Leofoto LR-70 quick release clamp with quick release plate

Leofoto LR-70 quick-release clamp with quick-release plate, compact, precise, astonishingly light

Sometimes you only notice while working how much time you lose fiddling with the tripod plate. With the Leofoto LR-70 quick-release clamp with quick-release plate, this happens far less often: put the camera on, close the lever, done. In just a few moments your gear sits securely on the tripod and can be released just as quickly when you want to change perspective.

The LR-70 is deliberately designed as a lightweight alternative to classic quick-release clamps, without compromising on ease of use. Despite its low weight of only 180 g, you get a solid, full-featured quick-release base that feels more like a compact professional tool in everyday use than like leftover accessory from the bargain bin.

Arca-style compatible, precise fit for common dovetail plates

According to the manufacturer, the Leofoto LR-70 quick-release clamp accepts 38 mm Arca-style compatible dovetail plates, making it ideal if you already work with such systems. You can also use plates with Wimberley dovetail or Kirk dovetail, so you don’t have to rebuild your setup every time just because you use a different tripod or a different camera. That saves your nerves, especially out in the field when things have to move quickly and the light won’t wait for you.

The jaw length of 7.0 cm provides a generous contact surface and thus a secure hold for your camera or lens. The lever clamp fixes the plate evenly and firmly without you having to force the lever shut. Once engaged, the combination sits stable and torsion-resistant, which has a positive effect especially with longer focal lengths or long exposures.

Robust materials, 6061-T6 aluminum and stainless steel for tough use

For the construction, Leofoto relies on 6061-T6 aluminum, an aircraft-grade aluminum known for its combination of low weight and high rigidity. The LR-70 quick-release clamp is precisely milled from this material and then black anodized, giving you a durable surface that resists scratches and weathering far better than simple coatings. Stainless steel components at critical points increase service life and ensure that everything still engages and clamps cleanly even after many uses.

With a width of 8.2 cm (including clamping lever) and a length of 7.0 cm, the clamp remains pleasantly compact. It doesn’t add unnecessary bulk to the tripod head, yet offers enough surface to securely hold even larger cameras. The weight of 180 g is a good compromise between stability and mobility: light enough for tours, but sturdy enough for serious photo and video work.

Lever clamp with adjustable clamping width, fast, secure and finely tunable

The LR-70 uses a lever clamp that gives you very direct, clear feedback: open or closed, there’s practically nothing in between. This lets you see at a glance whether your camera is securely fixed. The clamping width is adjustable, which is a real advantage in everyday use if you use plates from different manufacturers that may differ slightly from one another.

A practical tip: you adjust the clamping width with the supplied hex key, and you do this with the clamp closed. That may sound a bit counterintuitive at first, but it works surprisingly well. This way you set the lever clamp so that your plates sit free of play but not excessively tight. Especially if you use several Arca-style compatible plates, this small adjustment is worthwhile to achieve a consistent operating feel.

Integrated bubble level and laser-engraved scale, precise alignment without guesswork

For accurate alignment, a bubble level is integrated into the Leofoto LR-70. This small spirit level helps you bring the camera level quickly without having to attach additional aids. This is particularly practical for architectural shots, landscape photography, or whenever you simply don’t want to see crooked horizons anymore.

In addition, the quick-release clamp features a laser-engraved scale with center marking. The fine engraving does not wear off as quickly as printed markings and remains easy to read even after prolonged use. This allows you to align your camera exactly in the center or repeatedly set identical positions, for example when shooting series or comparing different focal lengths. The center marking helps you position the camera precisely on the tripod head, which has a positive effect on balance.

Flexible mounting, various thread options for different tripod heads

When it comes to mounting, the LR-70 quick-release clamp proves to be surprisingly flexible. You can screw it onto a tripod head in the classic way using a 3/8" UNC thread, or bolt it from above, for example with a 1/4" UNC countersunk screw or an M6 countersunk screw. These options make it easy to use the clamp on both modern ball heads and older or specialized heads without having to search long for adapters.

Especially if you don’t want to completely replace your existing equipment but simply add a modern quick-release base, this versatility works in your favor. You simply adapt the LR-70 to your existing system instead of having to adapt your system to the clamp.

Lightweight yet full-featured alternative to classic quick-release clamps

The Leofoto LR-70 quick-release clamp with quick-release plate is deliberately designed as a lightweight solution that still offers the functionality of significantly heavier models. Despite its low weight, you don’t have to do without a solid lever clamp, an integrated level, or a precise scale. In practice, this means you carry less but don’t work with a “stripped-down” setup.

Especially when traveling, hiking, or whenever you are already carrying a lot of gear, every gram saved makes a difference. At the same time, you don’t want to forgo a reliable quick-release clamp that holds your camera securely. This is exactly where the LR-70 plays to its strengths: it is light enough to always end up in your backpack and at the same time robust enough to remain permanently on the tripod head in everyday use.

Practice-oriented details for photographers and filmmakers

In daily use, it’s the small things that make the difference. The combination of lever clamp, adjustable clamping width, and clearly legible scale ensures that you can position your camera quickly and reproducibly. The 7.0 cm long clamping jaw provides a stable support, which gives noticeably more security with heavy cameras or telephoto lenses.

Thanks to the black anodized surface, the LR-70 looks unobtrusive and professional, without glare or distracting reflections. At the same time, the anodized layer is robust enough to withstand frequent mounting and dismounting. This keeps the clamp visually and functionally at a high level for a long time, even with regular hard outdoor use.

Technical data of the Leofoto LR-70 quick-release clamp with quick-release plate

For those who like things concrete, here is an overview of the key data:

• Product: Leofoto LR-70 quick-release clamp with quick-release plate
• System: Arca-style compatible (according to the manufacturer) for 38 mm dovetail, suitable among others for Wimberley dovetail and Kirk dovetail
• Clamping type: lever clamp with adjustable clamping width
• Jaw length: 7.0 cm
• Material: 6061-T6 aluminum and stainless steel
• Surface: black anodized
• Weight: 180 g
• Width: 8.2 cm (with clamping lever)
• Length: 7.0 cm
• Level: 1 x integrated bubble level
• Center marking: laser-engraved scale with center marking
• Mounting hole: screw-on with 3/8" UNC, or bolt from above with 1/4" UNC countersunk screw or M6 countersunk screw

All in all, with the Leofoto LR-70 you get a modern, Arca-style compatible quick-release clamp that is light, stable, and pleasantly straightforward in everyday use—a small but very effective upgrade for your tripod setup.