What I appreciated most from this video is your total admiration for the quality of the brand. I've read so many negatives claiming all they have done is rip off other company's designs, and portray them as cheap knockoffs, that your unquestioning calling it solid gear was like a breath of fresh air. Thanks!
@AlphaCreativeSkills2 жыл бұрын
Cheaper doesn't always mean the quality is substandard. If someone, however, has paid more than double the price for an expensive alternative this will lead to negative comments so they can justify their purchase in their own minds.
@opezdol3 жыл бұрын
Wow, I've been waiting Leofoto's a1 L-bracket for quite a time, even asked them directly, thanks Mark! As for the Leofoto products, I'm using ln-404c tripod (its insanely good for the price), cb-34 ballhead, L-bracket for a7rIV, Mt-02 mini tripod with lh-25 ballhead and waiting for ls-284cex, spikes, arca foots for 100-400 and 200-600 and bunch of other stuff to be delivered soon. Overall I'm very happy with Leofoto's quality, especially considering their price/performance ratio. Highly recommend.
@joeshiloh63812 жыл бұрын
As a beginner, I appreciate your videos, after watching this video I bought the LS-223CEX and LH25 ball head. As you said they are quality products. Keep the videos coming as I continue to learn from you. I need a lot more practice to continue to improve, and your guidance along the way, has been invaluable. My wife also shoots, and is beginner, bought her the Leofoto LQ 324 and LH 40 ball head. Great quality. We both need as I said just more and more practice. Gotta make mistakes to improve.
@AlphaCreativeSkills2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the positive feedback Joe. I only review non-Sony products that have been added to my personal collection of gear and that I use every week.
@AndrzejZalewskiYT8 ай бұрын
Having already the tri without leveling base, there is another possible way to have ballhead with separate panoramic base, just where the arca swiss is mounted, like for example Benro GX35. But ofc, leveling base is always nice to have.
@AlphaCreativeSkills8 ай бұрын
Thanks for your input
@gonzogorgonzola91533 жыл бұрын
Excellent review (as always)!
@theSergeantGonzalez3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for your information, as always great video, my best regards from Miami Fl.👏👍
@johnpurcellpurcell52073 жыл бұрын
Always a fascination to see your knowledge and skill on display,than you. Jp So I bought the LEOFOTO tripod,the screw doesn’t fit our Sony a7iii. What’s next?
@CZOV Жыл бұрын
Not a Sony fan but nice and informative videos, not just sales pitch.
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I really only review gear that I like and then intend to add to my personal camera kit.
@alantay94093 жыл бұрын
Excellent open box video. Awesome content. Thank you.
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@robertnelson31793 жыл бұрын
I like this will need to dwell on this a bit. Thanks
@iainwhyte18285 ай бұрын
As ever impressed by your product reviews and like your setup for taking 3 vertical shots for later stitching. Can I ask what stitching software you use for creating one combined shot from 3 verticals? Thanks in advance
@AlphaCreativeSkills5 ай бұрын
I use Lightroom for creating panoramas.
@docwou3 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much for the detailed description how to take perfect panorama shots. I would be interested in the exact L-plate model you are showing. Couldn't find it so far on the Leofoto website.
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
It’s a brand new model so may not be listed for a few days
@lee_michae17 ай бұрын
What size nodal slide are you using here, as it's not linked? Great video, think I'll pick up the 223CEX, thanks.
@AlphaCreativeSkills6 ай бұрын
I think I have a 140mm Nodal Slider. I have links to all the products I use in my Accessories guide available on Patreon.com/markgaler
@xbfotos8 ай бұрын
Have you used this tripod for wildlife or bird photography? I was wondering if that’s useful for bird videography when combined with a video fluid head? Thanks
@AlphaCreativeSkills8 ай бұрын
So long as you don't mind being down on the ground it would be an excellent choice.
@lee_michae13 ай бұрын
I've since bought this exact tripod and unless I'm missing something, the panning feature is very poor. Because it's the same knob that tightens/loosens the panning and the ballhead itself. It's very fine margins between being able to pan and having your camera move out of position because of the ballhead. It really needs independent knobs for each action.
