No compromise tripod (glassing and shooting) for cheap!

[eric1115]

Click bait title? Yes, probably. But I've been absolutely loving this setup. I've also not seen anyone else using this combination (and very little on either one, closest I've seen someone using is a wiser precision or the new RRS pan/tilt on an anvil)

A few years ago I picked up a leofoto 324CEX with the integrated compact leveling base, and really been pleased with it for shooting. It's more stable than anything else in its weight class that I have used (no RRS experience, but slik, feisol, manfrotto, etc ranging from 2lb glassing tripods to 6 lb 36mm leg with 55mm ball head). I've shot deer at 400 yards standing, rock chucks at 200 standing easily, and 800+ on vital size steel from seated.

Leofoto LS-324CEX Leveling Ranger Tripod

LS-324CEX: MSRP: $449.00 Max. height: 1526mmMin.Height: 100mmFolded length: 560mmLeg Section : 4Max load: 15kgWeight: 1.61kg Tilt range : -15°/+15°

leofotousa.com

I never loved it for glassing, but tolerated it as the leveling base actually works pretty smoothly. This year I picked up a SmallRig compact pan/tilt and mounted an arca plate to the bottom. Cut the handle down and removed the big rubber grip. It lives on the tripod now, only comes off to take a shot. 1,000% improved glassing experience, both binos and spotting scope. Way better than any ball head I've used, nearly VA5 quality (though it's been a while since I owned one, so I don't have a very sharp reference point to compare them). It's not the lightest option, around 1/2 lb I think. I'll try to remember to weigh it. There are lighter ones out there, but this little guy is amazing for the money. It's only $50, I got it on sale for $40.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09C89QPR6?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I now have a 4.25 lb setup that lets me shoot very effectively, goes to standing height for glassing and shooting, and in my opinion is better for glassing than any ball head I'm aware of. I'm under $500 on the whole setup. The leveling base makes the panhead so nice to use, compared to standard tripods and trying to get the head close to level by adjusting legs. With this setup, I just get it somewhere kind of close and then do a quick adjustment on the leveling base and I'm all set.

I like to do things quirky sometimes, and it does not always work as well as I hope. This one though has panned out extremely well.

 

[Outwest]

I have been looking into doing this exact thing with a LF 284CEX.

Have you considered bypassing the arca clamp and shooting straight off the head attached to the leveling base? Any cons to doing it that way? That’s what I had envisioned but I like your setup a lot too.

 

[eric1115]

I have been looking into doing this exact thing with a LF 284CEX.

Have you considered bypassing the arca clamp and shooting straight off the head attached to the leveling base? Any cons to doing it that way? That’s what I had envisioned but I like your setup a lot too.

Huge increase in stability putting the clamp on the leveling base. I don't know how exactly to quantify it, I'd say wobble zone for me is .5-.75 MOA seated unsupported in this configuration. I haven't shot off the panhead but if I had to guess, probably 1.5 or more?

If you're just glassing, no reason to put the panhead on a plate. If you're shooting also, every reason to put it on a plate.

 

[Fjellvei]

Thanks for sharing your build. Came across this as I'm interested in doing similar for a smallrig tripod for shooting / glassing. I'm sure your leofoto is way better quality/robust. Glad to see you like the smallrig panhead, you might have sold me on that. Also like to see your feedback on shooting from leveling base vs head. What caliber are you shooting from this? Looks like you are shooting a brake so you have lightened your recoil. Do you think that helps?

Only additional thought: Noticed on your binos you don't have aziak binoclamp for that, might save yet another little few oz/ time to clamp that on vs the diopter connection thing you have to attach to binos

 

[ArmyAg97]

OP, how tall are you? Looks like 284 is the tallest option on this now, just wondering if that's enough for standing shots by a 6ft dude.

 

[eric1115]

Thanks for sharing your build. Came across this as I'm interested in doing similar for a smallrig tripod for shooting / glassing. I'm sure your leofoto is way better quality/robust. Glad to see you like the smallrig panhead, you might have sold me on that. Also like to see your feedback on shooting from leveling base vs head. What caliber are you shooting from this? Looks like you are shooting a brake so you have lightened your recoil. Do you think that helps?

Only additional thought: Noticed on your binos you don't have aziak binoclamp for that, might save yet another little few oz/ time to clamp that on vs the diopter connection thing you have to attach to binos

I've done a decent amount of shooting off regular 40-55mm ball heads (as well as a little off compact ~30mm ball heads) of varying quality. I'd put this above all ball heads I've used for shooting (again with the caveat that I have never shot off RRS heads including the Anvil).

The large radius bowl allows a tension between lockup and completely free that allows rifle movement, but minimal wobble when not moving.

I've shot a bunch of different rifles off this setup, ranging from .223 to 7mmRM. No issues with any of these.

 

[eric1115]

OP, how tall are you? Looks like 284 is the tallest option on this now, just wondering if that's enough for standing shots by a 6ft dude.

I'm 6'1". Before adding the pan head, it was marginal for standing glassing but fine for standing shooting. With the added height of the pan head the only time I wish for more is when standing on a down slope so tripod is below my feet and I'm trying to look across the valley level or uphill.

 

[Tibodoe]

very informative, thanks!

 

[WyoWild]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but looking at doing something similar. How did you attach the Arca clamp to the leveling base/ball. Is the screw in the ball removable or is the hole on the clamp threaded?

 

[sasquatch]

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[eric1115]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but looking at doing something similar. How did you attach the Arca clamp to the leveling base/ball. Is the screw in the ball removable or is the hole on the clamp threaded?

No worries. I'm 99% sure from memory that the leveling base has a ⅜ thread stud and the clamp has a ⅜ threaded hole. Set screws angle in and up from below to keep the clamp secure (integrated into leveling base). No adapters or shenanigans needed, simply screw the clamp on and tighten the set screws.

The mini fluid head has a ⅜ threaded hole as well, but both it and the plate I got had ⅜ x ¼ adapters so that was a non-issue as well.

 

[WyoWild]

No worries. I'm 99% sure from memory that the leveling base has a ⅜ thread stud and the clamp has a ⅜ threaded hole. Set screws angle in and up from below to keep the clamp secure (integrated into leveling base). No adapters or shenanigans needed, simply screw the clamp on and tighten the set screws.

The mini fluid head has a ⅜ threaded hole as well, but both it and the plate I got had ⅜ x ¼ adapters so that was a non-issue as well.

Thanks so much! Exactly what I needed to know.