Put me in the group that uses a tripod and L bracket 99.9% of the time. Mount it once and it never comes off. Never. I love them.

@TravelingPhotographer

4 жыл бұрын

Me too!

Can't say I've ever had my arca-swiss system lock up .... and I've done landscape photography in Antarctica with it ! As for L-brackets .... love them. I don't know many pro travel photographers that don't use them. Go grab some rest Ken ... you've become cranky in these videos lol.

@jonyjonsy

5 жыл бұрын

I think he meant freezing of the mechanism from sand

@Tw1x5000

4 жыл бұрын

@@jonyjonsy and ice, he said

I don't care about either plate. I just think this review is EPIC!!!

@takashi0352

5 жыл бұрын

"sorry not my opinion, IT IS A FACT!!!"

I am shocked you did not talk about the extra little brass safety lock feature you get with the RC2 mounting systems. That safety lock feature puts my mind at ease when I turn my camera from landscape to portrait on a tripod. Great info. video Ken.

Straight talk just saved me the DBagery..... Thanks Ken

I fkn love ya bro. This video was great!

I had a Bogen/Manfrotto 3047 tripod and found it did everything just fine. Those were the Bronica ETR and Orchid photography days, and the Manfrotto tripod plate never failed/slipped no matter what. I'm down to an ancient Welt Safelock PT-3 tripod, which works as well today as it did in the 1970s.;)

Love my L Brackets- smallrig ones are super nice- about $60- magnetic holder for wrench, adds nice protection from banging camera on side, great place to mount stuff for video without the size of a cage, easy arca swiss connectivity, sit flush on table, gives your pinky finger a place to be on mirrorless cameras if you have decent size hands.. I have two main tripods I use- one has a ball head the pivot between landscape and portfolio isn't needed- but I also have a fluid head for video and its so nice to be able to mount it both ways when shooting normal video vs vertical IGTV style video. My main issues with RC2- they almost always get loose- then unless all your connectors have the pull knob you have to look for a coin- etc. My Arca Swiss adaptors and L plates rarely get loose- and they nicely support the weight of my heavy sigma 105 1.4 when im shooting video with that beast. Different strokes for different folks- full time pro- love L Brackets- love arca swiss. I do agree that RRS is way overpriced- Smallrig all the way!

I agree w/ you 99.9% of the time -- this is the other 0.01% 1. My X-T3 has a Kirk Enterprises L-bracket. 2. I use the L-bracket for landscape photography and as a left-side handle. 3. Even my old Canon EOS 1V had an L-bracket .. which I used .. often.

On half of my Manfrotto RC2 plates, the D-ring (you use to tighten the screw) hangs loose instead of staying tucked up under the plate. That makes it jam up when you try to snap the plate into the RC2 mounting clamp. Also, you completely missed the main advantage of the Arca-Swiss system. The plate slides into the clamp, and can be tightened down at any point along its back-to-front travel. That allows you to quickly balance the camera each time you mount it on a tripod, eliminating the need to rebalance the tripod head when you change lenses. With RC2 plates, you can't adjust anything without untightening the screw and repositioning the camera on the plate.

I chose the Arca Swiss because I will be using longer lenses but appreciate your video it gave valid points to consider before purchasing a head. I always look to your opinions before purchasing any camera equipment. Thanks for your help I love the fact that your right to the point no BS💕👍

Who hurt you Ken? Where is all this anger coming from? LOL JK, just love your rants man. P.S. I keep my Kirk Lbracket on all the time because I lost my Allen wrench. Ha!

The only time I've had a camera drop to the floor was from a Arca Swiss plate. Never from a manfrotto plate NEVER. Many Arca Swiss PLates are badly machined and I just happened to have one Camera dropped hard enough to flip the front lens hood off. focus issues from the result so off it went for repair to fuji. Waited a month and came back cured. So for me Manfrotto is I think safer. Hope so! Now use Peak design dual plates which are well made and no problems. Your not cracky as said, Just someone like me with experience Aged 82.

About 5 years ago I bought a medium size carbon fiber Manfrotto, just a tiny bigger than the "bfree" model. Last year I also bought an L and some arca parts and two more tripods. Used them once, pain in the behind, ended up using only my old Manfrotto (which I had bought with a "video" head that turned out very useful). The L is useless unless you take 2-3 portrait mode pics to make a panorama.

