No Tripod Head Photography - Kingjoy C85 Tripod & RB-40 Review
Most landscape photographers use a tripod. But what if I suggested you don't need a tripod head? In this video, I head out on location to capture landscape photographs with the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 Carbon Fibre Tripod and RB-40 Compact Head. Is it really practical to capture landscape photographs with no tripod head?
Have You Lost Your Head?
The idea of using a tripod without a ball or geared head for landscape photography sounds a bit odd doesn’t it. But the suggestion of leaving a bulky or heavy tripod head behind is exactly what tripod manufacturer Kingjoy is now giving you as an option. You may remember the name Kingjoy as I reviewed their C83 carbon fibre tripod recently.
The RB-40 Compact Head (yes, I know it’s still a head) isn’t like any other tripod head I’ve seen before. It’s small, flat, and light. The reason it can be this small is that aside from have an arca-Swiss style slot, and the ability pan, it does nothing else. It can’t tilt or tip. So, with the head locked flat, and therefore the camera as well, how do you adjust your composition?
This is where the Kingjoy C85 tripod comes in. The C85 has a levelling bowl as standard, allowing free movement of the surface area where the RB-40 attaches. To tilt or tip the camera, you simply do so by adjusting the levelling bowl (plate). But is this system any better than a traditional head? Will the limitations on the amount of tilt and tip be, well, too limiting for landscape photography?
To find out I head out on location to review and put to the test the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 Carbon Fibre Tripod and RB-40 Compact Head.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
If you’d like to purchase either or both items, you can do so using the links below:
💳 You can purchase the Kingjoy SolidRock C85 Carbon Fibre Tripod HERE.
💳And you can purchase the Kingjoy RB-40 Compact Head HERE.
🎥 And you can watch a video review of the Kingjoy SolidRock C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod HERE.
Use the code kjbaird5 and you'll get a 5% discount.
Dartmoor Landscape Photographs - Belstone Common
Here are the photographs you saw me capture in the video.
Belstone Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/15 sec at ISO 64.
Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/30 sec at ISO 64.
Irishman’s Wall, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 26mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 64.
A Dartmoor View #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 64.
A Dartmoor View #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/20 sec at ISO 64.
On Location Review of the Kingjoy C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod
All tripods are the same right? Not exactly. While they all have three legs, some are better than others. When it comes to landscape photography you need something that is lightweight, stable and easy to use. In this video I review the Kingjoy SolidRock C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod out to Dartmoor to see if it can fit my needs as an outdoor photographer!
The New King of Tripods?
It’s very easy to assume that all tripods are the same. They all have three legs, and they support your camera. However, if you are a landscape photographer a tripod is an essential item and your tripod needs to be lightweight, stable, and easy to use.
I’ve had the same two tripods for years and it’s only recently that I’ve been looking about for something new. Why two tripods I hear you ask? One for stills photography, and the other for video. And yes, I need to do both at the same time otherwise I couldn’t make my YouTube videos. The reason I’m looking for something new is that as my cameras and lenses change, so do my requirements for tripods.
For my current setup of cameras and lenses I needed something robust, stable, and well built, but not at Gitzo level prices. I had heard some good reports about Kingjoy tripods but it’s not a brand I immediately think of when considering a new tripod. But when they reached out to me and asked if I wanted a loan of their C83 carbon fibre tripod I said yes. I’ve got nothing to lose and I might find myself pleasantly surprised.
With my loan C83 in hand, I head off to Dartmoor for some landscape photography to see if this is a tripod that I would buy.
If you’d like to buy a Kingjoy SolidRock C83 Carbon Fibre Tripod, you do so direct from Kingjoy UK here - https://kingjoyuk.com/products/kingjoy-solidrock-c83-carbon-fibre-tripod?sca_ref=2948686.NWDrPIWIBg
*** Use the code kjbaird5 and you'll get a 5% discount ***
Landscape Photographs of Beardown Tors
Beardown Tors Sunset #5, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/25 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Beardown Tors Sunset #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Beardown Tors Sunset #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 17mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Beardown Tors Sunset #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 0.6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL, 4:5 crop..
Beardown Tors Sunset #4, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm, f/13, 1.6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.