The RRS TVC-34L is the overhead long version of their 3 series. It has the exact same construction with four sections and longer tubes. Like all Really Right Stuff tripods, it is very light for its height and stiffness. When extended to the same height as the TVC-33 version, the stiffness of the TVC-34L is slightly less than its smaller sibling, but not by much.
Name | RRS TVC-34L |
Class | Systematic |
Yaw Stiffness | 1117 +/- 3 Nm/rad |
Yaw Damping | 0.253 +/- 0.025 Js/rad |
Pitch Stiffness | 3200 +/- 9 Nm/rad |
Pitch Damping | 0.624 +/- 0.062 Js/rad |
Retail Price | $1100 |
Weight | 4.53 lbs (2.055 kgs) |
Manufacturer weight rating | 50 lbs |
Maximum Height | 67.8 in (172.2 cm) |
Minimum Height | 4.0 in (10.2 cm) |
Center Column | No |
Base Diameter | 3.0 in (7.6 cm) |
Folded Length | 23.7 in (60.2 cm) |
Folded Circumference | 15.1 in (38.4 cm) |
Folded Volume | 430.0 cu. in. (7.0 liters) |
Leg Material | Carbon Fiber |
Leg Sections | 4 |
Primary Leg Angle | 26.0 deg |
Leg Locks | Twist |
Top Tube Diameter | 36.7 mm |
Second Tube Diameter | 32.7 mm |
Third Tube Diameter | 28.5 mm |
Fourth Tube Diameter | 24.6 mm |
Exchangeable Feet | Yes |
Foot Type | Rubber |
Bottom Hook | Yes |
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 down.
Bonus Data:
Stiffness vs Height:
Example data for oscillations about the vertical axis of the tripod:
Good looking data. Nice exponential decay.
Example data for oscillations about the radial axis of the tripod:
A lot more damping in the pitch direction. We certainly fit the right resonance. The broadness of the peak in the frequency space is a direct consequence of higher damping.