The latter has 4 leg sections so its collapsed length is shorter (49cm vs 61cm) which makes it a little easier to travel with. Early on in life, I learned the value of a quality tripod. Montoursville, PA 17754, Sunday & Monday: 11 AM - 6PM Or even just replacing the lower leg section of your TFC-24L with just the two lower sections of your T?C-14 tripod. The Quick Column on all Ascend tripods adds 10.1 (26cm) to the height of the tripod. Make sure you look at the specifications table to get the complete picture as there is some capacity crossover between the different series. Counterweight point - Every tripod I tested for this write-up features one, most often in the form of a hook or loop located directly under the head. Fax: +1 (570) 486-4037, 2023 EuroOptic. Okay, Ill wait. Still, double the length of that lower section and a 6 section Frankenpod to freak people out with . Now i can see trees in the forest. This is our bulkiest tripod tested, and with a total weight of 7lbs 11.5oz, it is also our heaviest. Im having a really hard time finding a conversion kit & tripod platform/hook in stock anywhere, so if I have a friend who owns a TVC-33 mk2, do you know if its possible to basically swap out just the apex from his tripod on to mine? Really Right Stuff makes a range of accessories for their tripods which I will now discuss and demonstrate. 5 Best Shooting Tripods for Long-Range Precision Rifles (Photo by Ben LaLonde). 4-Series Update: For some reason, RRS has discontinued 4-series tripods. RRS products are in high demand with short supply at the time of this writing in Q2 2022. RRS | Really Right Stuff | Mile High Shooting The vendors I deal with dont have any recent records of RRS tripod sales. In my time spent with it, it punched well above the price point at which it is offered. Then purchase the spare centre column with the flat platform (Part # Ascend-14-PFQC) as an additional purchase. I have owned both types of tripods and really dont notice a huge difference, aside from a slight improvement in the smoothness of the leg lock motion on the Mk2, and legs that slide in and out with a little less effort due to the vented clevis. These days I would definitely pair it with the BC-18 Microball. In addition to improving the feel and operation of the twist locks, the seals extend their life. Regarding your perfect scenario, what about the Ascend-14L? 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 . RRS clamps are the foundation of the RRS quick-release system. More companies started making plates using the same process by getting their dovetail specs "close enough" to work with any screw-knob style clamp already on the market. Disclaimer: All of my RRS tripods were purchased at full price just like a regular customer. From left to right; ProMediaGear TR344, Really Right Stuff TVC-34, Sirui SR-3204, FLM CP34-L4 II, Leofoto LM-364C, Gitzo GT3543LS. The Recon V2 brings in a lot of features you should expect to find in premium carbon fiber tripods, at a more mid-level price point. If the plate is under spec it will slide freely. Enfield No. $1,645.00. Simply get the legs roughly in the right place, then loosen the leveling head and use the built-in bubble level to create a perfectly level platform. The Rock Claws are definitely a more specialized accessory. Massive In-Cart Discounts on Most Christensen Arms Rifles! Really Right Stuff SOAR - Anvil-30 ARC Ball Head If money is less of an object to you, the RRS 1-Series is the better tripod, but the Peak Design tripod is probably the second-best carbon travel tripod on the market, and its an awful lot cheaper. The top lid of the bag is reinforced to be harder than the rest of the bag and provide added protection for your tripod head. Looking closely you will see that the front downhill leg has one more entire leg section extended than the rear two legs to get it level. Available alone, with the BTC-Pro, or SC-ARC. The first word that comes to mind when I see the Recon V2 is clean. They are small and light, yet they are easily able to hold a 50lb load which is more than any camera setup Ive ever seen. With its inverted design, this head is very similar to the RRS BPC-16 head. Do you have any insights? All features, materials, fit and finish in a Versa tripod meet and exceed the best in the world. Ball heads get their name from visually being able to see a ball mechanism inside of the head. It was an extra step I needed to take to ensure my legs would be locked out at the position of my choice. With the TVC-24L model having a larger maximum height, at the expense of a slightly longer collapsed length. The L designation means its the Long variation, so all of the leg sections are slightly longer than the regular version of the TFC-24, thus making it taller when extended to maximum height. Leofoto make the LS-365C, which is a 5-section tripod with 36mm outer tubes. Theyve said this about items barely two year old. The whole point of them is to be small, which is why the column comes with it in the first place. The leg hinges feature three settings to adjust them to 20, 45, or 85 degrees. IMPORTANT: The collar size is different depending on which series of tripods you are using. The most stable TFCT tripod Popular with competition shooters with minimal long movement requirements SPECS Folded Length: 28" Min Height: 7" Max Height: 60.9" Collapsed Diameter: 4.1" Weight: 4.66lbs Worst Case Load Capacity: 50lbs MSRP: $1,465 The most robust TFCT tripod in the RRS SOAR line For users who want the most stable platform The price of the ballhead in that configuration is $235.00. All RifleShooter subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Tons of great information and analysis. 