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 ай бұрын
Sounds like you purchased the tripod with the LH-25 head instead of the LH-35 head (or better) - different suppliers bundle different heads with the tripod and the tripod can be purchased without a head. The LH-25 can still work with only a minor loosening of the lock adjustment, but the LH-35 has separate lock adjustments.
@lee_michae13 ай бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Yes, I simply didn't realise the differences when I bought it. The LH-30 is the next one up with separate knobs and holds 3x the weight.
@billsymonds59146 ай бұрын
How does the LH-25 perform for panoramas? I worry about the lack of seperate locking levers for pan and ball functions, or have I misunderstood? TIA.
@AlphaCreativeSkills6 ай бұрын
You can 'make-do' with the LH-25 by partially releasing the tension off the ball, but if you do a lot of panoramas then you will want to go up a model in the Leofoto range.
@tiger55516 күн бұрын
would this be suitable for a alternative to a hi hat for a video tripod?
@AlphaCreativeSkills6 күн бұрын
I don't know as I only shoot video hand-held
@gautambhatia41953 ай бұрын
Wonderful analysis of the product , like it. I would like to buy this but have a question . My camera with lens will weight around 5 kg . Can I use this LS-223CEX tripod and take LS-25 small ball head . Is the combination good for my camera .
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 ай бұрын
5Kg is a big combo - most cameras weigh less than 1Kg including the lens. If you are using a large telephoto lens then you will be mounting the combo via the lens foot. Check the weight capacity of the head as you may need to upgrade to a larger head. The tripod itself will be fine as it is just as sturdy as a full-sized tripod.
@bevmichelphotography2 жыл бұрын
Great video Mark. One question…why don’t you just use the leveling feature on the camera instead of 2 levelers on the slider and tripod?
@AlphaCreativeSkills2 жыл бұрын
If you use the leveling feature on the camera there is no guarantee it will still be level when you turn the tripod head.
@marclabro Жыл бұрын
nice tuto. Just ordered the CEX and LH-25 (even if a7iv ebook on patreon showed also the LH-30 without explaining its benefit). Can you please give us the reference of the leophoto L-bracket for a7iv with its flippable lcd (requires a cutout on side part) because their website mentions only a7r4 type. are ports available with it ? What do you think about smallrig L-bracket 3660 for a7IV ? looks great.
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I don’t get around to answering all comments on KZbin as the hundreds of videos generate thousands of comments - please use the Patreon forums for fast responses.
@sionglooi81703 жыл бұрын
I've spent close to $1900AUD on a few Leofoto products, I really like the quality it stuff you buy once and you're sorted for life. My Leofoto Tripod LS-284C is rock steady even with all my gear mounted for 3-5mins tracked astrophotography multi-row pano. Only thing i didn't like is how their ball head friction control is very finicky to get right, as it usually too tight or too loose when you want to adjust it. The Leofoto LB-75 75mm Leveling Base was one of my best buys in 2020. I use the Leofoto LEP-02 for multi-row pano and the Leofoto MP-150 Macro Focusing Rail for my single row pano (I have all the nodal points of all my various lenses for the rail noted down on my smartphone). I prefer them to my Syrp dual Mini 2 setup, as manually doing I found to be quicker and much more reliable. I went for the Rogeti L bracket for A7RIII, it give me all access to ports and battery with cables and my Peak design fast attachment clips attached.
@AAS768 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video. I intend to buy the Leofoto LS-223CEX tripod. Could you kindly tell me what plate do I need to attach this tripod with Sony A7RIV camera?
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
The LeoFoto tripod heads have Arca Swiss compatible attachment points. One will come with the tripod head.
@AAS768 Жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Many thanks for your quick reply!
