Someone please explain L brackets

[adblink]

So my goal is to mount my 40D in portrait orientation, so I need some form of L bracket (I assume?) I know RRS makes all kinds of things like this, but I'm confused on what exactly I need.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/items.asp?Cc=BodyCanon40D&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=

Do I NEED both the L bracket and the plate? I thought the bracket would just put a hole for a tripod on the other side of the camera.

also is there any other manufacturers to look at for this type of setup?

[PacAce]

The L-plate is itself a plate so, no, you won't need a separate camera plate if using the L-plate. The L-plate is basically two plates in one in the form of an "L". :)

[PacAce]

So my goal is to mount my 40D in portrait orientation, so I need some form of L bracket (I assume?) I know RRS makes all kinds of things like this, but I'm confused on what exactly I need.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/items.asp?Cc=BodyCanon40D&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=

Do I NEED both the L bracket and the plate? I thought the bracket would just put a hole for a tripod on the other side of the camera.

also is there any other manufacturers to look at for this type of setup?
BTW, when using any of the Arca-Swiss type plates, it's assumed that you're going to be using them with an Arca-Swiss type clamp attached to the tripod to make it easier to mount and unmount the camera instead of trying to screw and unscrew the camera to the tripod. Otherwise, getting the RRS L-plate is a very expensive way of getting a tripod hole for mounting the camera in the portrait orientation. But if you don't have a clamp on your tripod (yet), the RRS L-plates do have tripod screw holes on them.

[adblink]

^^^^ thats what I am trying to figure out. I have just a regular tripod with a regular ballhead on it.

[adblink]

The L-plate is itself a plate so, no, you won't need a separate camera plate if using the L-plate. The L-plate is basically two plates in one in the form of an "L". :)


then what is the purpose of that quick release plate in that link a posted? just an option?

[PacAce]

then what is the purpose of that quick release plate in that link a posted? just an option?

Yes, the two different types of plates just gives you two different options for mounting the camera. With the standard plate at the bottom of the camera, you can't mount the camera vertically unless you use the ballhead to reposition the camera to the side of the ballhead to orient it vertically. With the L-plate, the camera can stay centered on top of the ballhead.

[Lowner]

adblink,

The L plate only works with the Arca Swiss QR system. To use it you need to buy into the whole system.

I'm not trying to put you off. In fact I'd encourage you to use the system. It's expensive, but excellent and the nearest thing to a universal QR system.

Manufacturers include Markins, Kirk, Wimberley, RRS and I'm sure there are others.

Edited to add: I think you need a photo showing one in use, with the tripod head and clamps. I don't have one, can anyone help out here?

[PacAce]

So my goal is to mount my 40D in portrait orientation, so I need some form of L bracket (I assume?) I know RRS makes all kinds of things like this, but I'm confused on what exactly I need.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/items.asp?Cc=BodyCanon40D&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc=

Do I NEED both the L bracket and the plate? I thought the bracket would just put a hole for a tripod on the other side of the camera.

also is there any other manufacturers to look at for this type of setup?
Oops. Missed this question of yours. Kirk Enterprises also sells L-plates custom fit for your camera.

http://kirkphoto.com/

[PacAce]

adblink,

The L plate only works with the Arca Swiss QR system. To use it you need to buy into the whole system.

I'm not trying to put you off. In fact I'd encourage you to use the system. It's expensive, but excellent and the nearest thing to a universal QR system.

Manufacturers include Markins, Kirk, Wimberley, RRS and I'm sure there are others.
I agree, to take full advantage of the L-plate, one would need to buy into the whole AS QR system. But one doesn't necessarily have to do that in order to use the L-plate. As mentioned in my previous post, the L-plate comes with tripod screw holes so one can always just screw any tripod into the hole and use the L-plate by itself. :)

[adblink]

I agree, to take full advantage of the L-plate, one would need to buy into the whole AS QR system. But one doesn't necessarily have to do that in order to use the L-plate. As mentioned in my previous post, the L-plate comes with tripod screw holes so one can always just screw any tripod into the hole and use the L-plate. :)


lol thats what I'm confused about, i mean why would you need a whole system just to mount the camera horizontally on top of a ballhead? It seems pretty simple to me. You mentioned that the Lplate comes with tripod screw holes to mount to any tripod, but its just a big hole? I dont see the screw?


http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRS/Images/full/B40DL.gif


the threads you see there go into the bottom of the camera, all I want is to have a hole on the opposite side so my tripod screw can thread into it.

[Wilt]

lol thats what I'm confused about, i mean why would you need a whole system just to mount the camera horizontally on top of a ballhead? It seems pretty simple to me. You mentioned that the Lplate comes with tripod screw holes to mount to any tripod, but its just a big hole? I dont see the screw?


http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRS/Images/full/B40DL.gif


the threads you see there go into the bottom of the camera, all I want is to have a hole on the opposite side so my tripod screw can thread into it.

I'm guesing the problem is that you don't have the fundamental concept right about any Arca QR plate. The screw shown screws into the bottom of your camera, to hold the L plate to the camera. The very bottom surface of the L plate (the part below where the RRS logo is) is grasped by the Arca-sytle QR base when in Landscape orientation. The part of the L plate which is at the extreme right in the photo is also a surface that the QR base can grab onto when the camera is in Portrait orientation.

The mention of a hole 'on the side' was simply someone pointing out that you do not need a QR system to use a generic L plate not specific to the Arca QR system, if the bottom and the size of the generic L plate have tripod mounting holes into which the tripod mounting screw could screw into. In the photo you can see one tripod mounting screw hole on the bottom part; instead of a large cut out area on the side piece in the photo, it could be solid metal and a tripod hole drilled into that side piece as well.

