The LH-30 is the second smallest in the range and tension adjustment is foregone at this size, but an individual pan knob still remains. Without individual tension adjustment, the low-profile head with its larger ball-contact area really shines. It is easier to set a fine amount of drag that will hold the bulk of the camera’s weight, while still allowing you to manipulate it and compose the shot. This head pairs perfectly with the 25 series tripods like the LS-255C or LS-254C. This head features wingnut/tap style knobs for easy operation.
This head is ideal for APS-C cameras with light lenses or MFT cameras.
Specifications
- Weight: 310g
- Max Load: 15kg
- Height: 80mm
- Ball Diameter: 30mm
- Base Diameter: 47mm
- Includes Plate Model: BPL-50
*Minor variations with clamp variants
Clamp Types
The LH-30, LH-36 and LH-40 heads are available in 4 different clamp types.
Screw Clamp Standard | E.G LH-30
This is the standard and most affordable option and what you’ll get when purchasing a tripod kit containing an LH head.
Screw Clamp Panning | E.G LH-30R
A panning clamp allows easy panorama shooting by simply levelling the clamp instead of the entire tripod. Note 1 – the spirit level on the clamp will be under the camera, so you need to remove the camera to level the clamp. Note 2 – as you cannot tilt the clamp up or down as you would if the whole tripod is levelled, your horizon will always be in the middle of the frame.
Lever Release Clamp Standard | E.G LH-30LR
Anyone who was spent a long day shooting with a screw-clamp tripod will know the effect it has on your fingers – loosening and tightening a screw clamp too many times can be tedious and painful. A lever release clamp makes life a lot easier, but the majority of manufacturers shy away from it for one reason – price. The lever has to be made from a much harder alloy like stainless steel, as aluminium and normal steel bends under the pressure that the lever is subjected to. Similarly, the flex provided to the hinge of the lever has to be from a brass bushing as rubber simply doesn’t last.
A lever release clamp is an absolute pleasure to use, but it costs an average 25% more. Fortunately, due to Leofoto’s amazing pricing it still costs far less than competing heads.
Lever Release Clamp Panning | E.G LH-30PCL
Panning lever release clamp
About Leofoto LH (Low Profile) Ballheads
Leofoto’s low profile ball heads feature the latest in tripod head design combined with premium materials and precision manufacturing to offer a powerful, ergonomic and easy to use tripod head. A cup machined from aircraft-grade aluminium holds a hollow-core ball made from the same material, while Japanese ball bearings ensure smooth panning control and gaskets on all control-knobs keep out dirt and moisture. A low-friction Delrin sleeve is used between the cup and the ball to ensure smooth drag. This combination of cutting-edge design and premium materials puts Leofoto’s products far ahead of most manufacturers in the market, which are still making conventional heads.
Low profile ball heads offer several advantages over conventional ball heads -
- The camera sits closer to the apex, which has several benefits like improved stiffness and a lower center of gravity.
- The cup has a much larger contact area with the ball, allowing greater grip.
- The lower profile design allows the use of a much bigger ball without making the overall head too large. Larger ball = better grip.
- A simpler design means a longer lifespan and better durability in testing conditions.
- Less material and a simpler design means it is lighter and cheaper than a similar-sized conventional ball head.
Want to know more about Leofoto's LH Ballhead range?
This article goes through all the options as well as clamp types.
