I’m always on the lookout for new gear options and, being in Costa Rica where it’s tough to come by photo gear, having a second tripod and head is not at all a bad idea. If something were to happen to my Induro CT313 tripod and BHL2 ballhead, I’d be in trouble until I could get some new gear down from the US. In addition, it’s nice to have a lighter tripod and head for those times when I want to go a little smaller, which I’m doing often for my current coffee table book project focusing on artistic images of Costa Rica’s natural wonders. And finally, my son Chris Basco, a budding photographer himself, needed a quality tripod to support his Canon 5D Mark I and the lenses I lend him.
While searching for an option to fill these needs, I received word from my contact at B and H Photo Video that the owners of Oben tripods were interested in helping to sponsor my coffee table book project by sending down gear that interested me. Oben is making some interesting products, and they are part of the parent company The Gradus Group. I’m going to be reviewing a number of different items in the months to come but to start off, they sent me down a new tripod and head from their Oben division. The products we decided on are the Oben CC-2320L carbon fiber tripod and the Oben BB-1 ballhead. Overall, I think the Oben products reviewed here offer a good value for the money and compare favorably to similarly priced alternatives.
As always, if you enjoy this review and the Deep Green site in general, please consider making your next gear purchase through the affiliate links in the text of this review or at the bottom of this page. You pay exactly the same, and I make a little commission to keep things running. To learn more, click the “support the site” link above.
Please note that though I do earn a commission if you buy a product at B and H Photo Video through this review and though I do enjoy a sponsorship arrangement with the Gradus Group and their line of Oben tripods and heads, I do not slant my reviews in favor of a particular piece of gear. If I don’t like something, you can be sure I’ll note that in the review. I’d like to thank B and H and the Gradus Group for sponsoring my coffee table book project by supplying me with the Oben CC-2320L carbon fiber tripod and the Oben BB-1 ballhead. That said, the source of the equipment has no bearing on the content or tone of this review.
The pictures in this review were taken by my son and budding photographer, Chris Basco — check him out here!
Chris used the following equipment after setting up a little makeshift studio in our house with a white sheet and used the same equipment out in a cloud forest near our house one day for the other shots.
Canon 17-40 mm f4 L wide angle zoom lens
Canon 430 EX Speedlite Flashes
Phottix Radio Transmitter/Receivers
Pictured of course are the following Oben products:
Oben CC-2320L carbon fiber tripod
The Oben CC-2320 L tripod is a slick and professional looking piece of gear. Upon removal from the included heavy-duty nylon tripod bag (a very nice addition), the tripod surprised me with the look and feel of the parts. I go back and forth on flip locks, but the Oben’s flip locks have a nice feel and lock securely. The tripod feels plenty sturdy, and I would have no problem using it to support a pro body with my Canon 300 mm f2.8 lens in a pinch, though I would prefer my beefier Induro CT313 for this purpose. That’s not a knock on the Oben, however. The Oben 2320 is a small lighter weight tripod, and for the purposes I have in mind for it — general landscape and macro photography — it’s absolutely fine.
The Oben CC-2320 L has all of the features one would want in a tripod (see chart below), and it comes with a nicely made tripod bag and the necessary allen wrenches. It also comes with retractable spiked feet, which are a nice addition for different types of terrain. In the field, the Oben CC-2320 L was quick and efficent to use. It did exactly what a tripod should do — support our gear so that we can concentrate on photography. I used it with confidence with a pro body (the Canon 1D Mark IV) and a pretty substantial lens (the Canon 70-300 mm f4-f5.6 L IS zoom).
The Oben CC-2320 L with the Oben BB-1 ballhead.
A good looking package for sure.
A general view emphasizing the flip locks and retractable spiked feet.
The center column can be switched to lateral mount easily and quickly.
The finished carbon fiber is very nice looking.
Independent leg spread to 90 degrees.
The sturdy flip locks.
Bubble level on the tripod base, very handy for panoramic shooting.
Looking good in the rain forest!
The finish and styling are really nice.
