Ridiculously tall... but exactly what I wanted
Watch my first-look video, or scroll down below for my written thoughts, including what to consider when choosing a tripod and how this Leofoto tripod compares to a popular alternative.
If you've watched any of my in-field videos, you may have noticed - or heard me talk about - how I would often pull my tripod legs in towards the middle of their stance some to get every bit of height I could out of my Benro tripod. While it's been a solid piece of equipment for five years or so, my number one frustration has been its lack of height for many compositions (no fault of its own, obviously).
Prior to my recent trip to Colorado, I decided to take the plunge and upgraded my tripod to the newest version of Leofoto's LM-324CL X (the L represents "long" while the X indicates the new model; more on that below). I went 'round and 'round on what brand and model to go with: FLM also has a compelling option in their model CP30-L4 II. Ultimately, I opted for the Leofoto as it can extend significantly taller than the FLM and I've been extremely happy with the build quality of my Leofoto hybrid ball/geared head that I've been using for the last couple of years.
Leofoto also tends to run sales more often, and with larger discounts, than what I've seen from FLM, which also put them on roughly equal footing from a price standpoint.
For full disclosure, Leofoto is not a sponsor, and I paid for the tripod with my own funds, using a publicly available promotion at the time of purchase. I am an affiliate which, if you know me, is a strong indicator that I personally believe in the quality of the Leofoto brand (aka I don't become an affiliate for brands I don't use and respect).
If you decide to purchase this Leofoto tripod or another model (or other Leofoto accessories), you can use the coupon code MICHAELRUNG during checkout to save 12%. I may earn a commission on any purchases made using my affiliate link.
With that out of the way, let's get into the nitty gritty of my review!
My First Impressions of the Build Quality of the Leofoto LM-324CL X Version
As I noted, I've had no significant complaints with my Benro tripod, and it has served me well while withstanding a fair bit of abuse without much thought being given to cleaning or maintenance.
My first impression upon removing the Leofoto tripod from its bag was that it is far more robust than the Benro. The legs are much thicker in diameter and are constructed of 10x carbon fiber versus 8x, which should give me better stability overall (especially when working with my personal-favorite 100-400mm lens).
The following photo doesn't really do it justice compared to the Benro, but the legs are definitely beefier on the Leofoto (32mm vs. 28mm on the top section):
The twist locks for the leg segments are very smooth, and require a short movement to lock or unlock, allowing for quick setup and breakdown. I also really like the new leg angle stop adjustment design, which is much easier to operate than what I've seen on tripods I've used in the past (instead of pulling an adjustment "lock" out and then having to push it back in, the Leofoto design allows you to simply hold down a lever to adjust the leg angles and then you just let go of the lever to lock the leg).
This lever design for the legs is the main new feature of the X series of tripods and, while I figured it wouldn't be all that different from what I was used to with the Benro, I've actually found the design to be much nicer. The levers even auto-lock as you adjust the legs back to their default positions, unlike the Benro design where you have to push the little locking piece back in for each leg.
Above: The more traditional angle-stop design other tripods use.
Below: The new angle-stop lever introduced with Leofoto's X-series of tripods.
Everything about the tripod feels high quality, and noticeably nicer than the Benro I've been using.
Using the Leofoto in Real-World Situations
I wanted more tripod height for two primary scenarios: getting above intruding elements in the foreground and working on uneven terrain.
There's no question that going from a tripod that maxed out at about 54" to one that tops 77" (without the head attached) readily solves for the first scenario. Instead of struggling to get my camera high enough to overcome foreground objects encroaching on my desired framing, my new challenge is reaching my camera when the tripod is fully extended. I haven't found myself in that bind more than once or twice so far, but I was very thankful to have my wireless Canon remote (which is still one of the best purchases I've made in general, for what it's worth) to fire the shutter when the camera was well over my head.
Where I pretty much fell in love with the Leofoto tripod, though, was the first time I had to set up on a steep slope, overlooking a waterfall. With the drop of the terrain in front of me, the Benro probably would have topped out around my waist or belly, but with the added reach of the Leofoto's legs I was able to extend the front leg completely and work at eye-level, and above some foreground bushes I wanted to exclude from the frame.
