Introduction

Many photographers are familiar with high-end tripod brands like Gitzo and Really Right Stuff, but are we always willing to pay the premium that comes with their reputation? Over the last few years, Leofoto has established itself as a serious alternative, producing tripods that can match—or at least come very close to—the performance of the established brands.

In this review, I take a look at one of Leofoto’s flagship models, the flat-apex, center-column-free travel and field tripod, the LS-324CPRO.

You can see this review as a YouTube video here!

Sample Images

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here.

Specifications

All lengths and weights (unless otherwise stated) are my own measurements, taken with the standard rubber feet attached.

Disclosure

Leofoto kindly provided this tripod for testing and review. However, this is a completely independent review.

Variations

There are a couple of other variations of the LS-324 tripod distinguished by their suffixes:

• C: The original (basic) LS-324 but in Carbon-fiber. It lacks the water-resistant leg joints, features simpler leg-angle locks, and offers three leg-angle positions instead of four.
• CX: Similar to the LS-324C, but with improved leg-angle locks for easier one-handed operation.
• CEX: video & panorama version, integrated leveling base, replaces the rigid plate with a hemispherical leveling bowl built straight into the apex.
• CEXX: Similar to CEX with added ergonomic leg-angle locks
• CPRO: weatherproofing, material upgrades (denser carbon-fiber), 4 leg angles, and improved max height from 131 to 141cm
• CXPRO: As CPRO, but with added ergonomic leg-angle locks (US version.

The naming of Leofoto tripods reveals some information about the tripod: “LS” designates the Ranger series, “32” refers to the diameter of the top leg section, and “4” indicates the number of leg sections. There are other tripods in the Ranger series with both thinner and thicker leg sections, as well as models with two, three, four, and five leg sections.

The head also has laso a variant:

• LH-40L: lever-lock clamp for the quick-release plate instead of the traditional screw-lock clamp
• LH-40PCL: As L version but with panning mechanism on camera platform.

Handling and Features

The Tripod

The tripod looks and feels solidly built with attention to details. All leg sections of the Leofoto LS-325CPRO are constructed from 10-layer Japanese Toray carbon fiber. This results in a total weight of approximately 2 kg, including the ball head. The LS-325CPRO features traditional cylindrical legs but omits a center column, eliminating the primary source of flex and column wobble and allowing the legs to pack against each other, making it compact in diameter when packed.

Unlike Leofoto’s standard landscape tripods, the PRO version features, besides the dense carbon fiber, water- and sand-resistant construction, with internal double O-ring seals inside the twist locks. This places it in the sealed, weather-resistant “element-proof” category, designed to withstand salt water, mud, sand, and snow. The twist locks require only a quarter turn to lock or unlock.

At the bottom of the spider is a 1/4-inch female thread for attaching the included carabiner, allowing you to hang ballast or a backpack to increase weight and stability, for example in windy conditions. The thread can also be used to attach other accessories.

The legs can be set to four different angles, providing greater versatility on steep slopes and for low-angle shooting than standard three-angle tripods.

To adjust the leg angle, pull out the angle stop (or push it out from behind the leg), move the leg to the desired angle, and lightly press the angle stop. It will ratchet into place and lock automatically.

To activate the automatic angle-stop mechanism, pull the angle stop out fully and raise the leg to the horizontal position until the angle stop engages. You can then move the leg to the desired angle, and the angle stop will automatically ratchet into the next locking position.

The leg section locks feature textured, semi-rubberised twist-lock rings at each joint, allowing you to loosen all three sections of each leg in a single motion while maintaining a secure grip.

The tripod comes fitted with rubber feet as standard, which can be easily removed by unscrewing them. Three spike feet are also included and can be screwed in when extra stability is needed on uneven, soft, or icy surfaces.

One excellent feature—which I think should be standard on all photographic equipment—is the threaded 1/4-inch mounting hole for attaching accessories.

The tripod therefore offers two 1/4-inch accessory mounting holes: one on the underside of the spider and one on its side.

