3 Legged Thing Roxie
Angela Nicholson takes a look at 3 Legged Thing’s L-bracket for the Canon EOS R5 and R6 ● £89.99 ● www.3leggedthing.com
AN L-BRACKET is a tripod quick-release plate. But it ts along the base and one side of the camera to enable it to be ipped from landscape to portrait orientation, without the need to move the tripod head or for the camera to be re-levelled.
While it might seem like quite a simple device, for an L-bracket to function well, it needs to t the camera snugly while still allowing access to all the ports and controls. In designing an L-bracket for the Canon EOS R5 and R6, 3 Legged Thing had a particularly tough challenge because both cameras have a vari-angle screen and the average L-bracket would block its use.
I tested the Roxie on the Canon EOS R5 and although it’s possible to make a couple of adjustments if necessary, it tted perfectly straight from the box. It attaches via the 1/4-20 bolt while a small locator pin lines up with an indent in the camera to ensure it stays perfectly aligned even if a heavy lens is mounted.
The horizontal and vertical plates that make up the Roxie are both Arca Swiss compatible, so they x securely into 3 Legged Thing’s tripod heads as well as others.
Thanks to a cutaway in the vertical plate, the R5’s screen can be ipped out at an angle, however, the degree of tilt is reduced and you have to tilt the screen and pass it into the gap in the plate as you ip it back. It sounds more complicated than it is, and it’s actually pretty obvious in use.
The gap in the vertical plate means that the Roxie needs to be positioned carefully in the tripod head when the camera is switched to portrait orientation. Also, the degree of movement available to the screen in this orientation depends upon the design of the tripod head. If there’s just a narrow lip at the back of the head, the range of movement will be close to normal, but a large bubble level or a plate lock will limit it. The worst-case scenario is that the screen will only ip down through just over 90°, so again, it’s very usable.
Verdict
3 Legged Thing’s L-brackets are more affordably priced than much of the competition but they’re made to a high standard and the Roxie is particularly impressive. It performs its basic function well without interrupting the normal use of the camera. It’s also easy to attach, slim, lightweight and strong.