Really Right Stuff (RRS), known for its premium camera support systems, has announced its most affordable carbon fiber tripod lineup yet. The Core Line includes two tripods to start, the Benchmark and the Benchmark Inverted, with RRS promising more in the future.
Both the Benchmark and Benchmark Inverted use the company's in-house carbon fiber technology. RRS says the entire carbon manufacturing process is now done in its facilities in Lehi, Utah, from raw fiber selection to finished tubes. It says that bringing production in-house allowed for significantly reduced costs while maintaining its high quality standards, resulting in what RRS says is a 32% lower price than the most comparable RRS substitutes.
The Benchmark Inverted features an inverted leg design that aims to make leg adjustments faster. Image: Really Right Stuff
The Benchmark Inverted is a three-section carbon fiber tripod with an inverted leg design, which allows users to extend or collapse the legs from the top without needing to reposition or bend down. It uses the company's twist lock system (Tacti-Stop), which provides tactile feedback when they are loosened enough, preventing users from twisting the locks too far. Those locks are also weather-sealed.
The inverted model offers four leg angle selections (24, 44, 64 and 84 degrees), which is up from three on previous models, making it easier to level the tripod on uneven terrain. It features magnetic pull tabs that are easy to adjust, even when wearing gloves.
The tripod weighs 1.6 kg (3.6 lbs) and has a working load capacity of 40 lb. It offers a minimum height of 11.8 cm (4.6") and a maximum height of 155.2 cm (61.1"), and measures 67.3 cm (26.5") when folded down. While it has a similar weight to some travel options, its folded size means you probably won't be able to fit it in a backpack, so you'll need to consider how to attach it to your bag.
The Benchmark is the more traditional tripod without an inverted leg design. Image: Really Right Stuff
The Benchmark is similar in most ways, though it features four-section legs instead of three, and doesn't have the inverted design. It features the same Tacti-Stop twist locks with weather sealing, four leg angles to choose from and magnetic pull tabs for easy leg angle adjustments.
Those with heavier rigs or who want a bit more reach will benefit from the non-inverted Benchmark. It offers a 34 kg (75 lb) maximum capacity, a minimum height of 10.7 cm (4.2") and tops out at 177 cm (69.7"). Of course, that comes with added bulk, too. It weighs 1.7 kg (3.8 lbs) and folds down to 60 cm (23.6"). Like the inverted model, the weight isn't out of the question for hiking and travel, but it isn't very compact when folded.
The Benchmark tripod starts at $945 without a head. It can also be bundled with RRS's Anvil-30 ARC ballhead for $1290, or with the BH-40-LR-II ballhead for $1360. The Benchmark Inverted starts at $795 for the tripod, or can be bundled with the same ballheads for $1150 and $1215, respectively.
Press release
Really Right Stuff Introduces the Core Line
Lehi, UT – May 12th, 2026 – Really Right Stuff, LLC (RRS) today announced the Core Line, an all-new series of carbon fiber tripods featuring the company’s latest in-house carbon fiber technology. Designed and manufactured entirely at RRS’s Lehi, Utah facility, the Core Line delivers true RRS performance at a more accessible price point.
Purpose
The Core Line was developed to bring premium Really Right Stuff support systems to a broader audience of photographers, videographers, and precision shooters. After years of research and development, RRS brought the entire carbon fiber manufacturing process in-house — from raw fiber selection to finished tubes.
This vertical integration has allowed RRS to significantly reduce costs while maintaining the uncompromising quality, stiffness, and durability that professionals expect from the RRS brand. Combined with a direct-to-consumer model, the Core Line offers exceptional value without sacrificing the stability and precision that define Really Right Stuff.
Target Market
The Core line is engineered for shooters and creators who demand rock-solid stability with price point in mind. Integrating the new Core line of carbon fiber within our tripods, we aim to serve the following customers:
Competition and precision rifle shooters
Hunters (including predator and big-game)
Landscape and astrophotographers
Multi-row panoramic photographers
Telephoto wildlife photographers using heavy lenses
The Core Line seamlessly integrates with RRS’s existing ecosystem of ball heads, quick-release plates, and accessories, allowing users to build a complete, high-performance system.
