Why I Prefer the Really Right Stuff “L” (Extra Tall) Tripods
Often on a slope or near a creek, I need one really long leg downhill.
Shown below is the Really Right Stuff TVC-24L with one leg fully extended down into the creek bottom. Without that length, I could not have gotten the position I wanted for the shot.
The TVC-24L is about $985. I consider it a lifetime investment.
Below, climbing an icy boulder field at 30° inclination, I needed the longer 'L' model leg length to find a suitable positioning for the tripod; that leg in front found a deep hole and needed full extension. The green-taped leg is gaffer's tape over one leg to keep my hand warm and for some cushy feel; it wraps a bubble-pack mylar-coated envelope. I used this position for View Down Icy Ravine in Milvus 18mm f/2.8 Examples: Eastern Sierra, Late Season.
The Arca Swiss Cube geared head saves me time constantly versus a ballhead; for my type of shooting, I want to level things and make fine compositional adjustments. A ballhead is great for some uses, but not for landscape IMO.
Below, Really Right Stuff TVC-24L in use in a typical scenario. The rubber feet work best for me.