@davidligon60882 жыл бұрын
Thanks for another very informative video. Sharing your experience through videos and tips has saved me so much time I decided to sign up sa a Patrreon member a few months ago. That said, I have an on-topic question. I decided to post here so others may benefit from the information. 1) Sony does not display in-camera focal length information for a telephoto lens as far as I can tell (except for maybe the PZ lenses - while both Canon and Nikon do display the focal length in-camera). I can only go by lens numbers on, say, the 16-35 GM, which makes it nearly impossible to get an exact focal length. Do you know if there is a significant difference in no-parallax distance if the focal length is close, like between 23, 24, or 25mm on the 16-35 GM or 69, 70, 71 on the 24-105 G? If so, I would have to adjust the no-parallax distance every shot. 2) I assume you turn the wing bold for the Leofoto LH-25 to loosen the ball. Since there is only one wing bolt, how do you rotate the head without loosening the ball (risking the leveling you did previously)? 3) Does the Leofoto L bracket also fit the A7RIV? I noticed other manufacturers’ L bracket list both the A7RIV and A1 under the same Fixed L bracket product (RRS, for instance). Sadly there is no leveling tripod for the 253 or 283 (the height that I prefer), nor does Leofoto make an L bracket for the A7RIV (that I could find). I live in the Southern California and often find that tall grass or cactus blocks the longer view with a very short tripod. A slightly taller tripod still gives me foreground and background while being easy to carry. Perhaps I’ll give the 223 a try.
@AlphaCreativeSkills2 жыл бұрын
Hi David - Unfortunately I can only answer a small amount of the questions asked on KZbin and I am also likely to miss many comments as I have notifications turned off for KZbin. My phone pings every few seconds when notifications are turned to On. Patreon and the KZbin community members are the only notifications I currently have turned on. The Parralax point could change when using some zoom lenses and this will vary widely depending on the design of the lens and the internal movement of the lens groups at different focal lengths. I have recorded the No Parralax point for just my 20mm G and 35mm GM lenses which just so happens to be the same. The wing bolt on the LH-25 loosens rotation first and then only loosening the wing nut more, the actual ball head. It's not ideal but if you are out to save weight and the additional cost of one of the larger heads then it is something I am prepared to work with. The L-brackets are designed to fit just one camera design - sometimes this is shared, e.g., the A7III and A7RIII but mostly it is not, so you have to carefully check with the manufacturer to see what cameras are supported by their product. If Leofoto does not make an L-bracket I would check out other companies such as SmallRig. I won't see any response to this comment so if you have further questions can I ask you to p[lease use the Q&A forum on Patreon.com/markgaler Thanks
@RockyMountainHunter2 Жыл бұрын
Would you be willing to share your no parallex points for the following Sony GM lens? physcial location on lens and/or nodal slide mm setting for the different focal lengths - 16-35 GM f2.8, 24-70 GM f2.8, 70-200 GM f2.8 I am new at this and had the same for the 16-35 GM f 2.8 - approx 130mm for 16mm,20mm,24mm,28mm and 35mm settings. For the 70-200 GM f 2.8 I had 70 - 50 mm, 100 - 50mm, 135 - -6.5mm and 200 - -6.5mm. Not saying these are correct....I wanted to compare these to others and re check mine. It would be nice if Sony would mark the lens barrel where the no parallex point is and then it would get you in the ball park to fine tune.
@JohnJones-xy9pg3 жыл бұрын
Hi Mark, have you got a model number for the L Bracket yet and how much it costs ?
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
I purchased a SmallRig L-Bracket from Amazon and it was inexpensive.
@Pharesm3 жыл бұрын
This is fabulous - took me a while to find that video again! I just ordered that tripod :) *Do you have a recommendation for a really small fluid head for this tiny tripod* *?*
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
The Leofoto ball heads are very smooth. I have little experience with fluid heads for video work/ I have a Leofoto BV-10 on a studio sized tripod but it is a mismatch in size for the small Ranger.
@Pharesm3 жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Much thanks for the answer! I might get one of the smaller, lighter Manfrotto fluid heads or the SmallRig. I went to the Leofoto site - not everything they make fits into my budget :)
@opezdol3 жыл бұрын
Check leofoto bv-1r.
@Pharesm3 жыл бұрын
@@opezdol Thank you! I saw that on their site and checked the price - found it a bit high for my budget, which must accommodate a fairly wide set of needs, for what I'm planning to do...
@Pharesm3 жыл бұрын
By chance, I just found a quality, tiny alternative - from SmallRig. I didn't even know they make a fluid head! Its all solid metal aluminum alloy - drag is not adjustable, but the drag is at a perfectly sensible level for smooth pans and tilts. locks are there and work smoothly. You could say its great for the money, but even more so, I'd say its great for the tiny size! Its not heavier than some of the better ball-heads. I just ordered a second unit - one for the tiny LeoFoto Tripod and one for my Sirui monopod.
