3 Legged Thing has revealed two new tripods as part of its popular Legends range which is inspired by the creativity and innovation of skateboarder, musician, photographer and 3LT Pro Team member, Ray
Barbee.
Both models are billed as travel tripods with the Bucky being taller than the Ray.
3 Legged Thing Ray
With a folded length of 35.6 cm / 14.02-inches, Ray is an ultra-compact, micro traveller tripod. However, despite its small size, like the Bucky, it’s able to take a load of up to 30 kg / 66 lbs.
SPECIFICATION
- Product type: Tripod
- Announced: 4th August 2020
- Construction: Carbon fibre tubes, hard anodised aerospace-grade magnesium alloy fixings
- Max Height: 129.5cm
- Minimum height: 104mm
- Leg sections: 5
- Centre column sections: 2
- Folded length: 34.2cm
- Leg angles: 23º, 55º, 80º
- Load capacity: 30kg / 66lb at 23º, 20Kg / 44lb at 55º, 10Kg /33lb at 80º
- Max tube diameter: 26mm
- Head height (with the kit): 98mm
- Weight: 1.27kg
3 Legged Thing Bucky
Taller than the Ray, the Bucky has a maximum height of 1.89 m / 74.48inches. However, it also has a minimum height of 11cm / 4.33inches, making for a versatile working range.
Whereas the Ray has a two-section centre column, the Bucky has a three-section column adding to its versatility.
Construction
3 Legged Thing has made both the tripods from 8 layers of 100% pure Japanese carbon fibre, and aerospace-grade anodised magnesium alloy. That combination is designed to give strength, rigidity and durability.
All of the legs on Ray and Bucky are detachable legs which means the tripods can be converted to table-top tripods with the addition of 3LT’s Vanz tripod footwear.
The legs can also be used as boom arms for microphones or lights, or joined to the centre column to create a monopod.
Three Legged Thing has used new style twist locks with ‘O-Pads’ that are designed to give better grip and water displacement.
Internally, the locks also have new-style shims (or Chicken Lips as 3LT calls them) to add strength and greater stability.
3LT’s Rapid Latch is designed to make it easy to adjust the leg angles when wearing thick gloves.
SPECIFICATION
- Product type: Tripod
- Announced: 4th August 2020
- Construction: Carbon fibre tubes, hard anodised aerospace-grade magnesium alloy fixings
- Max Height: 179.2cm
- Minimum height: 110mm
- Leg sections: 5
- Centre column sections: 3
- Folded length: 41cm
- Leg angles: 23º, 55º, 80º
- Load capacity: 30kg / 66lb at 23º, 20Kg / 44lb at 55º, 10Kg /33lb at 80º
- Max tube diameter: 26mm
- Weight: 1.52kg
Three Legged Thing made some weight reductions to the locks and canopy, while retaining their strength, to give the tripods’ impressive load to weight ratios.
AirHed Vu
3 Legged thing’s new tripod head, AirHed Vu is designed and engineered for strength. It features contoured security cut-outs in the detachable clamp to accommodate security pins in the underside of the new QR Octa quick-release plate (supplied with the head).
An added benefit of these cutouts is a reduction in the weight of the head.
There’s also a clear section in the head’s casing to make the mechanism visible.
In addition, all the knobs on the AirHed Vu have a knurled finish for better grip.
3 Legged Thing has also refined its Tri-mount plate, making it contoured for easier removal and mounting onto the canopy for low-level shooting. It also allows accessories to be mounted and has 6 1/4inch-20 screw threads.
Vanz
Further good news is that 3LT’s Vanz tripod footwear is now available.
The Vanz are a hybrid of Stilettoz and Bootz, enabling users to turn 3LT’s Legends and Pro Range 2.0 tripods into a table-top system by unscrewing the legs and replacing them with the Vanz.
Users without detachable-leg-tripods can still use Vanz to elevate their tripod above rocky or mucky surfaces if the tripod has 3/8inch-16 or 1/4inch-20 threads on the feet.
Read our review of 3 Legged Thing Ray
Read our review of 3 Legged Thing Bucky
3 Legged Thing Ray, Bucky and Airhed Vu price and release date
3 Legged Thing is making the Ray, Bucky and Airhed Vu available for pre-order immediately from local retailers and direct from 3LeggedThing.com.
The two tripods will be available in two colour options, Earth Bronze with Ocean Blue head, or Metallic Slate Grey.
They are priced as follows:
Ray legs only, £319.99 / $329.99
Ray kit with AirHed Vu £389.99 / $429.99
Bucky legs only £379.99 / $399.99
Bucky kit with AirHed Vu £449.99 / $499.99
AirHed Vu (including QR-Octa) £149.99 / $169.99