Oben LH-2510 Leveling Base Head
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Solid Base, Extremely Useful for Panoramas
I've been using this leveling base for a little over a year now. I pair it with an Oben CT-2491 tripod and BC-166 Ball Head. It's extremely useful for occasions where I shoot panoramas - it allows me to level the panning axis of the BC-166 in 5-15 seconds as opposed to the 2-3+ minutes required if leveling using the legs of the tripod. This can mean the difference between getting or missing a shot in fleeting light, and it makes me more willing t... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Nice to Finally Have a Leveling Base
Finally! No more fidgeting with tripod legs to achieve a level tripod head! This is my first leveling base, so I don't have anything else to compare it with. Still, I love the idea of a leveling base! So nice to not have to mess with the tripod legs anymore. This leveling base has 10 degrees of movement. I noticed others for sale here on B&H had 15 degrees of movement. Maybe something to consider, but I am happy with this one. Tried it with some ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Absolutely a Necessity for Center Post Tripods
I own two Manfrotto 3046 tripods that have a center post instead of the bowl mount. Making leveling adjustments was always a PIA, especially when the legs are fully extended. Don't know how I missed this type of device, but if you use a center post tripod, this is indispensable. Regardless of the leg length or terrain your on, leveling the camera now takes seconds instead of minutes. Some have mentioned that the leveling bubble is hidden by t... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Well executed product, good to go.
A leveling base head is useful for video because of the way video heads are designed; if the tripod legs can't easily be set up to have the tripod head be level, pan and tilt are off kilter. Put this leveler head between the tripod head and the legs and getting the tripod head level is easy. This product is simple to use, elegant, comes complete with two thread adapters in case you need the other size on both top and bottom. The motion is smooth,... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Okay, not great for video
This product does what its supposed to, and its about half the price as manfrotto or benro. This product is okay but Id like to try something better. Overall it makes leveling easier. However, I generally put a lot of resistance on my manfrotto 502. This resistance causes the leveling base to unscrew from the tripod, so I have to hold the base if I want to pan left. Not great. There is even a little give when panning right. Also, the thre... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Very Good! Recommend
Very well designed. Very Beauty. Very solid and smooth. Sturdy enough for a mdium cinema rig but light enough to carry. Perfect for a Canon 80D with Canon 70 - 200-2.8 and fluid head. I paired him with a Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid Head and Manfrotto #055NAT. Great combo! Yes, it has a 1/4-20 top screw and I prefer 3/8-16. But no problem, it provide two 1/4-20 to 3/8-16 adapter bushing. The best solution for that? I recomend a very strong and perf... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
bubble level is not acurrate .
I recieved the item which is solidly built and very smooth, after installing it I took to the field to try a few test panos, I noticed the level in my camera changing as I panned, I went home and checked it with a known good level its was clearly off (see Photo), I returned it to B&H, who promply sent me a new unit no Questions asked, the new unit I recieved is exactly the same, I also checked my level and camera with a loaner manifroto leveling head with no issues, I will be returning the lh-2510 again hopfully for a refund or credit.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Perfect for travel tripods.
I got this on a daily deal, but would pay full price again if I had to get another one. I shoot run and gun video, and I use the Manfrotto 055 tripod with and 502 head. It's study enough for a medium cinema rig, but light enough to carry on the go. This leveling head helps me move even quicker, and takes out the cumbersome act of leveling your tripod with the legs alone. If you shoot video, and you have a tripod with a flat base and a fluid/video head, then this is really a must have.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Better than expected
Wanted to get leveling ability on my current working combo of Slik carbon fiber legs and head. Works a treat. The only reason I didn't give not 5 stars is the lock knob, while locking the leveler securely, feels a little flimsy to me in the way it is allowed to reposition itself (so it doesn't hit the legs, etc.), wondering if it may be a weak point down the road. Having said that, it is so nice to have leveling on my lightweight tripod and not have to carry my large Gitzo!
