Really Right Stuff TA-3-LB-LP leveling base for the Versa 3 tripod series from RRS with star knob

Really Right Stuff TA-3-LB-LP leveling base for Versa 3 with star knob

If you work with a Versa Series 3 tripod from Really Right Stuff or use a Gitzo Systematic Series 3 or 4, you know this: the ground is rarely truly level. The Really Right Stuff TA-3-LB-LP leveling base replaces the existing tripod base plate and gives you a cleanly defined, quickly aligned platform in return. Not complicated, just practical.

Mounting is done via a 75 mm video adapter bowl, i.e. exactly the 75 mm half ball that is intended for this system. The star knob is turned to clamp or release, and in everyday use it feels pleasantly direct, even with gloves or when things get hectic.

Level quickly, even with a heavy setup

Here we have an adjustment range of plus/minus 15 degrees, which usually lets you get the head level quickly without having to fiddle with the leg sections. Especially with video setups, long telephoto lenses, or a head with a lot of mass, this is a real time saver because you don’t have to keep making corrections.

The maximum load capacity is about 11 kg. This is not meant as a theoretical value, but for serious combinations. And yet the insert remains pleasantly light: depending on the specification, the weight is around 342 g; in practice it feels more like a small, compact module than a heavy block.

Stable support, steady image, clean workmanship

The platform has a diameter of 7.4 cm and is designed so that tripod heads sit securely and don’t wander unnecessarily. There is also an anti-stick polymer coating on the mounting plate, which calms the contact and reduces vibrations. It’s the kind of detail you only really appreciate when working in windy conditions or on hard surfaces.

The TA-3-LB-LP is made from 6061 T6 aluminum and black anodized to Type II. The height is 8.6 cm, keeping the whole unit slim enough without making operation fiddly. And yes, the bubble level is not tiny: you get a clearly visible bull’s-eye level that is still easy to read even in poor light.

Compatibility, threads, and modular use of the video bowl

For connecting to the head, there is a 3/8 inch 16 UNC mounting thread, i.e. the common 3/8 inch 16. This makes the leveling base compatible with most professional heads. The TA-3-LB-LP fits the Really Right Stuff Versa Series 3 as well as the Gitzo Systematic Series 3 and Gitzo Systematic Series 4, in each case provided that the 75 mm video adapter bowl is used.

The TA-3-VB video bowl is included. And it’s more than just an accessory: the leveling unit can be removed separately, so you can also mount other accessories for 75 mm video bowls if needed. This makes the system flexible without having to rebuild everything each time.