Love the rc2 for day to day setups. Like the arca swiss with l bracket setup for Milky Way photography. I did also try out the rc2 l bracket by manfrotto but it adds ekstra layers of complexity and weight when you need to use it

I have 3 RC2 plates for use when carrying camera's on straps & then Arca plates & L brackets for tripod use. I do hate how my Arca plates require a hex key.

I have noticed that the RC2 adds just a bit of looseness with my 200-500 and 2xTC pointed at the moon. I have to use a trigger, and let things settle after manual focusing. hopefully the gilmbal head I just ordered will help.

I was thinking about RC bracket, but thanks to your advice I bought arca-swiss at last. You were right its better indeed. PS: I bought 3 L brackets as well. Cheers.

I love Arca swiss. In fact, I am probably going to spend $1,600 on the cube head. I write this to make sure the angry photographer (who I like) has more to be angry about.

I ALWAYS use my RC2 systems REVERSED -- front to back.😎

i'm shopping right now for a good rc2 l bracket, because i love the manfrotto rc2 mechanism but need a l bracket for mainly milkyway photography (and the milkyway is huge or tall, only vertically huge :D ) sure, leaving on a l bracket for indoor looks goofy but if you can use it at the same time as a handle, it's a win for the photographer

you are totally right..L brackets are crap.

Agree on the Arca Swiss/RC2 subject. I also have an L-bracket mounted to my camera in order to be able to quickly switch between landscape and portrait, so I must be one of the few. There's absolutely no reason to haul this thing around if you don't actually flip the camera, it is heavy, bulky, it blocks the battery door of the vertical grip, makes plugging cables to the side of the camera difficult etc. If I didn't use it what it is intended for, I'd screw this thing off in a jiffy. However, since I do it stays on, because I can't be bothered to screw it on with an L-wrench in the field as that would defy the purpose (changing from landscape to portrait *quickly*).

I have rarely used a tripod in the past but just bought one for specific use (I won't say brand lest I be harshly judged) with an arca swiss head because the Fujifilm X-Pro2 grip has the built-in grooves making it compatible. I'm also considering an L-bracket which I'll surely remove when not in use lest I run into you on the streets of Lexington (also because it covers the battery door). :-) Your points are valid, Ken, but I won't be shooting with a tripod in harsh conditions either.

I have only used my L bracket a couple of times, it is handy rarely

Was not aware of the one handed operation of the Manfrotto plates. That is certainly an advantage. But I do like the arca swiss plates that are very thin for some of my small cameras which I don't think the Manfrotto could accomodate. In fact I have had a camera or two that had the tripod screw hole so close to the battery cover that if I hadn't had a thin arca swiss plate I could not have used it at all. By thin I mean narrow. I have some that are only 20mm across. But even at that they are quite stable and sturdy when mounted on the tripod. Another reason I prefer arca swiss thin plates are that I use them on my camera strap that slides up and down. I mount a small arca swiss mount on the strap and then it is very easy to then attach my camera to the strap using the small (and cheap like $20 on amazon) arca swiss mount. I put the plates on all my cameras and leave them there because that is what I use on all my tripods and camera straps as described. So easy on easy off. I expect that if I did run into some ice or excessive dirt I would have the trouble you describe but the risk is worth the convenience I experience the other 99.9% of the time. And by the way you can find cheap $6 dollar arca swiss plates on Amazon as well.

Hi Wheeler, what do you make of cryo em and Ligo ? Thank you John.

Manfrotto MS050M4-RC4 L Bracket With RC4 Quick Release Plate is available for vertical shots but is insanely pricey at $200 AUS.

You might like the fuji l -brackets! :)

Any idea when the Nikon D5s will be released ?

I ditched Arca Swiss after my camera took a spill from accidentally not tightening that stupid clamp properly. You are 100% correct with how much of a pain in the ass it is. I recently switched to the Manfrotto MHXPRO3W head and OMG why didn't I do this earlier?!? This head and the RC2 plate is the TITS! Now I'm looking for a new set of legs since my Slik legs are rusting. Looking at the MT055XPRO3 based on your recommendation. You know your shit Ken!

