Generic/off-brand L brackets

Been shooting for over a decade and have amassed plenty of gear, but L brackets have somehow evaded me to this point. Might have something to do with the notion that a Kirk or RRS custom plate gets me 1/3 of way to the price of a new lens!

Now, I find myself in a situation where I absolutely need one in order to get vertical shots without using the side groove of my ballhead. The idea of forking over $140 for a plate that will become instantly useless (and probably lose almost all its resale value, too) by the time I upgrade bodies still isn't any more appealing, though.

Are there any cheaper "generic" L bracket options that at least serve their primary purpose without any issues? I don't mind blocked ports if I'm saving 50-80%, for example. I do mind a bracket that doesn't stay firmly in place or puts my gear at risk. Also, I'd really prefer a model that locks onto an Arca clamp until the safety pin is released, for both orientations.

Any thoughts or experiences that can be shared on the following?

Generic L Brackets

Desmond DAL-1 - ultra cheap option. If anyone is aware of an alternate brand falling into this category that actually works well and has rubber to prevent slippage, by all means share.

ProMediaGear Universal Bracket - spendier option. I could probably stomach the cost, knowing it will last beyond my current body - but it better work well for this price. I'm concerned that the vertical part of the bracket seems really large and more suited for using with a battery grip, which I don't use. (My body is a D610).

Budget Custom L Brackets

Sunwayfoto Custom - about half the price of the "big boys," and I'm not clear on what deficiencies (if any) it gives up to them. Really interested in any experiences with this brand.

I'm UK based so no direct comparison, but I bought three of the cheaper ones from China to check them out ( at that price who cares ) and they were all fine, no issues with any of them.

welshwizard1971 wrote in post #18090852
I'm UK based so no direct comparison, but I bought three of the cheaper ones from China to check them out ( at that price who cares ) and they were all fine, no issues with any of them.

Encouraging! Are you using them with your 5D3 (the closest size comparison to my D610)? If so, do they feel completely stable even when mounted to the head vertically?

Also, just so I can check availability, do you know the brand you purchased?

Two were unbranded off ebay, and this was off Amazon, even cheaper than your cheapest, and no problems, at those prices, easily worth a punt.....

https://www.amazon.co.​uk …age_o05_s00?ie=​UTF8&psc=1

I'm sure you have already bought one, but wanted to throw in my two cents.

I own two of the ProMediaGear L Plates; 70D and 5D3. The one feature I really love about them is the ability to slide the vertical plate out from the body. I find the dust covers hard to access when the plate rests right up against them. I have never tried out the Kirk, RRS, or any other plates, but I haven't seen this ability. The other nice thing is that it gives a grip to be able to hold the camera body with your left hand which is nice in certain circumstances. This adds a bit of size to the body, but well worth it IMO. I can still fit both bodies with battery grips and L Brackets in my Pelican case without problems.

It looks like ProMediaGear has discontinued the L Bracket for your D610 and they recommend their universal bracket. http://www.promediagea​r.com …rsal-L-Bracket_p_134.html

Good info.

To follow up: I decided to try my luck with one of the ultra-cheap "MPU100" (marketed under numerous brands) universal brackets mentioned by welshwizard. After a month of use, including on a long hiking trip, I'm pleased to say it's completely sufficient for most purposes. It fits, ports are accessible (if not painlessly) in the landscape orientation, and it doesn't slip at all.

My only complaint is that it doesn't have the tapered grooves for optimal use with my Sirui ballheads, but that's probably true of most high dollar brackets, too.

TLDR: for anyone looking into an L-bracket wondering whether they need to go straight to the $130 custom plates, I would completely recommend grabbing an MPU100 on Amazon or eBay for 10 or 15 bucks first. This is my experience using the D610, anyway. Port blockage might be a bigger issue on certain other bodies. But the important thing is that it works just fine and doesn't slip/rotate at all, so I'm happy.

I bought an L bracket for my Canon 6D for $15(including shipping) through Ebay. I can honestly say I was impressed with the fit and finish of the unit I bought. I should mention that I was a CNC programmer(machinist) in a former life and have a somewhat educated opinion on machined parts. There is just no way I would take the time and effort to make the grip myself just to save $15! I also don't see the point of spending $100+ for one of the grips from the major brands. I understand you get what you pay for, I just don't see the benefit in this case. As always, just an opinion and it's not meant as a put down for those who choose the better/more expensive brands

In July 2016 posted this report on a Sunway for my Bronica ETRSi medium format film camera...

http://www.apug.org …ways.138586/#po​st-1812364

I have been using the Sunway bracket for 5D3 for about three months. No issues with Induro, Surui or Mefoto ball heads. Fit is tight with no play. Clamp/release mechanism on each respective head works as it should. In one case, the Sunway has a better fit than the plate that came with the head. I came from using Bogen/Manfrotto gear for decades. Picked up the Sunway for the Induro, but delayed using them in the field for 6 months. Now that I have, I won't be going back. I can't see paying more for a RRS bracket unless someone can point out a better fit or functional advantage over the Sunway.

I also have the Sunway L for my gripped 5D MkIII. I've had it for over a year now. It fits perfectly and allows access to all the ports. I don't use a tripod much, so it gets very little use other than when I clamp it to my sling. But it's solid and well made, so I have no complaints.

M_Six wrote in post #18130925
I also have the Sunway L for my gripped 5D MkIII. I've had it for over a year now. It fits perfectly and allows access to all the ports. I don't use a tripod much, so it gets very little use other than when I clamp it to my sling. But it's solid and well made, so I have no complaints.

I also use this and very happy with it but I'm not using a grip.

You can sometimes have problems with off brand L brackets if you mix them with off brand battery grips. The battery tray in the grip and the battery hole in the L bracket are not always the same.

I purchased a Sunway L bracket for my 6D, and it works just fine. Most of the generic L brackets seem to have similar designs, so the primary differences are fit/finish and warranty coverage. They are very simple components, and I have found quality control among generic brands to be just fine for L brackets and Arca-style lens plates.

I've owned custom and generic L brackets.

I currently use a generic one from eBay on my 50D and I'm happy with it. My one complaint is that it doesn't account for using a shutter release so the plate doesn't mount flush with the camera when a shutter release is mounted.

Wilt wrote in post #18130788
In July 2016 posted this report on a Sunway for my Bronica ETRSi medium format film camera...

http://www.apug.org …ways.138586/#po​st-1812364

I was sufficient impressed with the Sunway L bracket for my Bronica ETRSi that I purchased a Sunway L bracket for my (new to me) Canon 7DII. No regrets, I now have two RRS L brackets and two Sunway brackets for my various cameras and can heartily endorse Sunway products.