We got this thing plenty wet but didn’t have any problems.
Retractable spiked feet are nice for those doing winter shooting, not such a big deal for Costa Rica!
The tripod held up just fine in the humid muddy conditions of the rainforest.
The real question is how any tripod fares when compared to the competition. I chose offerings from two brands with which I’m familiar, Induro and Manfrotto, and that had similar price points to the Oben CC-2320 L. I previously had used the precursor to the listed Manfrotto, and my main tripod is one of the big brothers to the Induro listed below. So, I feel comfortable comparing them in a general sense.
| Oben CC-2320L | Induro Carbon 8X CT114 | Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Height w/column |
68.3″
|
59.3″
|
68.9″
|
| Max. Height w/o column |
55.7″
|
50.1″
|
55.1″
|
| Folded Length |
25.4″
|
19.7″
|
25.6″
|
| Load Capacity |
26.4 lbs.
|
17.6 lbs.
|
17.6 lbs.
|
| Weight |
3.85 lbs.
|
2.8 lbs.
|
3.6 lbs.
|
| Leg Sections |
3
|
4
|
3
|
| Lock Type |
flip
|
twist
|
flip
|
| Material |
6x carbon fiber
|
carbon fiber
|
carbon fiber
|
| Leg Spread to 90 |
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
| Center Column |
reversible/lateral
|
reversible
|
reversible/lateral
|
| Carrying Case |
included
|
included
|
not included
|
| Feet Type |
normal/spiked
|
spiked included
|
normal only
|
| Price |
$329.95
|
$339.00
|
$349.90
|
The Oben and the Manfrotto offer the most similar specs in terms of load capacity and height, and in all other respects are quite alike as well. The Oben costs $20 less, and in spite of that, you get the spiked feet and the tripod bag. Having used the Manfrotto and the Oben, I can state that they feel very similar in build and performance. If choosing between these two tripods, it would be a toss up as the features and quality are very very similar, though the lower price of the Oben is a nice bonus. One potential advantage of the Induro is the twist-lock system, which I find to be smoother and easier to maintain and clean. Twist locks are also unlikely to catch on a branch that could compromise a flip lock while hiking. That said, the Oben’s flip locks are really sturdy (sturdier than those of the Manfrotto in my experience), and I find it hard to imagine a branch or vine opening up one of the legs by accident. In addition, there is something nice about the binary nature of flip locks; they’re either open or closed so there’s no room for the in-between states of twist locks that can lead legs to creep downward if not 100% tightened.
For low angle shooting, the Induro is the most deficient of the three as the center column will be in the way. The previous versions of the Manfrotto had a detachable center column that was the perfect solution but the current model (listed above) does not specify a detachable model but rather the same lateral mount as the Oben. The lateral mount is a good solution but I’ve always found the best option to be the detachable center column. This way your camera and lens are still mounted on the tripod’s center of gravity rather than hanging off the side.
The lateral mount for the center column, while not the perfect low angle shooting solution in my opinion, is quick and easy to do on the Oben and will get the job done.
The simple touch of a button will allow you to make the center column a lateral arm for low angle shooting.
The Oben BB-1 ballhead is quite nicely made and is a good competitor for its price range. It worked well in the field and was easy and quick to use. The one complaint I have is that there is a bit of creep when using this ballhead with a substantial body and lens if the tension knob is not tightened. It’s not a big deal as the creep disappears once the tension is increased but the idea of the main knob is that it should lock movement regardless of the tension setting. This is not uncommon for more budget-priced ballheads (and even some higher-end heads!) but it’s the one way that I think Oben could improve the BB-1 ballhead. Complaint aside, one gets to know one’s gear, and I’ll have no problem using the head for my shooting in the future.
