A tripod should be a functional piece of equipment. The higher end models cost much more but do the same job - I don’t see the point. I was looking for a tripod system that would be versatile enough to tackle just about anything - and it turned out to be LeoFoto. For the cost of the Gabriel you could get an LS-364 and an LS284. You can take the bottom section off the 364 and replace it with the lower 3 sections of the 284, making an LS-366, which is 8 feet tall but still fits in a 24” case. In an urban environment I often have to shoot over walls and fences, so I’ve added a 362 to my collection. The legs are interchangeable, so I can replace one of the long legs with the short 2 section leg from the 362. This allows me to put one foot on top of a wall, two feet on the ground and have a full angle of view (using the long leg puts the apex of the tripod too far back and limits the down angle). The feet thread in with a 3/8”x16 thread, so I’ve added a mini ball head with a round clamp on top which allows me to clamp to the top rail of a fence with the short leg. The beauty of the LeoFoto system is that they stick to standards, so all of the parts are interchangeable. I may have spent a bit more than a single Really Right Stuff tripod, but what I can do with it blows a normal tripod out of the water. As many reviews as I’ve seen, none of them mention this versatility. For example, if you’re using an LS-364 and you know you’ll be shooting on a slope that requires along leg, you can get an MP-284 and extend one of the legs to over 8’.
Very good point! As I mention in the video there’s nothing wrong with the base model 324. All the base models are excellent for that matter. The Gabriel just happens to be there ‘flagship’ variant. Excellent point about the standard threads etc which make modding your tripod possible. Thanks!
@@emilvonmaltitz I’ve been trying to get anyone with a following to expand upon the LeoFoto “system”. Your other video where you explain tripods using the analogy of three types of shoes may fit other tripod makers, but not LeoFoto, because they stick to standards. My LeoFoto “kit” includes 364 legs, 365 legs, 362 legs, three 284 monopods, an LS apex, a CEC apex and a 75mm bowl apex, plus an assortment of 3/8”16TPI feet and clamps. I use this set up for architectural photography - I can put the camera into a corner or right up against a wall, or I can put the short leg on a table or shelf - a standard tripod can’t do that. I use that tripod with the center column in the 75mm bowl adapter in studio when I need to change height a lot. When I take an assignment and know there’s going to be a crowd, I put on all 6 sections and shoot over the crowd with an 8’ tripod. The last time I shot the fireworks in Boston on the banks of the river there was a huge crowd and no way of going up because of the trees. I used round clamps as feet on two of the legs, ran the third leg down to the base of the railing along the river and cantilevered my camera over the water. It really is the Swiss Army knife of tripods, but nobody says anything about that on the internet.
I work in bicycle retail where all intelligent standards have been abolished. There are 26 different standards for bottom brackets and every company has proprietary stems and seatposts. Add that to a global parts shortage and you have a system that can’t work. When I started looking for a new tripod I noticed that LeoFoto used standard diameters on all of their tripods. This makes sense in so many ways, like economy of scale. They buy the same tubing and make the same parts for any series of tripod, so the prices are lower and sourcing material is easy. So many companies can’t resist redesigning everything so that nothing is compatible, but not doing that is the real advantage. I know that RUclips likes reviews of new stuff, but tripods need to function. There are endless reviews of the Peak Designs travel tripod and it’s crap!
Emil, I'm quickly becoming a fan of your excellent reviews. Top notch presentation, and thoroughly informative. Keep up the great work. (liked and suscribed)
Thank you for the explanation. I’ve been eyeing Leofoto tripods recently but never understand what’s the difference. Gabriel definitely caught my eye as a white tripod more than Lucifer
My FRIEND simply superb. Just freaking well done!
Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it.
A tripod should be a functional piece of equipment. The higher end models cost much more but do the same job - I don’t see the point. I was looking for a tripod system that would be versatile enough to tackle just about anything - and it turned out to be LeoFoto. For the cost of the Gabriel you could get an LS-364 and an LS284. You can take the bottom section off the 364 and replace it with the lower 3 sections of the 284, making an LS-366, which is 8 feet tall but still fits in a 24” case. In an urban environment I often have to shoot over walls and fences, so I’ve added a 362 to my collection. The legs are interchangeable, so I can replace one of the long legs with the short 2 section leg from the 362. This allows me to put one foot on top of a wall, two feet on the ground and have a full angle of view (using the long leg puts the apex of the tripod too far back and limits the down angle). The feet thread in with a 3/8”x16 thread, so I’ve added a mini ball head with a round clamp on top which allows me to clamp to the top rail of a fence with the short leg. The beauty of the LeoFoto system is that they stick to standards, so all of the parts are interchangeable. I may have spent a bit more than a single Really Right Stuff tripod, but what I can do with it blows a normal tripod out of the water. As many reviews as I’ve seen, none of them mention this versatility. For example, if you’re using an LS-364 and you know you’ll be shooting on a slope that requires along leg, you can get an MP-284 and extend one of the legs to over 8’.
Very good point! As I mention in the video there’s nothing wrong with the base model 324. All the base models are excellent for that matter. The Gabriel just happens to be there ‘flagship’ variant. Excellent point about the standard threads etc which make modding your tripod possible. Thanks!
@@emilvonmaltitz I’ve been trying to get anyone with a following to expand upon the LeoFoto “system”. Your other video where you explain tripods using the analogy of three types of shoes may fit other tripod makers, but not LeoFoto, because they stick to standards. My LeoFoto “kit” includes 364 legs, 365 legs, 362 legs, three 284 monopods, an LS apex, a CEC apex and a 75mm bowl apex, plus an assortment of 3/8”16TPI feet and clamps. I use this set up for architectural photography - I can put the camera into a corner or right up against a wall, or I can put the short leg on a table or shelf - a standard tripod can’t do that. I use that tripod with the center column in the 75mm bowl adapter in studio when I need to change height a lot. When I take an assignment and know there’s going to be a crowd, I put on all 6 sections and shoot over the crowd with an 8’ tripod. The last time I shot the fireworks in Boston on the banks of the river there was a huge crowd and no way of going up because of the trees. I used round clamps as feet on two of the legs, ran the third leg down to the base of the railing along the river and cantilevered my camera over the water. It really is the Swiss Army knife of tripods, but nobody says anything about that on the internet.
I work in bicycle retail where all intelligent standards have been abolished. There are 26 different standards for bottom brackets and every company has proprietary stems and seatposts. Add that to a global parts shortage and you have a system that can’t work. When I started looking for a new tripod I noticed that LeoFoto used standard diameters on all of their tripods. This makes sense in so many ways, like economy of scale. They buy the same tubing and make the same parts for any series of tripod, so the prices are lower and sourcing material is easy. So many companies can’t resist redesigning everything so that nothing is compatible, but not doing that is the real advantage. I know that RUclips likes reviews of new stuff, but tripods need to function. There are endless reviews of the Peak Designs travel tripod and it’s crap!
Emil, I'm quickly becoming a fan of your excellent reviews. Top notch presentation, and thoroughly informative. Keep up the great work. (liked and suscribed)
Thank you Bob. Appreciate the comment. I’ll definitely try to keep adding
Great review.
Thanks Oscar
Thank you for the explanation. I’ve been eyeing Leofoto tripods recently but never understand what’s the difference. Gabriel definitely caught my eye as a white tripod more than Lucifer
You’re welcome 😊
Damn good video.
Thanks man!
Great video but where can I buy one in the UK ?
I think you can try WEX, or London Camera Exchange.