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G. Dan Mitchell
P.O. Box 8655
San Jose California 95155-8655
408-504-3266
dan@gdanmitchell.com
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Thanks,
G Dan Mitchell
Hi Dan,
First, let me say that I’ve been following your posts on FM for quite a while and i just want to say thank you for your generosity in sharing so much of your experience and advice. For me, an amateur enthusiast, it continues to be an invaluable source of information as I chart my own path with photography. As a side note, your patience and kindness, really, with some pretty outrageous comments on FM continue to amaze me!
I’ve been shooting Canon for the entire twenty years or so that I’ve been into photography. My interest lies mostly with landscapes, including urban, and endless photographs of my parrots and cats, among other things. I use a 5Dsr and a R5 with an assortment of Canon L lenses, for the most part.
Recently, I decided to branch out into a smaller set up for travel, and your posts about working with canon and fuji systems were decisive in leading me to purchase an X-E4 not long ago to “try” it out. Of paramount concern for me was (is) size and the X E4 has certainly come through in that regard. After reading around the internet, but in particular , reading your post (here on your website) about moving to the X T5, I’m thinking of purchasing one as a step up from the X E4.
Finally, to my question. I’m wondering if you have any advice when it comes to purchasing a camera plate for the X T5. I will mostly be doing things hand-held, but there are times with the X T5 that i would want to mount it on a tripod. I know the X T5 is a bigger camera compared to the X E4, and I’m concerned not to make it “bigger” by using some of the plates I’ve seen. For example, the RRS plate has a small piece that seems to attach over the small grip, and I’d like to avoid that sort of thing is possible, keeping the camera profile as low as possible. Many others I’ve seen are L brackets, which I would want to avoid. I have an older Wimberley plate somewhere but I’m not sure about the fit width-wise but also in terms of allowing continued access to the battery door.
I’m wondering you you might have any advice in this regard? It would be greatly appreciated, as it your time in reading through this longer than it needed to be post!
Thanks for any assistance!
Best,
Ron L
Hi Ron,
Thanks for writing. First, about FM: photography forums are really useful for finding a lot of information and perspectives from all kinds of sources. However, in that they are a kind of social media, they can sometimes feel like the Wild West. I think FM is a generally good place, but it certainly has its share of angry folks who seem to be working out anger issues! ;-) Fortunately, there is that little “hide me” feature that can reduce the noise a bit. (I have more to say about how I use that, but I’ll spare you for now.)
I’m not sure that I have direct experience with XT-5 plates of the sort you are looking for since I do prefer L-brackeets over bottom plates — though I can understand the appeal of the smaller and lighter plates over the L-brackets for travel. (I am a L-plate addict based on how I do landscape photography with my larger system, and it is hard for me to give it up!)
Over the years, I have generally gone straight to RRS for plates, L-brackets, and similar. For the most part they are solid, well designed products. (I became a little less enthusiastic after I bought their original XPro2 L-bracket only to realize that it doesn’t really work in portrait orientation — their later update improved the situation — and that they weren’t interested in helping me solve this problem. But, aside from that, I can’t question their commitment to excellent design and solid construction.
When I got my XT-5 I considered another RRS L-bracket, but theirs wasn’t yet available. So I looked around at some alternatives and found that Kirk, another vendor with a good reputation, was very close to releasing one and doing so at a much lower price. So I ended up with a Kirk L-bracket. One difference between it and the L-bracket for my XPro2 (and I presume other RRS L-brackets) is that the bottom plate is shorter — rather than extending across the full width of the camera it only goes far enough to accommodate the attachment bolt. At first I wasn’t thrilled with this since the look isn’t as clean and when setting the camera down I suppose there could be balance issues. But after using it I realized that it doesn’t really impair the function of the unit… and it does make it smaller and lighter, especially when I toss the bracket in the bag “just in case.”
I see that RRS does offer a “plate” as an alternative to their L-bracket — at the same price as the Kirk L-bracket. I have mixed feelings about this plate. It looks beautiful and well-crafter… but it also seems larger than necessary and it adds the superfluous “grip” section that seems redundant.
(If I were looking for something like the RRS plate, I might just go straight to Fujifilm’s own MHG-XT5 Metal Hand Grip.)
If you expect to put the plate on the camera and leave it there, a plate like the RRS unit (but perhaps someone sells one without the added grip section? seems attractive since it integrates with the camera’s design so well. On the other hand, if your approach is to mostly shoot without the plate but bring one along to add if you need it, you could look at some of the inexpensive generic camera plates. They tend to be less expensive but less attractive, too — generally just a plain rectangular shape with a bolt attached. You’ll want to make sure they can be attached without interfering with the battery compartment.
I usually prefer to not have the L-bracket (or plate) attached for most travel and street photography, since I prefer that the setup be as small and light as possible. So I usually pack it along and add it only in situations where I think I’ll need it. One exception is for landscape photography, where I carry that XT-5 as my second, backup system and would almost certainly put it on a tripod.
Dan
Hi Dan,
Thanks for your informative reply. What you say makes sense to me regarding the L bracket and then packing it in the bag. I looked at the Kirk and I’m going to order it. That really does give me what I want. Thanks again!
Glad to help!
Dan
Hi Dan,
As you’ve been shooting with multiple systems curious for your advice.
Currently I own a XT2 + 16-80 + 55-200, mostly being used for landscape, travel photography and some occasional wildlife. In general I’m quite happy with the system (especially controls, handling and colors) but the 16-80 is just a mess, with pictures too soft for landscapes.
As a solution I’m considering upgrading to either XT5 + 16-55 or a A7RIII + 24-105. Price of these solutions would be the same and that’s what gets me thinking. For the same money I get a full frame system, with better dynamic range and potentially better detail resolution because the lower pixel density. 40mp on APSC is just a lot… However the telezooms of Sony scare me off quite a bit, with the Sigma 100-400 being over 1kg, leaving the Tamron 70-300 as the only light solution.
What would you advice? Do you feel the upgrade to full frame would be worth it?
Best regards
Joris
Hi Joris:
That’s an interesting question, and since I like to share answers with all readers I have posted a response in a new article. See this URL: https://gdanmitchell.com/2022/11/13/a-reader-asks-which-camera-should-i-get
Dan