The Head

The ball head included in the kit is the Leofoto LH-40, supplied with the Leofoto NP-60 quick-release plate. According to the specifications, it has an impressive maximum load capacity of 20 kg.

The quick-release system is Arca-Swiss compatible and works with most camera plates and L-brackets that follow the Arca-Swiss standard. The clamp uses the traditional screw-knob locking mechanism.

The main lock knob is the largest one, with a smaller tension adjustment knob located on the opposite side. The panning base knob is positioned slightly below and to the right of the tension knob. It allows the entire head to pan 360°. The panning base is laser-engraved with markings in 2.5-degree increments from 0 to 360 degrees.

In addition to panning the head, you can also rotate the camera platform 360°. Its base sits above the ball mechanism and is also laser-engraved with a 360-degree scale in 2.5-degree increments. It has its own locking lever on the camera platform, opposite the quick-release locking knob.

This second panorama mechanism is useful on uneven terrain where it can be difficult to level the entire tripod. Instead, you can level the camera platform independently.

Last but not least, I’d like to mention the contents of the box besides the tripod. These include a waterproof carrying bag, three spike feet, a carabiner for hanging ballast underneath the tripod, a multi-function tool, four hex keys in three different sizes, a user manual for the head, a warranty card, and a user manual for the tripod.

Field Use Experience

The Leofoto LS-324CPRO is a relatively light and compact travel and hiking companion for a heavy-duty tripod. It is not overly large, but it is also not as compact as a lightweight travel tripod.

Two things caught my eye immediately when I saw the ball head. The first was the dual drop notches. They make it much easier to switch the camera from landscape to portrait orientation, and I found them to be a very useful feature.

The second thing that caught my eye was the abundance of knobs and controls. On the one hand, this provides maximum adjustability and makes fine-tuning the ball head easy. On the other hand, the number of controls can feel a little overwhelming and confusing at first. Overall, I liked the knobs, as they are relatively large and easy to grip, even when wearing gloves and working in cold weather.

The twist locks allow all sections of a leg to be locked and unlocked at once and are easy to grip and operate. The leg sections extend under their own weight, which makes setup quick and effortless.

The omission of a center column is an excellent way to eliminate a potential source of instability and keep the tripod rigid at all times. It also makes the tripod slimmer when packed, making it easier to carry or attach to a backpack. The height was almost perfect for me; I am 179 cm tall, and I did not need to bend down (much) to look through the viewfinder. This is taller than most tripods, especially travel tripods and models without a center column.

However, the omission of the center column is a double-edged sword, as it also makes the tripod less versatile. Sometimes I do not need maximum rigidity or extremely long exposures, and in those situations, I would accept a compromise in stability by using a raised center column and slightly faster shutter speeds in exchange for the extra height.

That said, in high-end landscape, architecture, wildlife, and studio photography, center-column-free tripods are also widely preferred by other premium tripod makers and photographers. It is also worth noting that Leofoto offers other models with center columns.

One feature I really liked was the built-in panorama function on the camera plate support. This meant I didn’t have to level the entire tripod, which can be tedious since it requires adjusting each leg individually. Instead, I could simply use the ball head to level the camera in one quick motion for panorama shots.

Another feature I really appreciate is its weather sealing. I frequently use the tripod in snow, water, and mud, so this gives me extra peace of mind.

There are a couple of things I would like to see improved.

First, I appreciate that Leofoto includes interchangeable spike feet, as I use them frequently. However, I do not like the hassle of unscrewing the rubber feet and screwing in the spikes every time I need them, only to have to reverse the process when I am done. First, there is always a risk of losing the feet; second, it takes some time. It is worth mentioning that this is not unique to Leofoto; it is also the solution used by most reputable tripod manufacturers today.

My old tripod had an integrated solution with both rubber feet and spikes. The rubber feet had a hole in the center through which the permanently attached spikes protruded. When I needed the spikes, I simply unscrewed the rubber feet slightly to expose them. The rubber feet remained attached to the tripod, so there was no risk of losing either the feet or the spikes, and it was much faster whenever I needed them.

