Benro CyanBird AL 2 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Benro CyanBird AL 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Tripod |  High Performance Portability | Best Affordable Option for Travel |  Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $320 List Check Price at Amazon | $400 List Check Price at Amazon | $270 List Check Price at Amazon | $110 List Check Price at Amazon | $19.00 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This tripod is perfect for videographers who want smooth panning combined with portability | If you want maximum shot versatility, using a tripod like this can really help you compose stunning photos with ease | When your photography takes you far from the car, tripods like this are perfect when you still need a full list of features | Ideally suited for travel, this model merges lightweight construction, reliable function, and convenient packing into one package | An incredibly low-priced tripod for photographers utilizing a cell phone or smaller camera |
| Rating Categories | Benro CyanBird AL 2 | Vanguard VEO 3+ 263C... | Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB | SIRUI Lightweight Ca... | Amazon Basics 50-Inc... |
| Ease of Use (25%) | |||||
| Stability (25%) | |||||
| Positional Versatility (20%) | |||||
| Portability (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Benro CyanBird AL 2 | Vanguard VEO 3+ 263C... | Vanguard VEO 3GO 235CB | SIRUI Lightweight Ca... | Amazon Basics 50-Inc... |
| Measured Weight | 3.52 lbs | 5.91 lbs | 2.31 lbs | 1.9 lbs | 1.23 lbs |
| Load Capacity | 9.9 lbs | 33 lbs | 8.8 lbs | 8.8 lbs | 4.4 lbs |
| Head Type | Three way | Ball | Ball | Ball | Three way |
| Level Indicator | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Material | Aluminum | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber | Carbon fiber | Aluminum & plastic |
| Max & Min Shooting Height | 63 inches to ground level | 68.4 inches to ground level | 53.3 inches to ground level | 54.3 inches to 6.3 inches | 50 inches to 16.1 inches |
| Folded Length | 19.3 inches | 30.5 inches | 12.8 inches | 13 inches | 16.9 inches |
| Included Phone Mount Adapter | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Likes
The Benro CyanBird AL 2 has controlled resistance in the head, allowing smooth panning left-to-right, side-to-side, and up-and-down. For photography, this isn't particularly useful, but it makes moving video shots much easier than with a standard ball head.
The carrying case also makes it easy to stay organized, with a large mesh pocket inside and multiple gear loops. We also loved its roll-up style, which lays flat when unbuckled.
The mounting plate also fits a ¼-inch screw and a ⅜-inch screw, so you can run a bigger video camera as needed, though keep in mind it only has a weight capacity of 9.9 pounds. This weight capacity is plenty for many cameras, but some professional video cameras can weigh upwards of 30 pounds, so keep the weight of your gear in mind, and know that this is not equipped to handle a pro setup.
At the end of the day, this model stands out most for its ability to capture pans, but falls in the middle of the pack for those taking stills. Aside from the smooth panning head, this tripod has fairly standard features, with flip locks to adjust the leg segments, and bubble level indicator to keep your horizons straight.
Dislikes
3-way heads make for great videoing, but they are slower to adjust, making the CyanBird less ideal for quick adjustments and frequent repositioning. The CyanBird has an aluminum build that makes it fairly durable, but it comes in at 3.52 pounds, which is heavier than average for our tested group.
The panning handle can be attached several ways to the head of the CyanBird, but it has an awkward screw-on system that makes it slower to attach, remove, or reposition. If you can spare the space, we opted to leave it on most of the time.
Should You Buy the Benro CyanBird AL 2?
This is a great tripod for moving video clips, but if you don't need that kind of specialized function, the CyanBird doesn't stand out much. It's not a bad tripod, and it has fairly small dimensions that'll fit in some camera bags, but there are tripods that can do more for your photography, especially for the price. In short, we recommend this to budding videographers transitioning away from stills, but like the flexibility of being able to do both.
What Other Tripods Should You Consider?
If you aren't into video, the benefits of the hybrid head become a nuisance. We'd recommend looking for a tripod with a quicker-to-adjust ball head. If you're looking in the same price range as the Benro, the Vanguard VEO 3+ 263CB 160S Carbon-Fiber is our favorite overall tripod for its impressive stability and abundance of shooting positions. For a budget version, check out the small and light SIRUI Lightweight Carbon Fiber Traveler 5C.
—Zach Lovell
