L-bracket for Fuji GFX 50S for under $10

Looking for a decent L-bracket for a Fujifilm GFX50s isn’t as easy as one might think!

The Fujifilm GFX is an excellent camera however the engineers probably didn’t think too much about landscape photographers. The matter is, our kind often switch from portrait to landscape format or vice versa out in the field. You see the scene then perhaps decide to try it in longways or sideways because composition maybe stronger or you just need to take both.

This where an L-plate or L-bracket comes into play when using a tripod. You simply don’t wish to lost the position you’ve  set on the tripod. You don’t want to re-adjust and re-tighten the ball head every time on the tripod. So with L-bracket you simple untighten, slide out and then slide the camera in again in the other position. Viola, landscape and portrait format changes done in seconds without messing up your tripod position too much.

L-bracket advantages all sound great, until the battery needs changing on the Fujifilm GFX50s. This is the pain factor! As a landscape photographer I can be standing in knee deep in water or on the side some godforsaken mountain. So battery changes need to be easy!

I go through the various options below for the encumbered GFX’s battery door.

L-Bracket Choices

Currently there are three plate on the market and quite frankly they’re all over price but that another story. But fear not there’s a price for every budget!

1.  Really Right Stuff

   These guys offer two L-Plates a standard one and the other for when using the battery grip. The standard has been discontinued probably (due to negative user feedback see the comment on their website). However if you’re using the battery grip on the GFX then these folks have a L-Bracket to suit you. However as a landscape photographer I like to travel light and never use a battery grip out in the wilds.
   http://www.reallyrightstuff.com/Fuji-GFX-50S

   Costs start at $170 (Discontinued)

2. Kirk Photo

   This happens to best of the lot. It slide across to allow access to the battery box (albeit by unscrewing the bottom plate). Also the access to the USB port for a cable release or the 2.5mm jack for the cable release are available if you open the port covers prior to placing the L-bracket against the camera. This product offers the best compromise for Fujifilm’s design.

   

   https://www.kirkphoto.com/l-bracket-for-fuji-gfx-50s.html
   
   Costs  $160

3. Fotodiox

   These folk thought they’ve cracked it. Looks great, yes I change my battery quite easily however there’s one major flaw. Landscape photographers use cable releases. This bracket blocks the side access to the USB port and Remote Control port. So you’d probably need to use the Fujifilm Remote Controll app. Now most us will be reluctant to break their workflow to launch an app on their phone if they’ve the option to use a simple cable especially in a harsh environment.

   

   https://fotodioxpro.com/products/grip-exxy-gfx
   Costs  $139.95
   

4. Budget Option

   The “el-cheepo” option. I had an L-bracket left from my Sony A7R (Sony A7/A7R MENGS).

   

   

   First I unscrewed the side plate of the L-bracket, bolted the bottom part to the Fuji GFX. Then attempted to screw on the side L-bracket. It’s amount 1-2mm out. However it works well and it’s stable too. I’ve used the bracket now in the field a few times without problem. My only issue is I need to bring a hex key to unscrew the side plate each time I wish to change the battery. Apart from that it works also well with a cable remote too.

   Of course it’s a bit of a hack, but didn’t have the time to wait. It’s Autumn here in Austria and it’s time to photograph landscape. However in comparison to Kirk’s photo offering there’s not much in it. In both scenarios you need to use a hex key to unscrew either the bottom plate or the side plate.

   There you go! if you’d got this far, please make a comment and subscribe to the my YouTube Channel that would be awesome!

   

   Costs $9.95