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Anyone here use an L-plate?

I am trying to decide if the cost is worth it ($140USD).

Really the only lens I would need/use it for is my 17-40F4L. Otherwise my 70-200, 400 5.6 (when I get it) and macro all have tripod rings (ie rotate in the ring).

An L plate is not used on a lens. I have L plates for both the D70 and D2Hs. If you are using a large lens you will need a lens plate for the lens. This is, of course, if you intend to use the Arca Swiss system

Dion, use it and love it. Very handy on the smaller focal lengths, use it regularly. It lives on my camera as it provides good protection. Like you I thought the price was outrageous, but you are 1/3 there with a basic bracket and will always curse you didn't go the full way when you need to. Assuming that you have a tripod and ballhead you use regularly.

Thanks Guys.

sirhc55 - Yes I know its not on a lens. What I meant was the only time I will use it (to get vertical composition) is when I am using my smaller lens - the other lenses have rings that just rotate.

I have the A-S system (Benro) so am looking at the options.

Think I might just bight the bullet

It lives on my 20D with grip (although it might be the Kirk L). As stated it isn't used with lenses with a tripod foot. Couldn't live without it though. Once you've gone L, you can't go back [plates and lenses that is ]

thanks Petal666.

Kirk and RRS are the same price. Suprise suprise

DionM wrote:thanks Petal666.

Kirk and RRS are the same price. Suprise suprise

I think RRS are easier/cheaper to get shipped? Maybe, I can't remember. I got mine 2nd hand so I can't complain.

Dion, if they are the same price Birddy reckons the RRS is better finished. Good luck

Yeah I'm still deciding.

I want to order a few other things (foot for my 70-200 2.8 and 400 5.6, A-S adapter plate for my Manfrotto pistol grip head, etc) so I guess it will come down to who has the best 'package' price.

Time to fire up Excel and do some comparisons ...

i'm still sort of confused with the L brackets, is it used to turn the camera in vertical oreintation without having to touch the ballhead and is it in one smooth motion? can you go from landscape to portrait by sliding it (thats how i picture it anyways)

Will you be putting strain on the camera if you use a 70-200? I know its not designed for bigger lenses, but an L plate then a Lens plate, i think it would start to get a bit expensive

hahah i dont' evn have an AS type head and i'm already thinking about these.

This forum has got me addicted to benro, might have to eat bread and butter for the next few weeks though to get the 227 & kb-2

mR_CaESaR wrote:i'm still sort of confused with the L brackets, is it used to turn the camera in vertical oreintation without having to touch the ballhead and is it in one smooth motion? can you go from landscape to portrait by sliding it (thats how i picture it anyways)

Will you be putting strain on the camera if you use a 70-200? I know its not designed for bigger lenses, but an L plate then a Lens plate, i think it would start to get a bit expensive

hahah i dont' evn have an AS type head and i'm already thinking about these.

This forum has got me addicted to benro, might have to eat bread and butter for the next few weeks though to get the 227 & kb-2

The L Plate helps you to switch the camera body from landscape to portrait in a second with AS system or vice versa.
Refer to the big len as 70-200/ Canon or Nikkor, you do need a lens plate for it, though the Benro ballhead comes with universal plate, it can be used on the body or any lens with lens collar and foot and it works with all A-S system.

Birddog114 wrote:

mR_CaESaR wrote:i'm still sort of confused with the L brackets, is it used to turn the camera in vertical oreintation without having to touch the ballhead and is it in one smooth motion? can you go from landscape to portrait by sliding it (thats how i picture it anyways)

Will you be putting strain on the camera if you use a 70-200? I know its not designed for bigger lenses, but an L plate then a Lens plate, i think it would start to get a bit expensive

hahah i dont' evn have an AS type head and i'm already thinking about these.

This forum has got me addicted to benro, might have to eat bread and butter for the next few weeks though to get the 227 & kb-2

The L Plate helps you to switch the camera body from landscape to portrait in a second with AS system or vice versa.
Refer to the big len as 70-200/ Canon or Nikkor, you do need a lens plate for it, though the Benro ballhead comes with universal plate, it can be used on the body or any lens with lens collar and foot and it works with all A-S system.

ic, i for some reason thought it slides over, i think i saw some sports photographers on tv having one that slides over, i think they are higher end heads/brackets.

So it pretty much has one of those standard plates that most tripods come with, only reason i ask about the 70-200 series is because that lens will one day be the heaviest lens i have on my tripod (can't see myself getting anything bigger in the near future, i'm sure the 227 & kb2 will take those easily, actually by the looks of the specs it looks like it'll take up to 500f4L, maybe stuggling a little)

mR_CaESaR wrote:ic, i for some reason thought it slides over, i think i saw some sports photographers on tv having one that slides over, i think they are higher end heads/brackets.

Well, depending on how you have it set up you can very quickly slide it out in one orientation and slide it in rotated 90 degrees.
But it's not really the speed of rotating that's I'm important to me: it's the fact that after you've rotated, the lens is still in almost the same position (without having to raise/lower/move the tripod&head).

So it pretty much has one of those standard plates that most tripods come with, only reason i ask about the 70-200 series is because that lens will one day be the heaviest lens i have on my tripod (can't see myself getting anything bigger in the near future, i'm sure the 227 & kb2 will take those easily, actually by the looks of the specs it looks like it'll take up to 500f4L, maybe stuggling a little)

With these bigger lenses the L-plate on the camera body is superfluous. All these lenses have their own tripod collars (which you would attach a plate to) which the lens can rotate in. Given the size of these lenses it's better for the camera to hang off the back of the lens rather than vice versa (not just for reasons of stress: it's more stable).
The Canon 70-200mm/4 does not come with the collar by default: for some reason they decided to make it an optional extra. I would not consider using it without the collar. On the 70-200mm/2.8 lenses it's standard.

L-plates on camera bodies are wonderful things, but only relevant when you're using a short lens that does not have its own mounting collar.