Tripod Hacks

alf

alf

Well-known member
My choice for a tripod for night time while standing is the Leofoto LS-364C.

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Leofoto LS-364C X Version Ranger Series Tripod

2024 New Release The brand new version of the Ranger Series, the Leofoto LS-364CX Carbon Fiber Tripod improves upon the classic Leofoto Ranger Series tripods with the latest technology. This model features angle stops have also been improved to be more ergonomic. This new angle stop design...
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It meets my use for total height, folded length, weight, and stability w/o breaking the bank.

It's topped with their LB65 leveling base, and ARCA clamp.

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Leofoto LB Leveling Base with Butterfly Handle

The Leofoto LB Series Leveling Base with Butterfly Handle acts like a half ball, with the LB-38 mini providing a leveling range of +/-10°, while the other models in the series offer a range of +/-15°. It locks easily and securely in position with a twist of the large butterfly handle at the base...
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LHC-50 LHC-60 - Leofoto

Leofoto was founded at the beginning of 2014. It is located in Zhongshan, beautiful Pearl River Delta area in China. Leofoto team has been designing and manufacturing series of camera support systems by comparing and studying the high-end photographic accessories made in China and abroad and...
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Like a house, they need a good foundation. So there's 2 things I do to improve that.

1st off, the screws that hold the legs to the top, I tighten pretty snug. Tight enough that they stay at any position w/o relying on the angle stops.

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When I set it up, I extend the legs all the way out, & splay them out to achieve the desired height w/o using the stops, giving me a wider footprint, & better stability.

Also, I have found the factory spikes not always long enough to get a good purchase in the ground.

My remedy was to buy 4" bolts, cut the heads off, & grind them to a point.

Then put a washer on the bottom of the leg, screw a nut on, screw the bolt into the leg, & with a little blue loctite, tighten it against the washer.

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You can jam the spikes into the ground & w/ the wider stance, get a great solid rest to shoot off w/o breaking the bank.
 
Hunter55 said:
I've been eyeing the same leveling head, do have a field report, how do you like it?
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I still haven't been able to try it in the field or at the range but I think I might be able to provide some initial feedback.

The head is on a Two Vets No Name V2 (very nice tripod with all of the latest upgrades...leg stopper, rubber twist locks, head tension screw). I had a Two Vets 55mm ball head mounted on a QDT V2; sold the QDT V2 tripod to a buddy but kept the ball head since that's what my daughter always used and got the No Name V2 as a replacement. I thought the butterfly handle on this leveling base might be easier for her to operate so I grabbed one on sale to try out.

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This head sits about an inch lower overall vs the ball head with the RRS clamp installed.

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I made sure with Leofoto that the clamp had an adjustable tension screw before I purchased...no issues there.

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The butterfly handle operates smoothly and locks up tight in about a quarter turn or less. I read reviews where some of these can lock up so tight that they can't easily get them unlocked but I haven't seen or felt anything like that. It operates nice, smooth, and steady with a rifle. The only negative I have is that the little 45 degree sliver of a gap between the top of the silver butterfly lever and the bottom of the black bowl can pinch the skin between your thumb and index finger/catch your glove, etc. if you're not careful. After I got used to how to hold my hand I don't have any problems and like it quite well. I still need to have my daughter test out as well. Overall, it's a nice option.
 
thanks IiiiniFan for your feedback I was also curious about the tension adjustment on the lever and thx for covering that. I'm currently running a Sunwayfoto ballhead and was just considering a leveling head, seems most folks think they increase stability. Always something new to try :)
 
Great write up. The only thing that I thought was different from what I’ve heard (from PRS guys) is to only extend your bottom most leg as far as needed to reach your needed shooting height and not any further. Their theory was even with the best tripod on the market, it’s the thinnest diameter leg and is most prone to lateral flexing/instability when expanding the legs out far. Not saying either of you are right are wrong, that’s just what I was taught at some PRS matches from the more experienced guys giving pointers to the inexperienced (me). Both of your theories sound correct and I may have to try yours out.
 
bmicek said:
Great write up. The only thing that I thought was different from what I’ve heard (from PRS guys) is to only extend your bottom most leg as far as needed to reach your needed shooting height and not any further. Their theory was even with the best tripod on the market, it’s the thinnest diameter leg and is most prone to lateral flexing/instability when expanding the legs out far.
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I do the same for sitting with my LS-324, only extend the lower legs to what's needed for proper height.

My taller LS-364 I use for standing does not extend as tall as most of those used by the PRS guys, so that's why I extend all 3 as far as they go, then adjust the height by skipping the notches & splaying them out to where they need to be. Coupled with the tighter tension on the screws & the extra long spikes, I'm not giving up anything stability wise in any hunting situation with it's 4lb 14oz total weight.
 
alf said:
Cool, I sure like mine.

One word of warning if you have a Foxpro, & it's activated for Foxbang.

You need to ease the remote onto the magnet carefully or else......😲😲😲
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Hey I got that holder and put it to use last night. You weren’t kidding about easing the remote on hahah. I adjusted it when I had a triple coming in and it clicked on hard. Totally screwed up the stand haha.

Other than that, it worked awesome
 
Duhhh said:
Hey I got that holder and put it to use last night. You weren’t kidding about easing the remote on hahah. I adjusted it when I had a triple coming in and it clicked on hard. Totally screwed up the stand haha.

Other than that, it worked awesome
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Bummer.....I've learned it's safer to stick it on the magnet before turning it on.(y)

I always shut mine off between stands, but one night making another stand, I took the pack off & dropped it on the ground, & the Kiyi started blasting in my ears. Seemed like an eternity before I could fish it out of the pack & shut the dam thing off.
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