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). The system is catching on in the photo world. In terms of size and packability, its pretty much a draw. Despite being a relatively new company, Two Vets has come out swinging with a wide product line covering the bases from competition to hunting. Again, was there a defect in the previous one that none of the reviews (which were all raving about it) detected? The load capacity is 50 lbs vs 17.6 lbs. If you buy something through one of these links, we might make a small commission. The Invert name comes from the ball itself being mounted to the tripod, and the socket moving around it, opposite of a typical ball head. This is a 2-series tripod with two leg sections constructed in an inverted manner. Biggest differentiator for me, besides the quality of the carbon and size of the legs, is the ability to disassemble and clean the entire tripod. With both parts installed you can use any strap that has QD connectors on both ends to create a 2-point tripod harness. Secondly, it allows you to quickly modify the height of your camera without needing to alter all three legs. You would not purchase a ground pod such as the TVC-32G as your only tripod, but they are a useful addition to your kit if you often find yourself low to the ground for wildlife photography or macro work. RRS Carbon Fiber Fixed Apex Tripod Line. 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. From spotting targets or game to taking shots, a tripod is a useful tool for just about everything. Sounds like you might find that to be useful. The Invert60 Ball Head features a combination picatinny and ARCA rail clamp with an adjustable quick throw lever to loosen or tighten onto your rail of choice. To understand the difference between these two versions (TVC/TFC) you need to know that in the Really Right Stuff tripod language, the apex of a tripod is the part of the tripod where all three legs meet at the top. but heavy. Having a small tripod that can be set up anywhere and weighs next to nothing is really a game changer. Though big and heavy for a photography tripod, these would be relatively lightweight for a video tripod. Beth Shimanski of Savage introduces their all new straight-pull rifle. I have such a giant junkyard of faulty Gitzo pieces lying around -most of which Gitzo (aka Manfrotto) refuses to repair due to their usual explanation with each new malfunction we dont repair models which have been discontinued. Since its founding, RRS has only changed ownership once when Joe and Joan Johnson bought the company in 2002. The new ARC clamps allow for adjustable tension, increasing compatibility across these rails. RRS began as a photography equipment company in 1990, designing and creating more consistent and well-thought-out quick-release plates, tripods, and other accessories. 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. Since then, the RRS product lines have significantly expanded from a handful of custom camera body plates to an extensive line of support products. 2 products. Sadly, many people screw this up and buy the cheapest one they can find, only to have it break within a year or two, having done more harm than good to their photography. Now that you understand the tripods naming scheme, this table compares the essential specifications of maximum and minimum height, folded length and diameter, and capacity and price. No, just making it better. Hooray: we were finally able to order our RRS tripod gear today! RRS Carbon Fiber Versa Tripod Line. As with anything from RRS, these are top-in-class accessories. At $32 each ($96/set), this isnt an insignificant purchase but they are extremely well made. I noticed there has been no reponse to Mr. Elsayeds post. However, the optional 100mm video bowl does mean that they are excellent choices for cinematography, where a video bowl is a necessity. In fact, they have been making these for far longer than they have tripods. Those companies are actively involved in competitive rifle shooting. Tripods have definitely grown popular because of competition shooting like PRS or NRL: Hunter, but the fact is that tripods have proven to be useful in a wide range of situations. It only has a single leg lock on each leg, and the inverted design means the locks are up at the top when closed, which makes it fast and easy to grab when you need to deploy the legs at speed during rifle competitions. Wyoming ELR Scopes & Mounts - What The Pros Use They simply arent in the same league in terms of stability. I guess this isnt much of a surprise given the huge amount of press that the Peak Design tripod received while it was on its way to raising over $12 million on Kickstarter. Thank you for explaining this really great system which is mind-bogglingly confusing. The carbon version of the PD tripod is $599.95 where the RRS TFC-14 is $835. You have made a wise decision, John. If I could only own one tripod, that would be the one. Their Sport Optics and Rifle division has kept ahead of the curve with highly engineered, durable, and lightweight tripods capable of supporting even the heaviest of rifle platforms. I can tell you that it was published in a post on the RRS Facebook page, directly by RRS themselves. | 1203 Lycoming Mall Circle, Muncy, PA 17756 This bowl adapter fits into the Apex of the 4-Series tripods but allows you to use 3-Series accessories such as the 3-Series leveling head or bowl. In fact, they dont even know Im writing this guide. The spikes stay out of the way, but can be accessed by extending the shortest leg, then spinning the rubber foot up to expose the spike. Anyway, the 34L is back to its normal configuration and the tfc-14 has regained its limbs, but it was a fun exercise. The third small knob on the tripod allows the user to loosen and tighten the panning portion of the head, giving glass-smooth horizontal movement. There are other brands out there as good as RRS (I had the chance to try other brands over the years, like Gitzo, Manfrotto and Sirui), but for half the price and I cannot warn people enough to look at these brands first before they even consider buying a RRS tripod. