Acratech Leveling Base, with 3/8" Tripod Thread - Supports 25 lb (11.4 kg)

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

quality performance, easy-to- use ...

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I got the Acratech leveling as an interface between a photog's stick and a WF 717 fluid head. Initially I was a little worried that the leveling head would be heavy and bulky but the diameter fits the fluid head exactly. It's very sturdy and now I don't even notice that it's there.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I bought this to use with a small HD camcorder (Canon XA10) on carbon fiber legs (Feisol) with a fluid head (Manfrotto 701HDV). I have to have a lightweight system for travel, and this really shaved the weight off of a full bowl system.

Leveling is fast and easy, and locks in rock-solid once in place. The bubble is bright and easy to see. I found it to have plenty of range of motion shooting outside on uneven ground. It worked well and saved me a lot of leveling adjustment time.

My only annoyance is that it can sometimes be hard to find the adjustment knob in fast setups, not something you can do much about with a leveler that isn't a full bowl system. I may try putting red fingernail polish on the knob to make it easily visible.

Beautifully constructed, and highly recommended.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Does the job well up to a point. Seems to grab a little, making it difficult to easily position the camera (D2X) and ball head (Markins) combination when trying to fine tune the level.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Although I originally thought about trying another slightly cheaper brand, Acratech is a known quantity to me as I also use their ballhead which, after years of use still looks brand new and works perfectly. As always, the Acratech Leveling Base is extremely well made, and when combined with their ballhead, looks like a single unit. Very solid, nicely engineered and finished, this unit works great for any application where panning level is a must. I should have sprung for this earlier!

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I picked this up when I bought the Acratech Panoramic head to help get the base level. It's extremely easy to use and is great quality. I only wish it had more than 10 degrees of movement.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I use it with the RRS PCL-1 Panning Clamp for doing landscape panos. That way you do not have to level but one device. I find that most of my landscape shots are near level, so I often leave the ball head at home or on my travel rig, which is a lighter tripod. I use this setup on a Gitzo 3 series Systemic. The whole rig is less than 6 lbs.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Just like the Acratech GV-2, this leveling base is made of the best materials and is very well crafted. Works just like it should and looks like it will for a very long time. I also use it with the GV-2 on the Kirk low pod - gives me a bit of additional height when I want it along with making leveling quick and easy.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I do a lot of bird photography and very seldom have a level place to set up my tripod. The leveling base levels the gimbal head, camera, and lens quickly and is far less bother than adjusting the tripod legs.

The unit adds very little weight to my support system and just a couple of inches in height. The quality is very good and typical of other Acratech products I own. I can't think of anything I don't like about this leveling base.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I love Acratech products - precision and quality!
If you like Aircraft grade products these guys make it. Works perfect.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Architectural and panoramic photographic applications describe my primary uses for this tool. It provides rapid leveling with a single knob. I have not identified any issues that are negative regarding this tool yet.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Great addition for pano use; placed below the ball head which permits not having to place the horizon in the middle of the frame for panos, it greatly facilitates the leveling process.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I bought this base to replace a bigger and much heavier Manfrotto 438 leveling head.
I use it with my Seitz 28/220 panoramic camera and it is perfect.
It fits right underneath the camera base and stays there permanently.
Operation is easier than with the Manfrotto.
I could not have designed it better.
An excellent product.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I shoot mostly video and have looked in vain for a reasonable solution to the problem of heavy video heads/mounts while travelling. While this solution is certainly compromised relative to a good fluid head mounted in the bowl of a heavy tripod, I have finally found a reasonable compromise that can be packed and carried in a regular sized camera bag:
- A large Joby gorillapod 'Focus'
+ this Acratech levelling base
+ a Gitzo G2180 Series 1 Fluid Head

I will not be doing pans & tilts at 600mm but for normal focal length use this set up works pretty well. That 10˚ levelling ability makes the rig quick to set up and workable.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I used the base with a Markins Q3 initially but when I upgraded to a Really Right Stuff BH-55, I was no longer able to use the base and had to return it.
The size of the BH-55 actually covers up the bubble level on the base and made the base unusable. So I would have to recommend the Gitzo systematic leveling base instead.
Other than that it's a bit difficult to use at first since there is no tension knob and your equipment's weight is suddenly in your hands.
In terms of build quality this is top notch.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

This leveling base is extremely well made, works smoothly, locks easily and solidly and overall does everything you could ask. I was surprised at how small it actually is, but it is perfectly sized to my Kirk BH-3 head. My only (very minor) gripe is that there are no set screws to keep the head secure on the base. You *must* check the seating of the head periodically.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

This is a great device to turn a non-leveling tripod and head into a quick leveling system. While they say it supports 25 lbs, if you want it for a camcorder, I would not recommend it for use on anything but the lightest weight systems. I found when using it with my Sony FX7 and light weight tripod head (under 5.0 lbs combined) you do not have a solid base. Every time you touch the camera or pan arm you get movement.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Allows FAST setup and use of your tripod. If you have to adjust the leg length and you don't want to mess with "matching up" the leg lengths, just eyeball it and use the leveling base to level it off. Makes tripod use so much easier if you are on uneven ground, as well. A+ build quality, rock solid.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Very high build quality, typical of Acratech, although a little expensive. Very robust and locks down well, even with a heavy ballhead, nodal rail, and a Oly E3 with battery grip.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

This is a very practical, quick and sturdy base to level your camera or ball heads or anything in that matter. I always have this fixed on the tripod since it can support anything (11kgs). With just one knob to fix instead of three or more leveling knobs like others - this s more practical and a must have.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

quality performance, easy-to- use ...

