Good review. Confirmed my suspicions, have been considering this tripod for a while, ordered the same tripod just then after watching review. Good stuff.
Hey man! Thanks so much for the video!! I too am on the hunt of a level base + pano/tilt head and will definitely check out the leofoto alternative to the acratech. Nice spot 😊
Do you find the top panning feature useful? I am deciding between a Vh30 and a vh30r. I don’t want to lose anything significant while saving the 20 bucks and lighter weight, but I couldn’t think of a scenario I need that top portion
Hi Good to see another Aussie on here. I use the same head,have for sometime. I shoot landscapes in the Blue Mountains of NSW Have subscribed to your channel. Cheers Sniper Photography
How does the Leofoto compare with the IFOOTAGE Tripod? I've been eyeing to copy Thomas for my Fuji GFX as I travel to South East Asia but also found this combo today and was curious about your comparisons and final thoughts. I have the budget to afford what Thomas has, but should I? Thanks mate!
I have the Ifootage tc9. The balance bubble is on top of the half ball. Which means you can't see it to level the tripod with the half ball if you're head is mounted. So you have to have a head with a bubble level on it. The Leofoto's have the bubble level mounted off the platform so when you mount your ball head you can still see the bubble level. I put a Leofoto 75mm half ball on my Ifootage because of it. But you have to also get the Leofoto screw mount because the Ifootage requires a longer screwed stem. I also have both the Acratech 1165 and leofoto VH30R heads. The Leofoto is smoother and the top spins for the Leofoto while the Acratech you have to unscrew and repostition it to go landscape or portrait for your camera.
I really do not understand, why the combination of leveling base and two way tilt head is not much more popular. I had the the Acratech head with leveling base years ago for my large format, sold it together with the camera some years ago. After deciding to do large format again, i purchased a „new“ used Toyo 45A camera and started to look for a head again. I now also use the VH30R, combined with the Lb-60N leveling base on my tripod (Sirui) and it is just as nice as the much more expensive Acratech. I really do not see the reason to use three way tilting heads anymore. Once the base is leveld, the two way head gives the two movements I need while preventing a slant horizon no matter how I move it. And because there are less movements, the entire thing is much more sturdy and holds the camera perfectly stable.
You just need to connect a Arca-Swiss plate to the bottom of the tracker. The Star Adventurer and the Mini are the same. IOptron I’m not sure about as I’ve never used one, but my guess is it’s the same.
Ta for all that. What was the bit about setting it at 27° because you’re in QLD? I understand that’s your latitude, but… can you recommend a book, website or video with explanations of how that latitude setting is useful in astrophotography? Ta.
Your latitude is important to know, so that you know the degree angle of the celestial pole. There are a few Apps which tell you via the GPS in your phone. The SAM console and SynScan Apps tell you this. 👍🏼
Hi Joel, excellent video! I am going to get a Leofot VH-30R and a half ball leveling base! I'm sure they will be very helpful with landscape pano shots and thanks very much for sharing. A question about the move-shoot-move star tracker. I was thinking to get one as well. How do you find using it? As we are in southern hemisphere, is it easy to locate the south without a star to aim? Would you recommend this product? Would be great if you could do another video about the move-shoot-move. Thanks again for this video!
I don’t like the MSM, it’s not a “strong” tracker. The Skywatcher Star Adventurer Mini has been AMAZING, better than I’d ever though it would be. I just released a new video on polar aligning in the Sth Hemisphere. Check it out 👍🏼
I've had the acratech head and a gitzo LVL tripod scored back in 2011 when the au dollar was better than us dollar over 5 times better than the leofoto 284 lo LVL tripod and same head as yours I'm using have yet to put calipers on the legs but pretty sure mine ain't 28mm
@@TheTiredPhotographer yea brutal hey I think at the time oz$ was at a 1.25 to 1 buck USA back in 2011 when I sold it I doubled my money but I am kicking myself as they are perfect tripods zero movement not just built but engineered and built and the acratech once locked in zero movement I near used the tripod as a motor lift one day lol there that tough
@@TheTiredPhotographer hi mate if you could hit up some of knowledge on trackers I'm going to buy a star tracker I just want to do landscape stitched panoramic with my nikon d810 and 12-24mm what's the best option nowadays for a tracker today I'm thinking the skywatecher with 2 axis n wifi was thinking the MSM but not real sure cheers for any info
Good review. Confirmed my suspicions, have been considering this tripod for a while, ordered the same tripod just then after watching review. Good stuff.
Glad I could help!
This review is for the exact tripod and head I was considering buying so very helpful. Looks like a goer - so tired of ball heads. Cheers.
I’m in love with my tripod. ❤️
Best tripod head for the money. Great deals to be found. I have 2, and the second one I got new for 50% less than my first (new).
I’d like another head, but my “want” list is to big 😂
This must be the best combo for nightphotography I am looking at that two way head :)
It really is. I can’t see myself changing my tripod set up from this.
Hey man! Thanks so much for the video!! I too am on the hunt of a level base + pano/tilt head and will definitely check out the leofoto alternative to the acratech. Nice spot 😊
I’ve had my set up for over a year now, and still going strong 💪🏼
Do you find the top panning feature useful? I am deciding between a Vh30 and a vh30r. I don’t want to lose anything significant while saving the 20 bucks and lighter weight, but I couldn’t think of a scenario I need that top portion
100% go the VH30R!!!! It does come in handy.