In the above screen grab from my video review, you can see that the two legs closest to me are using about 2.5 sections. The bottom leg, downslope, is fully extended (albeit hidden by the bushes), using all four sections to get the tripod base nearly level and at a height tall enough to avoid some larger bushes that would have otherwise encroached into the foreground of my composition.
I found myself using similar setups - extending one or two legs fully to maintain an adequate height - throughout my Colorado trip. Quite frankly, had I not purchased the Leofoto, I would have been forced to skip several of my favorite compositions of the trip, or switch to handheld and high ISO to try to salvage the shots. The new tripod was a total gamechanger.
Conveniently, I also quickly realized that, by extending only two of the three collapsible leg sections, my camera was at eye level on flat ground. That was never possible with the Benro, even when I was using the included tall center column to get the total height to around 61" (which I eventually swapped out for a shorter column for added stability and to allow for lower compositions with the legs fully spread out).
How Tall Should Your Tripod Be?
Like so many photography-related questions, it depends. If you're working mostly in a studio for portraits, your goal should be to find a tripod that will be at eye level - after accounting for your ball or geared head - for your models/subjects (standing or sitting).
As a nature photographer, having used a tripod that was well below my own eye level for several years, I'd now argue that you should look for one that will exceed your height. Considering most tripod heads will generally be 6-8" tall, you may want to consider a tripod that comes to your eye level without a head (so, if you're 6' tall, or 72", look for a tripod around 66" tall when fully extended); once everything is assembled, you'll at least have a little bit of extra height to use when needed (66" + 6" = 72").
However, if, like me, you find yourself regularly working on uneven ground, such as on steep slopes, having extra tripod height at your disposal is only going to help. Comparing the 77" Leofoto to the 68" FLM, the extra 9" the Leofoto provides means you have that much more length to extend a leg or two to a) provide a stable base for your camera, and b) get your camera as close to your eye level as possible (depending on your desired composition, of course).
I can think of a few compositions, at least, from my Colorado trip where having the FLM instead of the Leofoto would have meant the difference between getting the shot or not.
In short, if you don't mind a little more weight, and a little less compactness when folded, I feel it's better to have the height and not need it most of the time than to not have the height and encounter scenarios where you wish you had it.
Tripod Comparison: Leofoto LM-324CL X versus FLM CP30-L4 II 10X Carbon Fiber
Here's a handy table comparing the key specs of the two tripods I considered:
Leofoto LM-324CL X | FLM CP30-L4 II | |
Leg Material | 10x Carbon Fiber | 10x Carbon Fiber |
No. of Leg Sections | 4 | 4 |
Leg Lock Type | Twist | Twist |
Maximum Height | 77.56" (1,970mm) | 68.3" (1,735mm) |
Minimum Height | 4.2" (106mm) | 3.6" (91mm) |
Folded Length | 26.8" (680mm) | 23" (584.2mm) |
Weight | 4lb (1.8kg) | 3lb (1.4kg) |
Maximum Payload | 55lb (25kg) | 44.1lb (20kg) |
Base Mount Diameter | 75mm | 53mm |
Leg Section Diameters | 32mm / 28mm / 25mm / 22mm | 30mm / 26mm / 22mm / 18mm |
Foot Type | Rubber w/swappable steel spikes included | Rubber w/swappable steel spikes included |
Accessory 3/8" Mount | Yes | Yes |
Warranty | Lifetime (series X) | 10-year |
Even if 77" is too much for you, or you need a smaller tripod for backpacking or to carry on a plane, Leofoto has a wide selection of options beyond this particular model. For now, I'm keeping the Benro for those reasons and just as a general backup but if/when the Benro fails, I'll be replacing it with a Leofoto model.
If you have any questions about the Leofoto LM-324CL X, feel free to drop them in the comments section below and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
And don't forget, if you decide to purchase a Leofoto tripod, head, or other item, use the code MICHAELRUNG to save 12%!
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So, if you fly, how do you transport the tripod? Does it fit inside a checked suitcase?