Review - Sturdy carbon tripod for landscape photography

When I look outside in the afternoon, the weather forecast from buienradar seems to come true. After two gray and wet days, at 5:00 p.m. the hourly forecast finally shows the little icon of the sun behind the clouds. The photo bag is ready for departure.

Filter kit, two cameras, two lenses, a set of SD cards and charged batteries. To be honest, I'm a little excited, because leaning against the packed bag is a brand new tripod. Namely a Leofoto Ranger LS-365C with LH-40 ball head. I already know exactly where, how and what I want to photograph.

About Vincent Croce

Vincent Croce belongs to the new generation of landscape photographers who have developed their passion for the profession through the use of social media, and Instagram in particular. In his photography, Vincent always tries to let the natural light play the leading role. This gives his photos a certain mysterious and magical atmosphere, without going 'over the top'. In addition to his trips to photogenic countries such as Norway, Germany and Switzerland, Vincent also likes to photograph close to home. With over 115,000 followers, his Instagram account is one of the largest photography accounts in the Netherlands. Website Vincent.

I actually always use the Ranger LS-254C travel tripod from Leofoto. I am very satisfied with it, especially the ease of use of the tripod. Yet I notice that in some circumstances it does not quite meet my specific needs. Choosing the right photography equipment is always a matter of making compromises. This also applies to the use of a tripod.

AIf you don't want to compromise on quality and robustness, go for a sturdy and stable tripod. Do weight and ease of use also play a role? Then you would probably benefit more from a more compact and lighter model. Today, however, weight is not an issue. From the parking lot it is only a few hundred meters walk to the spot I have in mind.

The Ranger LS-365C carbon tripod is sturdy and stable.

The legs of the Ranger LS-365C can be called robust. A single tripod leg consists of 5 different elements which can be slid in and out by means of large rubber grips. And that goes wonderfully smoothly. At the top of the tripod are hinges that can be adjusted and locked in 3 positions. The last position offers the possibility to place the legs completely horizontal on the ground. The feet of the tripod are rubber pins that you can unscrew. If you are working on an uneven or slippery surface, these are easy to change with the included spikes.

The LH-40 ball head has a carrying capacity of 20 kilos and is easy to use.

Without a good ball head, a good tripod is worthless. A ball head must be easy to use, have a good load-bearing capacity and above all be able to be securely locked in any position. On the LH-40 ball head, all quick-release plates with the common Arca-Swiss dimensions can be attached. This is done smoothly with the quick-release dial.

Like the tripod, the LH-40 also has a rock-solid, sturdy look. The three rotary knobs have a matte chrome look and are provided with the necessary notches to promote grip. Besides the pan button that you use for a horizontal shift (especially easy when taking panoramic photos), there is also a large tilt button that allows you to move the camera the full 360 degrees.

Finally, there is a button that allows you to fully lock the ballhead. A subtle spirit level is integrated at the top and a degree scale at the bottom so you can position the tripod very precisely. The two cutouts in the design allow you to easily adjust the camera 90 degrees so you can quickly switch from landscape to portrait composition.

The river Dinkel in the Twente landscape.

I figured that my new tripod would get a baptism of fire at one of the most beautiful photo spots I know. Right against the German border, the river Dinkel meanders through the Twente landscape. A typical sight of the Dinkel are the steep sand banks created by centuries of erosion. It is for Dutch standards a fairly unique place and a candy store for the landscape photographer.

There is a brisk wind blowing rain clouds across the country. To assess how sturdy and stable the Ranger LS-365C really is, I'm going to do a timelapse. This was something I have done before with my other tripod, the much lighter LS-254C which is also from the Leofoto Ranger series. With the lighter tripod, it is noticeable that especially in slightly rougher weather conditions, there can still be minimal movement, especially when I am shooting with a heavy telephoto lens.

A sturdy and stable tripod - all materials feel rock solid as I have come to expect from Leofoto.

The Leofoto Ranger LS-365C carbon tripod is a keeper. With 1.77 kg, I find the weight still quite acceptable so this tripod will probably be preferred for not too long walks. All materials feel very solid as I have come to expect from Leofoto.

The ball head has a capacity of 20 kg and leaves nothing to be desired as far as I am concerned. What I find particularly useful is that I can move the camera completely vertically and lock it so that I don't need my L-bracket anymore. I'm going to enjoy this tripod for a very long time!