Hi
Good to see another Aussie on here.
I use the same head,have for sometime.
I shoot landscapes in the Blue Mountains of NSW
Have subscribed to your channel.
Cheers
Sniper Photography
I appreciate the follow from a Aussie local 🙏🏻
Just ordered this tripod but with a gimbel head instead. Nice video, different and the ducks.
It’s an awesome tripod!! It’s actually a little weird how much I love it. 🤪
How does the Leofoto compare with the IFOOTAGE Tripod? I've been eyeing to copy Thomas for my Fuji GFX as I travel to South East Asia but also found this combo today and was curious about your comparisons and final thoughts. I have the budget to afford what Thomas has, but should I? Thanks mate!
I have the Ifootage tc9. The balance bubble is on top of the half ball. Which means you can't see it to level the tripod with the half ball if you're head is mounted. So you have to have a head with a bubble level on it. The Leofoto's have the bubble level mounted off the platform so when you mount your ball head you can still see the bubble level. I put a Leofoto 75mm half ball on my Ifootage because of it. But you have to also get the Leofoto screw mount because the Ifootage requires a longer screwed stem.
I also have both the Acratech 1165 and leofoto VH30R heads. The Leofoto is smoother and the top spins for the Leofoto while the Acratech you have to unscrew and repostition it to go landscape or portrait for your camera.
Put it this way, I’m looking to replace my iFootage tripod. 😉👍🏼
I really do not understand, why the combination of leveling base and two way tilt head is not much more popular. I had the the Acratech head with leveling base years ago for my large format, sold it together with the camera some years ago. After deciding to do large format again, i purchased a „new“ used Toyo 45A camera and started to look for a head again.
I now also use the VH30R, combined with the Lb-60N leveling base on my tripod (Sirui) and it is just as nice as the much more expensive Acratech.
I really do not see the reason to use three way tilting heads anymore. Once the base is leveld, the two way head gives the two movements I need while preventing a slant horizon no matter how I move it. And because there are less movements, the entire thing is much more sturdy and holds the camera perfectly stable.
WORD!! 🙌🏼 I will never go back to a ball head. I’m two way head for life now.
How would you mount ioptron or star adventurer tracker on vh30r? Any tips on that?
You just need to connect a Arca-Swiss plate to the bottom of the tracker. The Star Adventurer and the Mini are the same. IOptron I’m not sure about as I’ve never used one, but my guess is it’s the same.
Ta for all that. What was the bit about setting it at 27° because you’re in QLD? I understand that’s your latitude, but… can you recommend a book, website or video with explanations of how that latitude setting is useful in astrophotography? Ta.
Your latitude is important to know, so that you know the degree angle of the celestial pole. There are a few Apps which tell you via the GPS in your phone. The SAM console and SynScan Apps tell you this. 👍🏼
So how would one shoot a multi row panorama with the Leofoto head with the two points of rotation? Do you use the base rotation point or the top one?
I use the base rotating point. I can also use a nodal rail with this set up for better precision of the panos.
@@TheTiredPhotographer makes you wonder why the indexing is done top rotation point
Hi Joel, excellent video! I am going to get a Leofot VH-30R and a half ball leveling base! I'm sure they will be very helpful with landscape pano shots and thanks very much for sharing. A question about the move-shoot-move star tracker. I was thinking to get one as well. How do you find using it? As we are in southern hemisphere, is it easy to locate the south without a star to aim? Would you recommend this product? Would be great if you could do another video about the move-shoot-move. Thanks again for this video!
I don’t like the MSM, it’s not a “strong” tracker. The Skywatcher Star Adventurer Mini has been AMAZING, better than I’d ever though it would be. I just released a new video on polar aligning in the Sth Hemisphere. Check it out 👍🏼
I've had the acratech head and a gitzo LVL tripod scored back in 2011 when the au dollar was better than us dollar over 5 times better than the leofoto 284 lo LVL tripod and same head as yours I'm using have yet to put calipers on the legs but pretty sure mine ain't 28mm
The Acratech head looks great, but can’t justify that price in AUS Dollar. 🥴
@@TheTiredPhotographer yea brutal hey I think at the time oz$ was at a 1.25 to 1 buck USA back in 2011 when I sold it I doubled my money but I am kicking myself as they are perfect tripods zero movement not just built but engineered and built and the acratech once locked in zero movement I near used the tripod as a motor lift one day lol there that tough
@@TheTiredPhotographer hi mate if you could hit up some of knowledge on trackers I'm going to buy a star tracker I just want to do landscape stitched panoramic with my nikon d810 and 12-24mm what's the best option nowadays for a tracker today I'm thinking the skywatecher with 2 axis n wifi was thinking the MSM but not real sure cheers for any info
Please be careful, falling asleep whilst driving! Been there done that!
I appreciate the care 🙏🏻 I always pull over when driving home and feel sleepy. 👌🏼
Dude, I'm 5 minutes into your video, and you still haven't said anything. Gotta go.
😂👍🏼
😂😂😂
5 mins in, review still hasn’t started….