To the users of leofoto ball head/tripod set ups

[Bigragu]

I’m venturing into a tripod set up and slowly schooling myself. I’m a little late in this game so I have one question. Dairyboy Dillon snd Brawler Matt have been kind enough to offer their own suggestions and experiences, so I’m sort of up to speed. One of the features that one make of ball head manufacturers offer are adjustment knobs that will never back out to the point the knob comes off. This may seem trivial till one day when you go to use it and one of the adjustment knobs are gone and lost, then it becomes a big deal.

im curious if any of you tripod users that went with the leofoto ball head can tell me if the leofoto has this feature, where the adjustment/lock down knobs will never unthread off.

let me know, if you please would

thank you

BR

 

[Michael]

I never thought of that as a spec, but I just checked my Ranger LS-365C and sure enough... none of adjustment knobs will fall out when completely loosened.

-Michael

 

[Wilber]

I have a an Innorel N44 that the knobs come to a hard stop when trying to twist out. They will not come our easily.

Wilber

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

I don't own a LeoFoto ballhead, but I do own and have owned a host of quality photography heads, and none of them are designed to allow the knobs to back off.

I do own Leofoto legs, and they are very good. Before you buy, have you purchased legs yet? If not, consider a set of legs with a "systematic" bowl attachment for a leveling base, instead of using a ballhead. With all of the above at my disposal (semi pro photopgraher for decades, and a host of various equipment) when I realized I could use them for air rifles, I found that leveling base and no head was the best option.

 

[M0ist0ne]

I haven't tried to twist the knobs off of it but I didn't go with a leofoto ball head, went with another offshoot. The bensfoto. Lighter, still has a good weight capacity and I got a big ol lever vs knob for the main tension.

 

[TN_Yankee]

I found that leveling base and no head was the best option.

Do you ever find the leveling base doesn't have enough tilt range? I don't have a tripod yet, but am keeping up on the threads to help make a buying decision. I had read another user didn't use a leveling head specifically for that reason.

 

[Bigragu]

@ Michael and @ Wilbur- the INOREL was the other brand I was talking about that had the knobs that would not back out. 


@ cyberdyne- sending you a pm

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

Bigragu, got your PM, replying here for others to read.

"Systematic style" tripods are tripods that instead of a center column, they have a REMOVABLE center plate that can be substituted for a host of other options. Originally invented by Gitzo, the name systematic is theirs, but some other companies have been known to use the term.

- This is one set of "systematic" style legs that also already comes with the "bowl adapter", probably the most commonly used accessory for systematic tripods. (see second photo) https://smile.amazon.com/Leofoto-LN-364C-Systematic-Compatible-Tripod/dp/B077V571TJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=4GLOCGJ7IAD9&keywords=leofoto+series+4&qid=1646162764&sprefix=leofoto+series+4%2Caps%2C67&sr=8-1

- With the bowl adapter installed (often referred to as "video bowls" as they are used for video a lot) one can then add a leveling base that slides around inside the bowl. Just add a quick release clamp directly to the top. https://smile.amazon.com/LEOFOTO-YB-75LP-Levelling-Adapter-Sandbag/dp/B0815RNMFC/ref=sr_1_4?crid=US05KWDLNSBL&keywords=leofoto+leveling+bowl&qid=1646162806&sprefix=leofoto+leveling+b%2Caps%2C49&sr=8-4

If you are working on targets, this amount of adjustment is more than you will ever need. If you are hunting pigeons, maybe a ballhead is a better choice. The lower profile and much larger control surface is an advantage. They come from many brands, and with many lengths for the handle under the tripod body, to allow one to be used for lower profile work. I'm sure some of the $30.00 ones are crap. The LeoFoto is good. https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=bowl+adapter+desmond&crid=3LJ9V02M6XKKG&sprefix=bowl+adapter+desmond%2Caps%2C48&ref=nb_sb_noss

- On the top, I use this; https://smile.amazon.com/LEOFOTO-Rifle-Clamp-Support-Compatible/dp/B085SZBJSX/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1Q2025Y3X16D4&keywords=leofoto+rifle+saddle&qid=1646163486&sprefix=leofoto+rifle+saddle%2Caps%2C62&sr=8-2

It's a little pricey, but excellent! Obviously if you've got the Arca rail installed on your rifle, not needed. I have a mix, some with rail, some without, this lets me use the set up with my fine walnut stocks. Just recently a more affordable one was added to Amazing from Sunway. I've had some very good stuff from Sunway, but can't vouch for this one the way I can with the Leo; https://smile.amazon.com/SUNWAYFOTO-SM-76-Saddle-Adapter-Tripod/dp/B09F3SRFF3/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=26YO8MA5C7V8P&keywords=rifle+saddle&qid=1646163499&sprefix=rifle+saddle%2Caps%2C48&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=AFRFZWJ6ONPW4&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzR0VGU09FRUREV0NUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTA1MTM3MTg4U05YRExCNUQ0MSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjg4OTA3MVNIWE4yT0E5UkU2MSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

 

[ctshooter]

My experience in tripods and ball heads. Get what you afford. If you can afford the 404C with 40mm legs I would go that route for stability.

I've tried the Leofoto LH-40 head and it was pretty decent. Honestly though if you can swing it the RRS 50mm ball head is the bomb. It will easily hold front or rear cantilevered rifles.

What I've found with ball heads is the bigger the better - more friction to hold thing in place. With the smaller sub 40mm ball heads you will lock the gun in place but it will still move about 10-15 Mil once you let the weight settle it. With the 50mm RRS it's closer to 5 Mil to settle. 

Stiffer is better and bigger is stiffer. 

In terms of your questions about the knobs - honestly - who cares if they unscrew or not? When would you ever intentionally do that, and/or how could that ever happen by itself? I would focus on quality.

