Author: Francesco Gola

Rock Solid: A German Revolution

Rollei GmbH & Co. KG Tarpen 40, Gebäude 7bD-22419 HamburgCEO: Thomas Güttler

Tel. +49 (0)40 / 7 97 55 71-0Fax +49 (0)40 / 7 97 55 71-60welcome@rollei.comwww.rollei.com

FIELD TEST

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Rock Solid: A German Revolution

Introduction

When I bought my first camera I had clear ideas: only a fool can think to carry around a heavy, bulky tripod to take pictures which made freehand, they are done equally well.

Ideas so clear, that if now I look on my right, I can count almost a dozen of tripods.

Maybe I‘m just crazy, but if you are reading this article you too might simply have come to my own inescapable conclusion: between the equipment of a good landscape photographer cannot miss a great tripod.

Until a few years ago the market offered only a few quality products and all, in one way or another, we have always been seduced by the historical brands and we made our purchases a little bit by word of mouth and a little bit for prejudice.

Fortunately, times have changed and several companies have entered this market segment with products that are the envy of the historical brands, which are still lying on the laurels of the past.

Not everything that glitters is gold and many were the disappointments, but there are cases of excellence and one of these is undoubtedly that of the new ”Rock Solid“ series produced by Rollei.

Note: This review is based (as well as of absolutely personal opinions) on field trial mercilessly for about three months of products not yet placed on the market, so some construction details may have been changed (for the better I assume).

Features

The Rock Solid series is designed for professional photographers and advan-ced amateurs, and is composed of three tripods: Alpha, Beta and Gamma.

Although similar to each other and with the technical and constructional characteristics in common, each of these three tripods has peculiarities that makes it unique.

Let‘s look together:

Note 2: I‘m sorry, but as a good Italian, I grew up with bread, Nutella and Manfrotto, so this will be my inevitable comparison, considering that I use them for more than 8 years. If you are faint of heart, this review is not for you…

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Gamma:

It is the smallest of the family, but does not lack anything. Look at the characteristics:

• Weight: 1.35 Kg

• Maximum extension: 151 cm

• Maximum load: 16 kg

• Closed Length: 47.5 cm

As I write the look can only fall on my Manfrotto 190 CX PRO4, one of tripods I most loved: Gamma is more compact, it weighs less, has a higher maximum load and yes ... it‘s bloody more graceful.

As if not enough, the center column can be removed, making the tripod even lighter. Excellent also the possibility of remove the leg and turn it into a mono-pod: two products in one!

The range of features make it undoubtedly one of the tripods for travel pho-tographers and naturalists who seek a perfect balance between dimensions, weight and maximum extension.

Beta:

The first time I took it in my hands I was really tense, it was clear that if on the field had behaved well, we probably would have become inseparable friends. Why? Look at the characteristics:

• Weight: 1.71 Kg

• Maximum extension: 165 cm

• Maximum load: 22 kg

• Closed Length: 51 cm

In short, Beta, compared to my inseparable Manfrotto 055 CX PRO4 is lighter, more compact, it loads more than twice the weight and has a nominal diame-ter of the individual segments, higher by about 4 mm (thus ensuring greater stability)

The Beta features make it perfect for landscape photographers looking for extreme strength, to a reasonable weight and dimensions.

For those interested, Beta also allows you to remove a leg to turn it into a monopod, and gives you the option to remove the center column helping to further reduce weight and achieve a low shot working positions!

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Alpha:

It is the older brother of the series. Already with a look we realize that it is different from the Beta and Gamma not only in size, but also for some con-structive characteristics, first of all the absence of the central column and the resultant different attachment plate for the head.But let‘s see the characteristics:

• Weight: 2,2Kg

• Maximum extension: 156 cm

• Maximum load: 24 kg

• Closed Length: 57 cm

Apart from the fact that weighs like my Manfrotto 055 CX PRO4 despite the superior features, what really catches the eye is the payload: over 24 kg!

This makes it perfect for nature photographers, as it supports massive tele-photo lenses. The absence of the center column allows you to lower the mini-mum working height of just 11 cm: perfect for ambushes by lying!

The coupling plate is wider allowing to have an extended legs circle on ground with a greater diameter (significantly contributing to the stability of the telephoto lens-tripod system).

