Test Results

Both the stiffness and damping for the Centennial are excellent for a tripod with a center column and for a tripod at this price point.  The only similar tripods that out perform it are either much larger or much more expensive.

Yaw Stiffness	790 +/- 4 Nm/rad
Yaw Damping	0.373 +/- 0.037 Js/rad
Pitch Stiffness	1853 +/- 7 Nm/rad
Pitch Damping	0.855 +/- 0.086 Js/rad

The stiffness and damping data are the averages of 10 trials for each measurement.  The reported error is the standard error, except in the case of the damping data. I have set the error in the damping at 10% as the standard error metric does not appropriately capture the error in fitting to the data.  All of the reported specifications are measured, with the exception of the weight rating. The tripod is measured at full height, with the center column (if applicable) down.

Even though the tube diameters are smaller than similar tripods made of the same carbon fiber, the Centennial outperforms them due to the choice of a wider leg angle.  The leg angle is incredibly important in making an efficient tripod design, and we see that play out positively here.  Normally, we expect to see the pitch stiffness at least three times higher than the yaw stiffness, which is not the case here.  I suspect that this is due to the soft rubber used on the top plate and lack of a set screw.  During pitch oscillations, this rubber allows for some give, reducing the stiffness.  We do see a corresponding significant increase in the pitch damping compared to the yaw, as is expected if the rubber pad is the culprit.  Again, I would like to see a harder material used as the damping pad as well as a larger diameter top plate.

Test Results sans Center Column

The Colorado Tripod Company seems to be emphasizing the use of the Centennial without the center column as a weight savings measure.  This is evidenced by the pictures and specifications on their website, as well as the fact that the tripod is shipped with the center column detached.   Below are the test results for the Centennial when the center column is removed.

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As you can see, the stiffness is significantly worse when the center column is removed.  For many, this may be a surprising result as the general wisdom is that center columns reduce stiffness.  It isn’t the presence of the center column itself that reduces stiffness, but the method by which it is attached to the rest of the apex.  As shown on the design & operation page, the attachment of the top plate to the apex for the Centennial is weak without the center column.  There is slippage that is very noticeable with the test bar mounted on the tripod.  Whenever there is slippage like this, the stiffness falls and the damping dramatically increases as the friction during the ‘slip’ efficiently absorbs vibrational energy.  Stiffness is king though, and so this increase in damping does not somehow cancel out the drop in performance.  My recommendation is to always use the tripod with the center column installed, unless you need to remove it for low angle shots.  Removing it for weight savings alone isn’t worth the drop in performance.

Bonus Data:

Example Test Data

The following data is example raw data from the stiffness and damping measurements.  The relevant information with regards to the tripod performance is entirely contained within the stiffness and damping figures presented above.  The plots below are solely present so that the tested stiffness and damping figures are believed. Each plot and the corresponding Fourier frequency space plot correspond to one of the ten trials done on each axis to obtain the test results.  For a more in depth discussion on the meaning of these graphs, see the methodology section and the understanding the test results page.

Yaw

Very clean data.  Again, good stiffness and damping performance.

Pitch

The soft rubber on the top plate provides a lot more damping for pitch oscillations.  More damping is more difficult to measure, which is why the graphs are a little noisier here.  Still no doubt about finding the right resonance line here though.