L plate recommedations

[Leicalifer]

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Hello

 

Started shooting the S and it seems best used on a tripod. (I use a Gitzo systematic with crank column, RRS leveling head and RRS BH 55 lever release). Tripod helps with stabilization and encourages LV use.

 

With that in mind, Which L plate works best with the S? The RRS version appears to be the only one which takes into consideration the left side body door access needed for tethering, sync cable or remote release. The Acra Swiss L bracket 802306 looks interesting but door access appears to be any issue.

 

Any suggestions or recommendations most appreciated. Thank you.

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[John McMaster]

I think most of us use the RRS

 

john

[albertknappmd]

yes... RRS S L plate is artfully designed and manufactured. 

a class act!

Albert     

[xiaubauu2009]

I can advise what to avoid. The Kangrinpoche L plate for S. It has very good connection at the bottom plate. Body hugging and sculpted, but the L plate is not rigid enough hence it will bend slightly under heavy load, which is most of the time for Leica S when you put it on portrait orientation on tripod. So, this is to be avoided!

[JeffWright]

RRS L-plate, without a doubt. Slippery slope, you'll never want an L-plate from another manufacturer again. PS, RRS = Really Right Stuff, www.reallyrightstuff.com

Edited April 15, 2018 by JeffWright

[Leicalifer]

Just purchased one. Excellent! Thank you all.

[TomLiles]

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I may be in a minority here, but I went with a Novoflex L-bracket called the "QPL VR Pro": it's a big one, 23x23cm. Put a Novoflex "6/8 Panorama Q" head on the L-bracket; a Novoflex "Q-PL2" plate on the bottom of the S; then just attach the camera to the q-mount [Novoflex nomenclature for their arca-swiss type clamp] on the 6/8 Panorama Q pano head attached to the l-bracket. Sounds convoluted, but super simple if you see a picture; the main point: it gives a lot of control, and space for connections. I shoot tethered almost all the time with the S, and having the proper clearance for USB and sometimes sync cords [when hot shoe radio transmitters die, don't work, etc] was my priority. The big l-bracket is perfect, and it works with any camera, not just my S.
I'm in Japan and our RRS distribution was pretty much non-existent until a couple years ago; and even now, I couldn't find an RRS stockist here who would get me the RRS l-plate for Leica S... ordering directly from RRS was an option, but I gave the Novoflex, which I could source here, a go. I use the battery grip on the S a lot too; not sure how well the RRS plate fits with that? Anyway the Novoflex solution works pretty good, with battery grip on or off, and as I say: works with other cameras too => just put a plate on the bottom of the camera and you are done. My one complaint is actually that Q-PL2 plate for the bottom of the camera, it is not super snug on the bottom of the S -- using either the 3/8 or 1/4 threaded holes -- and the plate-camera fit will start slipping after long use under load; the camera will either slowly drift out of position or twist completely when you grab it, etc. Just need to keep an eye on it and check everything is secure every now and then. Not a big deal, but you can't set and forget.

Don't understand why makers at this level are not building the arca-swiss type dovetails into the body -- landscape and portrait -- putting ports where they won't interfere with that and solving our problems from the get-go. Customers for this level of stuff are not beginners and the manufacturers have to know how we are using the equipment when we work and when we do our work with tripods. Maybe it keeps the gravy flowing for the smaller after market parts guys, and I can sympathize with that, but straight up: this continued sidestepping of such a big part of photography from a company as design savvy as Leica is surprising. I'd really hope to see their design teams address it (and the company to have the courage to execute, though you'd have to give Leica the benefit of the doubt there: they are pretty good at just doing it).

I have what seems like a ton of plates and l-brackets and screws and spirit levels and all sorts of bricabrack lying around from previous cameras and equipment... all to solve the simple task of having the camera locked, steady and over the center of the tripod when I want to do a portrait shot. Which is I guess a pretty mainstream thing to do in photography. Frustrating that makers still ignore this. There's more important stuff to worry about in life, but this seems like such an easy fix...

Edited April 16, 2018 by TomLiles

[Photon42]

I have a generic one since 10 years. Works fine on the S2 and even on odd systems.

[xiaubauu2009]

Speaking of which, I have a Kangrinpoche non-L plate one that is not used. Anyone want it, I can send it to you for free.

Edited April 19, 2018 by xiaubauu2009

[Guest]

I think most of us use the RRS

 

john

 

+1

[AlanD]

Speaking of which, I have a Kangrinpoche non-L plate one that is not used. Anyone want it, I can send it to you for free.

If you still have it, I will take it...

[xiaubauu2009]

If you still have it, I will take it...

 

 

Yup, message me with you address.

[Paul0303]

Hello,

Just want to restart this thread. I have just acquired an S 007 and want an L plate solution. The RRS is no longer available as far as I can see and the only dedicated option seems to be the "Kangrinpoche quick release plate * L shape * for Leica S S2" via ebay. Best solution is probably a generic based on feedback on the Kangrinpoche above and I'm looking at the  ARCA-SWISS L-bracket Universal for Classic Quick Release (ARC-802306). Any thoughts or recommendations? 

[Pieter12]

My main objection to universal L-plates on the S is they ruin the ergonomics, that wonderful way the S sits in your hands. The long base and the clunky side rail just feel wrong to me on that camera. Although I do have the maligned Kangrinpoche L bracket, I don't use it. Instead, I have an unobtrusive, small generic Kirk base plate and turn my ballhead to 90º for vertical shots.

[Paul0303]

Thanks Pieter, Fair point and I have that solution of course and it is certainly cost effective. It's more for the ease of alignment to a composition in changing orientation in a studio tripod shot. I already have the Manfrotto Virtual Reality Pan Pro head for Landscape but its soooo heavy..

[Paul0303]

Thinking about it if I were to use a RRS MULTI-USE FORE-AFT BASE PLATE | B22 in the way you suggested then I can attach their D ring and then a Black rapid wrist strap to that. 

[John McMaster]

You do sometimes see pre-owned RRS plates available...

john

[davidmknoble]

On 7/7/2022 at 6:30 AM, John McMaster said:

You do sometimes see pre-owned RRS plates available...

john

Agreed.  And I love the RSS plate on the S, its small and makes it easy to change portrait to landscape.  Worth looking hard for one.

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[Paul0303]

I've set up a search on ebay for the RRS, I was thinking of getting the Kangrinpoche in the interim. Question those that have used the Kangrinpoche L plate -what is the weakness?

[Pieter12]

There is about an 1/8" gap between the body and the plate on the left side, That part of the L plate seems much thinner than the RRS ones I have for other cameras, so it seems like it might flex, bend or even break with with weight of the S and some of the longer, heavier lenses. Which is most of them. It hasn't happened for me, but I really haven't used that L plate because I don't like how it interferes with the camera feel in my hands. And for me the whole point of a quick-release plate is to leave it on all the time so you can quickly put the camera on a tripod when needed.