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Archive 2018 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

another_mikey
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Hey,

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum, moderator please move as needed.

I am in the middle of a 2 week trip to all 5 National Parks in Utah. Unfortunately, my Really Right Stuff TVC-24 just malfunctioned. It is a first generation version, and has been a great tripod up until today. I was setting up at Sunset Point in Bryce NP, and when I loosened the largest leg lock on one of the legs and extended it, it came completely off. After a bunch of fiddling, and examining videos on the web, it seems that it might be broken to me, but wanted to see if anyone else here might have had a similar experience and figured out how to fix it.

Specifically, the threaded collar piece that fits onto the largest portion of the leg is loose, and just pulls off with any real force. So even when the anti-twist leg shims are correctly placed, and the leg in lined up, inserted, and the screw on collar is tightened, the leg slips, and will either come out if puled on, or collapse if just set up with no weight on the tripod. Pretty useless. I cannot see anything obviously broken, but it certainly won't work safely this way. If it had happened a couple of mornings ago, it could have sent my entire rig over the side of a cliff in Dead Horse Canyon State Park.

I would actually call RRS tomorrow, but being Saturday, they are not in until Monday. I would love to know if anyone else has any experience with this on this (or any similar ) RRS tripod, and if so, what the ultimate outcome was. Is this thing broken, or do I just not know how to put it together properly?

Thanks for any insights,

ML

Sep 21, 2018 at 11:53 PM

Camperjim
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Years ago I was determined to use a tripod in an attempt to enhance image quality. Like a true gear head I used my tripod in the middle of the day when I was shooting at 1/500 s. Tonight I carried my tripod on Bandon Beach, Oregon for sunset. I carried it, but never used it. All of my shots were at very acceptable shutter speeds.

A tripod is great for shooting waterfalls with a ND filter to get that surreal effect. You wont find a lot of waterfalls in southern Utah. I have used a tripod when shooting the milky way after dark. Well I have all the milky way shots I will ever need.

Maybe that broken tripod is a message. You will do just fine without it! Maybe you will lose a bit of potential image quality. If your images depend on capturing a pinecone on a tree a half mile away, you might want to reconsider your artistic vision. Throw that thing in the garbage and be free.

Sep 22, 2018 at 02:13 AM

Dragonfire
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Duck Tape and hose clamps are my initial response.

My father once took the lawn mower apart and handed me a box of parts and I discovered I am only good at fixing items I broke.

You can tape the leg in and shoot at a lower position and gain a unique perspective or you can lock it out and carry it extended.

Have a good time and know we are waiting to see your posts.

Sep 22, 2018 at 05:41 AM

ckcarr
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

another_mikey wrote:
I would actually call RRS tomorrow, but being Saturday, they are not in until Monday.

ML

Who says?

First off, they're in Utah now to start. Second, every time I've ever sent an email or called them on a Saturday, someone replies...

Sep 22, 2018 at 09:50 AM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Use your backup tripod. What's that? You don't have one? Lesson learned.

Sep 22, 2018 at 09:51 AM

dgdg
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Amazon prime shipping. I had some gear stolen while traveling to the solar eclipse. Fast shipping save the shot
In meanwhile I agree with duct tape and clamp idea.

Sep 22, 2018 at 10:50 AM

chris02324
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Maybe disassemble a different leg and use it as a reference to reassemble the malfunctioning one. of course document the disassemble to ensure you reassemble it accurately.

Sep 22, 2018 at 11:34 AM

diannibd
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Any pictures or video of the problem?

Specifically the inside of the grippy collar.

https://imgur.com/bvr7VKZ

Just took a leg apart on mine and not seeing how it could fail in the way described.

Sep 22, 2018 at 12:22 PM

kevindar
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

at least, with gitzo, if I unscrew the locks all the way, i can pull out the legs, but also put them back in. Cant tell you if yours is broken or not.
However, options are depending on equipment you are using (size and weight)
Option 1. Duct tape. should be able to find it, and it should hold ok.
Option 2. just buy what is a disposable tripod. a 40 dollar tripod, for the most part will do the trick in the shortrun. unless you are using long heavy lenses. there has to be camera stores close by.

Sep 22, 2018 at 08:48 PM

another_mikey
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated

To hopefully clarify, here is a picture of the largest tripod leg section, that is still properly attached to the tripod. The threaded collar shown on the end of this piece though, now just comes off with any force whatsover (like extending the leg section fully before tightening it as one example.) This only happens on this leg - on the other 2, this piece is firmly attached.

So pretty sure it is broken.

ML

Upper leg section with collar that now comes off

Sep 22, 2018 at 10:52 PM

another_mikey
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

To everyone who has replied, much appreciated.

- I did call RRS, nothing but a recording. I will try them again on Monday

- My spare tripod is being used by my wife on this trip. But yes, it appears I need another spare tripod going forward then.

- I will be using duct tape for the Antelope Canyon shoot, unless it turns out the are able to rent me something or maybe I can find a suitable cheap version between Bryce Canyon where I am now, and Antelope Canyon.

ML

Sep 22, 2018 at 10:56 PM

John Webb
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

Don't have a RRS but is the treaded section a insert into one of the downtubes, and if the bonding agent failed couldn't you use some type of adhesive to stick it back?

Sep 23, 2018 at 02:28 PM

Jeffrey
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

If that black endcap is loose but not broken or cracked, glue it on. Thats probably how the others are.

Sep 23, 2018 at 03:23 PM

stanparker
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

I once bought a Manfrotto carbon fibre, very light weight, tripod from WalMart. It worked in the pinch I was in (left home without the big boy). Being so light and yet effective for other than long lenses, it is now my hiking tripod.

Sep 23, 2018 at 09:08 PM

Dustin Gent
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Tripod Emergency -Any Advice Appreciated

duct tape is probably the safest and easiest/cheapest route. As mentioned before, RRS is now located in Lehi and have a small store front I believe. Not "that" close to Antelope (a good 9+ hour RT drive), but Great Basin National Park is IN PRIME fall color right now and is close to here, and not many people visit there for some reason

Sep 24, 2018 at 10:28 AM


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