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. The twist locks only require a quarter turn, and the rubberized knob is generously sized, giving sure grip in any conditions. Tripods and Tripod Packages | RRS SOAR The rubberized knobs and twist locks all feature aggressive texturing, ensuring ease of operation in any condition. Buying a RRS tripod was the worst mistake I made when purchasing my photo gear and I dont understand why people still praise this brand while, again, there are other brands out there as good as RRS, but for a lot less money and a much better after sales service. Throughout the ranks, RRS employs professionals and serious amateurs working in their respectiv fields across photography, cinematography, and SOAR. The best example of this comparing our TVC-24L to the TVC-23. Not just out of brand loyalty, but also because the sizes of various heads are designed to perfectly match the apex diameters of the RRS tripods. These big, heavy tripods do not lend themselves to travel or even hand-carrying very far. 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. Really Right Stuff: TFCT MK2 Tripod 34L w/ Anvil-30 ARC Head The TVC-32G and TFA-32G are most suitable for stills photography work, while the 4-Series TVC-42G is more suited to low-level cinematography where a 100mm video bowl is needed to level a fluid cinema head. They feature interactive functions and allow users to view the entire line of RRS products. However, it does come at the expense of some stability because the more leg sections you have, the smaller the diameter of the lowest leg section will be. 100lbs in the case of the TVC-45. If you miss it, you could wait many months (or more) for it to become available again. The new Sako Finnlight II sports an innovative stock and Cerakote metal paired with the terrific 85 action. What I initially was basing my theory on was the tube dimensions listed on https://thecentercolumn.com and it makes total sense to have standard tube sizing cut to length for the various tripods. Buy the tripod size that you need for your height, and only consider the optional column for certain uses such as indoor product and portrait photography where the speed of height adjustment is useful, and the negatives of a centre column have little impact. Engineers work hand-in-hand with the project managers to better understand what changes or new products are needed in each market, keeping RRS in touch with the needs of its consumers. The photos below give you just a small sample of what you can find in that second guide. Tripods can level the playing field, making difficult shots in awkward positions a lot more manageable. You might as well go for the TFC version and save a little weight and space. You can also remove it entirely to leave a 1/420 threaded hole which can be used with the BC-18 Microball or the BPC-16 Panning Microball. Working on flat ground you can safely buy a tripod that simply puts the camera at eye level when all legs are extended. For point and shoot cameras and very small mirrorless cameras, its not a problem. Speaking of dedicated purpose, the big and heavy Traverse from Fat Boy begs to be run in competition or out on a coyote hunt. The price for me, however, was a breaking point. Its also a Ground pod, designed for low-level usage. Personally, I chose to go with the spikes because they are more suitable for the landscapes I tend to shoot in, which are sandy, snowy or to some extent, muddy. The R-lock provides supplemental security to your rifle mount in the form of a pin that locks into holes machined along the underside of RRSs quick-release ARCA-Swiss Style plates. Would be curious the find out if its at all possible as it may influence which tripod I buy to complement my TFC-14. Im not sure. If you tend to shy away from using tripod centre columns, the L version of the Ascend-14 might be the one for you. They are simply smaller and larger versions of a particular series base model, delivering either a taller or shorter maximum extended height. Optional centre columns are available for 2-Series and 3-Series tripods. That ARCA clamp tops a lined socket which tilts and rotates freely on the 45mm Aluminum ballhead. The grooved aluminum twist locks only require a quarter turn to loosen and retighten, making for fast and solid adjustments in the field. The legs have little to no flex, and when folded, integrated stops in the hinge prevent the legs from crossing over in the way of each other. Perhaps Ill send their engineer a message and see if I can get that info. The difference between the tripod series is the diameter of the uppermost leg section. To show viewers how to succeed at long range, J. Guthrie gears up for a challenging shot while chasing Colorado pronghorn at long range with DPMS' Panther 6.5 Creedmoor. If you want both, the cheapest way to do it is to buy the tripod with the built-in head. The Deathgrip Ultralite head is made from magnesium to remain lightweight but strong. At its widest point when folded, the tripod is 6 inches in diameter, but the feet can come together at the bottom, so it still packs a bit easier than if the legs went straight out. I have been using RRS tripods for over a decade now, and in that time I have used all manner of different sizes and capacities. Gone are the days of difficult to remove and reinstall split gibs, maintenance is now a breeze! Keep this in your pocket and youll always have a stable platform that you can balance on a wall.