bobgreen wrote:
...I purchased a Benro travel tripod ($225.00) .... I was frustrated with the head and especially the quick release mechanism. Can you recommend a tripod head that would suit my needs? Also, what is the purpose of an L bracket and should I buy one in conjunction with a new tripod head?
In order to best help you, we need to know which tripod model and the specific head you bought.
I'm just guessing, but three Benro I see selling for around that price with a head all use a ballhead (Benro B1 or B2) with Arca-style quick release.
For travel, that type head is what many people prefer. They're compact, without protruding levers and arms. The Arca QR system is also the most popular and versatile type. BTW,
all L-brackets rely upon Arca-style QR too.
It would also help to know more specifically what it is about the head and quick release you find frustrating.
As others have described, an L-bracket mounted on the camera allows you to change orientation from horizontal/landscape to vertical/portrait while maintaining the camera centered and better balanced on the tripod and head. This is particularly true with ballheads which "flop" off to one side for portrait orientation. However, an L-bracket adds some bulk and weight to your camera. It also depends upon the lens(es) you're using... If you're lens has a tripod mounting collar, an L-bracket is unnecessary. But typically only longer telephoto lenses have tripod collars. Well-fitted L-brackets also ain't cheap.
Maybe the problem is just the type of Arca-style camera plate that came with the tripod... generic ones sometimes don't work very well with certain cameras, allow them to slip too easily. There are anti-slip type, as well as custom fitted Arca camera plates available for D7100, which might solve your problems.
But it's hard to recommend, without knowing more about the tripod, head and what problems you're having with them.
Note: there are different L-brackets and fitted camera plates for each camera model AND depending upon whether you are using a battery grip on the camera or not.