That’s pretty much what I try to doI have them but keep them off when shooting longer glass (which is most of the time). However, for landscape work, they are glued to my camera
L-brackets, cage or none?
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xxx
Active member
Over the past 25 years, I've invested a small fortune in L brackets, lens plates, tripod feet, and tripods—yet, ironically, I never actually use tripods. Still, I’m always prepared just in case!
I've got an l bracket on my Z9; I've simply forgotten it's there so it stays. I note that when I stupidly had the z9 and 500 pf fall out of my bag onto a cement floor the l bracket has two 'marks' from that wee mishap. Not that I even think about leaving the bracket in place for protection reasons but it clearly took most of the contact hit so did offer some level of protection. I've misplaced the l bracket for my D6 and would actullly buy one if any were actually easily available. When the D6 is on a tripod I use the head to get the camera vertical (annoying, really ).
).Ad Astra
Well-known member
I use my 3 Legged Thing Zooey L-bracket all the time on my Z8. I was going to get a simple plate only to attach my QD safety strap as the second attachment point, but when I saw that the Zooey did not cover the battery door like many L-brackets do I was convinced the Zooey was better than a base plate as it gave me the option to switch to vertical mount for landscape and had a QD connecter for my safety strap when using long lenses.
More details on the Zooey at
https://www.3leggedthing.com/uk/3-legged-thing-zooey-qd-dedicated-l-bracket-nikon-z8.html
More details on the Zooey at
https://www.3leggedthing.com/uk/3-legged-thing-zooey-qd-dedicated-l-bracket-nikon-z8.html
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joe43
Well-known member
I use a combination of L brackets and a camera body plates, all arca swiss compatible. For a camera used almost exclusively with long lenses I attach a camera plate from Wimberley. For a camera used for landscapes, it has a L bracket, to allow me to take verticals as well as horizontals. I hate flipping the ball head to vertical. I often use L brackets designed for one body on another body to avoid the expense of a new L bracket for a specific camera model. I tell my friends to buy adjustable L brackets unless they have a very specific need for one designed for a specific body. I have never owned a cage. But I can see their usefulness in video work for attaching needed accessories.
Brian Rutter
Active member
I bought a 'Tilta' cage for my Z8 and have to say that it is very comfortable in the hand. However my reason for buying was purely for doing things like Fungi etc.
I really dislike turning the camera upside down when inverting the centre column in my travel tripod, and the cage allows me to keep the camera the correct way up.
Lately I have just left the cage on the Z8 and used this for Macro and Landscape, and kept the Z9 free of any cage or brackets and used this for wildlife.
If I did leave the cage on for wildlife, I think I could easily cope with it, but its just downright nicer to have a camera in hand free of any attachments.
I really dislike turning the camera upside down when inverting the centre column in my travel tripod, and the cage allows me to keep the camera the correct way up.
Lately I have just left the cage on the Z8 and used this for Macro and Landscape, and kept the Z9 free of any cage or brackets and used this for wildlife.
If I did leave the cage on for wildlife, I think I could easily cope with it, but its just downright nicer to have a camera in hand free of any attachments.
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Woody Meristem
Well-known member
All of my L-brackets are Chinese-made and all allow for easy battery and card changes -- and all have removable short legs -- they're as well made and much more practical than the OEM versions.
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That's definitely a heavy duty version
luckmurph
Well-known member
I use the small rig cage on my Z9, mainly for protection. Don’t find it gets in the way and adds a bit of piece of mind in case the unthinkable happens!
Calson
Well-known member
I use a cage for shooting video to be able to attach various devices. The L bracket is used for landscape and astro photography where the camera will be on a tripod to allow for long exposures.
That's mostly what I use them for such as monitors or attaching a handle
Ad Astra
Well-known member
Smallrig make a handle for arca swiss which means you can add a side handle to any arca swiss L-bracket.
https://www.smallrig.com/global/smallrig-Arca-Type-Side-Handle-4416.html
https://www.smallrig.com/global/smallrig-Arca-Type-Side-Handle-4416.html
What is interesting is that it appears to put the grip on the left hand side of the camera. Although I am right-handed, I have often thought it odd that no manufacturer makes a body with the grip and shutter on the left side for left-handed individuals. If they used this and used a cable realease to put the shutter on that side, I wonder if it would be more comfortable for them?
That does make sense and I’ve often wondered the same thing.
Herrbill
New member
I have been looking for a safety tether with a QD plug for some time. I would be interested to hear where you sourced yours from.
Not A Speck Of Cereal
Well-known member
If I had to give up my L-bracket and go back to a single plate, I would be unhappy putting it on very tightly to keep it from twisting, and even more so the first time decided to twist anyways. I don't use the side ports of my camera enough to put up with the lack of an L-bracket.
Chris
Chris
I purchased the Black Rapid Camera Safety Tether ll at B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1726254-REG
I then purchased a QD connector to attach it to. I forget where I got it. Kirk has them that are good quality. Be careful of the cheap stuff on Amazon. I then attached the tether to the QD connector and then clip the tether to the carabiner on the Black Rapid shoulder strap. Works great.
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That’s a nice strap
BillG
New member
I never had any desire for one of these until a friend gave me one that fit my D850 so gave it a try and I love it! On some tripod/head combos it's difficult to go vertical and this makes it easy. I only use my D850 for macro and landscapes now so I can't comment on shooting my teles with it.
Currently I cannot afford to have a second body, so one is used for everything and I have the SmallRig on it all the time and I don't fell hampered by it when shooting long glass.
The only time where it upsets me a little is when I have to use connectors on the left hand side of the body, because opening the cover can be challenging with the L-bracket.
As soon as I can afford the second body, I will have one with and one without L-bracket.
The only time where it upsets me a little is when I have to use connectors on the left hand side of the body, because opening the cover can be challenging with the L-bracket.
As soon as I can afford the second body, I will have one with and one without L-bracket.
Roy
Well-known member
I've also dropped using a cage ot a L-bracket.
Still using an arca swiss plate and a small flash bracket to mount a microphone ...
GregT943
Well-known member
I have a Leofoto L bracket pretty much permanently fixed to my Z8. I don't bother taking it off when shooting long lenses. I switch back and forth between landscape and wildlife enough that it's not worth taking it off. I just leave it on all the time.
Herrbill
New member
Herrbill
New member
That's exactly what I am looking for.thanks for the info.
L bracket on one Z8, base plate on the other so both have QD. For light trips with no extra support long I take the bracket off and screw into the tripod socket for my BR strap.