I use the Leofoto G2 paired with the Leofoto RH-2L-60mm. You are limited to 10 degrees of adjustment like the Arca Swiss Core 60 Leveler. I can't give a comparison between the two in terms of build quality, but I can say the Leofoto feels solid and the gears are smooth. However, when the G2 is maxed out on the X or Y axis, there is a little bit of play when I try to shake the camera. This is probably due to manufacturing tolerances and QC.
I took the plunge for those of you who were wondering and I'd say it's worth the $250 USD. This is coming from the Manfrotto Junior Geared Head.
I too have the Leofoto G2 (haven't put it through it's paces yet) and it is well built and feels like a quality product. I got mine from Amazon for $169 last week. Now going for $199.
I've been using luland gs for more than a year. Haven't had the chance to compared to an Arca but it has significanly better stiffness than sunwayfoto gh-pro that I used.
On the luland, gears do have some minor play, however you can use friction controls (larger knob on each axis) to lock movements (tight enough to hold my Arca F 4x5, at ~30deg tilt) and the gear play won't matter.
The Leofoto is direct knock-off copy of the Arca Swiss L60. No effort made at all to cover that up. No added innovation. I'd rather invest in quality, especially when placing better camera equipment on top.
But I can tell you that the Arca Swiss L60 has "no play" in the gears as the comments referencing the knock-off. The L60 is a bit a small and is a great travel head. When paired with the Novoflex Triobalance which has a built in leveling base, the L60 is able to offer an additional +/-5 of movement.
The new Arca Swiss L75 leveler is slightly larger and offers +/- 15 of movement. This geared head pairs better with moderate sized legs like the RRS TVC 24----2 series legs.
kdphotography wrote:
The Leofoto is direct knock-off copy of the Arca Swiss L60. No effort made at all to cover that up. No added innovation.
And no added price hike for a name.
In this case, it isn't the name that's performing, but the item itself. With that I see no need to pay for the name when the performance without the name is there.
When there is play in the gears, the performance is not there. Not the same. There are times to skimp. But when it involves placing expensive gear on top, I just don't think that's the time to skimp.
It depends on usage. Perhaps if you have a light kit it might afford you the latitude to skimp. As a retired professional, I found it easier to simply buy right the first time around. With tripods and heads, that has held true for me.
Andrew2 wrote:
And no added price hike for a name.
In this case, it isn't the name that's performing, but the item itself. With that I see no need to pay for the name when the performance without the name is there.
kdphotography wrote:
When there is play in the gears, the performance is not there. Not the same.
The problem with your argument from where I stand is there is no play in my copy. Perhaps sample variation?
And the "you get what you pay for" mantra doesn't work here as I'm very much aware of the saying and wholly agree. However, sometimes things come along at a much cheaper price and performs just as well as it's more expensive counterpart with the only real difference being the name on item and a cheaper price.
Yeah, if I sold an item for twice the amount and my competitor copied it and sold it for half, I'd be irked too. But the fact that LeoFoto's products are in the market, and selling, is telling.
The problem with LeoFoto is not that their products don't perform, but their designs mimic the more expensive name brands at an affordable price. And that irks the purists.
i'm just happy i don't collect nor need to use things like this. my needs are somewhat more simple these days after years of pushing the "envelope" in these and other endeavors.
Andrew2 wrote:
Yeah, if I sold an item for twice the amount and my competitor copied it and sold it for half, I'd be irked too. But the fact that LeoFoto's products are in the market, and selling, is telling.
The problem with LeoFoto is not that their products don't perform, but their designs mimic the more expensive name brands at an affordable price. And that irks the purists.
BTW the tripod is also a LeoFoto LS-324C with a Acratech GXP ball head.
This is why we cannot have nice things in many cases. Everybody buys cheap Chinese ripoffs and soon the innovator companies ande higher quality products are gone.
EB-1 wrote:
This is why we cannot have nice things in many cases. Everybody buys cheap Chinese ripoffs and soon the innovator companies ande higher quality products are gone.
EBH
Call it what you want. And if you're that concerned about the "quality" of products I buy, you can always put your money where your mouth is by paying for my items. This way you don't have to worry about those "cheap Chinese ripoffs" taking away from your higher-priced counterparts.
Oh, and sorry, I didn't mean to stray from the "Chinese means cheap and unworthy" mantra being pushed by the elitists here.