About the Carbon Fiber
At the heart of the Core Line is RRS’s all-new proprietary carbon fiber, developed and produced entirely in-house. This advanced material achieves an optimal balance of lightweight design, exceptional stiffness, and vibration damping while delivering meaningful cost efficiency. Every tube is manufactured under strict quality control at the Lehi facility to ensure consistent performance and long-term durability.
Availability and Pricing
The Core Line will initially launch on two new tripod models, with additional configurations planned for the future. All Core Line tripods will be available exclusively through the Really Right Stuff website and at RRS headquarters in Lehi, Utah. Introductory pricing for Core Line tripods will range from $795 to $950 USD.
Microsoft has made a few attempts to compete with the Apple Silicon-powered MacBook Pros that many photographers know and love, but its latest effort may be the most tempting option yet. It features a 15-inch mini-LED display that can achieve up to 2000 nits peak brightness in HDR mode, an SD card slot for offloading images from cameras, and a chip from a surprising partner: Nvidia.
It's called the Surface Laptop Ultra*, and, from the outside, it seems to continue a lot of Microsoft traditions. It has a hypermodern design with a rectangular metal build, a large trackpad and a 3:2 display that gives you plenty of vertical real estate. It also has a good selection of I/O, with several USB-C ports, a USB-A port for older devices, HDMI output, a headphone jack and an SD card slot, though there aren't currently any details on what speeds you can expect from any of them.
It's under the hood that things start to look a little different. Rather than using a processor from one of the usual suspects – AMD, Intel or even Snapdragon – Microsoft has partnered with Nvidia to use its new RTX Spark system on a chip. While the company is a big player in the graphics card industry and has dabbled in CPUs in the past, it's been a long time since we've seen it make something designed for a consumer PC.
According to Nvidia, the CPU portion of Spark was made in collaboration with MediaTek and features 20 cores, which use the same ARM base as Apple's custom silicon. The GPU is a more familiar affair, though both parts of the chip share a pool of memory – up to 128GB in the Surface Laptop Ultra – which can help if you're trying to render giant photo or video projects. (Of course, it's also useful for running local AI models, a use case Microsoft and Nvidia both give ample time to in their press releases.)
Adobe says it will "rearchitect" Photoshop and Premiere to deliver better performance on the chip, especially when doing tasks that can be accelerated by the graphics processor, like color correction, compositing, using "live filters," and working in HDR. That's not just relevant for people interested in the Surface Laptop Ultra, though, as Nvidia says other manufacturers like Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Acer and Gigabyte will be using the Spark chips in some of their laptops, too, when it launches in the fall.
Part of Microsoft's pitch for the Surface Laptop Ultra as a tool for creatives is its ability to accelerate AI tasks like "noise reduction, intelligent masking, video upscaling, and AI-assisted code completion directly on-device." Image: Microsoft
There are only a few other details currently available about the Surface Laptop Ultra. Microsoft says it will weigh less than 2kg (4.5 lb), and features a new cooling system to help keep the Nvidia Spark running at peak performance. And, unlike Apple's laptops, it features a replaceable SSD. The company also promises "all-day" battery life.
The big question, of course, is price, especially in the age of ultra-expensive memory. It's also not clear what the base specs will be; sure, the Laptop Ultra can be optioned with 128GB of memory, but what will it start with?
The Surface Laptop Ultra will be available "later this year"
It'll also be interesting to see how the RTX Spark's performance stacks up against the options from more traditional manufacturers. While it'll likely have a leg up when it comes to AI tasks, how will it perform in everyday computing, or while editing large batches of high-resolution photos or rendering a video? We've seen other ARM chips designed for Windows computers, like the Snapdragon X Elite, compete with Apple's base-level M chips, but so far, there hasn't been any real competition for its Pro or Max chips until you get to more traditional x86 designs from AMD and Intel.
We may have to wait a bit to find out. Microsoft says the Surface Laptop Ultra will be available "later this year," and Nvidia says the RTX Spark will start arriving in systems this fall.