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I got the Acratech leveling as an interface between a photog's stick and a WF 717 fluid head. Initially I was a little worried that the leveling head would be heavy and bulky but the diameter fits the fluid head exactly. It's very sturdy and now I don't even notice that it's there.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I bought this to use with a small HD camcorder (Canon XA10) on carbon fiber legs (Feisol) with a fluid head (Manfrotto 701HDV). I have to have a lightweight system for travel, and this really shaved the weight off of a full bowl system.

Leveling is fast and easy, and locks in rock-solid once in place. The bubble is bright and easy to see. I found it to have plenty of range of motion shooting outside on uneven ground. It worked well and saved me a lot of leveling adjustment time.

My only annoyance is that it can sometimes be hard to find the adjustment knob in fast setups, not something you can do much about with a leveler that isn't a full bowl system. I may try putting red fingernail polish on the knob to make it easily visible.

Beautifully constructed, and highly recommended.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Does the job well up to a point. Seems to grab a little, making it difficult to easily position the camera (D2X) and ball head (Markins) combination when trying to fine tune the level.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Although I originally thought about trying another slightly cheaper brand, Acratech is a known quantity to me as I also use their ballhead which, after years of use still looks brand new and works perfectly. As always, the Acratech Leveling Base is extremely well made, and when combined with their ballhead, looks like a single unit. Very solid, nicely engineered and finished, this unit works great for any application where panning level is a must. I should have sprung for this earlier!

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I picked this up when I bought the Acratech Panoramic head to help get the base level. It's extremely easy to use and is great quality. I only wish it had more than 10 degrees of movement.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I use it with the RRS PCL-1 Panning Clamp for doing landscape panos. That way you do not have to level but one device. I find that most of my landscape shots are near level, so I often leave the ball head at home or on my travel rig, which is a lighter tripod. I use this setup on a Gitzo 3 series Systemic. The whole rig is less than 6 lbs.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Just like the Acratech GV-2, this leveling base is made of the best materials and is very well crafted. Works just like it should and looks like it will for a very long time. I also use it with the GV-2 on the Kirk low pod - gives me a bit of additional height when I want it along with making leveling quick and easy.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I do a lot of bird photography and very seldom have a level place to set up my tripod. The leveling base levels the gimbal head, camera, and lens quickly and is far less bother than adjusting the tripod legs.

The unit adds very little weight to my support system and just a couple of inches in height. The quality is very good and typical of other Acratech products I own. I can't think of anything I don't like about this leveling base.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I love Acratech products - precision and quality!
If you like Aircraft grade products these guys make it. Works perfect.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Architectural and panoramic photographic applications describe my primary uses for this tool. It provides rapid leveling with a single knob. I have not identified any issues that are negative regarding this tool yet.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Great addition for pano use; placed below the ball head which permits not having to place the horizon in the middle of the frame for panos, it greatly facilitates the leveling process.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I bought this base to replace a bigger and much heavier Manfrotto 438 leveling head.
I use it with my Seitz 28/220 panoramic camera and it is perfect.
It fits right underneath the camera base and stays there permanently.
Operation is easier than with the Manfrotto.
I could not have designed it better.
An excellent product.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I shoot mostly video and have looked in vain for a reasonable solution to the problem of heavy video heads/mounts while travelling. While this solution is certainly compromised relative to a good fluid head mounted in the bowl of a heavy tripod, I have finally found a reasonable compromise that can be packed and carried in a regular sized camera bag:
- A large Joby gorillapod 'Focus'
+ this Acratech levelling base
+ a Gitzo G2180 Series 1 Fluid Head

I will not be doing pans & tilts at 600mm but for normal focal length use this set up works pretty well. That 10˚ levelling ability makes the rig quick to set up and workable.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

I used the base with a Markins Q3 initially but when I upgraded to a Really Right Stuff BH-55, I was no longer able to use the base and had to return it.
The size of the BH-55 actually covers up the bubble level on the base and made the base unusable. So I would have to recommend the Gitzo systematic leveling base instead.
Other than that it's a bit difficult to use at first since there is no tension knob and your equipment's weight is suddenly in your hands.
In terms of build quality this is top notch.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

This leveling base is extremely well made, works smoothly, locks easily and solidly and overall does everything you could ask. I was surprised at how small it actually is, but it is perfectly sized to my Kirk BH-3 head. My only (very minor) gripe is that there are no set screws to keep the head secure on the base. You *must* check the seating of the head periodically.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

This is a great device to turn a non-leveling tripod and head into a quick leveling system. While they say it supports 25 lbs, if you want it for a camcorder, I would not recommend it for use on anything but the lightest weight systems. I found when using it with my Sony FX7 and light weight tripod head (under 5.0 lbs combined) you do not have a solid base. Every time you touch the camera or pan arm you get movement.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Allows FAST setup and use of your tripod. If you have to adjust the leg length and you don't want to mess with "matching up" the leg lengths, just eyeball it and use the leveling base to level it off. Makes tripod use so much easier if you are on uneven ground, as well. A+ build quality, rock solid.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

Very high build quality, typical of Acratech, although a little expensive. Very robust and locks down well, even with a heavy ballhead, nodal rail, and a Oly E3 with battery grip.

Comments about Acratech Leveling Base:

This is a very practical, quick and sturdy base to level your camera or ball heads or anything in that matter. I always have this fixed on the tripod since it can support anything (11kgs). With just one knob to fix instead of three or more leveling knobs like others - this s more practical and a must have.