Leofoto geared head

ndwgolf

ndwgolf

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Neil Williams
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Guys I’m in the market for a new tripod head. My tripod is the Gitzo GT1541T and camera is a Hasselblad X2D with the biggest lens being the XCD 135:2.8.
My current head is the Arca Swiss PO but the panning lock leaver is damaged hence I need a new head.
My local shop has offered me the Leofoto G4 but I think it might be overkill, unfortunately they don’t have the smaller G3.
So my question is should I just go for the bigger head or look for something else?
 
ndwgolf said:
They actually come with friction knobs as well so can use it similar as a ball head and then tighten them down to make fine adjustments
Click to expand...

I understand that, but its still quite a bit slower than using a ball-head - but its your choice, having had a geared head in the past, I found it frustrating to use, though if you were doing precise work I can see its merit.
 
Been using the Arca Swiss D4 geared head for quite some time and really like it.

GC
 
I have a Benro geared head which is perfect for when I’m shooting landscape & woodland photography. My own feeling is they offer much more precision than a traditional ballhead but as @Mr Perceptive says, they are slower to use.
 
Accuracy can be far more important than speed, in which case a geared head can be a much better option than a ball head.
 
Nod said:
Accuracy can be far more important than speed, in which case a geared head can be a much better option than a ball head.
Click to expand...

Agreed, geared head for accuracy, gimbal for speed(y)

GC
 
The D4 style geared heads are a very nice mix of functions/features.

There's the Arca Swiss D4, Leofoto G4, Leofoto G3, and Sunwayfoto GH Pro... the last two are quite comparable; the best is probably the D4; it's certainly the most expensive. I've had the GH Pro for maybe ten years now... it can handle far more weight than it's rated for, but not smoothly. For any normal kit you are likely to put on a geared head, it's more than adequate. Personally, I like Leofoto products a lot; but I have not seen/used a G3/G4. (they were not making them at the time I got my GH Pro).

Extra capability is seldom a negative; but it can be weight/expense for no real benefit.
 
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gcgraphs said:
Been using the Arca Swiss D4 geared head for quite some time and really like it.

GC
Click to expand...
GC would you say that the Arca Swiss D4 is overkill for the Hasselblad X2D or about right. Unfortunately there are no camera shops within a 1000 kilometres of where I live to go and try one out in the shop. The XCD 135mm lens with the 1,7 TC attached is about the same size as a 70/200 f 2.8
 
Not had any issues with size/weight of camera or lens.

This is the D850/24mm PC-E lens on the Arca Swiss d4 mounted on a Gitzo 4 series:

d4.JPG

GC
 
I bought a Leofoto G4 Pro a little while back. Absolutely superb piece of kit. It is possible to position everything very rapidly, and then use the gears to make fine adjustments. When I go back to a ball head, it all feels very primitive and inaccurate. The geared head is very precise, there’s no sag, overall it is excellent.

I did a writeup on it here: https://www.lens57.com/blog/review-kingjoy-c86-tripod-and-leofoto-d40-pro-head
 
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