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

Eeeeek!!!! well arca does hold tighter without movement, buuutttt ! :/

Clear and valid points and I agree but... A WORD OF CAUTION ON THE MANFROTTO RC2 PLATES: I've had one expensive camera body and two expensive lenses ruined by what seems to be a design issue with many Manfrotto OEM and Knock-off RC2 plates. That being that the RC2 mounting plates often have a recessed hole around where the mounting lug screw goes through the plate, and the shoulder of that hole on many plates will easily hold up one side of the screw lug just enough to allow the plate latching lever to grab the plate, seemingly securely but not enough to completely latch, at which point if the camera is moved slightly the latch will release and the plate and camera will be ejected. Even though I was aware of the issue and was careful when attaching plates I was two times, first time costing me a $1200 camera body and $475 lens and the second time a $700 lens and a $300 camera repair. I've written to Manfrotto twice about this but have received no response. The actual OEM "Manfrotto 200PL-38 Rectangular Quick Release Plate with 3/8" Screw " Now Discontinued I'm guessing because of the screw issue and itseems to be the most dangerous offender. I have several that were supplied with the Manfrotto 323 RC2 Rapid Connect Adapter and dispite being discontinued there seems to be pleanty of this design being sold, both Manfrotto and Knock-offs. www.manfrotto.com.br/rectangular-plate-with-3-8-screw.html If your RC2 plate screw will slide over the ridge of the recessed hole in the bottom of the plate as shown in the lower left corner of this image it may prevent it from latching properly and you are at risk of damage to your equipment: tripodquickrelease.com/plates/200PL-14.jpg

This must be opinionated Ken day. The case for L-brackets is that once attached to the camera, they protect both the bottom and side of the camera from impact damage. Because the L-bracket is machined to the contour of the camera body, they aren't likely to twist once installed, unlike a Manrfrotto mounting plate. Again as you stated, the Arca plate doesn't twist like the Manfrotto plate with a longer lens attached. Lots of third party plates that use the ring type screws. As far as one hand attachment, I've never used the Manfrotto rectangular plate system, but the hexagonal plate system, does require two hands for attachment. You've still got to push the cam lever to tighten the thing up. No matter which mounting system I use, the camera strap gets wrapped around the head or handle to safe guard from falls. Manfrotto makes some nice equipment, but attempt getting spare parts from them? Here's the part number (R3.2710) for a Manfrotto 181 dolly wheel. Manfrotto lists the part as available, but nope, B&H nor Adorama can get them. Have a handle fall off your tripod head, you're either Rube Goldberging something together or getting a new one. Not the same for Arca Swiss or Really Right Stuff. I wouldn't trade my Manfrotto 058 tripod for any new tripod built today for studio or close to my vehicle use. I've got older Gitzo, and it's a lot nicer finished than the now produced Manfrotto items with Gitzo's name.

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

"protect both the bottom and side of the camera from impact damage" thats what the photographer is supposed to do.....thats no excuse anyone has ever made :) RRS is overpriced joke old gitzos are not the same as newer ones

@gungadinn

6 жыл бұрын

eBay is your friend on finding L-brackets for consumer grade cameras. www.ebay.com/itm/MPU105-Quick-Release-L-Plate-Bracket-For-Canon-Rebel-T6s-T6i-T5i-T4i-T5-6D-5Ds-R-/152383658414?hash=item237ac619ae:g:jxIAAOSwwpdW1rAa It's chinese made, but it's only $9.

Hey Ken, please throw some of us a bone on field theory. Thanks.

Oh my gosh, I just realized the L bracket grip has the plate on the side. I just thought the grooves was aesthetics choice... thank you

@david243121

5 жыл бұрын

hahhhahhahaha

When I shoot with a long lens I mount the lens to the tripod anyway.

Having to use two hands with Arca-Swiss, that's OK because when using a tripod i'm not in a hurry.

