wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

I love my L-bracket, and I've converted all my tripods over to heads that take the arca swiss. Cost me two heads, I had one tripod that already had a arca swiss head, and the one tripod, old gitzo I was wanting to change a pan-tilt head that was old school screw mount, for a gimbal anyway. The other tripod was a bogan manfrotto.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If you are serious about shooting vertical, you will need a battery pack for the ergonomic controls feature - and any L bracket you use will need to accommodate.

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peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Why not screw an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp onto your Manfrotto plate. Costs about $7 on E-Bay. Then find the best L bracket for your needs.

Riverrune

I have Kirk L brackets for both my D7500 and D810 and think they are great. I also have a Kirk ball head on my old Gitzo tripod and have never had a problem. The L brackets allow full access to the side panels and battery. I've toyed with the idea of an RRS ball head, but so far the Kirk works just fine.

bgate Loc: Texas

I just purchased on EBay a pack of two L brackets. They are made by Menges, beautifully made of quality material, a nice anodized finish and they fit. Price for two: $12.95, shipped free

Kuzano

You are costing yourself far more in resolution for big prints by cropping an image because you can't fill the frame with the subject being shot, by flipping to vertical. You are throwing away a lot of pixels that would be in a print that is shot horizontal to just use the part that would be a vertical.

That's my biggest reason for solving these physical support problems.

OTOH, I can't conceive of paying what some people want for these truly simple devices. The can be milled inexpensively from good material. No decent engineer is going to market and sell a device that blocks the battery door, particularly when the expensive tools give all the measurements and material specs. It's called reverse engineering. As a designer/engineer/etc... buy the expensive one for a sample, craft it and sell it.

No one has ever walked up to me and exclaimed "Whoooah! is that an RRS L plate???"

Somebody makes and sells just what you need for a reasonable price.

Do you EVER look at equipment such as you are looking for on eBay... The worlds biggest market site. Way more than an auction.

Here is one quick search on eBay, and with feedback to boot telling you who is selling workable and good merchandise. Perhaps the reason RRS does not build these for your camera is very good. They can't do this and compete at their outrageous prices.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Nikon+d500+L+plate&_sacat=0

Wadda ya think?

G. Crook Loc: Linden, TX

i shoot a Fujifilms X-T20 with a well made three piece hand grip that is machined to allow access to all compartments. Will a L-bracket work with this grip? I primarily shoot hand-held but use a Manfrotto tripod with a pan tilt head for macro and portraits. Advice please.

OregonCoaster

Bought a Sunwayfoto PNL-D850 L-bracket (number matches my camera) $60. And a plate that fit on Manfrotto ball head, Haope CP-64 for under $30. Very satisfied with both.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Here is a DIY bracket I made. It uses A/S and Manfro QR'S ( I like Manfros and many of my heads use them)- it balances on 2 axis - shown with 70-300. The bracket is .180 STEEL and also acts as a carry handle... The vertical controls of the battery pak are somewhat uncomfortable to get to tho. The bracket is fully detachable with QR.

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(Download)

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

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Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Thank you, Robert. I’ve heard nothing but good about RRS. Convenience was the main reason I was considering brackets. I think the L brackets will not only be quicker when shooting portrait but also more efficient.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

I’m definitely jealous. Enjoy you workcation and I sure hope you get a bit of downtime!

G. Crook Loc: Linden, TX

Thanks all. I like imagemeisters solution.

Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan

How will an L-bracket help if you want to rotate half way between horizontal and vertical?

Gifted One Loc: S. E. Idaho

Carol, I have waded through all six pages of the thread. I do have some expertise and experience with your dilemma. I have been shooting digital for about a decade. I had stopped film a number of years before. So I had to rebuild a kit. I was gifted much gear but no shooting platform. I did have some gentle guidance from some knowing pros.


* go arca swiss (a/s) and don't vary * don't use a quick release as there is variation in a/s * use vertical battery grip with model specific L bracket (they knew I shot lots of vertical as I worked an OP * longer lens need to be attached to a lens collar as they are too heavy if attached to the L (orientation can be changed from the collar adjustment.


Help with your specific situation. The first purchase made was an L bracket as I found one on eBay budget priced. I also have the Manfrotto 055 pod. I like it just fine. I would love to have a Gitzo or RRS, perhaps one will come along. You did not mention the Ball Head that you have other than it's a manfrotto. In my shopping I found a Manfrotto 498rc that had been modified to Arca Swiss from the Manfrotto rc proprietary clam by removing the rc and adding a Kirk screw clamp. I really like this combo. It has been very cost effective and usable for me. If I had an unlimited budget I would love to use all RRS, quick release clamp and every thing fits precisely.


I do have Sig and Tamron that go out to 600 that I use on the 498 off of the lens collar. I would think that a Gimbal would help greatly. It's on my shop list.


J. R.

I hope my experience helps