days!)
I know some of you already own this tripod and/or ballhead. Please jump in and tell us what you think of Induro gear. I know that many of our readers are looking for great gear, and good information makes it a lot easier to make tough decisions!
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I’ve been relatively pleased with mine and have been putting it through the harsh salt water test for over two years now. Often two joints deep in water.
I have the aluminium AT214 version of this one and the wear and tear does do a beating on the paint coatings. I’ve also broken one of the twist locks and the smooth sliding legs are showing stiffness even with routine cleanings.
But it’s still holding strong and I’m still happy with it.
I have the BHD ballhead but I think the tention knob is too big and I often grab it instead. Your photos look like the BHL series – and not the BHD.
You’re right Stephen – we have the BHL ballheads. I’ve corrected that in the post. Thanks for the heads up. I’m glad to hear that your tripod is still holding strong. Thanks for sharing your experience with our readers. We will do another post in a year or two – once we’ve been using the tripods for a while.
Thanks for the review, Varina. I have the big alloy tripod (AT-413) and the BHL3 head. I like having the heft of the big metal tripod and the head is silky and very solid. Can you put me in touch with your contact at Induro? I lead workshops on the Oregon Coast, and would like to talk with them about getting a set of loaner tripods.
http://www.masonmarsh.com
I have been using induro AT214 tripod and BHD2 ballhead for couple of years now, coincidentally I used them in big island for the first time. I am happy that I got these. I do a lot of seascapes and surprisingly cleaning the sand is not that hard.
Thanks for the review Varina! I was hunting for a new tripod to replace my old Manfrotto, settled on the CT113 after reading your review. Will let you know how it goes :)
I have the Induro AT413 tripod mounting a Manfrotto 468MGRC0 Hydrostatic Ballhead with an integrated Manfrotto RC0 Quick Release.
Although the AT413 is aluminum, it’s still fairly light, and costs roughly $100 less than the CT113, and has a load capacity of 44lbs. Since I got this to use with a 600mm lens, the extra weight of the aluminum over the carbon fiber is, to me at least, negligible I did replace the long column that came with it with a shorter column.
Of all of the tripods I’ve ever owned, it is the one I have liked the best. I find everything about the tripod to be easy to use, and very well built.
The same goes for the Manfrotto 468MGRC0 Hydrostatic Ballhead. Even with the 600 sitting atop it, once I get the hydrostatic locking knob set, it will hold the 600 steady, while still allowing me to move the camera and lens around freely. I adopted the Manfrotto RC0 quick release many years ago, and simply decided to stick with it.
I normally don’t like to use tripods, preferring to shoot handheld. But the Induro is so easy to use, I may change my mind. And the price was right, too.
A very informative review. Will have to put this on the ever expanding wish list.
If I may ask? Could you inform me as to the manufacture of the camera strap shown in the photo? It attaches to your Canon in the same manor as the original and has quick disconnects which I think would prove very functional.
Also enjoyed your review of the Black Rapid strap.
The strap you see in the photos is from Tamrac, John – here it is on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-N-5059-Leather-Digital-Black/dp/B0009KJ06G. I love it.
Varina, the Tamrac-N-5059 camera strap arrived two days ago and is on the camera. I love it, Thank you for the information.
Glad to hear it, John! Enjoy it!
Varina, hope the last message did not load hit the wrong button.
Thank you for your fast and informative reply. I have a Black magic sport on order for walk around and event shooting, however I do not believe it will work to well with the Loka bag when walking trails.
I have enjoyed visiting your and Jay’s site many times, you guys/Girl rock.:)
Your videos reviews of the f-stop loka bag were very entertaining and informative, and provided me with the information I needed to order one, will be here Tuesday can’t wait.
Thanks again.
Your comments echo my sentiments; I’m very pleased with the CT-214, even with packing it on hikes. Yes it’s certainly not as compact an option as I could have choosen, but my priority was max height, so I have no regrets. However, I opted for the less expensive BHD ballhead — the BHD1 which has ample load capacity for my use. I should say my satisfaction with the Induro is not biased perhaps, by any previous experience with Gitzo or Manfrotto.
Thanks for the review Varina. Had a question – do you use frequently use the tension control on the ball head? Would love to hear your thoughts on that….
How sturdy is this tripod when fully extended? I need a tripod that will be rock solid for high-resolution landscape and wildlife photography. I was planning to get a Manfrotto 190CX until I read this review of the Induro.
Hi Rob. Stability is very important to us, too. We’ve been more than happy with our Induro’s. They are sturdy and always reliable – even with our heaviest lenses. There’s also a hook at the base of the center column which allows you to hang your camera bag (or something heavy) in case of high winds. I love my Induro – and I know I speak for Jay on that as well.
Hello Varina ma’am :) nice Review! I have a simple question, which is better for macro photography mainly flowers or insects ? A ball head or a pan head ? I am low on my budget and I zeroed in on a Vanguard 203AP with an MH-2 pan head. I have just started doing macro and till now I have only handheld experience which kinda blurs my shots sometimes.
If you are on a budget, a standard ball head is all you need, Dev. I use my ball head for all kinds of photography – including macro. Get a sturdy one that will lock nice and tight to hold a heavy macro lens, and you’re all set. We love our Induro ball heads.
I’m in the market for a Arca type ball head to go with my current Feisol large tripod and my Induro 214 which is arriving tomorrow. Needed a backup since my Feisol has a broken leg flange and will be sent back for repair. I’ve been using the Manfrotto 468 hydrostatic ball head with QR plate and the Manfrotto Jr. L bracket for a while but its quite a handful. I got a RRS L bracket with my used Canon body , so I’m looking at going to the Induro BHL1 or BHL2 head . Read the specs but don’t want to chance that the BHL1 won’t hold my 1DSM2 w/300mm lens perfectly still. Specs of the BHL1 say it will support 44 lbs which sounds plenty but would I notice any difference in the BHL2 , besides my wallet? Thanks!
We haven’t used the BHL2 – but we’ve been very happy with the BHL1. I’d recommend checking with the company to be sure you are getting the best ball head for your needs.