Smallrig L-bracket with Peak Design anchors

[Norwegian wood]

Sharing a few thoughts on the Smallrig L-bracket for Z6. Just got it yesterday after 3 days shipment from China. Absolutely impressive.

The L-bracket is very well built and adds additional great grip for the pinky. Grip and feel with the bracket on the camera is positive. It is very light, and I really doesn’t think of it much. It is very well aligned with the camera body.

One minor negative comment is the front left corner of the bracket tends to be a little bit pointy into the left hand holding the camera to the eye. But this is only a minor annoyance and probably difficult to counter with a full length bracket.

Also there are no issues with the FTZ adapter.

Battery compartment is easy reachable.

Left hand side camera connectors is reachable, but extending the L part will give much better space to get into the connectors. Easily adjusted with magnetic attached tool.

Also works well with my RRS clamp.

A bonus is that it is possible to move the Peak Design anchor to the underside. Having the anchor on the right side of the camera body was an annoyance as it was always in the way reaching the rear wheel and buttons on top. Using the middle bridge on the underside of the bracket, left of the battery (seen from backside), makes the anchor completely go away. It is not even touching my right hand while shooting. Absolutely great.

It gets a clear buy with me!


Front view on RRS clamp. Peak Design anchor well “clamped” between body and bracket. Great way to keep the anchor away.


Peak Design anchor attached to middle bridge on the bottom. Superb place to keep it, and well away from my hand.

Below...no disturbing contact with my right hand.

 

[rb4u2c]

Thanks! Which Peak Design strap are you using?

 

[chambeshi]

+1 I plan to order asap I also use PD straps

A L- Plate is obviously very useful especially for shooting on a tripod.... and IMHO this SmallRig model adds 2 key more features to a Nikon Z. Excerpt from a recent post :-

The ergonomics of these Z Nikons are nearly perfect besides 2 features.

1. More depth to make the camera higher to fit the bottom of one's right hand;

2. The large LCD is very exposed along its base. If the camera is dropped;

A polycarbonate grip makes a good shock absorbing guard at the camera's base... so be a spin off +ve for both extra depth and protection. Nevertheless, I'm ordering the SmallRig L Plate, to add 16+mm to the base and protect the LCD's corner bottom-left.

 

[beatboxa]

Sharing a few thoughts on the Smallrig L-bracket for Z6. Just got it yesterday after 3 days shipment from China. Absolutely impressive.

The L-bracket is very well built and adds additional great grip for the pinky. Grip and feel with the bracket on the camera is positive. It is very light, and I really doesn’t think of it much. It is very well aligned with the camera body.

One minor negative comment is the front left corner of the bracket tends to be a little bit pointy into the left hand holding the camera to the eye. But this is only a minor annoyance and probably difficult to counter with a full length bracket.

Also there are no issues with the FTZ adapter.

Battery compartment is easy reachable.

Left hand side camera connectors is reachable, but extending the L part will give much better space to get into the connectors. Easily adjusted with magnetic attached tool.

Also works well with my RRS clamp.

A bonus is that it is possible to move the Peak Design anchor to the underside. Having the anchor on the right side of the camera body was an annoyance as it was always in the way reaching the rear wheel and buttons on top. Using the middle bridge on the underside of the bracket, left of the battery (seen from backside), makes the anchor completely go away. It is not even touching my right hand while shooting. Absolutely great.

It gets a clear buy with me!

I agree.

For anyone who wants them, here are more pics & description of my similar setup (except moving the Peak Design anchor; and I also added a hand strap):

• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62101576
• https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/62106188

 

[starfly]

Just be aware that the location where you put the PD anchor by the battery compartment has relatively sharp edges, at least it does on the one I received, so it may wear down the anchor more quickly. I put the anchor on the other side battery compartment, at the edge of the plate, where that bar has more rounded edges so in theory it should cause less wear and tear of those anchors.

 

[Norwegian wood]

Thanks! Which Peak Design strap are you using?

