Camera tripod with battery and automatic level function appears on Kickstarter

Manufacturer Benro comes with the Theta, a camera tripod with battery that can level itself. For this purpose, the tripod has a built-in electric motor and a gyroscope. The tripod also has an app for live view and control via a smartphone.

The Theta Works with removable modules, three of which can be clicked onto the tripod. For example, the battery is removable. The tripod’s battery has a capacity of 1800mAh and according to Benro, a full battery charge is sufficient to level the tripod 8000 times. Charging the battery takes an hour and a half and is done via a USB-C connection. The battery can also be used as a power bank.

Another module is the ‘camera control module’, which can be used to remotely set up a live view connection with the camera and a smartphone app. In addition, the module makes it possible to set things such as ISO, aperture and shutter speed values. The module uses a WiFi and Bluetooth connection for this. The photos from the camera can also be downloaded to a smartphone. The functionality offered by this module is very similar to that of apps from camera manufacturers themselves. For example, Canon has the Camera Connect app and Nikon the SnapBridge app. Using Benro’s app also offers the functionality to stream to YouTube or Facebook, or via the Real-Time Messaging Protocol. To use these features, the Golive module is required.

When introducing the Theta tripod, Benro is introducing a fourth separate module. However, this module is not clicked onto the tripod, but mounted on the hot shoe of the camera. Benro calls it the ‘optical matrix sensor module’ and it is intended to automatically adjust the exposure during time-lapse recordings. This module also works together with the Theta app.

The Benro tripod is introduced in two sizes: the Theta and the Theta Max. Both tripods are made of carbon fiber and weigh 1.25 and 1.65 kilograms respectively. The smallest model can reach a maximum height of 1.55 meters, while the larger model reaches a height of 1.70 meters.

There is one running at the moment Kickstarter campaign for Benro’s tripod. The small tripod will have a suggested retail price of $599 and the large tripod will cost $699. These prices are 329 and 375 euros respectively for early orders, for which stock is limited. A separate battery should fetch $90. If the user also wants to control his camera, a bundle of battery and control module should be available for $339. It is not yet known when the tripod will officially be released. The Kickstarter campaign ends on April 21. The goal of $50,000 has already been exceeded; more than $545,000 has been pledged.