Leofoto Tripod Ranger LS-365C + PG-1 Gimbal head kit

Leofoto Ranger LS-365C Carbon tripod
The entire Ranger series is designed for compactness and weight reduction. It is therefore all the more astonishing that a carbon tripod with a load capacity of a whopping 20 kg is still possible: the Ranger LS-365C. And that with a weight of only 1,770 g! The maximum working height of 1,520 mm with the short packing size of 480 mm is also pleasing. Its relative lightness, but also its actual lightness, make this super-strong carbon tripod extremely interesting for taking photos in the great outdoors. Photographers who opt for it can rely on the Leofoto Ranger LS-365C like the best friend they have.

Leofoto Ranger series - the ultra-light but extremely stable carbon tripods
Nature is practically the nature of the compact and lightweight Leofoto Ranger tripods. Every gram and every millimetre counts on days of photo stalking in order to minimize the volume and weight of your luggage. However, all pieces of equipment must not only save space and weight, but also meet very high requirements. Stability under all circumstances, that is the requirement. The material, carbon, ensures the required lightness. Its stability and freedom from vibration "grows" with the number of layers. Apart from the Traveler tripod series and the monopods, Leofoto tripods are made of ten-layer carbon. The deliberately modular design of all tripods in the Leofoto Ranger series - the center column is not built in, but only attached when required - makes it possible to limit luggage to the bare essentials.
With their small diameters, the head plates in the Ranger series are also subordinate to the space-saving concept. And because they are CNC-milled from strong aircraft aluminum, they are an absolute perfect fit. The head plate screw has a 3/8 inch thread. The tripod legs - each consisting of three to five leg elements, depending on the model - glide smoothly and without twisting. They are held in place by rubberized twist locks that are easy to grip. Unwanted vibrations are absorbed by the rubber feet. If necessary, they can be replaced with the stainless steel spikes supplied or optional snow and sand feet.

Leofoto Ranger LS-365C - super strong for heavy cameras and long Lens
Even just above the ground, at a minimum height of 80 mm, the tripod cuts a fine figure. But regardless of the working height between 80 and 1,520 mm, the Ranger LS-365C easily "shoulders" a very thick DSLR including a long telephoto lens. The carbon tripod is supplied in a useful carrying bag, which also contains a multi-tool and a set of stainless steel spikes. The latter provide more grip, with which the enormous power of the tripod can be used even better in the field. The tripod legs are each divided into five segments, which glide very smoothly. The segment diameters of 36, 32, 28, 25 and 22 mm also show the power of this carbon tripod.

Leofoto PG-1 Cardan head
How is it possible to move really heavy telephoto lenses as easily as a spring? With a cardanic suspension mounted on a sturdy tripod! There are several names for this useful device, which is very common in the USA in particular, where it is called a "gimbal head". In German, the technical term "Kardankopf" probably describes it best, although many photographers simply call it a "monkey swing". The Leofoto PG-1 gimbal head is particularly useful for photographers who want to follow fast-moving subjects from a specific location with a camera and long focal length. Just think of sporting events, reportages or even animal observations.

Enormously powerful - carries 25 times its own weight
The PG-1 gimbal head achieves great things. Only 200 mm long, 245 mm high and 76 mm wide, it moves equipment weighing up to 25 kg with its low dead weight of 1 kg. This power (despite its great lightness) is made possible by the way Leofoto designs its products: none of the metal parts are forged or otherwise formed. Only with CNC control is it possible to mill the parts completely precisely and evenly. And the material? High-density and therefore extremely robust aircraft aluminum. A series of recesses reduce the weight of the PG-1. Positioning is supported by a built-in spirit level (circular bubble) and three laser-engraved scales. The rotary knobs for adjusting the friction are pleasantly easy to operate. The base has a 3/8 inch tripod thread.

High flexibility despite heavy equipment
Nature and sports photographers usually work with long and heavy "bags". Those who spend hours sitting on a shy animal or aiming diagonally from below at a steep downhill slope, for example, which skiers descend at well over 100 km/h, will welcome the support of the Leofoto PG-1 gimbal head - freed from the heavy load of the equipment. It is true that you are quite location-bound, as you rarely move the finished set-up consisting of tripod, gimbal head, telephoto lens and camera from A to B. But image sections can be created much more flexibly, quickly and conveniently than with any "normal" tripod head.

Vertical, horizontal, diagonal - the little finger determines the direction
Practically every large lens has a tripod clamp that can be quickly attached to the Arca-Swiss-compatible lens plate of the Leofoto PG-1 gimbal head. The "fat lens" with the attached camera sits here as if free-floating - perfectly balanced. It relieves the photographer of all the physical effort he would have to make to focus if the equipment were on a conventional tripod head. But with this gimbal head, only the little finger is needed to move the camera smoothly in any desired direction. Downwards, upwards, sideways to the left, sideways to the right, even around the entire axis. After each upward or downward focusing movement, the heavy camera-telephoto combination returns to its starting position, swinging gently as if by itself. Pulling along with appropriate subjects? The joints of the PG-1 also allow this to be done very smoothly. The vertical movement of the Leofoto PG-1 gimbal head is wonderfully precise. There are no vibrations or unsteady movements up or down.