Leofoto LH-55 SC ball head for Arca-Swiss & Picatinny rail

Leofoto LH-55 SC ball head for Arca-Style & Picatinny rail

If you want to move heavy telephoto monsters in a truly relaxed and precise way, you can hardly avoid using a massive ball head. This is exactly where the Leofoto LH-55 SC comes in: a low-profile ball head with a 55 mm ball diameter, built for serious photographic and precision applications, not for playing around. With a maximum load capacity of 25 kg and a weight of 0.812 kg, it clearly plays in the “large, highest load capacity” league and carries your gear with confidence, even when there’s a really hefty chunk mounted at the front.

The head is made of high-strength aluminum, CNC-milled and partially anodized. This provides a very stable, torsion-resistant base without making you feel like you’re hauling an anvil in your backpack every time. The low-profile design with a height of only 9.8 cm ensures a pleasantly low center of gravity, which brings noticeably more stability to the viewfinder image, especially with long focal lengths.

Arca-Style compatible, versatile quick-release base for long teles

The integrated hybrid clamp is Arca-Style compatible and accepts the common 38 mm dovetail. This allows you to use practically all typical ARCA plates, L-brackets and lens feet that are made to this standard. According to the manufacturer, the coupling is Arca-Style compatible (38 mm dovetail) and at the same time designed so that it also works with many existing rails in your setup, without you having to buy everything new.

Picatinny compatible, ideal for hunting and shooting sports

Things get interesting if you not only shoot photos, but are also active in hunting and shooting sports. In addition to ARCA profiles, the hybrid clamp also accepts Picatinny / Weaver rails and is therefore Picatinny compatible. This makes the LH-55 SC a very flexible ball head for precision shooting, long-range setups or observation optics that are equipped with a Picatinny interface.

Especially in hunting environments or in competitive shooting, repeatable, stable locking is crucial. The dual-function quick-release clamp ensures that you can switch back and forth between optics with ARCA profile and Picatinny / Weaver mounts without having to fiddle with the base each time. This saves time in the field and reduces sources of error when things have to move quickly.

Lever release, fast, defined clamping

The integrated lever clamp with lever release makes everyday handling significantly more pleasant. Instead of endlessly turning a screw, you simply flip open the quick-release lever, insert your rail and close the lever again. Done. An additional adjustment knob allows precise adaptation to different plate and rail dimensions so that nothing wobbles or is clamped too tightly.

The lever clamp is particularly practical if you frequently switch between different setups, for example from landscape photography to telephoto work or from studio photography to reportage photography. In wedding photography or travel photography, where things sometimes really have to move fast, such a defined lever mechanism is noticeably more pleasant than a classic screw clamp, which people tend not to tighten properly when under stress.

Hybrid clamp, one coupling for ARCA and Picatinny

The hybrid clamp of the Leofoto LH-55 SC is essentially a dual-function quick-release clamp that accepts both Arca-Style type and Picatinny rails. So you don’t have to choose between a photo and a tactical setup; you can cover both with one ball head. The coupling accepts Picatinny / Weaver as well as Arca-Style compatible (according to the manufacturer) 38 mm dovetail, which makes the head extremely versatile.

A laser-engraved scale on the clamp helps you precisely position your camera or lens, for example when you need reproducible settings for architectural photography, macro photography or panoramic photography. In combination with the separate panorama base, you can work very precisely without having to guess each time where your center position was.

Large 55 mm ball and low-profile design for maximum stability

The LH-55 SC uses a massive 55 mm ball that ensures extremely smooth and finely controllable movement. Thanks to the flat low-profile design, the center of gravity of the entire unit remains low, which makes a noticeable difference, especially with long focal lengths and heavy bodies. You notice this immediately when working with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM or a Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR: the system tilts less and vibrations dissipate more quickly.

The comfortable, large control knobs give you enough grip even when wearing gloves to loosen or lock the ball with sensitivity. Two openings in the ball head shell allow the ball to tilt by up to 90 degrees, so you can quickly switch to portrait orientation or achieve extreme angles of view without sacrificing stability.

Precise panorama base with 360° rotation

The separate panorama base with a base diameter of 7.2 cm is equipped with a numbered scale and has its own locking knob. This allows you to perform 360° panoramic sweeps cleanly and in a controlled manner. For applications such as landscape photography, architectural photography or elaborate panoramic photography, this is a real advantage because you can decouple horizontal movements from the tilt of the ball.

Especially when working with high-resolution mirrorless or DSLR cameras and planning to stitch multiple individual images into a large panorama, the finely scaled panorama base helps you maintain overlaps and panning angles in a reproducible way. In studio photography or product photography, it also enables very precisely defined rotations.

Integrated bubble level and practical details

An integrated spirit level helps you align the camera precisely. The single bubble level is easy to read and helps you level the head quickly before you start composing your image. This is particularly useful in landscape photography, panoramic photography, architectural photography or anywhere a clean horizon is essential.

The 3/8" UNC female thread on the underside allows the LH-55 SC to be mounted on most professional tripods, whether you’re working in the studio, traveling or out in the field. Thanks to the high load capacity of 25 kg, the ball head is suitable not only for classic full-frame systems, but also for medium format cameras and heavy telephoto combinations used in telephoto work or in hunting and shooting sports.

Areas of use from macro to reportage

The Leofoto LH-55 SC is deliberately not limited to a single genre. It plays to its strengths in very different situations. In macro photography you benefit from the finely controllable ball movement and the stable base; in reportage and wedding photography from the fast operation and the lever clamp. In travel and landscape photography you will appreciate the robust construction, which doesn’t give up at the first sign of bad weather.

For studio and architectural photography, the combination of separate panorama base, laser-engraved scales and high load capacity is interesting because it allows you to safely position heavy medium format systems or complex rig constructions. And when you switch between DSLR and mirrorless cameras, you don’t have to change anything on the ball head as long as you use suitable ARCA or Picatinny interfaces.

Key technical data at a glance

The ball head is made of high-quality aluminum, CNC-milled and partially anodized, which ensures a durable, corrosion-resistant surface. The ball has a diameter of 55 mm, the base measures 7.2 cm in diameter, and the overall height is 9.8 cm. The weight is 0.812 kg, the maximum load capacity is 25 kg. A separate panorama base, the single bubble level, the lever clamp and the dual-function quick-release clamp complete the package.

All in all, the Leofoto LH-55 SC ball head for Arca-Style & Picatinny rail is a tool for users who don’t just want to park their equipment, but want to control it precisely. Whether you work with Canon EF, Canon RF, Nikon F, Nikon Z, Sony, Sigma or Olympus / OM SYSTEM lenses, whether you are in the studio, in the mountains, on safari or at the shooting range: this ball head is designed to safely carry long and heavy setups while giving you precise, finely controllable operation.