How can I do portrait orientation photo's using a tripod?

HuntMike

HuntMike

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I've tried mounting my camera on my tripod so it's hanging off the side of the tripod, and it doesn't really feel that stable and it's also rather cumbersome to pan and tilt.

Is there a better was of doing portrait shots with a tripod? Thanks.
 
You can get camera specific L-Brackets but theyre not cheap. Really Right Stuff ones seem to be popular (http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.aspx?code=LPLATES&key=cat) and I think you can get them from WEX.

Alternatively, Manfrotto do the 341 Junior Elbow, which is much cheaper and does the same job but wont fit your camera so well. This isnt my setup but its pretty much as I use mine - http://www.flickr.com/photos/victormk1/4853822407/

I've put a manfrotto 323 plate between the 341 bracket and the camera so that the bracket doesnt need to stay on the camera all the time. The bracket connects to the 454 macro rail with another 323 plate but you could connect it to whatever head you have.
 
J.D. said:
You can get camera specific L-Brackets but theyre not cheap. Really Right Stuff ones seem to be popular (http://reallyrightstuff.com/Items.aspx?code=LPLATES&key=cat) and I think you can get them from WEX.

Alternatively, Manfrotto do the 341 Junior Elbow, which is much cheaper and does the same job but wont fit your camera so well. This isnt my setup but its pretty much as I use mine - http://www.flickr.com/photos/victormk1/4853822407/

I've put a manfrotto 323 plate between the 341 bracket and the camera so that the bracket doesnt need to stay on the camera all the time. The bracket connects to the 454 macro rail with another 323 plate but you could connect it to whatever head you have.
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Thanks. :)

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but am I right in assuming that I could only use Manfrotto 323 plate if I already have a Manfrotto tripod of some sort?

I guess I should have mentioned in my first post that my tripod looks like this:
41a5dyngj2lsl500.jpg



It's made by Velbon and it's pretty basic but I like it because it's very light so I usually don't mind carrying it around.

I'm surprised at how pricey those L-brackets are, but I guess they're probably designed to be able to take a Full Frame camera with a heavy lens which may explain why they're £100+.

My D60 + lens weights less than 1Kg so I'd are any cheaper less heavy duty L-brackets available at all?
 
The Manfrotto 323 plate will screw onto any tripod with a 3/8" or 1/4" male screw so you shouldnt have a problem with any tripod.

I think the custom made plates are expensive because theyre machined from a single piece of aluminium, plus you'll be paying for the costs of developing plates for many different cameras and grip combinations. I dont think its really because they are much heavier duty than the alternatives.

I dont know of any cheaper alternatives than the manfrotto, but there is a DIY guide here: http://www.diyphotography.net/diy-l-plate-l-bracket By the time you pay £20 for 2 manfrotto quick release plates and the other materials though you might as well get the 341. The 341 is £45 from Morris Photo, and if you get a 323 plate at the same time postage will be free.

I'm happy with my setup - the 341 and 2 quick release plates came to £90 which isnt much cheaper than a RRS L bracket but its not camera specific so I can use it on more than one camera, I dont have to sell it when I upgrade, and the extra 323 plate means I dont have to leave it on the camera all the time. When its on the tripod I'm not bothered about the extra bulk compared to one of the custom made ones (I'm already using a Manfrotto 410 geared head and macro plate)
 
One thing to add, if you do go for the Manfrotto, they do 2 types of elbow bracket - the 341 (junior) and the 340. The 341 is the one you want - it comes with 2 RC2 plates which connect to the 323 quick release adaptor. If you get the 340 it uses bigger RC0 plates so you'd need to get a different quick release adaptor.
 
That's great that it uses a normal thread, I think I'll go for the 341 along with the 323 adaptor, thanks. :)

I've used Manfrotto stuff in the past and it's well made so I think it would be better than the DIY option in this case.
 
or you could hand your bag from it, this will weigh it down and make it more stable ;)
 
phil8139 said:
or you could hand your bag from it, this will weigh it down and make it more stable ;)
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Haha, it may do but one of the legs is my tripod is already broken so I think that would finish it off! :lol:

I think I may invest in a new tripod once this one gives up the ghost...
J.D. said:
No prob, its definitely well made so should serve you well
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Yep, I'm sure it will be overkill for my tiny D60, but it's nice to have something that will stlll work if I do ever upgrade to a larger body or lens... :)
 
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