Really Right Stuff L-Plate for the Leica SL
When Leica released the Leica SL (Type 601), they targeted the camera at landscape and nature photographers; a group of folks who frequently use tripods. When I got my SL body, one of my first projects was to rummage through my drawer of L-plates and tripod base plates to find a suitable choice for this body. Unfortunately, makers like Really Right Stuff have not introduced a plate specifically for this camera, and the ones I already owned were too big to suit.
Thankfully, Really Right Stuff has a great website and support team. After a few emails and pulling out the calipers to measure against their blueprints, I decided to purchase the Really Right Stuff MC-L Multi-Camera L-Plate for my SL.
Turns out, it fits like a glove! The plate mounts snug to the bottom of the camera while not being oversized. In fact, the plate leaves space so that the battery hatch and release switch can be accessed without removing the plate- a huge plus.
The Really Right Stuff MC-L plate weighs only 3.2oz and has the quality I've come to expect from their products. With this plate securely mounted, I can now use my acra swiss style clamp on the tripod to get photographs in both the horizontal and portrait orientation while keeping the weight of the camera over the center of the tripod.
I'll be putting the plate to the test next week when I head into the Arctic to shoot the aurora borealis, but I have every expectation that it will handle the task admirably!
The Really Right Stuff MC-L Multi-Camera L-Plate
Solid construction and dovetail grove for acra swiss style tripod clamps
The Really Right Stuff L-plate mounted to the bottom of the Leica SL
The length of the L-plate, when mounted in the second slot like pictured, still leaves space to access the battery hatch and release.
The plate is almost the same width as the Leica SL body. It is just barely wider, but the extra width is almost unnoticeable.
If I needed to access the connections on the side, I could mount the plate on one of the other slots to permit enough clearance.
The plate would not interfere with a strap that went through this side of the body and gives plenty of clearance for all types of straps.