p.4 #1 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Chris Court wrote:
I don't think so. I want the panning base on the bottom, so I have the ability to rotate across a level horizon while having the camera tilted up or down.
Yep, that's the one I got. A touch smaller would be perfect, but even as is, I think it will do the job for me.
C
Yes, your like me, I prefer the panning base on the bottom, thats why I went for the VH20
p.4 #2 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Chris Court wrote:
Yep, that's the one I got. A touch smaller would be perfect, but even as is, I think it will do the job for me.
C
Chris, now that you've had the Leofoto leveling base for a while, what do you think? Has it held up well under use?
I've been looking at the Kirk one, but like you wonder if it's worth 3 times more?
Another reason I ask is that I saw a video that demonstrated Acratech's panorama head vs. the Leofoto one (VH-30), and the Leofoto did not lock down solidly no matter how much you tightened it. So some of their products seem good and other's not so much.
p.4 #3 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Ryukyu wrote:
Chris, now that you've had the Leofoto leveling base for a while, what do you think? Has it held up well under use?
I've been looking at the Kirk one, but like you wonder if it's worth 3 times more?
Another reason I ask is that I saw a video that demonstrated Acratech's panorama head vs. the Leofoto one (VH-30), and the Leofoto did not lock down solidly no matter how much you tightened it. So some of their products seem good and other's not so much.
I haven't used it heavily, but it seems to be holding up fine. The only usability improvement I could suggest is that the locking "wings" could be a little longer as when it's fully cranked down it can be a bit of a struggle to loosen. Aside from that it's a great piece of kit and suits my purposes admirably.
As an aside, I ended up buying a second Acratech LLH. The GP-S now lives on my Platypod
Second aside: I find it a shame that Leofoto's business model seems to be based around replicating other companies' designs. Their engineering capability is obviously top shelf. If instead they used some creativity and came up with unique products of their own, they could go a long way toward improving the public perception (in the west) of Chinese photographic accessories.
p.4 #4 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Chris Court wrote:
I haven't used it heavily, but it seems to be holding up fine. The only usability improvement I could suggest is that the locking "wings" could be a little longer as when it's fully cranked down it can be a bit of a struggle to loosen. Aside from that it's a great little piece of kit and suits my purposes admirably.
As an aside, I ended up buying a second Acratech LLH. The GP-S now lives on my Platypod
Second aside: I find it a shame that Leofoto's business model seems to be based around duplicating other companies designs. Their engineering capability is obviously top shelf. If instead they used some creativity and came up with unique products, they could go a long way toward improving the public perception (in the west) of Chinese photographic accessories.
I hear you about Leofoto. I think they are starting to branch out to their own designs. At least with a few products. Their Mr. Q tripods and the Poseidon ones are examples.
I was actually looking at the Acratech Panorama head, which at first glance looks a lot like the LLH.
p.4 #6 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
Ryukyu wrote:
I hear you about Leofoto. I think they are starting to branch out to their own designs. At least with a few products. Their Mr. Q tripods and the Poseidon ones are examples.
I was actually looking at the Acratech Panorama head, which at first glance looks a lot like the LLH.
Thanks for your input.
I had the Panoramic Head alongside the LLH for a while. It is indeed very similar to the LLH, but with the addition of indexing marks on the tilt axis and a moveable index wheel for the rotational axis. I don't personally need degree-perfect precision in my photography, so I sold it and kept the LLH. I probably should have hung onto it, though, as it was only 6 months or so later that I decided to put together my lightweight support setup and thus purchased a second LLH.
p.4 #7 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
My setup, Leofoto systematic tripod with sunway photo geared head. I bought the geared head along with the leofoto levelling base but found geared head to be better for my needs. I have used it with A7rIV with canon 300mm f2.8 IS version I and it held fine.
p.4 #8 · Best leveling base for a series 1 tripod?
I've used an Acratech GP (not a GP-s) upside down, an FLM LB-15, and a Leofoto LB-60N. The experts rate the FLM as the best small leveling base and it's very smooth in use but it has an awkwardly large control knob sticking out of it, not the greatest for packing. I settled with the Leofoto LB-60N, it's rougher in action than the FLM but a better carry and fit in the carry-on.