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Solidly constructed
Just received it and have only tried it out, but so far I'm very impressed with the Oben levelling base. It's very solid, and the levelling action is smooth an tightens down well. I'm using it with a Gitzo GT2531 Mountaineer and a Markins Q10 head and it's a perfect match for both, almost as though it was made for them. It also gives me two inches of additional height at the expense of a little more weight. I bought it mainly for panorama photography.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Works great, but bushings/reducers make me nervous
Definitely a must-have for videographers...wish I'd had this much sooner. Great for use with my slider as I can make mini-adjustments without adjusting the tripod legs. The downside is that I wish the top screw was 3/8th because I have to use a bushing to adapt it to my slider or my video head, and those things have a habit of getting their heads stuck in dark places. In fact it just happened to me now, which prompted me to write this review. :)
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good but not perfect for me.
I use this with the following for my real estate photos. 1) Canon 6D with L-bracket. 2) Canon 17mm f/4L TS-E 3) Oben CT-2381 Tripod 4) Really Right Stuff MPR-192 & Mini-Clamps It gets the job done but the bubble level still moves very slightly after tightening; perhaps 3%. For my purposes, it is not a big deal but it might be for you. I might have to spend big on an Arca-Swiss C1 head for perfection but it is not something I can afford now.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Leveling Simplified
This sure makes leveling your camera for panos easy. Well built, solid and has the right amount of resistance to its movement. The only drawback I have is that it's made for large high capacity tripods and heads where mine is lower capacity and smaller. Makes folding and stowing my tripos in its original case impossible. Otherwise, I'll just have to connect it before my next trek and remove it when done.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
OK except top screw is 1/4-20
This is a good leveling base except the top screw is 1/4-20. My Really Right Stuff BH-55 Pro Ball Head has a 3/8-16 female socket. The 1/4-20 to 3/8-16 adapter bushing does not install flush to the bottom of the ball head. Thus the bottom of the ball head does not contact the top of the leveling base leaving the head suspended on the 1/4-20 screw. For me this leveling base now is a paper weight;
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Good solution.
For those that utilize a single tripod for both video and photography this is a good solution. Its best use is for video when using a video head, it shaves precious seconds from a set up. For large format photohraphers with big cameras this also helps.leveling from the top is more efficient that clumsilly fidgeting with the tripod lega in order to obtain levelness.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
This is one neat little device
I have a Gitzo tripod with its' 1/2 ball leveling system and a LeoFoto Tripod with this Oben leveling device. This is slick and easy to use and in many ways easier to use than the 1/2 ball system. That might not be true if I were using it on a VERY heave camera and lens, but with anything reasonable, it is far easier to work with (including carrying it).
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
not a review, but a follow-up to another review
To the reviewer who couldn't use this leveling base head because the adapter bushing was too long: there are shorter bushings available for cheap, and using one of them might solve your problem. I had to select a star rating, but since this is not a review, I chose five stars because that would affect the product's overall score the least.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Rock solid
I previously purchased a SUNWAYFOTO DYH-66i Tripod Leveling Base and even with the knob fully tighten their was a little play at the base. This was a problem especially for astrophotography with a tracker to maintain accurate polar alignment. With the Oben LH-2510 it is rock solid no play at all.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Useful when tripod or plate does not have a ball head
When I'm in a situation where a tripod is useless, such as on safari in a vehicle, I use this in combination with a flat plate that can be set, for example, on the roof of the car (that has an open hatch) and can steady and level my shot as well as pan as desired. Well made leveler.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
very handy piece of equipment
Almost a necessity for use with a flat base video head. I found it to have enough drag when leveling it to prevent repeated overshooting the balance point, but enough freedom of movement to do the job easily. And the price couldn't have been better.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
A really handy item
You don't realize how handy of an item a leveling base is until you have tried one. It is so much quicker & easier to level the base of the tripod head than mucking about with the tripod legs while simultaneously trying to look at a bubble.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Solid
solid construction, works as described. I've only used it on one production but it held my Red dragon fully rigged horizontally all day with no problems. I gave it four stars because I think it should have a 3/8th mount instead of a 1/4-20.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great Video Product
I use this Leveling Base atop a Gitzo tripod with an ENG style video camera. Quick and effective way to get a good level pan shot. With the camera, microphone and cords the head is supporting at least 8 pounds and works without a problem.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Looks pretty sturdy
My previous leveling base, another brand, failed so jumped on this one and it seems to do the job. Only negative is that tilt is limited to 10 degrees on this unit. Previous one was 16 degrees. This one feels good so far.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
