They're not limited to tradition front-rifle support, but can be used as rear supplementary support as well. While its not a prerequisite to pair an RRS tripod with an RRS head, it is understandably the way that many people opt to complete their kit. The wide rubber feet provide support and stability in most environments, but when needed, simply unscrew the feet to reveal a steel spike in each. The center column, twist lock, and ground level set mechanism all add a bunch of weight that you probably won't use most of the time. Sadly, I have to say that if you need a tripod ASAP for an upcoming trip and you cant find the RRS one you want in stock right now, you should probably look elsewhere. With an Accu-Fit stock and left hand adjustable bolt, this rifle is a perfect choice for anyone! To help you with this part of the decision, I have created a separate Really Right Stuff Tripod Head Guide. If you plan to buy something new you can skip over this part if youre in a hurry, although personally, I would also appreciate knowing how these tripods have recently been improved. These big, heavy tripods do not lend themselves to travel or even hand-carrying very far. Very cheap. Every single part of each tripod is designed, made, and hand-assembled right here in the USA. After a while, I regretted that decision because my camera was always too low, and constantly bending down in the field was frustrating. With its inverted design, this head is very similar to the RRS BPC-16 head. The latter has 4 leg sections so its collapsed length is shorter (49cm vs 61cm) which makes it a little easier to travel with. So, yes, the Ascend-14 has a fancy column with a lever release. If you prefer a tripod with a center column this will work well though. Haha! Its low profile, precision control knobs, rugged housing, and quick release clamps make it the ball head of choice for professional photographers worldwide. Terms & Conditions One of the most stable TFCT tripods with a maximum load capacity ranging from 45-85lbs R-LOCK COMPATIBLE Features the Anvil-30 ARC ball head equipped with R-Lock Backwards compatible with non R-Lock products Specifications: Number of Leg Sections: 4 Load Capacity 1st Position Fully Extended: 80lbs/ 36kg Dimensions, shape, even placement of levers and knobs was very familiar. If we do not have a specific plate for your item, often we have an option that will fit. The grooved aluminum twist locks only require a quarter turn to loosen and retighten, making for fast and solid adjustments in the field. Back then I used the BH-25, but the BC-18 is smaller, lighter, cheaper and in my experience actually holds more weight. The whole RRS setup was the lightest too, and as such, most versatile of the models tested. I can still see many people opting for the TFC-14. Overall I would consider the RRS 1-Series tripods to be superior to the Peak Design Travel Tripod, but when comparing the prices you would certainly hope this to be the case. The ballhead itself does not suffer from any lock up slack. This system is borrowed from the firearms industry where it turns out people like quickly detaching guns from straps just as much as photographers like detaching straps from cameras. The 3-Series tripods offer the kind of stability that is recommended for long-term usage of super-telephoto lenses, and the damping that is necessary for critical sharpness with high megapixel medium format cameras. The Ballhead itself features overmolded knobs that are large enough to easily manipulate with or without gloves. RRS Carbon Fiber Ascend Tripod Line. J. Scott Rupp takes a first look at the Springfield M1A Loaded rifle chambered in the popular 6.5 Creedmoor. This allows you to lock the legs at three distinct positions and, at these positions, the legs are locked rock solid. On the other hand, the top of all their levelling bases is batched to the size of the BH-55, so a BH-40 looks a little oversized when placed on one. While I would have liked to add to my RRS tripod collection, I have been mightily impressed with the ProMediaGear TR424L tripod, just as I have been in the past with their tripod heads. I bought the TVC34L in 2014, from the RRS web site. Conforming to this standard helps other manufacturers ensure compatibility across the industry, with an additional benefit being fewer customers returning products for incompatibility issues. They have less articulation than most ball heads but are able to pan freely and have enchanced lockup. Available alone, with the BTC-Pro, or SC-ARC. The inward-facing vents also ensure airflow is directed towards the center of the tripod and away from mounted lens elements. All rights reserved. One thing that is worth knowing, and might ease your buyers anxiety, is that RRS will sell you the parts to convert one type of tripod to the other if you realize you either bought the wrong type or happen to own a TVC tripod from the days when TFC tripods did not yet exist (TFC was only introduced in about 2019). I only have a couple of these tripods myself now, so its not info I can gather on my own. Thanks for the kind words Bill. All Rights Reserved. I can tell you that it was published in a post on the RRS Facebook page, directly by RRS themselves. The key thing is that at maximum extension, you need your camera to be at eye level at the absolute minimum. The Vortex name and warranty carry a lot of weight, and despite my misgivings, it is still a solid option. A proper travel-sized tripod that stands 1.5m tall with no center column. I also got a new RSS monopod head for my CF Manfrotto monopod. Do you have any insights? If you feel like carrying some more weight, then the 33 legs are worth considering. While many people fixate on tripod weight capacity, they often forget to factor in the resolution of their cameras. Since its founding, RRS has only changed ownership once when Joe and Joan Johnson bought the company in 2002. If Im carrying my tripod over my shoulder with the strap, my camera is always in a bag and therefore doesnt need the strap at the same time. I agree with you there that this isnt great. Identical in all ways, apart from the length of their leg sections. Quick view Add to Cart. In general, I would not recommend buying one of these columns to use it all the time. Free Knife with Select Steiner Binoculars! If a 3rd party dovetail is manufactured over spec and is used with a non-ARC SOAR clamp, most of the time it will not shut. Thank you Carl and Angela! The new facility is 2.7x larger in size, machining capability, and possible workforce. