photosbyjaron
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shutterbug40 wrote:
Looking to upgrade but the choices are just staggering. Shooting a Sony A7RV, biggest lens is a Sony 100-400 GM. My height is 5'7". This would be used in some travel but no distance backpacking/hiking, and probably not a lot of plane travel, mostly in the car. Landscape, architecture, product, a wide variety. No sports, probably not much birding.
I also would like to pick up an L-bracket which I don't currently use.
The Leofoto (LS-324C Ranger) and Gitzo (GT2545T Series 2) look promising. Legs only maybe a Leofoto LM-353C?
I've been searching on FM and YouTube, lots of choices.
Thanks!
I can only speak to what I own, but the truth is that they all will basically work just fine. I have a Feisol CT-3442 that mostly stays at home for portraits, an FLM CP-30 L4 II that I mainly use when shooting close to the car, a Leofoto LS-284CEX that has been getting more general use, and some table tops. They all have three legs and work fine. Tripods can really be a situation of analysis paralysis given that there are so many of them, and most are basically fine. I made detailed spreadsheets with max height, folded height, weight, load, etc etc, but that was all because I was planning to backpack 13+ miles with them and also fly with them.
It sounds like your parameters are far more forgiving. If you have money you're wanting to burn, get the Porsche (RRS) and rest easy knowing you own the best brand. If you just care about best value, Leofoto and FLM are great brands. Tripods aren't complex - just three legs holding up a camera. You pay a premium for reduced weight and size for increased strength and rigidity. But if you aren't needing something super lightweight for backpacking or that collapses super small for flying, then you really have a huge selection of affordable legs to choose from.
I love my FLM, but to be honest, I've been using my LS-284CEX more than anything else for the last year, including with my 100-400. It's just slightly smaller and lighter than my FLM.
The LS-324CEX would be more than capable for any need you'd have. And if you're going to upgrade to permanent use of an L-bracket, then I'd recommend one of the CEX Leofoto models that have the leveling base, especially if you do stitched pano landscapes. Even if you use a ballhead, a leveling base makes pano life easier. (That being said, I personally just don't see a use or benefit for a ball head if you're using an L bracket. I use a pano head and a fluid head with a leveling base, depending on the need.)
If you switch between multiple heads and legs, like I often do, having a QD setup between heads and legs is extremely convenient. All my legs have PCL-60s or similar at the apex, and all my heads have arca plates on the bottom, which makes it really easy to just switch and go.
Ultimately you just have to decide what needs you have, and then flip a coin on what you want to get. Plenty of options.
Here's some shots of my LS-284CEX and LS-223CEX at Laguna de los tres. Acratech pano head and leofoto fluid head.
ILCE-7RM4 FE 35mm F1.4 GM lens 35mm f/2.5 1/640s 100 ISO -1.0 EV
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