Just before the last trip to the Kimberley on True North I needed to upgrade my tripod as my carbon Gitzo was in serious need of some parts and I was unable to get support from Gitzo, so I started to research what I could do to get a better result than using the Gitzo with the 3 way Manfrotto.
I recalled that my good mate Brent Pearson had spoken very highly of the Really Right Stuff gear and I therefore did some research and for sure all of the reviews came up trumps. I ended up going for the BH55LR1 ball head and the Really Right stuff carbon fibre tripod.
I reckon I just about halved the weight of my tripod and head by simply going for the BH55. Now this is one seriously well engineered but of kit! The adjustment knobs that either lock or release the ball or the pan function give you infinite adjustment as to how loose or tight you want it and there are no levers that hang out to get caught or smashed if you drop it.
The ball head also has some really cool grooves that are 90 degrees to the head, so if you take the time to level your tripod then vertical panos are made a cinch just by having your camera mounted in landscape mode and then simply panning up and down for your stitch.
The locking level locks the L bracket in place better than any other locking system I have seen.
Flembot reckons my tripod also came with a voice command that announces ‘tripod is level’ because every time I did get it level….I would announce ‘Tripod is Level’ and I think Dave Bettini and Flembot came to expect the announcement at the end of the Kimberley trip!
For panos I found that simply adding a level bubble to the hot shoe really helped with getting the camera level. Thanks to Jamie Paterson for sourcing mine for me…great gift mate! The head and ‘L’ bracket work really well for panos and there is no need to by the specific pano kit available in the Really Right Stuff range. I have done numerous multi level stitches with this new kit and they all worked perfectly. The biggest stitch I have done to date was a 21 shot 3 layer stitch, so if that isn’t proof it works, I don’t know what is!
The really sweet part about the Really Right Stuff kit is the custom designed ‘L’ bracket that is perfectly designed for each camera, comes with a great cut out for easy battery release and is locked in place with a SS allen headed screw into your camera. It is so light and unobtrusive, it simply stays in place. I now leave the camera level in place on the hot shoe all the time as well.
The other bit of kit that I bought from Really Right Stuff is their Carbon Fibre tripod. It is extremely solid and has the ability to lay down flat which is really handy for some waterfall shots etc. The leg locking system is also very good and works much better than the Gitzo. I also liked the 3 different position locking system in the Really Right Stuff set up that enables the legs to swing out to one of 3 positions. The Gitzo relied on a lock down friction system that worked ok when it was new, but without constant adjusting it had the potential to slip…always at the worst possible time!
The only negative I found with the Really Right Stuff gear is that they did not use lock tight on the rubber feet and I lost one very early in the Kimberley trip. A small dab of locktight on each rubber foot would stop that very annoying situation arising! Lucky I did have a spare Gitzo foot to get me through the rest of the trip.
As per my last gear review, I am not sponsored by Really Right Stuff. I am simply offering the review because I feel the gear does rate as up there as the best in the market and it works Really Really well!
I must say Mark after seeing it all in action the other weekend I can definitely rate it sturdy as and quicker than my set up thats for sure so when I get the spare bucks I am going to upgrade for sure
oh and another awesome write up mate.
You will see it in action again mate this weekend if we pull it off!
Yes mate, only heard good things about their gear. Nice review, appreciate it.
Glad you got something from it Chiz!
Hey Mark,
Thanks for putting me onto the RSS tripod and ball head before I went to Broome. Its certainly changed the way I approach things. I’m taking a lot more panos than I used to and able to walk a lot further because the setup is so light.
Last but not least thanks for the demonstration of how it all pieced together. My great shots of Broome are a direct result of you helping me out.
Thanks,
Jamie
You are most welcome Jamie!
Thanks again for the level!
Hey Markie
Excellent review; thanks. I’ll certainly replace my Manfrotto head with your setup; not sure about my Gitzo tripod, which I’ve been happy with. Will pick your brain later.
Dave Bettini is on exactly the same page as you. Great minds, eh? I’m just back from a great Kimberley trip with him (although he’s still up there) and I saw how good his ball head set up was. He spoke well of your Really Right Stuff ballhead so I’ll be asking you for more details later!