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. It comes with the tools needed to run any rifle, whether it had a rail or not. This is the one I chose for myself. In 2019 alone, passionate hobbyists within RRS ranks went to more than 25 trade shows, demos, and competitions to work with our customers nationwide. The same goes for the TVC-24 and the TVC-24L. Shop BH-40 Load capacity: 18 lbs / 8 kg There is a saying about tripods; 'Cheap, light, stable - you can pick only two'. A TVC tripod has what RRS call a Versa apex. 5 Best Shooting Tripods for Long-Range Precision Rifles (Photo by Ben LaLonde). This chart plots the stiffness to weight ratio for this tripod and each ball head that I have tested in blue dots versus the stiffness of those heads. Of course, Really Right Stuff are also known for their incredible range of ball heads, gimbals and other camera leveling devices. What It Is Not. Subscriber Services. Fat Boy offers the Traverse three section for $750.00, and the Invert60 Ball Head for $375.00, bringing the total cost for this setup to $1,125.00 plus tax. Designed so users can attach directly to any ARMS-17s compatible bipods or any application requiring the ARMS-17s platform. EuroOptic RED Shipping Program shipping is no extra charge. Inside the lid, the medium, large and extra-large versions of the bag have a mesh pocket that is designed to hold the accessory feet or any tripod tools that you might want to have to hand. When Joe Johnson and the Really Right Stuff engineering team set out to design the first Really Right Stuff tripod, they took cues from the aerospace and racing industries in the selection of the best possible carbon-fiber. With these heads, you need a TVC tripod and the head replaces the tripod apex, with a control handle underneath to lock and loosen the motion. Whether hunting or competing, speed matters. As I learned to shoot rifles from tripods, especially at extended ranges, I found the same to be true. Speaking of dedicated purpose, the big and heavy Traverse from Fat Boy begs to be run in competition or out on a coyote hunt. You have made a wise decision, John. The following video is from the RRS Youtube channel. I dont know. It also features the all-new R-Lock System. One thing I would say though, is that even with that information, you cant really compare it directly to other brands because you dont know the carbon thickness of the leg sections for each brand. We changed the photography world with our custom-fit camera-body L-plates and have more patents for quick-release plate innovations than anyone. This zippered pocket doesnt have a lot of room, but it can hold the accessory foot spikes and a few hex (Allen) wrenches or the very useful RRS MTX multi-tool. FEATURES 100lbs in the case of the TVC-45. I live in Canada too. To demonstrate this, take a look at the photo above. We have it available to them at cost. Simply unwinding the oversized knob loosens the spring-loaded clamp and allows for ease of movement. To view more information on the second-generation tripods, head on over to Really Right Stuff . No, just making it better. but heavy. The compact head will be a better fit for me I think. Working on even a moderate slope will lose you a huge amount of your tripods maximum height, and the result is that if you bought a tripod whose maximum height theoretically puts your camera at eye level, much of the time in the field you will find that its still too low if youre on uneven ground. I was also trying to find a set up with the most versatility, as Im an amateur photographer and already own a couple of lesser/heavier tripods. I shoot a lot of surfing with slow shutter speeds and getting sand pretty much everywhere is inevitable. The center section has a metal loop for a sling, as well as a bubble to check level of the legs themselves. It meant that I had to go through customs three times (I live in Canada), meaning I had to pay three times the customs fee. In my mind, this combination creates the best weight to capacity ratio of any tripod on the market right now. In Stock . Big rubber feet - rubber is a shock absorber, and as such, rubber feet on the ground help absorb and distribute recoil. Id bet any photographer has at least one spare strap lying around, so this might be a good option for those that cleaned out their bank account buying their dream tripod . IMPORTANT: The collar size is different depending on which series of tripods you are using. As we know from the nomenclature section, some of the RRS tripods have size variations labelled L, S or G for Long, Short or Ground. Its one less thing I have to think about when changing shooting positions quickly. Even at its tallest, 45lbs is generous, and will cover most heavy long range platforms. A screw knob stule clamp designed to directly thread onto the "No Clamp" versions of ARMS-17s compatible Thunderbeast, B&T Atlas, and Magpul bipods. The higher the resolution of your camera, the easier it is for micro-vibrations to show up in your images as a lack of sharpness. All Really Right Stuff tripods come with our outstanding Versa Rubber Ball feet, which give the tripod a solid contact patch with the ground at any leg angle. This past deer season, my good friend was due for neck surgery and couldnt physically hold up his rifle. From Cinema set to city sidewalks, Stockholm to studio, we have a tripod that fits your needs no matter where your photography takes you. Recently, we had a precision gauge made for our RRS standard. Anyway, I digress, it was easy to justify spending an appropriate amount of money for the solid RRS tripod and set of components which Im confident will hold up over time. Clamping adjustments are made with a single oversized, rubberized knob. But RRS products dont just have a pretty face, they offer performance to back that up. Scott Rupp gets a chance to talk to Aaron Oelger about a few new products from Hodgdon and why reloading store shelves are empty. RRS Carbon Fiber Fixed Apex Tripod Line. A basic way to describe the "Arca" style would be that "Arca" can mean any dovetail rail that appears similar; however, the critical dimensions can be significantly imprecise. I would also say that if you find a good deal on a second-hand Mk1 tripod, go right ahead and buy with confidence! To use one, you need to have a TQC tripod with the removable Apex plate. I like the idea of having a pocket there in the lid, but I wish that they would update it to be made from regular ballistic nylon instead of mesh. The Deathgrip Infinite Carbon Fiber from BOG was most budget friendly option. If you do need to clean out the twist-locks in the field, the process just got a lot easier. So, of course, I ordered my strap set for a Series-2 Mk2 tripod. So I went ahead and tried it, and yes, the lower leg section of the 34L can be replaced with the three lower sections from the tvc/tfc-14. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. This particular model, the TCFT 34L with the Anvil 30 ARC, extends to over six feet tall at its highest point, and can support anywear from 45 to 85lbs, depending on how high you extend its four sections.