Second, as someone living in a cold country, I would also appreciate it if one of the legs were partially covered with foam or rubber, making the tripod more comfortable to carry with bare hands when the legs are below freezing.

Conclusion

First of all, I do not think there is a perfect tripod that ticks all the boxes at the same time. Every tripod involves compromises: they may not be rigid enough, tall enough, compact enough, light enough, or they may fall short in another area depending on the user’s priorities.

The Leofoto LS-324CPRO sits in a fairly specific category: a premium, compact, center-column-free, 32 mm carbon fiber travel/field tripod. It competes less with ultra-light travel tripods and more with serious landscape and outdoor tripods where stability is prioritized over minimum weight. With a weight of around 1.5 kg (without head), a 15 kg load rating, and a maximum height of around 1.5 m without a center column, it offers a strong balance between portability and stability.

The LS-324CPRO is rigid, and the ball head feels equally solid, making it a tripod that most photographers can confidently rely on for virtually all of their photography. The weather and sand proofing is just icing on the cake. It competes with premium field tripods such as the Gitzo Mountaineer series and Really Right Stuff’s carbon fiber tripods. While those brands have a longer history and a stronger reputation, Leofoto has significantly closed the gap in terms of design, build quality, and features, often at a more competitive price.

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Alternatives

There are numerous tripods out there—it’s a jungle! While I can’t list them all, here are a few tripods from some well-known brands.

Gitzo GT2532 Mountaineer
Better-known brand, excellent machining and finish, but Leofoto offers more features for the money. Leofoto has better value.
Buy (legs only): Amazon (anywhere), B&H for ≈899  / $1500 (w/ head) (Affiliate link)

Really Right Stuff (RRS) TFC-24L / TFC-34
Same design philosophy as the reviewed tripod: no center column, landscape oriented, maximum rigidity, premium machining and finish. They are more minimalist, while Leofoto includes more features. Generally, the Leofoto offers a similar concept at a lower price.
Buy: Amazon (anywhere), B&H for ~ $1385  (legs only) / $1945 (w/ head) (Affiliate link)

3 Legged Thing Winston 2.0
Generally, not as rigid is the Leofoto, with less traditional pro tripod design and more unusual features
Buy: Amazon (Anywhere) $499 (Affiliate link)

Benro Rhino FRHN34C / Tortoise series
Closest competitors to the reviewed tripod in terms of price and specifications
Buy: Rhino Amazon (anywhere), Tortoise @Amazon  $530 (legs only) | $750 (w/ head) (Affiliate link)

Further Reading

• What camera gear and accessories do I use most frequently?
• REVIEW: FotoPro Origin Plus Travel Tripod
• Tripods for Mirrorless Cameras

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• Small shoulder bag: https://amzn.to/47tPMiY
• Medium shoulder bag: https://amzn.to/4ej4bjY

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Martin

Martin M.H. lives outside Stockholm, Sweden. He is a M.Sc. in Computer Technology but he has been a passionate photographer for over 50 years. He started his photographic adventures when he was thirteen with an Agfamatic pocket camera, which he soon replaced with a Canon rangefinder camera that his mom gave him in his teenages. After that he has been using Canon SLR, Nikon SLR manual focus and Autofocus, Sony mirrorless crop sensor, Nikon DSLR and Nikon Mirrorless. He has photographed any genre he could throughout the years and you can see all kind of images in his portfolio. During the later years though it has been mostly landscape, nature, travel and some street/documentary photography.

Latest posts by Martin (see all)

• REVIEW: Leofoto LS-324CPRO tripod with LH-40 Ball Head - September 2, 2026
• REVIEW: TTArtisan AF 85mm f/1.8 Neo - August 20, 2026
• REVIEW: Meike 85mm f/1.4 STM MIX II - July 29, 2026