* - No, it's not lost on us that Apple has famously helped pioneer the use of the word "Ultra" in its branding.
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Updated June 1, 2026
Landscape photography is a demanding medium, requiring cameras with high resolution and dynamic range. When considering what cameras should make it on this list, we look at factors like weather-sealing, battery life and operability on a tripod.
We've selected cameras that are most likely to deliver the best possible image quality if you're going to spend hours hiking to the perfect location and waiting for the perfect light. For some picks, we've also considered the best image quality you can get at a certain size and weight of camera body.
The GFX 100S II uses the same sensor as the GFX 100 II, but puts it in a body with fewer features – though you do still get essentials like a tilting screen and a stabilized sensor. The result is the only camera with anywhere near this resolution that fits within the price limit of our buying guides, though do keep in mind that you'll also have to budget for medium-format lenses too, which, while excellent, don't come cheap.
The GFX 100S II has improved autofocus and burst rates compared to its predecessor, but its main strength will be landscapes or studio work where it won't have to track dynamic subjects. That makes it slightly less versatile than most of its full-frame competitors, but if you're doing purely landscape photography its image quality will be unparalleled unless you're willing to spend many thousands of dollars more.
Sample gallery
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Smaller, less expensive options
While the GFX100S II's image quality is unassailable, it's also relatively large, heavy and expensive. If you mostly shoot landscapes, but don't want quite as much bulk or cost, consider Sony's a7R V and a7CR. The cameras share a 61MP full-frame sensor, are much cheaper than the GFX, and use less expensive full-frame lenses. The a7CR is smaller than the a7R V, but uses a less flexible fully-articulating screen (versus the larger camera's tilting/fully-articulating), has a smaller, lower-res viewfinder, and doesn't have a mechanical front-curtain shutter.
Best camera for landscapes and more: Sony a7R VI
66MP Stacked CMOS sensor | >30fps with e-shutter, 10fps mech | >4K/120p video
The Sony a7R VI is a high-resolution full-frame camera with a stabilized 66.8MP stacked CMOS sensor.
Like previous a7Rs, it has strong landscape credentials as the highest resolution full-frame camera on the market, with the ability to read out both of its gain steps to let you exploit the deepest shadows. It's not just limited to static scenery, though; its sensor and autofocus are fast enough that it's capable of shooting faster-moving subjects and video, too.
The a7R VI captures tons of detail and dynamic range, especially when shooting with its mechanical shutter. Its autofocus is also some of the best out there, and is heavily customizable, with the ability to fine-tune the auto subject recognition modes and more. It also offers features like pre-capture and Speed Boost, which lets you temporarily increase or decrease your burst rate, to help make sure you get the shot without filling your memory cards too quickly.
It's a landscape camera that can stretch to other uses
Its electronic shutter modes don’t have the fastest rolling shutter speeds, but they’re controlled enough that you should be able to capture all but the fastest subjects without distortion. This is true in its video modes as well, even the 8K capture, which is oversampled from an 8.2K region.
While other cameras outperform the a7R VI in things like video or action shooting, it’s one of the most capable landscape cameras we’ve seen that can also stretch to those uses without too much effort.
Slight reduction in dynamic range in extreme scenarios
Temperamental eye control
Temperature limits in heaviest video modes
Canon's EOS R5 II is the company's latest high-end, full-frame mirrorless camera, built around a 45MP Stacked CMOS sensor.
If you need a camera that can handle whatever you throw at it, including the occasional landscape photo, the EOS R5 II is the one. Its sensor isn't the highest resolution, but it makes up for it with speed, letting you shoot up to 30fps. It also has the most capable autofocus system on this list, with its dedicated 'Action Priority' modes made specifically for shooting high-speed sports.
The 45MP Raws are highly detailed, and the JPEG sharpening and noise reduction are sensible. It can't quite match higher-resolution cameras like the A7R V, but performs well in its own right.
The EOS R5 II does a vast range of things, most of them extremely well: it's impressive for action, landscapes, video, you name it.
