L Bracket or Drop Notch... what do you use?

[Richard_Miami]

For those of you using ball heads on your 'pods - do you just use the drop notch for Portrait mode? Or have you spent the extra bucks on an L bracket?

The question obviously does not apply to lenses with tripod rings. When I want to rotate to portrait on my 70-200 - one little twist and bingo! I wish everything were that easy..but without that tripod ring, there is a dilemma.

The L bracket folks say it's more stable and much less time to re-compose. It is also considerably more expensive. An RRS L bracket for my rig is $160 vs. an RRS regular plate for my camera at $55. I don't really mind spending the extra bucks if it is worth it. I am new to ball heads so I don't have enough experience with the drop notch to figure this one out on my own. Your experiences would be helpful!!!

[SkipD]

When using a ball head, I will generally just drop the ball 90°.

However, I built a very solid L-bracket for the price of a Bogen/Manfrotto 3299 quick release adapter and a short hunk of a quality extruded 3" aluminum angle. I use the L-bracket mostly on my Bogen/Manfrotto 3130 micro fluid head in the studio.

[jdkeck]

I mainly shoot pano pictures using a Manfrotto 303SPH head, but also use a monopod for both landscape and portrait orientation. I started using a ball head in the drop position with the monpod and felt it was awkward to use. I ended up modifying the Manfrotto head to use a RRS L plate and an appropriate RRS clamp for the monopod. The L plate has a lens axis mark for both orientations which simplifies set-up. The cost was worth the ease of use for both applications IMO.

Jeff

[JayHawk]

One potential drawback to the RRS L brackets I stumbled upon recently is with the Rebel XT, you apparantly cannot mount the camera in portrait (vertical) orientation with the cable release attached to the camera.

Not a big deal if you use the self timer or dont' use a cable release, however now I'm not sure if I should go L bracket or regular plate.

[Richard_Miami]

One potential drawback to the RRS L brackets I stumbled upon recently is with the Rebel XT, you apparantly cannot mount the camera in portrait (vertical) orientation with the cable release attached to the camera.

Not a big deal if you use the self timer or dont' use a cable release, however now I'm not sure if I should go L bracket or regular plate.

JayHawk.. You are exactly on target... I use a remote cable release.. the Zap Shot, quite often. It is a superb device. Just this morning, I emailed RRS to ask about this exact issue. The picture of the BGE3-L on their website indicates a "cut out" which may be intended for the cable to pass thru, but it is impossible to determine if it is large enough for that purpose....

My hands tend to shake after some time holding the camera ( I am NOT 22 years old.. LOL). I use a tripod a lot, and the ball head with an Arca Swiss mount is a fantastic solution for me. The Zap Shot adds to my ability to remove vibration. I would hate to lose it. If you are interested, I will post their reply when they do answer.

[Richard_Miami]

. I started using a ball head in the drop position with the monpod and felt it was awkward to use.
Jeff

Jeff -- I too feel awkward using the drop position. That is why I wrote the post.. to see if others share this feeling. Thanks for your response!!

Once I have the camera set up perfectly eye level in Landscape, if I change to portrait mode I am tempted to raise the camera back up with the center post, as the drop position has now lowered the camera by quite a bit. Not exactly a vibration free solution. My Manfrotto 055 is a tank, but why do it that way if an L bracket solves it?

I have a Kaiser Large Pro ballhead on the pod - it supports 22 pounds..(probably more - but that is the official rating) - so stability is not really an issue. Its all about comfort and ease of use. Why have to fight your equipment?

[jdkeck]

The folks at RRS are very helpful and knowledgeable. The Canon cable release for the 20D fits with their L bracket, it is snug but it does fit. I would call RRS and ask the question about your specific equipment, you will probably get a faster answer over the phone. The RRS parts fit together beautifully and are a pleasure to use.

Jeff

[Richard_Miami]

The folks at RRS are very helpful and knowledgeable. The Canon cable release for the 20D fits with their L bracket, it is snug but it does fit. I would call RRS and ask the question about your specific equipment, you will probably get a faster answer over the phone. The RRS parts fit together beautifully and are a pleasure to use.

Jeff

Jeff.. took your advice and called them. They are going to call me back later with some answers. They seemed very polite and knowledgeable, and were concerned that I get the EXACT right information, so they are double checking.

Thanks for that advice.. I usually don't call vendors this way.. too many bad experiences with customer service folks I assume.

[cyclone]

I bought Kirk's L bracket for the 20D, and I have no problem using the cable release. For L brackets, Kirk and RRS are about the same cost.

[Richard_Miami]

I bought Kirk's L bracket for the 20D, and I have no problem using the cable release. For L brackets, Kirk and RRS are about the same cost.

Cyclone - thank you. RRS has told me that the odds are strong that their L bracket in portrait mode will most likely not clear the plug. Meaning only part of the bracket would be grabbed by the Arca clamp.

The Kirk is clearly a much deeper side piece than the RRS. It has a much better chance of clearing the end plug of my remote release. Kudos to RRS for being very honest and open. Price is identical.

[JayHawk]

Cyclone - thank you. RRS has told me that the odds are strong that their L bracket in portrait mode will most likely not clear the plug. Meaning only part of the bracket would be grabbed by the Arca clamp.

The Kirk is clearly a much deeper side piece than the RRS. It has a much better chance of clearing the end plug of my remote release. Kudos to RRS for being very honest and open. Price is identical.

So to add to the confusion....will the Kirk L-bracket mount to a RRS plate? I'm really impressed with the RRS BH-40 head, but this whole portrait orientation issue with my Rebel XT seems to screw it all up. If I could go with the RRS ball head and a kirk L-bracket....maybe that would work.

[Richard_Miami]

So to add to the confusion....will the Kirk L-bracket mount to a RRS plate? I'm really impressed with the RRS BH-40 head, but this whole portrait orientation issue with my Rebel XT seems to screw it all up. If I could go with the RRS ball head and a kirk L-bracket....maybe that would work.

Both Kirk and RRS plates use the Arca Swiss standard. No issue around this.

[Mat Fitzsimmons]

They're both Arca-Swiss, but it seems that not all Arca-Swiss is exactly the same. RRS offer this warning if you use one of their lever release clamps:

"NOTE: Choose a Lever Release clamp ONLY if you have quick release plates from Really Right Stuff or Wimberley. Lever Release clamp are not user-adjustable, and different manufacturers may follow different standards when producing Arca-Swiss compatible plates. Specifically, our Lever Release clamps do not work with plates from Markins, AcraTech, Arca-Swiss, and some Kirk plates–the dovetails are too shallow. Choose a screw-knob clamp if you have plates OTHER than those from RRS or Wimberley."

I'm just about to pull the trigger on some RRS gear - a BH-55 LR, L-plate for my 5D+grip and some lens plates, and I'm getting all RRS gear for that reason.

EDIT: Well I would have, if the BH-55 LR had been in stock ... sigh. The waiting game continues.

[Richard_Miami]

Mat.. that is a good clarification. I am using a screw clamp Arca Swiss. I find it much easier and faster to use than a lever release type...But that's just me.