NEW RRS Series-1 Travel Tripod

lsquare wrote in post #15522296
You sure? I looked at their 2013 catalogue and no where does it say their 1 series tripod uses carbon fibre. It does say they're using a special type of aluminium.

All of RRS's tripods are CF, save the tabletop model. The 1-series is clearly listed under "carbon fiber tripods" on the site. By looking at it you can clearly see the CF weave. The model chart shows carbon fiber as the construction material.

It is very carbon fiber.

Indecent Exposure wrote in post #15522404
It is very carbon fiber.

LOL yes indeed. On p. 7 of the catalog in item #4 that sentence apples to all their tripods. Look at the picture of the TQC-14 on p.19 of the catalog, as James says the carbon weave is clearly seen in the legs. Now look at the center column; it's black in color because it's made of aluminum. Big difference.

lsquare wrote in post #15522296
You sure? I looked at their 2013 catalogue and no where does it say their 1 series tripod uses carbon fibre. It does say they're using a special type of aluminium.

The legs in the catalogue photo appear to be carbon fiber, they look the same as the ones on my 34L.
Just rang them up, the legs are carbon.

peter_n wrote in post #15523613
LOL yes indeed. On p. 7 of the catalog in item #4 that sentence apples to all their tripods. Look at the picture of the TQC-14 on p.19 of the catalog, as James says the carbon weave is clearly seen in the legs. Now look at the center column; it's black in color because it's made of aluminum. Big difference.

It's weird that they would use an aluminum column. The tripod is pretty darn expensive already. How much are they really saving? I'd understand if you could adjust the center column at different angles and it needed to be clamped down. Here, the column only goes vertical to adjust for height.

It seems they use aluminum center columns throughout the range. With a regular tripod that wouldn't bother me but with a travel tripod you're concerned with weight. I wrote to them and asked about it last year and the reply was that they felt the cost to the customer for a CF center column was excessive. That doesn't make any sense to me at all given the price range their tripods are in.

They seem to modify their designs as they go along so maybe they'll improve the TQC-14 in the future. If they ditched that badly designed center column locking ring/base so slightly larger ballheads could be used and made the column of CF it would be much more competitive.

peter_n wrote in post #15527599
It seems they use aluminum center columns throughout the range. With a regular tripod that wouldn't bother me but with a travel tripod you're concerned with weight. I wrote to them and asked about it last year and the reply was that they felt the cost to the customer for a CF center column was excessive. That doesn't make any sense to me at all given the price range their tripods are in.

They seem to modify their designs as they go along so maybe they'll improve the TQC-14 in the future. If they ditched that badly designed center column locking ring/base so slightly larger ballheads could be used and made the column of CF it would be much more competitive.

additional cost with a ~$1000+ tripod.... how frugal of them

Indecent Exposure wrote in post #15522404
All of RRS's tripods are CF, save the tabletop model. The 1-series is clearly listed under "carbon fiber tripods" on the site. By looking at it you can clearly see the CF weave. The model chart shows carbon fiber as the construction material.

It is very carbon fiber.

Like I said, I was reading their catalogue...