The Oben features compare favorably to similar offerings from Induro in this price range, and I think the performance compares pretty favorably as well (I’ve never noticed any creep in my Induro ballhead but it’s one of the bigger models, not the smaller models that compare to the Oben BB-1). The inclusion of an Arca-Swiss style camera plate by Oben is nice as it matches this Induro bonus. The new Induro line features the tension knob incorporated into the main knob. I use the Induro BHL2 ballhead for much of my shooting, and I’ve come to like the feature. Nonetheless, it’s not a huge deal, and if you prefer a separate tension knob, then the Oben BB-1 or the Induro BHD0 may be better choices for you.
| Oben BB-1 Ballhead | Induro BHD0 Ballhead | Induro BHL1 Ballhead | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Release |
yes, Arca-Swiss type
|
yes, Arca-Swiss type
|
yes, Arca-Swiss type
|
| Plate Included |
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
| Bubble Level |
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
| Load Capacity |
22 lbs.
|
17.6 lbs.
|
44 lbs.
|
| Weight |
0.88 lbs.
|
0.9 lbs.
|
0.9 lbs.
|
| Panning Knob |
yes, separate knob
|
yes, separate knob
|
yes, separate knob
|
| Tension Control |
yes, separate knob
|
yes, separate knob
|
incorporated into main knob
|
| Price |
$149.95
|
$135.00
|
$180.00
|
The Oben BB-1 in the rain forest.
Looking good mounted on the Oben CC-2320 L tripod. Note the degree markings for pano shooting.
Including a bubble level is nice but the location doesn’t make any sense because you can’t see it once you’ve mounted your camera or lens. My Induro ballhead has the bubble level on one of the side rails on the mounting area, which makes more sense. To be honest though, I never use it because I use a bubble level in the hotshoe when doing landscape photography. And many newer DSLRs have an electronic bubble level feature in the rear LCD screen. So, inclusion of a bubble level in the head is probably not that much of a necessity any more but if Oben were to include one, it would make more sense not to have it under the camera plate.
Closeup view of the quick release mechanism, which works just fine.
The controls on the BB-1 are well-thought out and easy to use.
A final view of the Oben BB-1 ballhead.
After some time on humid rain forest trails, in muddy mangrove swamps, and the blazing hot, rocky, and salty Pacific Coast in Costa Rica, I can say that I’ve been pleased with the performance of both the Oben CC-2320 L tripod and the Oben BB-1 ballhead. They both stood up to some tough conditions and allowed me to concentrate on photography, which is what good support equipment should do. As noted above, there a couple of things that I think Oben can improve upon in future models but overall, I consider them to be good products that are competitive with similarly priced offerings from more familiar brands such as Manfrotto and Induro. I’m looking forward to seeing more gear from Oben, and you’ll be seeing reviews of other new gear from the Gradus Group in the coming months here on the Deep Green Photography blog.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. Please feel free to shoot me a comment below if you have any questions at all!
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Greg,
Nice review. I always enjoy your take on new equipment, and it gives me more options when my clients ask for opinions on equipment.
As far as the bubble level location on the ball head, I think I understand their rationale. I have a Really Right Stuff head with the Quick Release Clamp with the bubble on one of the side rails, like your Induro. However, I’ve noticed that once my camera is in the bracket, if the lever of the clamp is toward me where it is most easily operated, I can’t see the bubble anyway since it is now under my camera lens. If I’m using the level, I usually level the head before mounting the camera. (Of course, I don’t always use the level unless I’m shooting a panorama, but then you know I have a little different slant on things anyway!)
Jon Fuller
Moab Photo Tours, LLC
Hi, Jon. Thanks for the comment on the bubble level. Yes, I can see that the placement of my Induro or your RRS isn’t really ideal either. It just might be that including a bubble level on the head isn’t worth it, unless you level the head before mounting the camera as you described.
Saludos!
Greg
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I have to say you did a great job on the review! I personally like the styling added by the carbon fiber and the leveling bubble. It is nice to see that it continues to work well even in inclement weather also.
I am a photographer is southern Illinois and we certainly have our fair share of poor weather! I look forward to reading more of your reviews.
Andrea,
Capturing Nostalgia
Thanks, Andrea. I’m glad you enjoyed the review. My grandparents lived in Southern Illinois. I still have super fond memories of summers on the Lake of Egypt!
Cheers,
Greg