Originally posted by C_Jones I usually keep my L Plate on the camera if I plan on possibly using it for tripod use or after using it on the tripod. Having something else on the tripod to adopt a regular camera (bottom) plate would seem overdoing it (packing space) for me.
I guess it is a matter of user preference.
Originally posted by leekil I don't have an L-plate, but I also don't use a tripod that much, so I would not leave the L-plate on my camera. Maybe if you're likely to go on a walk where you think you will need the portrait tripod position, put the L-plate on ahead of time just for that walk?
Perhaps get an L-plate that has an easier removal mechanism so it is less of a hassle to put on and off? (Not sure what the L-plate attachment mechanism is, are they usually Allen wrench screws?)
These are both my current scenario, however applying the L Plate before I leave on say a bush walk where I think there might be a strong possibility of a portrait tripod shot still presents an annoying problem in terms of bulk and storing the camera, both my bags that house my equipment get pushed to the limit with an L Plate attached. It's really odd and slightly frustrating because its not the lens, I can have my DFA 100mm attached, or the thicker larger Sigma 10-20mm, or I have a really small pancake lens attached such as the DA40mm XS, it's actually the L Plate that causes the zippers or closing mechanism to struggle.
I could upgrade all my bags but I feel that's a massive waste of money when I previously outline all the other issues I have with the L Plate (frequency of use, comfort etc)... so it's definitely the lesser of two evils to just leave it off and bring it out of the bag when the shot requires. A slightly longer set up time then seems the only way forward.
And if I go down the Peak Clip Capture route as well, it really does suggest doing away with L Brackets at least 90% of the time.
So yeh, back to the original question... is there something already that exists to allow a standard camera body with a basic arca swiss small bottom plate to somehow connect to a tripod in portrait fashion (that doesn't involve turning the tripod ball 90 degrees parallel to the floor and thus making portrait panoramas not possible or dangerous from weight/tipping over)?
It almost feels as tho I want a 'reverse' L plate, that is docked with the tripod, but that you could connect a camera with an arca swiss bottom plate to it... I don't think that will work out very well tho lol.