@lolatwentytwo3252 Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this video. Is this tripod good for product photography
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
It's very very short so it would be OK for tabletop use
@lolatwentytwo3252 Жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thank you 🙂
@dereklee88323 жыл бұрын
Thank you Mark , estimated maximum load capacity for this tripod? Can I put gimbal with my super tele Lenes ? Thank you
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
5KG - more than enough for a full frame camera and large telephoto zoom
@suricinematicfilms42493 жыл бұрын
Hello Sir Sony A7Miii Photo & Video Setting Tell?
@everythingkarting91762 жыл бұрын
Can you attach a fluidhead ?
@AlphaCreativeSkills2 жыл бұрын
It’s a standard head attachment point
@everythingkarting91762 жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills so no?
@thomastuorto99292 жыл бұрын
What the heck, no link for the Nodal slide? Haha. Glad I came across this vid. I was thinking of purchasing a much more $$$ (another brand) of this short style tripod. Thank you.
@bingebinge37222 жыл бұрын
I was wondering the same. If you look carefully, I suspect the one he's using was either unbranded or a prototype 12:41
@bingebinge37222 жыл бұрын
Hopefully I don't get banned for posting links, but I found two that are similar enough: chinese.alibaba.com/product-detail/200mm-Nodal-Slide-Rail-Quick-Release-60724084022.html and www.amazon.com/Neewer-Professional-Release-Camera-Compatible/dp/B00J7LT4ZK
@tombreen79273 жыл бұрын
Hope you dont run into any issue with the tripod ... i bought a model off leofoto rang into nothing but a brick wall with them 9 months of emails back and foward me quoting there warrenty countless times they Eventually admitted it was a fault with there tripod and replaced the part . Which was a shame as teh whoel experince was a negative experince for me would never buy one again
@matthewcheung51363 жыл бұрын
I thought this was going to be cheaper than the peak design option but the ball head alone is $450+ USD?!
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
The LH-25 I have listed and the one I used in the video is $69.00
@weisslin3 жыл бұрын
if you look into Leofoto's product line and their design, they are actually copying from RRS's products.
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
So what is the equivalent to the LS-223CEX Ranger?
@terencemorrissey44133 жыл бұрын
Leofoto is basically a Chinese knockoff of Really Right Stuff products, nevertheless good value for the money.
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
I don't see an equivalent for the LS-223CEX in the Really Right Stuff range - did I miss something?
@terencemorrissey44133 жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills All the ballheads are a knockoff of Really Right Stuff.
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
But the Leofoto LS-223CEX is unique as far as I am aware.
@terencemorrissey44133 жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills yes I agree
@theoldhenk75312 жыл бұрын
Leofoto clearly built their brand with their knockoff ballheads, but RRS should have patented their distinguishing features in North America and the UK (at a minimum). China couldn't care less about intellectual property (though that's slowly changing), but RRS patents could have kept Leofoto out of at least two very lucrative markets. And FWIW, RRS built their brand knocking off Gitzo Systematics, albeit without a price drop.
@TerekkiTerekki8 ай бұрын
Ball head on top of the levelling base is twice the work, no? A pan tilt head would be better?
@AlphaCreativeSkills8 ай бұрын
A simple pan tilt head won’t provide the level base that is needed for pano work
@killer120070507 Жыл бұрын
Getting above tall grass? Grass is like a meter tall
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I have a one meter extending column if needed (fits between the tripod bas and the tripod head) but rarely ever use it to get above all grass, as the best camera angle is usually the lowest one. I shoot 300 days a year so would know by now if a tripod of this size caused me any issues.
@rickymcc90723 жыл бұрын
Thanks Mark for another excellent look at something different. This looks to be an excellent solution. For this height though I wonder if un-extended carbon legs like this isn't just overkill? I'm a fan of the "Novoflex BasicBall" (German) - an aluminium half ball which takes screw in legs - very rigid, similar height (variable height dependent on holes that legs are screwed into) and about half the weight of the Leofoto, albeit without a self levelling head (but I have a couple of those to choose from anyway). You might like the Novoflex range of kit too (I'm not sponsored, but appreciate good engineering). For it's size, mass it supports well beyond most alternatives albeit unsuitable for a heavier rig using say Sony's 200-600mm G lens. I like this Leofoto LS-223CEX pod too, but on checking it's detailed specs I'm hesitant to buy yet another pod! I already own a range of several carbon pods from the heavier end of the Gitzo carbon range thru more basic offerings to other innovative grip and clamp solutions. I can see the point of working low, but usually I want height too, esp. when travelling, so a medium weight longer pod is usually my first travel choice.