I agree that the RC2 system is mostly better and faster. I have a Manfrotto 190 tripod with three way head. It has the Manfrotto mounting plate and that can't be changed on this head. This tripod is fine. Very stable. However, I am considering ditching that head and changing things to Arca Swiss. For one thing, I want another really light weight tripod and Manfrotto are behind with this now. I tested a Benro which was way lighter than the Manfrotto Befree and amazingly actually seemed more stable for way less cost. I prefer the Manfrotto levers on the legs but weight is my preference here. All the now superior Chinese gear seems to have Swiss Arca. Also important is that if you use video equipment like gimbals or steadycams you often have to have a separate Manfrotto video plate attachment whereas Swiss Arca covers stills and video. The reason for this is that the plate can be slid forward or backwards to balance weight which is usually the most convenient way to balance things quickly on say a steadycam.

JARED POLIN! MANFROTTO KNOWS FOTOOOO! I hope that gives you nightmares.

@MasteringHow-To

6 жыл бұрын

Man Beadle hahaha

If you like it i love it

I have a L bracket but seldom use it it stays in the bag unless needed

What's your take on flat magnetic earth? Like a mixture of the Thunderbolts Project and flat earth?

No hate. I totally agree. RCT is much safer; Two days ago my 5D3 came down from a height above 6 feet with an arca swiss. I removed that shit plate. Not even a scratch on the 5D3. OOPS. RCT plate is back on. L-brackets are for fools. You still work with a photo camera.. not something from Mars or ..... who knows...

hi Ken, this question is not related to tripods, but here is: What do you think is going to happen to all Nikon glass if they go Mirrorless?? Reason for this question, is that I don't want to buy more glass until I know if I will use them in the next bodies. As always your respond is well taken.

Couldn't agree more; a quick release system that needs two hands to operate, isn't "quick release". Due to copyright infringement, third party Arca Swiss plates can't even agree on a manufacturing standard so there are variances between makers. So you end up fiddling even more, fine tuning the clamping pressure depending on which childrens' sweat shop they were made in.

@davidemagni1494

5 жыл бұрын

Graham Harris Graham, the ReallyRightStuff lever clamps are self adjusting, no fiddling, no fine tuning. The knob clamps doesn’t need to adjust but, yes, need two hands to attach and detach. The RC2 need two hands too! How do you remove the camera form the head? Open a lever and keep the camera like the arca swiss. With arca you need to move a lever for attach the camera, for me is not a big difference. Do you know that the RC2 has a security system to prevent accidental detach of the plate? If you use it you need more steps on RC2 than on the arca with integrated security system.

Pointlesss video! He says many times that RC2 is one hand operation fixing: detach it with one hand if you can. The RC2 has no knob to operate, arca swiss clamps has lever system too. The RC2 has no dedicated plate for cameras and lenses and in prone to twist (and loosen) under the equipment you mount it. With the arca swiss you can mount long plates under your equipment/lens and adjust the position on the head to balance the weight, the RC2 has a fixed mount point and you can’t balance the weight. The RC2 wins on the arca in one and only point: price. I used the two system, when you try the arca swiss with the anti twist system you never go back, it’s far better and steady system. Skip the flat arca swiss plates without any anti twist system (flange, machining, two screws, etc.) and you’ll be very happy.

I have peak design plates on all my bodies and large lenses and they fit perfectly in arca Swiss heads

@david243121

5 жыл бұрын

See, I'm converting to PD plates on my camera / gear too. BUT, these plates do NOT have a safety mechanism if the plate loosens... It will slide right off and there goes your gear. The RC2 (which PD has a plate for... it works great) cannot loosen. When it's in, it's in. And there's no sliding, ever. I tested a bunch of plates this week and went back and forth. I'm sticking with RC2.

@Ninja-Alinja

5 жыл бұрын

david243121 true, I would not use that setup to carry my gear attached to a monopod over my shoulder. But it’s the only way to quickly attach standard PD plates to some sort of head.

@Ninja-Alinja

5 жыл бұрын

david243121 aaand, the RC2 PD plate is rather useless and works only one direction, and it costs a lot extra, if you have already 4 standard ones (and one RC2...) as I do

@david243121

5 жыл бұрын

heatseeker huh? I’m a bit confused to your stance here.. first sounded like you like the rc2 system. Then it sounded like you didn’t. Can you explain? I just ordered 3 more rc2 last night.. after going back and forth a bunch about what to do. I just hate the little safety pins in the Swiss arca type plates for setting anything ln a flat surface. And that the PD plate would slide out. Why doesn’t it matter that it only goes one way in rc2..? Fine by me..