I use the Peak Design Leash. Its quite unobtrusive. Like it alot. I also have Slide variant, which I used for my 5dmk3, but I prefer the Leash on Z6.

 

[Norwegian wood]

Just be aware that the location where you put the PD anchor by the battery compartment has relatively sharp edges, at least it does on the one I received, so it may wear down the anchor more quickly. I put the anchor on the other side battery compartment, at the edge of the plate, where that bar has more rounded edges so in theory it should cause less wear and tear of those anchors.

Yes, I am aware that this is probably not the intended place to put the anchor, but I do not find the place sharp. Yes it is squared with a tiny radius, but I believe it will be just fine. If it proves to wear it would probably be possible to move the triangular "ringthing" that came with the Z6 strap to that place.

 

[FuhTeng]

Excellent, thank you for the photos. I think I'll order one for myself now. I've been annoyed with the temporary base-plate installation myself. And yes, I can use the extra pinky-support too.

I'm pleased.

 

[Norwegian wood]

Excellent, thank you for the photos. I think I'll order one for myself now. I've been annoyed with the temporary base-plate installation myself. And yes, I can use the extra pinky-support too.

I'm pleased.

Your welcome. Happy to contribute.

 

[chambeshi]

There is a current thread on FM comparing this Smallrig to the RRS version. Both very similar besides price.

The images of the RRS show it as extending only partially across the camera base, which sent me elsewhere (besides cost).

Has anyone tried the FTZ Support plate 2244 , which bolts on the front of the Smallrig L-plate? It looks like it will prevent easy switching a Z-Nikkor

 

[WhateverNickname]

I have the plate ... so far I never felt the need to use it.

 

[Lance B]

There is a current thread on FM comparing this Smallrig to the RRS version. Both very similar besides price.

The images of the RRS show it as extending only partially across the camera base, which sent me elsewhere (besides cost).

Has anyone tried the FTZ Support plate 2244 , which bolts on the front of the Smallrig L-plate? It looks like it will prevent easy switching a Z-Nikkor

I really like the SmallRig plate as you can remove the L bracket when not required, it extends across the plate of the Z7 and has a magnetic holder for the Allen Key so its always with you. I have the FTZ support plate 2244 but have not used it yet. Might only be handy for heavy F mount lenses that do not have a tripod mount.

 

[Denny Smith 16]

I have both the Small Rig L bracket and the 2244 FTZ support bracket. Yes, the support bracket adds additional support for large lenses, and it needs to be removed before taking the FTZ adapter off the camera.
Cheers

 

[beatboxa]

I have both the Small Rig L bracket and the 2244 FTZ support bracket. Yes, the support bracket adds additional support for large lenses, and it needs to be removed before taking the FTZ adapter off the camera.
Cheers

I also have the 2244 FTZ support bracket. I thought I'd use it more; but I now consider it a waste.

 

[chambeshi]

Many thanks to you all for feedback on this FTZ bracket

 

[jaba]

I have both the Small Rig L bracket and the 2244 FTZ support bracket. Yes, the support bracket adds additional support for large lenses, and it needs to be removed before taking the FTZ adapter off the camera.
Cheers

I also have the 2244 FTZ support bracket. I thought I'd use it more; but I now consider it a waste.

Me too.

 

[Norwegian wood]

Just want to add that having the Peak Design anchor/strap attached to the bottom will give the camera a natural angle pointing down more easily when it is carried around neck, neck/under arm. Thus it is less prone to scratch the LCD screen against zippers/ buttons, as the bottom bracket (not camera rear side ) is resting towards yourself.

 

[WhateverNickname]

Same here

 

[Jerry Fisher]

The RRS base plate is 131.8 mm in length, then camera is 134 mm wide. I don't think <3 mm is a deal breaker.

I pre-ordered the RRS from B&H because I think the Small rig is too high for me ( 16mm vs 11 mm on RRS) I can always return it.

 

[b52 s]

Just saw a post with pictures on Fred Miranda about the RRS l-plate. It has the base plate design like the smallrig extending over the battery and grip.