Have Camera Will Travel - Reviews & Tips HomepageHave Camera Will Travel - Reviews & Tips

David Coleman Photography

  • Reviews & Tips
  • GoPro
  • Lightroom
  • Places
  • Photos
  • Reviews
    • Nikon
    • Sony
    • Fujifilm
    • Cameras
    • Lenses
    • Sample Images
    • Travel Tripods
    • Adventure Cameras
    • 360°
  • Memory Cards
  • GoPro
  • Flash
  • Travel Tripods
  • Books
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Twitter

Hands-On with the Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Ground Pod

The Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Ground Pod might be short, but don't let that fool you. It's an unusually strong and stable shooting platform when using large lenses or heavy gear.

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods, Tripods
Tags: Really Right Stuff
Last updated about 3 months ago // Originally published about 3 years ago

In my ongoing search for the best travel tripods, I’m often intrigued by tabletop tripods. That’s not strictly a class of tripods, but they share something in common: they’re short. They’re designed for either shooting low to the ground or for putting it on top of something else.

Beyond that, there are huge differences. Tripods that might fall in that category run the gamut from small and flimsy and fitting in your pocket to super-solid shooting platforms for heavy rigs.

This one is firmly at the strong and stable end of the range.

Its full name is the Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod. It’s a very short tripod that sits very low to the ground. With a maximum height of under 14 inches, it’s basically shin height. So it’s good either for low-perspective shooting or for standing it on top of something else (like a table top). I recently borrowed one from B&H to take a hands-on look at it.

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

For a sense of scale, here’s what it looks like with a Nikon D3400 and Oben BC-166 (camera and ballhead aren’t included). The legs are fully extended in this shot.

Its carbon fiber legs are in two sections. By default, it’s sold as legs-only, without a head.

As usual with Really Right Stuff gear, it’s beautifully crafted with a lot of attention to detail, and every piece of it is made in the United States. RRS gear unapologetically aims at the premium end of the market, and that’s often reflected in the price. With an MSRP of $475 for the standard version (more if you choose added options), it’s certainly not cheap, but it’s in the same ballpark as its nearest competitor.

Legs

The legs are in two sections. The bottom sections extend, but they don’t extend very far. Even fully extended, the height maxes out at under 14 inches.

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

With the legs fully extended.

The extensions lock in place with solid twist locks. The angle of each leg can be set independently, with spring-loaded ratchet locks at the top.

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

It has a very broad base, so it will work well with larger tripod heads and video heads.

On top is a bubble level.

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

There’s a bubble level on the top, and the base uses a standard 3/18-16 stud.

The base that a head fits on is unusually broad and takes large tripod heads comfortably.

Center Column

There isn’t one.

Under the base is a small hook that can be used to hang ballast for added stability or if you need to batten down the hatches.

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

This is with it turned upside down. Underneath the base is a hook for attaching ballast.

Feet

It comes with rubber feet. They’re removable, so you can replace them steel spikes (available separately) or other feet or mounting points if you like.

As a Travel Tripod

The TVC-32G isn’t strictly a travel tripod in the usual sense, but it can certainly be used as one. And at first glance, it certainly looks very promising with respect to saving space in your carry-on. When I first saw it, I was excited at the prospect of it taking up only a tiny space in my bag.

But when you look at it in person you find that what it reduces in length it adds in girth. When I first went to pack it, I found that I had to rearrange the configuration of my case’s dividers to make it fit.

That’s because of the very broad shoulders at the top. It ends up being a different shape in your bag to a regular travel tripod, but it doesn’t necessarily end up saving any space overall. It’s still small, mind you–just not as compact as I originally imagined.

Here’s an example of what I mean, with it side-by-side with the RRS TFC-14 travel tripod:

Really Right Stuff TVC-32G Versa Series 3 Ground Carbon Fiber Tripod

But, of course, you’re ending up with a much stronger platform than most travel tripods, so there is that. If you do take it with you traveling, it can easily handle large telephoto lenses or medium-format cameras and is also a very good platform for the heavier rigs involved in shooting video. Because of its low stature, it’s also an attractive option for macro photography either in the field or studio.

Compared To

The closest competitor that comes to mind is the Induro Baby Grand. They’re similar sizes and weights, although the Induro has a rated load capacity of three times the RRS (165 pounds vs. 50 pounds).

Another similar option is the Varavon Baby T3 mini tripod, although the RRS, in turn, has a much higher load capacity than the Varavon (50 pounds vs. 17.6 pounds).

What’s in the Box?

There’s the tripod and . . . well, that’s about it, at least in the standard package. You can also order it with various options, such as with or without a leveling base, as well as different handles and platform types.

But there’s no case or attachments included such a steel spikes, so you’ll need to pick those up separately if you want them.

Because it uses a standard 3/8-16 stud, it will work with just about any tripod head. If you want to pair it with one from RRS, their venerable BH-55 ballhead would be a good choice.

Specifications

Load Capacity: 50 pounds / 23 kg
Maximum Height: 13.7 inches / 34.9 cm
Minimum Height: 2.9 inches / 7.3 cm
Folded Length: 10.1 inches / 25.6 cm
Weight: 2.5 pounds / 1.1 kg

Buy it At

For the longest time, you could only by Really Right Stuff gear directly from the manufacturer. You can still get it there, but you can also now get them at B&H Photo.

By David Coleman
Instagram: @havecamerawilltraveldc

Last updated on October 12, 2020

Categories: Reviews, Travel Tripods, Tripods
Tags: Really Right Stuff

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

News & Deals

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s some great deals on photography gear and services available. I’ve put together a roundup of Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2020 Photography Deals. It’s a running list as new deals are announced, so be sure to check back.

Canon announces new EOS Rebel T8i DSLR. Canon has announced their new T8i DSLR. 24MP APS-C cropped CMOS sensor, 4K24 video, and updated image processing and detection systems. It’s available for preorder from B&H Photo.

New Firmware for the Ricoh GR III. Ricoh has release firmware v1.31 for the GR III. Release notes are: “Corrected — When shooting with the multiple exposure, in rare cases the live view may not display correctly. Improved stability for general performance.” You can download it here.

New Canon 1D X Mark III Pro DSLR Announced. Canon has announced their new flagship model of pro DSLR, the 1D X Mark III. They’re sticking with a 20.1MP CMOS sensor, but it’s a new and improved version and boasts an incredible native ISO range of ISO 100 to ISO 102400 and an extended range that goes up to a jaw-dropping ISO 819200. With revamped autofocus, a new image processor, and all sorts of other bells and whistles, it’s no wonder that Canon is billing it as “The Ultimate EOS.”

New Manfrotto Pro Rugged Memory Cards. Manfrotto, an Italian probably best known for their tripods and studio accessories, has launched a new Pro Rugged range of high-end SD, microSD, and CompactFlash cards. While they don’t have a huge selection of sizes and speeds, the cards are aiming for very fast cards that can put up with rugged demands. For instance, they claim that their V90 rated SD cards can withstand three times the force (20kg / 45 lbs) of a regular SD card. I’ve ordered some to run through my speed tests.

New Sony Alpha a7 firmware released. A firmware update for the Sony a7R IV now lets you control external Sony flashes from the camera’s own menu system. Up to 15 flashes in five groups can be controlled via the camera. It also applies to the a7R III and a7 III.

Questions & Comments Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

About Me

I take photos. I travel. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between.

Get in Touch

Newsletter

© 2009–2021 David Coleman · Have Camera Will Travel LLC · all rights reserved


Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


Privacy & Disclosure · Cookie Declaration · Disclaimer · Terms of Service · Copyright · Contact


XML Sitemap