@MarttiSuomivuori3 жыл бұрын
Tell me why don't you just use the ball head and the level in the viewfinder to set the camera level? Why do you need the plate?
@AlphaCreativeSkills3 жыл бұрын
If you level the camera on a crooked tripod (without a levelling base) that is fine for one shot, but as you rotate the camera to capture the other images they would no longer be level. You can leave each individual image and then hope to panoramic stitching does not hit a problem or you can use a levelling base.
@stattmorgen2 жыл бұрын
All you needed was actually a leveling base for your older tripod you allready have
@AlphaCreativeSkills2 жыл бұрын
That is true, if it was not for the fact that I am obsessed about shaving off every surplus ounce of gear ;-)
@praveenbhatia86072 жыл бұрын
Do you have a part number for the L plate? I don’t see it on Leofoto website.
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I use a SmallRig L-Plate for my A7C and a LeoFoto L-Plate for my A1
@RockyMountainHunter2 Жыл бұрын
Would you be willing to share your no parallax points for the following Sony GM lens? physical location on lens and/or nodal slide mm setting for the different focal lengths - 16-35 GM f2.8, 24-70 GM f2.8, 70-200 GM f2.8. Not sure how accurate these are, however, in the spirit of sharing info with others ....please feel free to share your Sony lens no parallax point settings and setup. Sony A7R3/RRS L Bracket/RRS MPR CL II Nodal Slide (in Landscape mode (to get wider view and better chance to hone in on no parallax point) - with the RRS L Bracket (portrait & landscape)in the same plane, the portrait and landscape no parallax point should be the same. Sony 16-35 GM f2.8 set @ f11 16mm - 136mm on nodal slide 20mm - 126mm 24mm - 125mm 28mm - 124mm 35mm - 123mm Sony 24-70 GM f2.8 set @ f11 24mm - 125mm on nodal slide 35mm - 123mm 50mm - 110mm 70mm - 106mm Sony 70-200 GM f2.8 set @ f11(foot removed on lens and square ARCA plate screwed to lens foot then mounted to Nodal Slide) 70mm - 50mm 100mm - 20mm 135mm - (-7.0) as far back as the Nodal slide will go 200mm - (-7.0)
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I don't own these three lenses. It's not difficult to locate the point using the technique described in this video
@RockyMountainHunter2 Жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills Thanks for the reply! I am surprised as a Sony Ambassador you don’t have these GM lens. Seems like I have heard you refer to them in other videos. Is the parallex point typically near the manual focus ring on the Sony lens? It sure would be nice if Sony put a marking on the barrel of the lens to get new folks to the panaromic in the ballpark for finding the no parallex point.
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
It is close to the rear element of the lens but the exact point will change on a zoom lens as the lens is zoomed.
@RawkinDslo Жыл бұрын
Thanks!
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your kind support :-)
@PhotoTrekr Жыл бұрын
I switched from a Benro tripod to a Leofoto Ranger LS-365C for my travel tripod this year (2022). I tried smaller Benro tripods, but they just weren't stable enough or tall enough for my needs. And the larger Benro tripods were too heavy. But, I'm always looking these days for ways to lighten my load.
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I much prefer the lower vantage point for 95% of my landscape shoots as it brings the foreground into the image which is all too often excluded when larger tripod legs are extended. My back thanks for me not carrying the extras kilos/pounds.
@PhotoTrekr Жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills I occasionally think I should try shooting from a lower vantage point. But, at my age getting down and back up is harder than carrying a larger tripod. :)
@AlphaCreativeSkills Жыл бұрын
I put the camera on the ground and use a remote. My age is the main reason I don't carry full sized tripods.
@PhotoTrekr Жыл бұрын
@@AlphaCreativeSkills I guess we all have to find solutions to problems as we get older. I've often thought that a channel dedicated to older photographers would be of great use and interest.