If there's one thing photographers love to talk about its gear! From the latest bodies to lenses, filters, adapters, and more, the list goes on and on. While we all have at least a little photo geek inside of us, manufacturer's are certainly doing their part to help fuel this gear acquisition syndrome by releasing a steady stream of "must have"  new products. While their marketing campaigns will tote a bevy of game-changing features, it's unlikely that you will realize its full benefit.

The one piece of equipment I rarely hear mentioned, but that absolutely should be part of your kit is an L-Plate / Bracket (as seen right). This small rectangular piece of metal attaches directly to your camera body, replacing your ball heads quick release plate. Arca-Swiss compatible grooves along both edges allow you to quickly and securely rotate your camera between horizontal and vertical orientations while mounted on a tripod. I'll admit that if you rarely use a tripod then this probably isn't the right accessory for you. However, if you shoot landscape, astro, nature, macro, architectural, product, or really any form of photography using a tripod then you're in for a real treat!

Let's play out the following scenario: your camera is mounted on the tripod and tilted all the way to one side to capture a gorgeous vertical composition you found. While carefully balancing the off-center camera weight you rush to tighten down the ball head before it twists or sags out of alignment. After finishing you take a closer look at the composition and realize that what your Ansel Adams-worthy shot is unfortunately not perfect, and you need to make some adjustments...Unfortunately by the time you realize this you may have also screwed on some external filters, making entire setup even more awkward to maneuver. Using one hand to loosen the ball head while the other cradles your camera, you attempt to make the necessary fine adjustments. As luck would have it, the whole setup twists completely out of position and your only choice is to recompose from scratch. With some patience you'll eventually get it lined up as intended, well maybe, or perhaps not because your freezing hands can't take it anymore and you went home. Putting your saintly patience and da Vinci steady hands aside, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to make adjustments quickly enough to capture the fleeting moment that drove you to make the image in the first place.

The Three S's

Even if you haven't had to suffer through a similar scenario there are big benefits to using an L-Plate, which I'm referring to as the 3 S's - Speed, Stability, and Safety.

Speed

Nothing will allow you to compose faster on a tripod than an L-Bracket. When the light and conditions are right, having the ability to switch between a horizontal and vertical orientation in seconds is critical. For vertical shots, making small adjustments is infinitely easier because the weight is centered over the tripod. Shooting panoramic images is also much easier with an L-Plate as it allows for smooth rotation from side to side without concern for running into tripod legs, or losing your perfectly leveled image.

Stability

Regardless of how compact your camera system is shooting in an off-centered configuration will lead to instability and therefore softer images. If you're already shooting on a tripod that it's fair to say you probably care about image sharpness.

1. Tripods are designed to support centered loads, and the torque generated by this setup will create a less stable base. The effects of any wind or movement will be amplified and can cause shake.
2. This configuration places all of the camera load on the screw attaching the quick release plate to the camera. With use, this will loosen and cause a twisting motion as you try to align the camera. Also carrying the load in this orientation is the ball head, which can lead to a bounce or sag.
3. Unless you have forearms like Popeye, cranking down the knobs to the required tightness is quite literally a pain. In some cases, the sag is imperceptible to the eye and it isn't until you review the pictures back home that you realize you didn't get it quite tight enough.

Safety

All decent L-Plates are made out of metal and when attached to your camera act as a shield. Drops or bumps whose impact could have damaged will be left on the bracket instead of your camera body. Because the bracket creates such as secure and stable attachment to your tripod, it's also less likely that you'll experience tipping that could lead to a damaged lens from impacting the ground. The amount of money spent purchasing an L-Bracket will be far less than the camera (or lens) itself.
 

Which One to Get?

As with most photography related accessories, there are both bargain and top of the line options. My recommendations are simple and can be satisfied in either budget category. First and most important - make sure that the L-Bracket you purchase is made specifically for your camera body. A good fit is critical to ensuring stability and avoiding wear and tear. Secondly, stick to ones made of metal. While some may have protective foam coatings, the core section of the (L) should be constructed of metal. Yes, plastics can be strong too, but given that it will be supporting hundreds to thousands of dollars of gear, it's an unnecessary risk to go with anything other than metal.

Now go get one - your fingers, camera, and images will thank you!

- Zach