Leofoto LM-324CL Summit carbon tripod

Leofoto LM-324CL Summit carbon tripod: when things need to stay steady up top

You know how it is. The wind is tugging at your backpack, the light is tipping into that golden minute, and that’s exactly when you need the camera not to move a millimeter. Well. That’s precisely what the Leofoto LM-324CL Summit carbon tripod is made for: tall, stable, and not needlessly primped. And yes, with a maximum working height of 2.02 m, this thing really is a “you can reach that” tripod.

In between, honestly: we like gear that doesn’t constantly demand attention but just delivers. The LM-324CL comes across as a solid workhorse with a refined edge, a bit like a good hiking boot. Not loud. But reliable.

Height that makes sense: 2.02 m max, 10.3 cm min

Whether you want to go way up or stay almost on the ground: the LM-324CL covers both. The maximum working height is 2.02 m. At the same time, it goes down to a minimum height of 10.3 cm for low-angle perspectives where you’d otherwise quickly end up kneeling in the mud and quietly cursing. Short sentence. Very helpful.

Especially for macro photography and low-angle work this low working height is worth its weight in gold, and it also works well for hide photography, because you stay flexible without constantly having to rebuild everything in a complicated way. Sounds trivial, but out in the field it’s often the difference between “got it” and “wish I had it”.

Leg angles, sections and diameters: stable, no drama

The legs can be locked in three leg angle settings, namely 23° / 55° / 85°. Depending on the ground, you set the tripod up wide or rather narrow, and it doesn’t feel like a compromise. More like: yeah, that works.

Each leg has 4 leg sections with diameters of 32 / 28 / 25 / 22 mm. That’s not just numbers, you can feel it: not floppy at the bottom, not spongy at the top. And because we know it ourselves: when it’s cold and you actually just want to get going, you’re glad when everything locks in without fuss. Something like that.

Material mix and weight: carbon with substance

For materials, Leofoto uses carbon, 10-layer wrapped, combined with aluminum and stainless steel. The result is a blend of stiffness and everyday usability that doesn’t feel like a “display piece” but like gear that wants to be taken outside.

At 1.82 kg, the LM-324CL remains portable without going ultra-light at any cost. Maybe that’s exactly the point: it doesn’t feel nervously light, but pleasantly solid. A bit redundant, but you know what we mean.

Load capacity, threads and bubble level: for serious setups

The maximum load capacity is 25 kg. That’s plenty of reserve, especially if you’re working with longer focal lengths or running a setup with video head, rail and accessories. It’s explicitly recommended for telephoto photography, and you can tell from the way it’s designed.

On top there is a 3/8" UNC photo thread mounting stud as the tripod thread. At the bottom of the feet there is a 3/8" UNC internal thread as a foot thread, in case you want to use accessories or alternative feet. There is also a bullseye bubble level, i.e. 1 x bullseye bubble level, so you don’t just eyeball “level” and later get annoyed at the horizon. Happens to the best. To us too.

Video adapter bowl, spikes and accessories: everything you actually use

The scope of delivery includes a video adapter bowl, specifically a 75 mm half bowl. This is practical if you want to integrate a video head properly and don’t want to work with improvised solutions that still end up with play.

You also get three stainless steel spikes, i.e. stainless steel spike (3), for surfaces where rubber just smiles politely but doesn’t hold anything. And yes, a removable tripod plate is included as well.

For small adjustments on the go, there is one hex key and a multi-tool included. Not glamorous, but exactly the kind of parts that sometimes save your day when a clamp needs to be tightened just a touch. One of those “ah, good thing it’s in there” moments.

And because you’ll want to transport the whole thing, the tripod comes with a padded carrying bag, i.e. a padded carrying bag. Not a thin token sack, but something that really deserves the name.

Who is the LM-324CL particularly suitable for?

If you’re often out and about with long focal lengths, the LM-324CL is a very obvious choice, because it’s designed for telephoto photography and stays stable even when conditions get rough. For macro photography and low-angle work it makes full use of its low minimum height, and for hide photography the combination of height, load capacity and leg angle options helps you out without you constantly having to reinvent how you set yourself up.

In the end, it’s a tripod that doesn’t make a fuss about itself. It just stands there. And holds.