Use both, Arca Swiss with the big lens on the gimbal, RC2 for studio and travel tripod.

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

nailed it

I leave an RC2 plate on my long lens but my camera stays bare.

Is it because you've used Gitzo's AS system? Try Sirui system? One hand in and out.

I do kind of see your point. But the arca Swiss “freezing up” thing has never happened to me as of yet. While I have never done photography in the Artic, I have shot in extremely cold weather, I have also shot in Death Valley where I am forced to use sealable bags for my lenses, I have never had a problem with the arca Swiss plates freezing up…..and that’s a fact (as you say). I do like the way the rc2 plates work, but in my situation I wanted to use the same plates on my tripods, as well as my monopod. I do have a 400mm 2.8 and a Wimberley gimbal. So on that I had no choice. But, back to the “facts”. Have you actually had an Arca Swiss claim freeze up? If so, was it a “made in China”? Now all that being said, I don’t use an L bracket, I agreem100% with you on that.

I've converted my tripods to use RC2 plates. Even my monopods have the Manfrotto swivel heads with RC2 attachment systems. I have two tripod heads which don't use RC2 plates. One is an old Manfrotto 3046 (?) fluid head that has the Manfrotto hexagonal plate and I've attached a mounting plate for a much larger video camera plate. The other head is a Benro S6 which uses the same plate as the one I had adapted to the 2046. I've tried the Arca Swiss type attachments and I HATED it for the exact reasons that Ken mentions here. Two of my cameras have RC2 plates on them all the time and the only reason the X-T2 doesn't have one is because I have the battery grip on it most of the time and no tripod plate will work with the battery grip for vertical shooting. Hey, Ken, what do you recommend for heads? You've covered legs and plates already.

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

i covered the heads in a video yesterday :)

@petercheuk9019

6 жыл бұрын

Doh! And I watched that one yesterday. I must have had a senior moment...

Arc a Swiss rules in the Fuji base plate and added grip world!

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

Arca is inferior 1. acra requires TWO hands to mount a camera 2. arca heads FREEZE in bad weather and due to dirt 3. most arca plates dont hold well and require allen tools

Weight. I like my Manfrotto 190 Carbon fibre tripod, but I don't like their attachment systems. I find them to be very inconvenient, and non-standard. I'm switching 100% to arca swiss.

Arca swiss all the day

2 things. My L bracket also holds my macro lighting bracket. and also the L bracket acts like armor for the one side of my camera.

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

armor ROFL come on now........ROFL

@bikefreek

6 жыл бұрын

Any impact on that side of the camera is sent through the bracket into the grip instead of the side of the camera. Some people are hard on their gear. To get the shot we have to get wet, we have to push our way through crowds, we have to throw our gear on the car seat beside us. Im sure youll tell us how youve been there and done that but no one sees you doing it now, all we see are "test shots" and gear in cases. I think its time you put your money where your mouth is and post a few of your favorite shots.....that youve taken.

Putting the plate mechanism aside how to folk here feel about twist locks verses snap type locks on the tripod legs? I loathe the twist style legs, you forget to tighten just one up and the whole tripod comes crashing down. I've tried one small Manfrotto that had those twist locks and often I'd think I'd locked one of the twist locks fully only to discover I hadn't. I'm a Manfrotto user myself but stick to using their excellent snap lock system tripods only :-)

@grahamhgraham

6 жыл бұрын

Stick with snap locks; much faster to execute and you have a visible indicator when they are engaged. The latest Manfrotto ones are excellent with what feels like a slight cam on the mechanism. And their one handed RC2 plates are the best. Much faster to snap your camera onto and never had one let go yet - even with a medium format lump and heavy lens hanging off it. Simple, bullet proof design. And you don't need tools to attach/remove them. And they are £7 on eBay from China and made exactly the same so you have a bunch to hang all sorts of crap off light stands like reflectors, strobes, lights etc for peanuts.

