L Brackets ..... I think I want one

bbg404 · 27 Jun 2016

I use a D750 mainly with 16-35 and 70-300 for Landscapes but recently seem to do a lot more Panos I believe an L bracket would help Portrait pano stitching the big problem is ....

I've got 2 heads a MHXPRO-BHQ2 Ball head and MHXPRO-3WG geared head both which use the 200pl QR plate

Would I have to get rid of the heads and replace them? Or can L brackets be used with my QR plates?

Thanks

Yelkrub · 27 Jun 2016

https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/l-bracket-q2

Manfrotto do one but it says limited availability so maybe it's going to be replaced.

Craig_85 · 27 Jun 2016

Firstly L brackets are awesome for landscape and panos. With a head that rotates independently and a cheap nodal rail off amazon you can deal with wider angle parallax for your panos too shooting in the vertical.

Manfrotto are a nuisance though with their own release plates. The type you will invariably need is an arca Swiss type head.

I have an arca Swiss type gitzo ball head on my gitzo that I use with a kirk L bracket, but my second tripod is manfrotto so I can only put my other camera in there. In time I will replace that head for a cheap arca Swiss type and get another L bracket. I love them and it will cut down on changing lenses.

Craig_85 · 27 Jun 2016

Double post

Kodiak Qc · 27 Jun 2016

•

You will have, IMO, to invest some time and dedication
to study how to produce proper panoramas not neglecting
the nodal point that is so vital to success.

I use two systems from Manfrotto (see picture) and a fully
dedicated robot.

A D3X mounted on a dedicated two rail panorama head.
This kit contains a L bracket

HoppyUK · 27 Jun 2016

L-brackets are

There are a couple of ways of doing this. Stick with Manfrotto, though their stuff is not so neat as the Arca-Swiss types, and those are available from a wide range of suppliers at good prices.

Or you could convert your existing heads to Arca-Swiss, simply by bolting an A-S clamp to the Manfrotto plate. Something like this, with a longer handle, for £19 including an Arca-Swiss plate https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3GJDJXWDSBRFN Loads like that on Amazon/ebay.

bbg404 · 28 Jun 2016

Yelkrub said:
https://www.manfrotto.co.uk/l-bracket-q2

Manfrotto do one but it says limited availability so maybe it's going to be replaced.

I looked at this but watched a video on it and it doesn't look the best it hangs off the side of the camera by quite a bit like another handle

bbg404 · 28 Jun 2016

Kodiak Qc said:
•

You will have, IMO, to invest some time and dedication
to study how to produce proper panoramas not neglecting
the nodal point that is so vital to success.

I use two systems from Manfrotto (see picture) and a fully
dedicated robot.

A D3X mounted on a dedicated two rail panorama head.
This kit contains a L bracket

Thanks for that I do understand my Panos will not be 100% until I take in all the elements you mention but at the moment they sent my biggest priority I'm just after improving my panos by having the camera in a better position while in portrait mode

bbg404 · 28 Jun 2016

HoppyUK said:
L-brackets are

There are a couple of ways of doing this. Stick with Manfrotto, though their stuff is not so neat as the Arca-Swiss types, and those are available from a wide range of suppliers at good prices.

Or you could convert your existing heads to Arca-Swiss, simply by bolting an A-S clamp to the Manfrotto plate. Something like this, with a longer handle, for £19 including an Arca-Swiss plate https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3GJDJXWDSBRFN Loads like that on Amazon/ebay.

That's not a bad idea it would at least give me a chance to try it at a reasonable price then if I think there's a need I could sell the Manfrotto heads which I don't really want to do as I love the 2 I've got

GreenNinja67 · 28 Jun 2016

Are Nodal Ninja a cheaper alternative for the panorama shots?

HoppyUK · 28 Jun 2016

bbg404 said:
I looked at this but watched a video on it and it doesn't look the best it hangs off the side of the camera by quite a bit like another handle

The Manfrotto rig is more like a universal L-bracket that stays on the tripod, rather than the much neater Arca-Swiss types that are permanently left on the camera. You could make a cheaper one easily enough - buy an L-bracket, eg a universal one for a tenner; buy two Manfrotto plates and one Manfrotto clamp. Attach the plates to both outside faces of the L-bracket, fix the clamp to the top-side of the bottom rail. You get the idea? The Acratech universal bracket works like this too - see their vid.

Edit: You don't need to worry about nodal rails etc with distant landscapes, but they're vital if you need foreground subjects to line up properly, eg interiors.

Kodiak Qc · 28 Jun 2016

HoppyUK said:
The Manfrotto rig is more like a universal L-bracket that stays on the tripod…

•

+1

I use it only with the pan head shown above.
For any other use, I got Kirk L brackets

bbg404 · 20 Jul 2016

HoppyUK said:
Or you could convert your existing heads to Arca-Swiss, simply by bolting an A-S clamp to the Manfrotto plate. Something like this, with a longer handle, for £19 including an Arca-Swiss plate https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3GJDJXWDSBRFN Loads like that on Amazon/ebay.

Well I done it! Bought a cheap clamp and a cheap L bracket for my d750 and after its first outing I have to say I like it!

I do find the release of the arca Swiss type to be a bit of a faff as it doesn't seem to slide off as easy as id thought but I like that once the tripods level swapping between landscape and portrait is better [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

Kodiak Qc · 20 Jul 2016

•

Congratulations and welcome to the club!

bbg404 said:
it doesn't seem to slide off

IT SOULD NOT!