The grip is very well-shaped and proportioned, and the controls are all well-placed and comfortable to use for extended periods. Eye Control for autofocus is excellent when it works, which isn't always
The EOS R5 II has excellent tracking and subject-tracking autofocus performance. The subject detection is effective without getting in your way. It can shoot Raws at up to an extremely rapid 30fps.
The EOS R5 II excels at almost everything it tries to do, and that's a long list. It's hard to imagine what photo or video need it won't support you in.
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Also consider: the Nikon Z8
The Nikon Z8 is similalry capable to the EOS R5 II, and its 45.7MP sensor is just as able to take beautiful landscapes, while still handling anything else you throw at it. The two cameras are so evenly matched that the best way to choose between them is by comparing which lenses are available for them, figuring out which system has the ones you want at a price you want to pay, then buying the body to match.
Sensor offers some of the best image quality in its class
Lovely ergonomics
4K/60p (with a minor crop)
What we don't:
Autofocus interface a bit clunky
EVF not as high-res as competitors
Customization a bit limited
Nikon's Z7 II is a 45.7MP full-frame, image-stabilized mirrorless camera that shoots up to 10 fps bursts, 4K/60p video with a small crop, and offers some of the best ergonomics in the business.
The Z7 II is decidedly last-generation at this point, a fact you'll feel most in its autofocus system. It can still produce crisp images, though, and its age is a benefit when it comes to its price: you can routinely find it for around $2,000, a price bracket that generally contains cameras with half the resolution.
The Z7 II's image quality frequently impresses. It'll match its peers in everything except resolution and, in situations where you can use the greater exposure needed for ISO 64, it has an edge in terms of tonal quality. JPEGs are good but we got the best result from the Raw files.
To say the Z7 II is a comfortable camera to hold would be an understatement
The Z7 II provides plenty of well-placed controls and a large handgrip, despite its relatively compact body. The additional option to add a battery grip with duplicate controls is valuable. We'd like more control over what can be applied to custom buttons and we miss the AF mode control from the front of Nikon's DSLRs, though.
\The Z7 II is a capable camera that can produce superb image quality. Its autofocus performance and interface aren't quite up there with modern mid-to-high-end cameras, but overall it's a good, capable camera. The improvements over the original version help expand the range of circumstances in which it performs well.
The Fujifilm X-T5 is a classically-styled, photo-focused 40MP enthusiast mirrorless camera, based around an image-stabilized BSI sensor.
If the landscapes you're hoping to capture are far off the beaten path, the X-T5 may be worth a look. While it's marginally smaller and lighter than its full-frame and medium-format counterparts, the real weight savings will come from the lenses you can equip it with. Fujifilm's lineup of APS-C lenses is unmatched and can make for a kit light enough that you won't have to reconsider hiking an extra mile or three to get the shot.
The X-T5 produces highly detailed Raw and JPEG files, with the latter benefiting from Fujifilm's array of attractive 'Film Simulation' color modes. A 40MP APS-C sensor means relatively high pixel-level noise but results that are competitive when viewed at a common output size.
The X-T5 foregoes some of the X-H2's video features to offer a more photo-centric experience with classic styling
The X-T5 features dedicated control dials for ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation, along with a film-era SLR-style low-profile front grip. Its rear screen tilts up and down but also hinges outward for portrait-orientation shooting.
Having the X-H2 and X-H2S available to meet the needs of videographers allows the X-T5 to fulfill photographers' desires for stills-centric handling and features. For photographers who enjoy Fujifilm's traditional dial-based controls, there's no more capable body than the X-T5.
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Also consider: the Canon EOS R7
Canon's EOS R7 is a bit heavier than the X-T5, and its APS-C lens selection isn't nearly as robust, but its 32.5MP sensor will be more than capable of capturing detailed landscapes. Its faster burst rates and better autofocus tracking also give the edge over the X-T5 for when you're shooting in the city instead of the wild.
Our Buying Guides are based on extensive use and testing of the cameras included. We only recommend cameras once we know how they compare to their peers in a variety of shooting situations. All selections are made solely by our editorial and video teams and are the models we'd buy or recommend to friends and family. We gain no financial advantage from recommending one camera over another, either as individuals or as a business.
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