Magnesium Alloy Tripod System
Review by Dave Williams
Part of the Pro Range by 3 Legged Thing, Charles 2.0 is the revamped version of a tripod that was already great. This magnesium alloy tripod system is what you need for stability and support when shooting astro, studio work, landscape, or any other genre that needs a slightly larger tripod. The key characteristics of this tripod are its size, extending to 72.8″ (1.85 m) and a rated load capacity of 88 lbs (44 kg), which is a whopping 18:1 load-to-weight ratio.
The Charles 2.0 collapses to leg sections consisting of three extendable elements and one center column. Each of the three legs is detachable and can act as a monopod, light arm, mic boom, or anything else you can think of that would benefit from 75.9″ (1.93 m) of reach with a screw thread at the end. The leg sections are tightened with a twist-mechanism, making for great ergonomics and preventing accidental unlocking. You can purchase the Charles 2.0 tripod alone ($299.99) or with an optional 3 Legged Thing’s AirHed Pro proprietary ball head ($399.99), so you can use the ball head you already have if you want, or invest in an entirely new system depending on your needs.
Each of the three legs has a rubber foot-cap, replaceable with optional alternate “footwear” to provide a different type of grip on different surfaces. This is a great feature of all 3 Legged Thing tripods.
Inside the box with Charles 2.0, you get the tripod (and the AirHed if you selected it), a tough nylon carry-bag with a strap, and a Toolz carabiner multitool. The total weight of the kit comes in at 5.37 lbs (2.44 kg) so this tripod won’t fit easily as hand luggage for travelers, but it’s ideal for studios.
The 3 Legged Thing Charles 2.0 is a top-notch photography tripod that combines exceptional weight-bearing capabilities for heavy camera gear with outstanding functionality and excellent aesthetics.