Oh that's so funny about the L bracket. I have them on both my cameras and they stay on all the time but I'll take it off if I'm ever at a meetup with you. Incidentally I bought one from sunway something erother for $8 and the othe from RRS for $100+. They work the same. I just use arca Swiss because I happened to have it already. I agree with the quick release advantage of other types. Just not into re-buying stuff. Oh and I do like the L bracket on the very rare times it's useful. But it doesn't look professional at all and neither do I.

Never liked Manfrotto plates some some reason. I've been using Acratech products and been very happy with it. And by the way you're 100% correct about L-brackets ;-)

That L bracket stuff is funny as hell. I don't care what anybody says.

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

true

Arca Swiss has a more sturdier grip.

Arca Swiss is more stable and versatile for making custom setups. Arca Swiss also has quick release systems!

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

youre missing the point. 1. acra requires TWO hands to mount a camera 2. arca heads FREEZE in bad weather and due to dirt 3. most arca plates dont hold well and require allen tools

@MartR80

6 жыл бұрын

1. One Hand is no problem with the Kesseler Release Receiver... store.kesslercrane.com/kwik-release-receiver-only-mg1001.html 2. Don't use your ballhead as a shoffle and all will be fine. 3. Third point is no point!

@GuidoArretz

6 жыл бұрын

139 bugs are heavy!!!

I was going to get an L bracket but perhaps not.

The Manfrotto plate simply will not hold my DSLRs. The camera twists on the plate. The rubber pad on the plate literally bunches up. The D-ring which attaches the plate does not provide enough tension.

Never used an L-bracket. hahaha

Manfrottos l bracket is enormous, looks like crap but does work brilliantly on any body and is superb for portrait panoramics. Otherwise I totally agree, manfrotto all the way for me much more robust.

Hahahah, this is the first video i watch of yours so i don't know what you photographing but EVERY landscape photographer uses L-brackets and that's not my opinion, it's a fact! PS. this guy is probably sponsored by Manfrotto...

Never used ARCA SWISS and have no interested. I like the Manfrotto plates.

So, tell me, Do you like "L" brackets?

This depends on whether you like cheesy, plasticky, manfrotto heads. Ppl use arca Swiss to avoid crappy manfrotto heads. Had several, horrible.

@kathodosdotcom

6 жыл бұрын

youre missing the point. 1. acra requires TWO hands to mount a camera 2. arca heads FREEZE in bad weather and due to dirt 3. most arca plates dont hold well and require allen tools

Using an L-bracket also hinders the use of a remote trigger.

@gungadinn

6 жыл бұрын

Marty Rickard How do you figure that? Most Nikon cameras have two rubber caps covering the external release cable connection and pc sync port. They're mounted on the right front side of the camera body.

@martyrickard3003

6 жыл бұрын

As you said, Most, not All. Still a valid issue.

@elim4227

6 жыл бұрын

That is only a problem if you buy a generic l bracket that is “multi use” for many cameras. If you get one specifically for your camera that is not a problem.

Novoflex or Markins beat them both Manfrotto and RRS.The later one is Really Overpriced inaccurate Stuff.You can have one hand operating Arca Swiss locking .Since I drop expensive lens and camera with Manfrotto junk plate (due to sand and cold weather) I avoid them as much as possible due to a bad mechanical design and tolerance issues with original Manfrotto plates and heads.

rambles about needing an allen wrench to remove a plate, also rambles about people leaving their bracket on all the time....maybe thats point of an L bracket... edit: having an L bracket on your camera makes you as much of a "pro" like wearing a football trikot. maybe its just convienence to leave it on, for that one indoor event. and you allready answered your own question why its still on. because its a pain to screw it on and unscrew it all the time.... edit edit: talks about obnoxiously overpriced stuff while having an Imac Pro just standing there...

make more philosophy and magnetic theory vids and less camera

@pspox9

6 жыл бұрын

Dean Austin he's not the angry bald headed philosopher😂😂

MANFROTTO is best when it comes to tripods - everything else are child toys 😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

Manfrotto is better and quicker but too heavy...

@Tw1x5000

4 жыл бұрын

why would it be too heavy? i just got an arca swiss tripod head today and compared to my manfrotto head it is a lot heavier than my manfrotto one...