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

Re: quality ballheads;

- The "Best Bang for your Buck" are made by Sirui. The K 40X is so big and tough that it almost has no place in photography, as the next size down 30X is more than enough for nearly any photo set up, but for balancing a big rifle, the 40X would be a very good option.

- The best ballhead bar none, in my humble opinion are made by FLM. Some have a tilt only option, which is very helpful for some photography applications. Might be a boon for target work as well. These are serious high end Mercedes, yet still brick poophouses as far as build quality and durability.

- A great powerhouse in a relatively compact size are the Markins heads. The Q20 is fantastic.

I still own all of the above, (Siruie K30x, as opposed to 40) these are the heads I have chosen over all others after decades of trying many. The Markins is the one I have had the longest at this point, (since 2004) and it has traveled with me to Africa twice, Peru, Galapagos, Guatemala, and all around the North East US etc.

- RRS are fantastic, tough, made in the USA. My only issues with them is that A: for less money I can get one of the above and be just as happy. (in the case of the FLM, much happier ) B:. despite respecting the quality of the product, I am not a fan of the company owner.

Not an air rifle site, but photography related, this shoot out includes a few of the heads I mention, and I agree with a lot of their findings from my own personal use.

https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/battle-of-the-titans-top-ball-heads-tested

 

[Bigragu]

Thank you, Cyberdyne, for your expertise contribution to this thread. Very helpful.

 

[Bigragu]

In terms of your questions about the knobs - honestly - who cares if they unscrew or not? When would you ever intentionally do that, and/or how could that ever happen by itself? I would focus on quality.

Who cares if they unscrew or not…well, I’m Not planning on intentionally losing adjustment knobs. I don’t think anyone plans for that. But then there’s vibration, and mis placement by others besides yourself. I can’t think of how many times I’ve asked where or what happened to the knob(fback yard fire pit, Best gun vice, etc) and the reply that always comes back to me is “I don’t know what happened to that, I didn’t touch it”

Its like capped turrets on a scope. I’ve had friends I hunt with, I see the elevation or windage cap missing. I ask what happened. They all say they don’t know what happened to them.



ive learned over the years when it comes to parts and pieces such as adjustment knobs, locking pins, anything that would get touched by anyone else other than yourself, it’s good luck on replacing them when gone and I end up going to my local ACE hardware to try and hack one in. So yeah, it’s a feature important to me. Maybe you’re the one person that never misplaces anything, or has stuff wiggle loose due to vibration, I don’t know.

 

[ctshooter]

I think I just have too many OCD issues. LOL

 

[Bigragu]

Well, heck. Perfect example of why I like the no unthreading of the knobs feature, lol.

And one would ask, how does this happen?

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/replacement-handle-nut-for-joe-b-tank-valve/

 

[Ezana4CE]

My experience in tripods and ball heads. Get what you afford….In terms of your questions about the knobs - honestly - who cares if they unscrew or not? When would you ever intentionally do that, and/or how could that ever happen by itself? I would focus on quality.

I care if knobs on a head screw all the way out. Before I knew any better and had only researched tripods I bought what I thought was affordable at the time. The head functioned, but the small knob on the arca clamp backed all the way out not far after adjusting the clamp wide enough to slide the rail in. On more than one occasion I inadvertently backed it all the way out until it popped out in the grass and ate up a chunk of my shooting time. I had to use magnets to locate the springs. I think it’s a valid question. 

 

[Mr.H]

I have a an Innorel N44 that the knobs come to a hard stop when trying to twist out. They will not come our easily.

Wilber

I have the Innorel N52, based on Dillon's recommendation in a previous thread. Knobs come to a hard stop a couple of complete loosening turns.

 

[j.ills]

I have an Artcise LB44 and LB52 which I believe are the same as the Innorel ball heads. I like them as recommended by the other folks, and they are lower profile than some of the other ball heads. Artcise also makes nice compact (no center mast) tripods which are better for carrying.

 

[bigHUN]

Levelling head with panoramic on top, the legs filled with #9 leadshots.

The LS-253CM legs are wider then I like for BR but for a Field is priceless.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Levelling head with panoramic on top, the legs filled with #9 leadshots.

The LS-253CM legs are wider then I like for BR but for a Field is priceless.

@bighun How’d you do that? What’s the primary reason for filling the legs? Does it make much noise when you move the tripod around?

 

[bigHUN]

@bighun How’d you do that? What’s the primary reason for filling the legs? Does it make much noise when you move the tripod around?

I am shooting in my gun club only, littlebit of 50 but mostly 100 meters BR.

I learned that I don't want to grab the gun tight but trying to hold it neutral and I let it kick back a little bit.

I have a 10x50-60 target scope (Falcon X50) and I can see the POI is shifting around slowly for about a MIL with every 3-4 shots, and mostly the POA stays to the Right (so moves to the Left, and I am a right hand shooter). As you can see in the pic that I even have rubber swivel feet on the tripod legs hoping for a better grip. Still shifts a bit slower with added weight.

No noise when moving around, the #9 are I believe the smallest beads/grit, I got it in Cabellas somewhere last summer. I fill the tubes all the way I can shake the tripod feels like a solid lead.

The POI shift is not a big problem only annoying to re-aim back to the X ring for every shot...but that means loosen the levelling head - check the bubble -tighten the levelling head (and again and again) This what I figure the levelling heads are much easier to be repeatable vs the ball heads, but still....

I would like to eliminate the human error as much possible.

Over this winter I designed and DIY a "one piece rest" I got pretty much all the parts on the pile, hoping to assemble for a weekend, but still winter at my place (North of Toronto) for next couple weeks I may not be able to test it yet.