Leofoto LH-55 ball head with QP-70 camera plate

Leofoto LH-55 ball head with QP-70 camera plate: when it just has to sit right

Sometimes you only notice when you press the shutter how much a wobbly head gets on your nerves. Bam, image slightly crooked, horizon off, mood down. That’s exactly where the Leofoto LH-55 ball head with the QP-70 camera plate plays its trump card: big, strong, calmly reliable. And yes, let’s say it straight away: at 0.812 kg this is no featherweight. But honestly, here that’s more a mark of quality than a flaw, because the stability is tangible, especially with heavy gear.

With up to 25 kg maximum load, the LH-55 is made for serious hardware. Telephoto beasts, medium format, studio setups.

Stability that’s beyond debate: 55 mm ball, low profile, a solid anchor

At its center works a massive ball with a 55 mm diameter. That may sound like just a number, but it feels like “rock solid”. Add to that the low height of 10.2 cm, which pleasantly lowers the center of gravity. Less tendency to tip, more composure. In short: steadier in the wind, steadier when tracking, steadier when you’re waiting a long time for the moment.

And because what counts is real-world use: the base has a diameter of 7.2 cm. That gives the whole thing a wide, stable footprint.

Operation without fiddling: large knobs, screw clamp, Arca-style compatible

If you’ve ever tried to turn tiny little knobs with cold fingers, you know: that’s no fun. Not here. The LH-55 uses comfortably large control knobs that you can grip properly even with gloves.

The clamp is designed as a screw clamp, classically solid, and according to the manufacturer accepts an Arca-style compatible 38 mm dovetail plate. If you’re already living in the Arca universe, this just keeps things pleasantly straightforward. We’ve deliberately included the note on ARCA compatibility here, because in everyday use it’s a constant topic.

The ball head is mounted via a 3/8" UNC internal thread. The QP-70 camera plate is included right out of the box.

Panorama, tilt, control: separate panorama base, 360° panning, bubble level

For smooth pans there’s a separate panorama base, and of course 360° panorama pans are possible. That’s the kind of detail you only miss when it’s not there. Here it’s just there. Period.

An integrated bubble level helps you with quick alignment. Not as decoration, but as a real point of reference when things need to go fast. In addition, the ball head shell has two openings that let you tilt the ball up to 90°, for example for portrait format or unusual perspectives. And then you stand there, look at the display and think: yep, that works.

Materials and manufacturing: CNC-milled aircraft-grade aluminum, partially anodized

The LH-55 is made of high-strength aluminum, more precisely aircraft-grade aluminum, CNC-milled and partially anodized. That’s not marketing poetry, but the reason why everything feels so solid. Edges are clean, fits are precise, nothing rattles.

For which equipment and genres is the LH-55 particularly suitable?

The Leofoto LH-55 ball head is a very good choice for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, for medium format and for setups that simply put some weight on the scale, whether in the studio or outdoors. It is recommended, among other things, for panoramic photography, wedding photography, travel photography, reportage photography, landscape photography, telephoto photography, macro photography, architectural photography and studio photography. Quite a wide range, yes. But that’s because a stable ball head doesn’t care about genres.

It also cuts a fine figure with large telephoto lenses, for example with Canon EF such as Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM, Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS II, Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM, Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS USM, Canon EF 500mm f4 L IS USM, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM, Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS, Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS III, Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS III USM, Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM and Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L.

For Nikon F it’s just as suitable for heavyweights like Nikon 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 500mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 600mm f/4G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AFS VR, Nikon 400mm f/2.8G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR, Nikon 600mm f/4 AF I NIKKOR, Nikon 500mm f/4 G ED VR AF-S Nikkor, Nikon 300mm f/2.8 AF-S I NIKKOR, Nikon 600mm f/4 AFS I NIKKOR, Nikon 600mm f/4 AFS II NIKKOR, Nikon 400mm f/2.8 AFS II NIKKOR, Nikon 400mm f/2.8 AFS I NIKKOR, Nikon 500mm f/4 P manual focus, Nikon 600mm f/4 AIS and Nikon 500mm f/4D ED-IF AF-I NIKKOR.

It’s also interesting for Sony, for example with Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS FE [SEL400F28GM] (2018), Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS FE [SEL600F40GM] (2019), Sony 500mm f/4 G SSM [SAL500F40G], Sony 300mm f/2.8 G SSM II [SAL300F28G2], Sony 300mm f/2.8 G [SAL300F28G] as well as Sony 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS FE [SEL400F28GM].

Canon RF heavyweights like Canon RF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM (2021), Canon RF 600mm f/4L IS USM (2021), Canon RF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM (2022) and Canon RF 1200mm f/8L IS USM (2022) are also typical candidates where you’re glad nothing gives way underneath.

For Nikon Z the concept also fits, for example with Nikon Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S NIKKOR (2022) and Nikon Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S NIKKOR (2022). And yes, more exotic combinations like Olympus 300mm f/2.8 ZUIKO DIGITAL ED or Sigma 800mm f/5.6 EX DG HSM, Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG HSM and Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM | Sports also feel right at home here.

Technical data you can really feel

• Tripod head type: ball head
• Max. load: 25 kg
• Weight: 0.812 kg
• Height: 10.2 cm
• Ball diameter: 55 mm
• Base diameter: 7.2 cm
• Material: aluminum, high-strength aircraft-grade aluminum, CNC-milled, partially anodized
• Clamp: Arca-style compatible (according to manufacturer), 38 mm dovetail
• Clamping type: screw clamp, with screw lock
• Separate panorama base: yes, 360° panorama panning possible
• Level: 1x bubble level
• Tilt: two openings in the ball head shell for up to 90°
• Tripod thread: 3/8" UNC internal thread
• Special features: large, highest load capacity