Sorry if there's a thread on this, but I just ordered my L bracket last week for a 2 week fall color trip, and it doesn't work with the remote!!!!!
When you have the remote plugged in and the camera in portrait it doesn't have enough height to allow the bracket to slide all the way into the clamp. The camera has to stick out to the side about 2 inches. I'm very disappointed. Anyone else experience this? I tried to use my old 5D L bracket, but it doesn't fit.
Wow, you're right, the first thread I've ever seen with the words RRS and sucks in the same sentence! It's not really their fault (RRS) as they have to work with the design Canon provides.
In any event, you'll notice the hole for the 1/4 20 mounting screw on the bottom of the plate is slotted. When you need to shoot in portrait mode, you loosen the mounting screw allowing the plate to slide about 1/4" away from the body, thus making room for the remote connector to clear the dovetail groove.
And I can confirm from quite a bit of use that it works great with a remote attached on RSS lever and screw clamps. It is quick and easy to slide the bracket over and secure it in place. The fit is close, and you need to tuck the rubber cover in just right to keep it out of the way. I do remember that there may be an issue with some third party remote connectors fitting and working ok, but the real Canon remotes and the extension cable all work fine. I am on my 5th Canon where I have owned the RSS L bracket for the camera, and I have been extremely happy with every one of them.
You are going to love your 5D mkII for fall color. Have fun.
Yep, RRS plates on every one of my bodies. Their stuff is awesome. Pricey, but well worth it IMO. Next to Canon, probably my second biggest dollar investment in photo gear.
I have to admit I learned about this particular feature the hard way myself (almost). The first time I tried to shoot my 40D in portrait on a tripod with a remote, I couldn't get the clamp to fit quite right either. After fiddling around for a few minutes, I thought I had it and closed the lever clamp. Well, the dovetail wasn't properly engaged so as soon as I walked away, the camera took off for the pavement. Fortunately, I had looped the remote around the tripod and the cord snagged stopping the camera and new L lens about 4" from the concrete. The locking plug on the genuine Canon remote saved my rig! A third party remote would have simply let go.
Anyway, as I too stood there cursing RRS for designing such a sucky L-Plate, it suddenly dawned on me why that hole in bottom of the plate was slotted! Very clever - those RRS designers. They thought of everything - even though I haven't!
Ok, well I apologize then. I'll check it out in just a bit. I still wonder why they did it that way though if that's not the case with the older 5D L bracket. Like I said, it's noticeable thinner on the new L bracket. Thanks for everyone's quick replies.
It's the same on the 1D3 bracket, to use the remote in portrait position, the L bracket has to be positioned slightly away from the camera....no big deal.
roberto1979 wrote:
I still wonder why they did it that way though if that's not the case with the older 5D L bracket. Like I said, it's noticeable thinner on the new L bracket.
Maybe it was just a call made by the designers. Either leave that part of the plate thicker to provide clearance all the time, even when not in use - Or make the plate thinner (thus lighter and more compact) and provide an adjustment for the particular case of shooting portrait on a tripod with a remote. I don't know how often you use that mode, for me, once in a blue moon.
roberto1979 wrote:
Sorry if there's a thread on this, but I just ordered my L bracket last week for a 2 week fall color trip, and it doesn't work with the remote!!!!!
When you have the remote plugged in and the camera in portrait it doesn't have enough height to allow the bracket to slide all the way into the clamp. The camera has to stick out to the side about 2 inches. I'm very disappointed. Anyone else experience this? I tried to use my old 5D L bracket, but it doesn't fit.
I use this bracket all the time with a 5D and a 5D2. I find that the best way to handle this is to slightly bend the cover sideways so that it is within the "well" in the bottom (in portrait orientation) of the bracket. It stays there nicely and I never think about it in actual use.
If you want me to send a photo of what I'm describing, PM me and I'll try to put one here later this evening.
roberto1979 wrote:
Ok, well I apologize then. I'll check it out in just a bit. I still wonder why they did it that way though if that's not the case with the older 5D L bracket. Like I said, it's noticeable thinner on the new L bracket. Thanks for everyone's quick replies.
You might want to retitle your post so this does not become another misunderstanding.
While RRS plates are/were of excellent craftsmanship (and I owned 3 L plates over time, and a fourth one is on its way to me bought recently in B&S forum here), it may not be always the best fit possible. From what I understand from the photos - in the portrait mode - there will be a small amount of gap between the Lplate and the left side/surface of the body. IMHO, that is not a very good coupling of the body to the plate - for dampening vibration (as I understood from RRS's own website a few years back).
Someone mentioned using the portrait mode only once in a while. Again - to each his own, I use the portrait mode quite often for stitching in landscape, and in macro shots. If you don't need the portrait mode, then why would you need the L plate in the first place?
I have the 20D, and got the RRS Lplate for it first. Realized that the Kirk L plate is a tighter and better fit because it was contoured better to fit the 20D like a glove - in comparison to the RRS. (The difference is in the front edge of the bottom surface of 20D body - which is curved in both the camera body, and Kirk L plate, but straight in RRS). Does it make the RRS unusable - nope! But certainly not the best.
Again, I don't intend my post to be RRS bashing thread at all. But it may always not be the best.
matanuska wrote:
Maybe it was just a call made by the designers. Either leave that part of the plate thicker to provide clearance all the time, even when not in use - Or make the plate thinner (thus lighter and more compact) and provide an adjustment for the particular case of shooting portrait on a tripod with a remote. I don't know how often you use that mode, for me, once in a blue moon.
I've got the RRS L plates for 1Ds, 1Ds3, 5D2, 5D, 20D, and G9 and they all work fine in every profile. Yep, a tight squeeze on the 5D2, but it works fine.
I keep the plate on my 1Ds3 in the "away" position, heck the camera is big enough, making it 5mm wider doesn't hurt so bad. Conversely, on the 5D2 I have the plate snug. Most of the time I use it in horizontal position, and if I use it in vertical position I actually use the $20 IR remote most of the time so it's not an issue. The times when I need to do timed bulb exposures in vertical are rather minimal...
I got it today, but I still don't really like it. The weight difference would be minimal between this and the old style, and the fit on the old one is still better. Oh well.
matanuska wrote:
<snip>... I couldn't get the clamp to fit quite right either. After fiddling around for a few minutes, I thought I had it and closed the lever clamp. Well, the dovetail wasn't properly engaged so as soon as I walked away, the camera took off for the pavement. <snip>
I'm confused. I thought I remembered reading that one of the advantages of the RRS lever clamp over a screw clamp was that this couldn't happen; either the dovertail is fully engaged in the clamp, or the lever won't close. Did I misunderstand? I've been thinking about getting a lever clamp (currently have a Kirk screw clamp) but this could change things.
