Here is the Leofoto G2 geared head supporting my Canon EOS R7 with Sunwayfoto L bracket. The tripod is off level but the top module is level for panning.

Last week I reviewed the Sunwayfoto GH-Pro 2 Plus geared tripod head. While trawling through online presentations I noticed several positive reviews of the Leofoto G2, an even lighter and more compact geared head. So I bought one and have been running initial tests with it.

The Leofoto G2 can be used as a standalone head (remove the safety screws first) or as a levelling/panning module mounted on top of a ball head with standard Arca Swiss mounting system.

The Leofoto G2 unit works a bit like a tilt/shift lens to achieve movements. This allows it to be very light, compact and strong but the downside is a limited range of movements compared to most other geared heads. There are workarounds for some of these limitations which make the G2 head entirely serviceable as an (almost) all purpose head  mounted directly onto the tripod.

The Leofoto G2 is made in China to a high standard. It is all metal  and appears very carefully machined. The unit is very stable in any position. All movements are smooth with just the right amount of damping and no free play.

Mine cost AUD263 from Ebay. Delivery was prompt. The head comes with a nice padded drawstring bag which can protect the device either on or off the tripod. It weighs 326 grams and is very compact, smaller than many ball heads. The maximum load is given as 20 Kg which is much more than most other tripod heads around this size.

Tilt and yaw movements are geared with a maximum deflection of +/- 10 degrees. This might not sound like much but I find that is plenty for the great majority of my requirements. Panning takes place at the upper module of the head. It is ungeared with a locking screw. Panning is very smooth with no free play that I could detect.

There is a spirit level on the top of the panning module. The idea is to level the top with the geared tilt and yaw adjustments so level panning can be done. This works well.

The G2 head cannot flip over so we must fit an L bracket to the camera for portrait orientation shots. This is good practice anyway as it keeps the camera directly above the tripod. I use the Sunwayfoto L bracket on my Canon EOS R7.

We cannot tilt the camera downwards any more than 10 degrees with the gears. I find it easy enough to get about 20-25 degrees by shortening one of the tripod legs. But for any more than that we need a three way or ball head. The Leofoto G2 can be mounted on top of a ball head for fine adjustments when pointed in any direction.

The instructions supplied with the head feature diagrams of a geared head different from that in the box. Given the care with which the head itself appears to have been crafted this seems like an odd slip-up. Fortunately no instructions are really necessary as operation of the unit is simple and largely self evident.

Summary

My initial assessment of the Leofoto G2 geared head is very positive. It appears to be very well made and is a pleasure to use. I plan to make it my default tripod head for the next few months. We shall see how it stands up to general usage over time..

The padded drawstring bag is welcome

This is the camera mounting plate supplied with the head. The captive D ring is welcome. This is only for mounting the camera in landscape orientation.

This is the underside of the head showing standard 3/8 inch tripod mounting thread for direct mounting to the tripod (remove the safety screws) and Arca Swiss type flange for mounting onto a ball head.

Camera on L bracket for portrait orientation