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Although so different, there are characteristics that are common to all three products:

• All tripods are made up of four segments ensuring a really good ratio be-tween maximum extension and dimensions for the transportation;

• Each segment is made up of eight layers of carbon with a cross-matrix. This means that while remaining lightweight, they are also incredibly rigid unli-ke many tripods four segments that I‘ve tried. We are not talking of fishing rods: have flexible legs means risking your own equipment, as well as being more susceptible to camera shake from vibration;

• All the segments are made of carbon fiber, while all the connecting ele-ments are made of magnesium, which with its very low density and high specific strength make it lightweight;

• Closure of the segments is quick-release lock type: just a little spin on the block and the leg falls as desired; another reverse rotation will block the position. I love it!

• The change of the angle of the legs is through „pull-release“: this means that by pulling the specific plate, the leg is free. As for most of the profes-sional tripods, are three the positions of use, which vary from about 50° to 180°;

• At the base of the tripod where the legs are grafted, there is a hook to which you can hang your backpack (or a weight): this is a feature often overlooked, but when you place the tripod on a cliff with a strong wind, think again!

• The attachment plates of the head are equipped with connection 3/8 inch and 1/4 inch, making them in fact compatible with 100% of the heads on the market on the planet Earth;

• The rubber feet on the tripod can be removed and in their place can be grafted a metal tip .. perfect for firmly attach the tripod on surfaces such as lawns, where the rubber foot is ineffective;

• All three tripods are sold with transport bag and maintenance kit that in-cludes keys for disassembly, replacement hub for central column (Beta and Gamma), and replacement plates (Alpha).

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In the design of the Rock Solid series, Rollei also implements my beloved main-tenance features already seen and appreciated in the small ”Tripod Compact Traveler No.1 Carbon“.

Specifically, unlike the majority of the tripods that I and all of Manfrotto tri-pods I work for years and years, Alpha, Beta and Gamma are completely and easily removable and assemblable!

Just by removing a leg of Beta I have seen a very important feature: in ad-dition to the Teflon bush to permit the guide and sliding between a leg and the other, there’s a special bush that will prevent the entrainment of sand or other solid particles in the upper leg, thus avoiding scratches and seizures leg! For how and where I use the tripods, for me only this „dust proof“ fea-ture would justify the purchase!

On the field

As I said at the outset, I was lucky enough to try them out in the field con-tinuously for about three months from the date of publication of this article. All tripods have been used with my usual landscape photographer equip-ment and trying heads of different types and suppliers (ball, gimball and geared, Rollei and Manfrotto).

Here is a summary list and not exhaustive of all that I tried to test, even with undoubtedly unscientific methods:

• Overall Stability

• Behavior at low temperatures

• Resistance to the sand

• Resistance to water and corrosion

• Behaviour in rough surfaces

• Vibration damping

The overall impression for all Rock Solid is that of absolute reliability and stability.

There is no area in which they are unable to adapt, and there is no compo-sition too complicated to have to give up.

The 48h past inside my freezer show how also in the case of low temperature, all sliding surfaces are free, and also rolling it in many occasions in the sand before closing it again, the anti-seizure gaskets work perfectly.

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Regarding the vibration damping issue, very dear to me, I made a recording of impulse vibration (shot with my finger on one of the tripod legs): with all the tripods the absorption time is less than two seconds.

Then comparing the vibration of the Beta (4 segments) with a Manfrotto 055 CX PRO3 (3 segments, then theoretically with faster absorption) the results are even more surprising, because the Beta absorbs the impulse more rapidly. In short, the choice of 8 carbon layers cross-matrix seems very appropriate!

Conclusions

If you know me or if you‘re used to read my reviews, you know perfectly well that I never incline to a product of which I am not convinced.

The Rock Solid series has really exceeded all my expectations, both in terms of build quality and reliability in the field.

Alpha, Beta and Gamma are three formidable instruments, designed for the needs of professional photographers who do not seek compromise. What is my choice among the three? Hard to say, because they saw the specific pecu-liarities, each one is better suited to certain situations, even if as a landscape convinced, I believe that I and Beta, we will spend a lot of time together!

For now, the certainty is only one: it‘s time for early retirement for some old glories here behind me..