3 Legged Thing QR11-L 2.0
Andy Westlake tries out a universal L-bracket for tripod shooting
● £49.95 ● www.3leggedthing.com
SERIOUS landscape photographers will often use a tripod. However, when shooting in portrait format, most tripod heads force you to rotate the camera off-centre. This isn’t always ideal outdoors, especially in windy conditions when you need all the stability you can get. Using an L-bracket can remedy this, as they allow you to turn the camera by 90° and still attach it directly above the tripod head.
There’s a healthy market in custom L-brackets that are matched to particular camera models, maintaining access to battery and memory card compartments and connector sockets. But these tend to be expensive and can’t be shared across multiple cameras, or kept if you decide to upgrade. In contrast, 3 Legged Thing’s recently-updated QR11 2.0 brackets are designed to fit a wide range of cameras. Two sizes are available: ‘L’ for normal-sized cameras, and ‘FB’ which has an extended vertical bracket to match professional cameras with integrated vertical grips.
In terms of size, the QR11 2.0 employs a baseplate that’s about 11.5cm wide and the Arca-Swiss standard 38mm front-to-back. Its camera screw slides along a slot that allows 5.5cm of sideways adjustment to match different cameras. The 8cm-tall vertical section includes two 1/4in sockets for attaching accessories, and thanks to its symmetric profile, it can be flipped around to place these at either the front or the back.
I tried the QR-11 2.0 on a number of DSLR and mirrorless cameras, and found that it will fit onto most. However, that doesn’t mean it’s perfectly suited to all of them. Crucially, all four of the textured rubber grips on its base need to make good contact with the camera’s baseplate, to prevent the bracket from twisting. This means it works best on cameras with tripod sockets that are placed centrally on the base, including most DSLRs. But it’s a poor match to those with tripod sockets right at the front, which is common on small mirrorless models.
On some cameras, the vertical section will block the cable release socket. It will also obstruct the movement of side-hinged articulated screens.
Verdict
Compared to cheap no-name L-brackets, the QR11-L 2.0 is really well made and benefits from several thoughtful design touches. If it happens to fit your camera nicely, it should do its job well.