Turkeygetpwnd38
WKR
Well the off season is hitting pretty hard in my house and I seem to have gone a little crazy on tripods. I've always had a two tripod system, one lightweight for backpacking and one heavier for glassing intensive hunts/close to truck. In the near future my wife will start cashing in some points on hunts and my son will start hunting as well. I want a little beefier tripod that they can shoot off and I can still use for those latter type of hunts. This won't be a review per se, just some observations that might help someone else going through the same process, but if you have any questions I can answer, feel free to ask. I'll periodically update as I use the tripods more. I want to be clear, the 324 and 24L are impressions only, I do not have field use with them.
Left to Right- Slik 632, Slik 624, Slik 733, Leofoto 324C, RRS 24L
624, 632, 733, 324, 24L
Backpacker-
I have been using the slik 624 for about 4 years. I'll swap between two heads typically, the tricer and rrs bpc-16. I recent picked up the silk 632 to replace the 624. Looks like the 632 will cut 7oz off without losing functionality, even have a bit more stability. It is a bit taller extended than the 624 with 3 leg sections out, the 4th section on the 624 is so thin it is only useful if kicking out two legs wide for glassing from a helinox. Entire setup will be under 1lb 11oz, perfect for binos and my small kowa 553.
632
624
BPC-16
Tricer
Heavy set-up
I've been using the 733 for several years, typically with the VA-5 head but some last year with the tricer. I've been mainly happy with it, like I said just looking for a little more stability at a reasonable weight. I can glass standing from it (I'm 6') but have to spread the legs a bit and if the center column gets more than half way up it gets fairly wobbly. I haven't tried shooting from it other than using the side to brace off of using the FHF shooting V thing which works pretty well. Solid tripod for it's weight/price.
I picked up the Leofoto 324C with MA-30 head from a member here. I'm not a fan of companies knocking off American products, but decided it would be a good way to try a heavier set up. I also could not find the RRS equivalent in stock anywhere, been looking for months. First impressions are surprisingly positive. The head locks up rock solid, the twist locks are smooth, and carbon does not have as much flex as I was expecting. Fully extended I can stand and glass, still pretty solid with the lack of center column. I would likely carry the tricer on an arca plate to glass from, I don't mind glassing with binoculars from a ball head but a spotter is a no go for long sessions. Tripod with ball head is 3lbs 14oz, with the tricer it would be right at 4lbs. The 733 with VA-5 head was 4lbs as well, so should be same weight with added stability and versatility.
After getting the 324, I found a RRS 24L used through B&H photo. It was too good of a deal to pass up and had been out of stock everywhere else for a while so ordered it. The thing is a beast! As soon as I pulled it out of the box, I knew it was likely too much tripod for me. After combing through the forums, it seemed to be highly recommended as the "if you are only getting one/do it all RRS tripod." Legs are substantially thicker than the 324. Fully extended the base is eye level with me, taller than the 324 and plenty tall to glass from standing. I was expecting to be blown away by this thing, and it is rock solid and impressive, but I am a bit disappointed. After weighing the tripod, it came in at 4lbs 3oz. It's listed on their site as 3.69lbs, so almost a half pound heavier. Add on the 11oz MA30 head (cuts 3-4 oz off the anvil) and 4oz tricer, now sitting over 5lbs. I'm sure that's more than acceptable for some, especially PRS guys, but a little more than I wanted. I am curious if I could take out the last leg section, how much weight that would cut, but then would lose the ability to glass standing. I might should try the Ascend 14/14L.
324C
RRS 24L
733
VA5
Left to Right- Slik 632, Slik 624, Slik 733, Leofoto 324C, RRS 24L
624, 632, 733, 324, 24L
Backpacker-
I have been using the slik 624 for about 4 years. I'll swap between two heads typically, the tricer and rrs bpc-16. I recent picked up the silk 632 to replace the 624. Looks like the 632 will cut 7oz off without losing functionality, even have a bit more stability. It is a bit taller extended than the 624 with 3 leg sections out, the 4th section on the 624 is so thin it is only useful if kicking out two legs wide for glassing from a helinox. Entire setup will be under 1lb 11oz, perfect for binos and my small kowa 553.
632
624
BPC-16
Tricer
Heavy set-up
I've been using the 733 for several years, typically with the VA-5 head but some last year with the tricer. I've been mainly happy with it, like I said just looking for a little more stability at a reasonable weight. I can glass standing from it (I'm 6') but have to spread the legs a bit and if the center column gets more than half way up it gets fairly wobbly. I haven't tried shooting from it other than using the side to brace off of using the FHF shooting V thing which works pretty well. Solid tripod for it's weight/price.
I picked up the Leofoto 324C with MA-30 head from a member here. I'm not a fan of companies knocking off American products, but decided it would be a good way to try a heavier set up. I also could not find the RRS equivalent in stock anywhere, been looking for months. First impressions are surprisingly positive. The head locks up rock solid, the twist locks are smooth, and carbon does not have as much flex as I was expecting. Fully extended I can stand and glass, still pretty solid with the lack of center column. I would likely carry the tricer on an arca plate to glass from, I don't mind glassing with binoculars from a ball head but a spotter is a no go for long sessions. Tripod with ball head is 3lbs 14oz, with the tricer it would be right at 4lbs. The 733 with VA-5 head was 4lbs as well, so should be same weight with added stability and versatility.
After getting the 324, I found a RRS 24L used through B&H photo. It was too good of a deal to pass up and had been out of stock everywhere else for a while so ordered it. The thing is a beast! As soon as I pulled it out of the box, I knew it was likely too much tripod for me. After combing through the forums, it seemed to be highly recommended as the "if you are only getting one/do it all RRS tripod." Legs are substantially thicker than the 324. Fully extended the base is eye level with me, taller than the 324 and plenty tall to glass from standing. I was expecting to be blown away by this thing, and it is rock solid and impressive, but I am a bit disappointed. After weighing the tripod, it came in at 4lbs 3oz. It's listed on their site as 3.69lbs, so almost a half pound heavier. Add on the 11oz MA30 head (cuts 3-4 oz off the anvil) and 4oz tricer, now sitting over 5lbs. I'm sure that's more than acceptable for some, especially PRS guys, but a little more than I wanted. I am curious if I could take out the last leg section, how much weight that would cut, but then would lose the ability to glass standing. I might should try the Ascend 14/14L.
324C
RRS 24L
733
VA5
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