When the base is released, there should be a
possible sliding (shorter than the plate length)
as safety screws are attached to the late. With-
out those, your combo could fall!

Son_of_Thor · 20 Jul 2016

I'm looking for something along these lines to go with a Manfrotto tripod/ball head. Would you mind sharing what you went for in the end?

HoppyUK · 20 Jul 2016

bbg404 said:
Well I done it! Bought a cheap clamp and a cheap L bracket for my d750 and after its first outing I have to say I like it!

I do find the release of the arca Swiss type to be a bit of a faff as it doesn't seem to slide off as easy as id thought but I like that once the tripods level swapping between landscape and portrait is better [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

I don't quite understand your 'slide' comment. You're not trying to slide the camera into the end of the dovetail are you? You should be able to open the jaws of the clamp wide enough for the camera to drop straight in.

sk66 · 20 Jul 2016

HoppyUK said:
I don't quite understand your 'slide' comment. You're not trying to slide the camera into the end of the dovetail are you? You should be able to open the jaws of the clamp wide enough for the camera to drop straight in.

I'm pretty sure he's comparing an AS screw clamp to Manfrotto's lever clamps in terms of speed/ease.

bbg404 · 20 Jul 2016

Simon Lund said:
I'm looking for something along these lines to go with a Manfrotto tripod/ball head. Would you mind sharing what you went for in the end?

That's exactly what I wanted it for I went for these 2

Haoge QR-70II 70mm Arca-type Plate Plus Screw Knob Quick Release QR Clamp Compatible with Bogen 3157N / Manfrotto 200PL-14 RC2 / Arca Swiss for Tripod Head https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016IOGWU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0J-JxbK6NTDAN

And

Neewer® Black Metal Quick Release L-Plate Bracket Hand Grip FD750L for Nikon D750 Custom Made Fits Arca-Swiss RRS https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017UAFJHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8K-JxbWEDCDHG

bbg404 · 20 Jul 2016

HoppyUK said:
I don't quite understand your 'slide' comment. You're not trying to slide the camera into the end of the dovetail are you? You should be able to open the jaws of the clamp wide enough for the camera to drop straight in.

sk66 said:
I'm pretty sure he's comparing an AS screw clamp to Manfrotto's lever clamps in terms of speed/ease.

A little bit of both really I thought they only needed to be loose enough to slide off but then realised the safety screws so then full loosened the clamp which is way slower that the Manfrotto

Paul Cronin · 21 Jul 2016

The L brackets are the dogs danglies and makes changing from landscapes to portrait format a doddle. I use the Sunwayfoto bracket and head which I find very easy to use, but the head you slide in and out and tighten with the screw nob and not a clamp system. I haven't found any problems with sliding in or out.

HoppyUK · 21 Jul 2016

bbg404 said:
That's exactly what I wanted it for I went for these 2

Haoge QR-70II 70mm Arca-type Plate Plus Screw Knob Quick Release QR Clamp Compatible with Bogen 3157N / Manfrotto 200PL-14 RC2 / Arca Swiss for Tripod Head https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016IOGWU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0J-JxbK6NTDAN

And

Neewer® Black Metal Quick Release L-Plate Bracket Hand Grip FD750L for Nikon D750 Custom Made Fits Arca-Swiss RRS https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017UAFJHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8K-JxbWEDCDHG

That clamp looks the same as one of mine, and it has a slow thread on the locking knob. Not really a problem, but the clamps that I prefer have double-speed threads, meaning that they will lock and unlock in less than one full turn rather than two turns. Most manufacturers don't even bother to mention this, apart from Acratech and Markins, though my favourite clamp (I have a few

) also has it - this cheapy for £12 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product..._mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AT2QXFTZ6P2MN Other handy features of that clamp include three strap attachment points and because it's 38mm wide (same width as an Arca-Swiss plate) it has dovetail grooves along the sides. This is another nice/cheap circular double-speed clamp https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

BTW, I don't like any of the Arca-Swiss lever-lock clamps. Just a PITA TBH, but others like them

Son_of_Thor · 21 Jul 2016

bbg404 said:
That's exactly what I wanted it for I went for these 2

Haoge QR-70II 70mm Arca-type Plate Plus Screw Knob Quick Release QR Clamp Compatible with Bogen 3157N / Manfrotto 200PL-14 RC2 / Arca Swiss for Tripod Head https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016IOGWU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_0J-JxbK6NTDAN

And

Neewer® Black Metal Quick Release L-Plate Bracket Hand Grip FD750L for Nikon D750 Custom Made Fits Arca-Swiss RRS https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017UAFJHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8K-JxbWEDCDHG

Cheers, I'll check those out, along with the other clamp suggestions from HoppyUK... Many thanks!

MrDrizz · 21 Jul 2016

I shoot the XT-10 and got a cheap, as in price but not build, L-bracket to go with the Arca Swiss head I have. One downside of Arca (on mine anyway) is there is no locking system like Manfrottos quick plates so unless you tighten the nut good n tight there maybe a chance it'll work loose.
Not experience that yet though. And as I also use the Peak design capture on the back pack their plates are Arca compatible.

EDIT:
I should say the L-Bracket has no place for locking bolt to go, the head itself has a spring loaded bolt, this pops into the Peak Design plate and will stop it from just sliding off if the head become loose, to a degree, it can still drop your camera if you don't notice it loose.