I'm ditching my Manfrotto for this kit combo. I'm totally over my pan and tilt Manfrotto head and want to switch to ball head, but Manfrotto's thread size is incompatible with most available heads from other companies. Now, I could get a Manfrotto ballhead, they make some decent ones. However, Manfrotto's goddamn proprietary QR plates are incompatible with Arca Swiss L Brackets. I could use an adapter, but that just introduces another connection, another potential point of vibration. So for the price of a Manfrotto ball head, LeoFoto offer me a carbon tripod with no centre column, with spikes, and a ballast hook, that goes super low... In a kit with a decent ball head that is Arca Swiss compatible. I'm debating the decision to just replace the whole Manfrotto rig with the LeoFoto combo, when a leg falls off my Manfrotto mid shoot because the clamp has worked loose. Aaaaaand it's secured with a goddamn star drive instead of a screw, so I have to tape a stick to the top section of my tripod to get my shot, then walk miles home to find a suitable sized star drive on my mountain bike multi tool. Decision made.
They're even resorting to ripping off the weave pattern now. Despite how I feel about the plagiarism, Leofoto makes some decent quality tripods. My only gripe with them right now is the horrible leg angle choices. They say their legs are at 23 degrees for the primary angle (which wouldn't be good), but if you measure them they are actually 21.5... which sucks.
Thanks for this review. I have an LS-324C and really enjoy it, but was interested in something with a center column that I could invert (i.e. install so it extends towards the ground) for low-angle & macro shots. Do you know if the center column for the LQ-324C be installed this way? Thanks again.
Thanks for that review. I am looking for this tripod and so far it convinces me quite a bit. A query, when putting the camera vertically, the base supports the camera without moving down? (I have a 135mm GM and it's a bit heavy, I still can't find an L plate).
I have the 323. It looks to me like the treading on the legs is plastic !? Can you confirm that on the Leofoto tripods ? Probably not an issue as long as you pay attention and keep them clean but was never the less disheartening and I felt like that should have been disclosed in the description.
The build quality is similar but I think the Leofoto is a little better. I think the leg locks are more robust on the Leofoto as well. Both brands build a great tripod and I don't think you can go wrong with either.
Would really appreciate a follow up review with the tripod fully extended with a camera body on it to see how it looks. Thanks for the review.
Since you mention panoramas frequently, you can get the ballhead with a pan top plate, similar to the Sirui tripod/head that you showed briefly.
I'm ditching my Manfrotto for this kit combo.
I'm totally over my pan and tilt Manfrotto head and want to switch to ball head, but Manfrotto's thread size is incompatible with most available heads from other companies.
Now, I could get a Manfrotto ballhead, they make some decent ones.
However, Manfrotto's goddamn proprietary QR plates are incompatible with Arca Swiss L Brackets.
I could use an adapter, but that just introduces another connection, another potential point of vibration.
So for the price of a Manfrotto ball head, LeoFoto offer me a carbon tripod with no centre column, with spikes, and a ballast hook, that goes super low...
In a kit with a decent ball head that is Arca Swiss compatible.
I'm debating the decision to just replace the whole Manfrotto rig with the LeoFoto combo, when a leg falls off my Manfrotto mid shoot because the clamp has worked loose.
Aaaaaand it's secured with a goddamn star drive instead of a screw, so I have to tape a stick to the top section of my tripod to get my shot, then walk miles home to find a suitable sized star drive on my mountain bike multi tool.
Decision made.
The central column is included? Very nice.
Yes it is and extremely light.
They're even resorting to ripping off the weave pattern now. Despite how I feel about the plagiarism, Leofoto makes some decent quality tripods. My only gripe with them right now is the horrible leg angle choices. They say their legs are at 23 degrees for the primary angle (which wouldn't be good), but if you measure them they are actually 21.5... which sucks.
Leg angle is my biggest concern too. Use one with 25 or 26 leg angle and it's noticeably more stable. I wish the would make them wider.
Thanks for this review. I have an LS-324C and really enjoy it, but was interested in something with a center column that I could invert (i.e. install so it extends towards the ground) for low-angle & macro shots. Do you know if the center column for the LQ-324C be installed this way? Thanks again.
Great Review
Thanks for that review. I am looking for this tripod and so far it convinces me quite a bit.
A query, when putting the camera vertically, the base supports the camera without moving down? (I have a 135mm GM and it's a bit heavy, I still can't find an L plate).
I have the 323. It looks to me like the treading on the legs is plastic !? Can you confirm that on the Leofoto tripods ? Probably not an issue as long as you pay attention and keep them clean but was never the less disheartening and I felt like that should have been disclosed in the description.
How does the build of the Leofoto compare to the Sirui? They look similar in design and finish. Could it be same factory?
The build quality is similar but I think the Leofoto is a little better. I think the leg locks are more robust on the Leofoto as well. Both brands build a great tripod and I don't think you can go wrong with either.
You can actually buy the tripod without the head.