Leofoto LH-47 ball head with quick-release plate

Leofoto LH-47 ball head with quick-release plate for demanding photography

Sometimes it’s not the camera but the head underneath that decides whether an image really works. The Leofoto LH-47 ball head with quick-release plate is built exactly for those moments when you want to be able to rely blindly on your tripod and tripod head. Compact, surprisingly strong, and pleasantly intuitive to operate.

With a maximum load capacity of 22 kg, the LH-47 carries medium to heavy camera-lens combinations without complaint, from classic DSLRs and modern mirrorless cameras to medium format systems. At the same time, with a height of only 9.8 cm and a weight of around 0.625 kg, it remains pleasantly handy, so it doesn’t feel like a millstone around your neck when traveling, doing reportage photography, or shooting landscapes.

Arca-style compatible for flexible quick-release solutions

The integrated quick-release clamp is Arca-style compatible and securely holds camera plates and lens feet with a 38 mm dovetail profile. The screw clamp ensures a defined, strong hold without giving you the feeling that you have to “over-tighten” anything. The laser-engraved scale on the clamp helps you with precise alignment, for example when you want to work with millimeter accuracy in architectural or macro photography.

Thanks to this Arca-style compatible mount, you can continue to use existing plates, L-brackets, or lens collars from many manufacturers, which makes the LH-47 a very flexible base for your existing system. The integrated bubble level helps you level quickly so the horizon doesn’t quietly drift away.

Robust aluminum ball head for DSLR, mirrorless, and medium format

Inside, a 47 mm ball works in a housing made of high-strength, CNC-milled aircraft aluminum. The surface is black anodized, which not only looks classy but also remains resistant to scratches and weather influences in tough everyday use. The base with a diameter of 6.2 cm ensures a stable contact surface on tripods with a 3/8 inch UNC threaded mount.

The LH-47 is designed as a classic ball head but offers very sensitive operation. The large, grippy control knobs allow you to precisely control friction and clamping even when wearing gloves. This makes the head suitable for both fast reportage work and precise architectural or macro photography.

Precise panorama base for panoramic and landscape photography

Below the ball is a separately adjustable panorama base with its own laser-engraved scale. This allows you to rotate the camera horizontally without changing the tilt. Especially in panoramic photography, but also in landscape or telephoto work with overlapping series of images, this clean separation of panning and tilting movements really pays off.

The defined detent feel of the clamping mechanism gives you clear feedback when you loosen or lock the panorama base. This way you won’t lose track of whether the camera is really secure, even in hectic situations.

Comfortable operation and 90° portrait option

The LH-47 allows you to tilt the camera into a 90° portrait position at two points. This makes it particularly practical if you frequently switch between landscape and portrait orientation, for example in reportage, travel photography, or when shooting portraits in natural surroundings. Thanks to the generous cutouts, you can tilt the camera quickly without fiddling around.

The combination of friction control and strong main clamping ensures that the ball moves smoothly but does not suddenly “drop” when you mount a heavier lens. In use this feels almost casual, but it’s worth its weight in gold, especially with long telephoto lenses.

Ideal for telephoto work with Canon, Nikon, Sony, Sigma, and more, or for heavier gear

The Leofoto LH-47 ball head with quick-release plate is designed for high loads and is ideal for telephoto photography where long focal lengths and heavy lenses are involved.

Especially in such applications, it becomes clear how important a stable ball head with reliable clamping is. The LH-47 confidently supports the weight of your gear while remaining pleasantly compact, which also makes it interesting for travel photography.

Versatile in use: from macro to reportage

We see the Leofoto LH-47 as a kind of all-rounder for ambitious photographers who don’t want to take a separate head for every genre. It is suitable for:

• DSLR and mirrorless systems
• Medium format cameras
• Panoramic photography
• Travel photography and city walks
• Reportage and event photography
• Landscape and nature photography
• Telephoto work with long focal lengths
• Macro photography in the studio or outdoors
• Architectural photography with precise alignment
• Tripods with 3/8 inch UNC threaded mount

Thanks to its compact design, the LH-47 fits many travel tripods without making them top-heavy. At the same time, the construction is so solid that it also looks good on larger studio tripods. One head for many situations, as the saying goes.

Technical details of the Leofoto LH-47 ball head

For those who like things a bit more precise, here is an overview of the most important technical data of the Leofoto LH-47 ball head with quick-release plate:

• Tripod head type: ball head
• Material: aluminum, CNC-milled, black anodized
• Ball diameter: 47 mm
• Height: approx. 9.8 cm
• Weight: approx. 0.625 kg
• Maximum load: up to 22 kg
• Base diameter: approx. 6.2 cm
• Tripod thread: 3/8 inch UNC female thread
• Clamping type: screw clamp
• Clamp accepts: Arca-style compatible (according to manufacturer) 38 mm dovetail
• Level: 1 x integrated bubble level
• Separate panorama base: yes, with laser-engraved scale

In practice this means: you get a ball head that is suitable for both light mirrorless combinations and heavy telephoto setups with full-frame or medium format cameras, without constantly operating at the limit.

Conclusion: solid base for demanding photographers

If you are looking for a ball head that doesn’t give way at every gust of wind but still fits in a normal camera bag, the Leofoto LH-47 ball head with quick-release plate is a very well-balanced choice. It combines high load capacity with thoughtful operation, a reliable Arca-style compatible quick-release clamp, and a precise panorama base.

Whether you go on safari with a Canon EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II, stand on the sidelines with a Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR, photograph birds with a Sony 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6 GM OSS FE [SEL100400GM], or work at the seaside with a Sigma 150–600mm f/5–6.3 DG OS HSM / Sports, the LH-47 offers you a stable, reliable platform. And that is exactly what you want from a ball head that should not only look good in everyday use but, above all, function properly.