[Lowner]

To try to explain the concept, I've attached a picture of a Markins version of the Arca Swiss style clamp that the L plate locks into.

[PacAce]

lol thats what I'm confused about, i mean why would you need a whole system just to mount the camera horizontally on top of a ballhead? It seems pretty simple to me. You mentioned that the Lplate comes with tripod screw holes to mount to any tripod, but its just a big hole? I dont see the screw?


http://reallyrightstuff.com/mmRRS/Images/full/B40DL.gif


the threads you see there go into the bottom of the camera, all I want is to have a hole on the opposite side so my tripod screw can thread into it.

I just checked the L-plate for the 40D without the grip and it doesn't have a tripod screw hole on the side (although the L-plate for use with the grip does), so I misspoke when I said that all RSS L-plates have two screw holes in them. So, if you're going to use the RSS L-plate for use with the 40D with no grip, then I'm afraid you'll need to at least get an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp for your tripod.

Wimberley has a clamp that you can screw your tripod into that you can use. (This is the same clamp I use with my Manfrotto ball heads when I swapped out the original clamps for the AS compatible clamp.)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/205332-REG/Wimberley_C10_C_10_Small_Add_On_Quick.html

[1Zach1]

The extra hole is threaded 1/4". There is no threaded hole so the L-bracket can be set up in portrait mode like that. I'm not sure the point of getting one if you don't have a ball head, or at least rig up a quick release plate on your tripod with something like this: http://www.kirkphoto.com/platforms.html (I'm sure there are other options out there that might work with your tripod, but that's just an example).

[adblink]

both of my tripods already have their own quick release thing, it just doesn't look like that. I do have the the grip for my 40D so I could just use that.

so pac with that plate you linked, lol I would have to what screw the quick release plate to the bottom of the plate you linked, then the 40d non-grip l bracket would go on it

this is the ballhead i currently have

https://www.colorfotoshop.com/imagem.php?imagem_id=2839

[PacAce]

both of my tripods already have their own quick release thing, it just doesn't look like that. I do have the the grip for my 40D so I could just use that.

so pac with that plate you linked, lol I would have to what screw the quick release plate to the bottom of the plate you linked, then the 40d non-grip l bracket would go on it

this is the ballhead i currently have

https://www.colorfotoshop.com/imagem.php?imagem_id=2839
If you're talking about the Wimberley clamp, it would replace the Monfrotto clamp that's on your ball head now.

Here's a link to one of several discussions about how that's done:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=290269

The Wimberley clamp would then stay on the ballhead with the tripod and the L-plate would stay with the camera. When you're ready to mount the camera on to the tripod, you open up the jaws of the clamp, set the camera down on it and then tighten the clamp jaws on the plate so it's nice and secure.

[René Damkot]

Click for larger version...

http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/080719Gitzo/content/bin/images/thumb/rhd_20080719_Gitzo001.jpg (http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/080719Gitzo/content/bin/images/large/rhd_20080719_Gitzo001.jpg)

http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/080719Gitzo/content/bin/images/thumb/rhd_20080719_Gitzo003.jpg (http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/080719Gitzo/content/bin/images/large/rhd_20080719_Gitzo003.jpg)

[adblink]

AAAAAH, I had no idea you can keep the same ballhead but convert it. Looks like you really have to give it some umph to get it off. Might try it

thanks for all the help guys :)

[Lowner]

The image I posted earlier shows exactly how the Arca Swiss clamp would replace the RC2 clamp. Because thats exactly what I did on the 486 ballhead shown. Its a very simple task.

[PacAce]

AAAAAH, I had no idea you can keep your same ballhead but convert it, going to have to look it up, the link in that thread is dead

Yes, I noticed that, too, but I don't think you'll really need it. Swapping out the Mantrotto clamp for an AS compatible clamp is pretty much straight forward, once you get passed the removing of the old clamp, that is. :)

[EDIT]
BTW, here's the fixed link to that PDF mentioned in that other thread:

http://reallyrightstuff.com/Downloads/Bogen488.pdf

And here's another (for the 468):

http://reallyrightstuff.com/Downloads/Bogen468.pdf

[fungry]

Ahh neat stuff. I'm curious though, is the RRS L plate compatible with a Benro ballhead that also adopted *copied* the Arca-Swiss quick release?

[PacAce]

Ahh neat stuff. I'm curious though, is the RRS L plate compatible with a Benro ballhead that also adopted *copied* the Arca-Swiss quick release?

If the Benro ballhead is Arca-Swiss compatible, then the RRS L-plates should be compatible with it, too. However, if the clamp on the Benro ballhead is levered instead of screwed, then it may not be.

[fungry]

My Benro clamp looks like it fits into the groove of the RRS L plate. And it is screwed as well.

[tgara]

The video that the owner of RRS, Joe Johnson, made is quite good.

http://reallyrightstuff.com/QR/05.html

[Shane W]

I have a Benro head and it works great with my Kirk plate. I have been so happy with this head and for the $100 or so I spent...you cannot beat it.

[Lowner]

So it sounds as though we need to add Benro to the list of Arca Swiss compatible manufacturers. Thats good, the more the merrier.

Maybe even Manfrotto will get the message eventually.

[argyle]

I'd stay away from the Benro stuff...they're inexpensive for a reason:

Benro Ballhead Review (http://www.tomwebsterphoto.com/Essays/Benro/benroks2.htm)