How and Why to Use a Camera L Bracket Accessory
Ian Plant
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As its name implies, the camera L-bracket is shaped like the letter L. That L could stand for leverage, because that’s exactly what it provides for your camera that’s perched on a tripod. In this video you’ll see a demonstration by expert photographer Ian Plant as he sets up an L-bracket in both horizontal and vertical positions. You’ll learn why this small piece of equipment is big on benefits, and what those benefits are. By the time you’ve watched and learned, you’ll probably realize that the camera L-bracket is a must have accessory for your camera bag. It can boost the quality of your photographs while providing more ease to your photography adventures.
So let's talk about a very simple but useful accessory that will make your life a lot easier as a photographer. It's called the L bracket which is named because it's shaped kind of like an L. So basically this L-shaped bracket, what we do with it, so we just put it on the camera and it cradles the camera. So I'm just gonna tighten it up right here with an Allen wrench or an L key as they call it. And what the L bracket allows you to do is you can have the camera on the tripod in the horizontal position, but then if you want to shoot a vertical, you just flip it over to the vertical position.
And this way you avoid having to flop the ball head over if you're switching position. So normally if I want it to go from horizontal to vertical without the L bracket, I would have to do this. And once you're in this position it's a lot harder to maneuver the camera and also to get it in position. And the center of gravity is no longer over the tripod, it's hanging over the edge. So the whole setup is a lot less stable.
But when you use the L bracket, you can just switch over to the vertical position and there you go, you've got a perfect stable setup.
For a little piece of hardware that makes your life slighlty easier, $115-$150 is a little high.
The L bracket concept was okay as far as you described it, but the real and most important purpose is to give the camera and lens the same central point of focus when switching from horizontal to vertical therefore eliminating the need to re-compose the shot. If you did not do this and simply used the ball drop down slot for vertical you would have to raise the legs or the column if there is one to get the same focus point.
Switched over to a "L" bracket last month, going from landscape to portrait is just that easy.