Hey Greggy
Name a night and I’ll cone over and show you everything mate and we can go over some things that Flembot taught you as well!
Markie – really appreciated your expertise tonight sorting out the kit for me and helping me get it ordered. Those guys should give you a %ge, or make you their local rep. or similar!
They sent me a nice note saying they were going to replace the missing foot mate so thats a start! No probs on the assistance mate any time!
It is an excellent tripod, the best part is the head and the L-bracket, that is just a really well done well designed piece of engineering.
I can confirm the tripod does indeed announce “tripod is level” when it has been leveled. I even have it on video, here I am filming the awesome True North at the awesome King Georg’s Falls and in the background some bloke is loudly proclaiming “tripod is level!”
Aaah yes indeed Flembot…at the inorgoral EPICNESS Incorporated shoot!
*inaugural* mate, inaugural EPICNESS Inc shoot
Seeing that it’s 4am at your end (why am I not surprised you are writing comments at that hour 
I’ll forgive the spelling 
Yes that was epic. Must get the Epic boys back together again!
Yeah I knew it wasn’t right but as you say 0400!:)
I was watching the US stock market take a dive…scary shit!
Can’t wait for the team to get back together mate!
I have had my RRS RH 55 ball head for around twelve months now and coupled with my carbon Manfrotto tripod it’s the best investment I’ve made. I like my Manfrotto tripod because the centre stem can be removed and tilted 90 degrees which gets you even closer to the ground if necessary which other tripods don’t do. The basic pano slide attachment from RRS is also brilliant and extremely quick to set up. Keep these reviews coming Mark they are great.
Thanks Peter
I think a few people are liking them so I will endeavor to come up with something new.
Cheers
Mark
Everyone will be pleased to know that Really Right Stuff have sent me out a new rubber foot and some locktite….now that is what I call service!
Quality companies offer quality service is what I have found in the past.
I’m glad it took someone of the ilk of Brent Pearson to convince you how good this stuff is. I remember telling you how good it is, but you told me at the time that you Manfrotto “L” bracket was awesome!!! I bet you’re not getting any soft images through camera movement now!!
The RRS tripod looks like it has been modelled on the Gitzo 6x carbon tripod, as it looks very similar to mine. I can also lay my tripod legs out so it’s flat on the ground, never had a problem with it, and it’s amazingly sturdy. Together with the RRS “L” bracket and ball head, it’s a great bit of kit!!
The RRS tripod can also lay flat Jamie.
I had a lot of problems with the locking systems on both the legs and the swing locks.
The RRS tripod is way superior!
I’ll take your word for it that my Gitzo is inferior……
Jamie, I did not say your tripod was inferior, I was talking about my Gitzo!
There are many models and probably yours is better than what I had…in fact I will guarantee that is the case!
Lets talk after you need some parts and service and see if you are so gung Ho on Gitzos!
3 months to come back and say they couldn’t help me! Not sure if that was the agent or Gitzo…net result…pissed off looking for alternatives!
I dint bag gear for no reason Jamie!
I was just saying, that RRS tripod looks to be modelled off the Gitzo.
It looks that way Jamie, but the leg locking system is very different and works really well.
I have had my TVC-34L tripod and BH55 ballhead for a few months now and I can say all the reviews about it, are correct, it’s a brilliant! I would not say its light, but it works well.
When I first unboxed it, I though Oh what have I brought! I wanted something that would bring my camera to eye level, and this tripod was taller than me. And I am 6Ft one. In the end it has worked out well. I can now photograph over most people, fences etc
Yes I would buy one again, and my rubber feet are locked in place, I just quickly looked.
Regards Alistair
Hi Alister,
I am pleased to hear that you also have enjoyed the RRS head and tripod. It sounds like you have the larger tripod to me.
I would rate my purchase as life changing in a number of ways as I have actually cut down the weight from my last kit and the ease if use with the RRS gear is fantastic.
I get to sone pretty rough terrain and the gear holds up to the rigors I have put it to eh!
Cheers
Mark