Just checked the Really Right Stuff website and saw they have the pictures of the new L-bracket up for the D200. I had one pre-ordered so I called and they indicated mine should be in the batch to ship out no later than next Monday. From the looks of it by the pictures, it looks awesome. It has the center mark for the clamp, as well as a built in attachment point for a hand strap. I can't wait to get it as I'm looking forward to being able to use my tripod again.
Just thought I would share if anyone has been waiting for one of these to become available.
It's a good "L" bracket day for me. I sold my D70 "L" bracket on the FM "Buy&Sell" forum today and ordered a Really Right Stuff "L" bracket for my D200 today. RRS anticipates shipping in a couple of weeks, 3 at the most.
L bracket for D200, $140. + $7. ground shipping. I have several RRS products and they are all top quality.
I saw this the other day on RRS website. I read about L-brackets but still lack understanding of how they work. When you change from horizontal to vertical orientation of the camera itself, the bracket keeps the lens in the same position?
I'll be ordering one in a while, when I've moved farther up the D200 food chain, I mean the list at the store!
Well, I am an early adopter because when I returned the D2X to cameta, I had already ordered a RRS L bracket for it. RRS took it back and just applied the credit to a preorder, so that worked out well to get one quick. I had no idea what it would look like at the time and I must say I'm pleased.
I saw their canon 5d bracket and thought it was odd looking, but this one seems to be very nice with good lines and nice features without using any unnecessary space. Of course I'm basing this on the photo's alone.
surfing girl wrote:
I saw this the other day on RRS website. I read about L-brackets but still lack understanding of how they work. When you change from horizontal to vertical orientation of the camera itself, the bracket keeps the lens in the same position?
I'll be ordering one in a while, when I've moved farther up the D200 food chain, I mean the list at the store!
Hi Susan
If you use a regular pan/tilt head or a Ball Head without a L bracket then when you flop the head over fom Landscape to Portrait it really dramatically changes the perspective of the image. Having an L bracket allows you to quickly change the orientation of the camera but Not change the perspective that much ie the camera is nearly at the same spot height wise. If you have been out landscape shooting you know what a pain it is to move the tripod into position and then change everything again if you decide a vertical perspective is a better one or vise versa
Thanks, John! That's exactly what I thought. I have done landscape work using my tripod and did notice this "feature" of change of perspective. What a pain!
Susan, good answer from J McFadden, one of the very knowledgable FM members. I will add what might be obvious, but using the L bracket keeps the camera/lens "centered" over the tripod head. Shooting horizontally or vertically the camera/lens stay centered. I use a Markins M20 on a Gitzo 1325 tripod - a very stable set up capable of holding a lot of weight. Still, on my tripod/head, the L bracket keeps the camera/lens oriented right over the center of the ball head - and I like that. With larger telephoto lens you would normally be making the connection to the tripod head via a tripod collar that's on the lens,(and a lens plate) and the L bracket would not be used. For most wide angle, normal, and shorter telephoto lens the L bracket is the best way to go. I especially liked using the L bracket when shooting with my Nikor 105mm AF-D f2.8 Macro lens. I hope this was helpful!
Thanks, Tarheel for the additional words of wisdom. In moving from a fixed lens to a DSLR, I'm finding that I know so little but that the rewards are great!
I've used both the Kirk and RRS L Plates. The RRS are more snuggly fitted to the body of the camera. The Kirk seemed a bit bulky. I just ordered a RRS L Plate for my D200. Maybe shipped next week. Once the L Plate is on the camera I won't take it off--BTW, I like the little pin on the bottom of the plate--nice addition. Great for using a hand strap.
