Looking for L-bracket for Nikon F

[JerseyDoug]

Worsening hand tremors limit my ability to hand hold an SLR steady even at high shutter speeds. I have been using my F6 on a tripod with a Kirk L-bracket. I would like to use my Nikon F in the same way but I have had no luck finding a dedicated L-bracket for the F. I see lots of universal L-brackets online but I don't know which would hold the camera securely and not damage the paint. It's a mint black paint camera and I would like to keep it that way as long as possible. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Pieter12]

I think Novoflex makes one that is adjustable and might work for you. The F is not a camera that any manufacturer would have a fitted L-bracket for, unless you were to have one custom-made—probably at a price that exceeds the camera value by a fair amount.

 

[madNbad]

https://www.cameradactyl.com/buttergrip/canon-7-and-canon-p-grip-74byn-9lcda-nksrj

Cameradactyl Buttergrip. They are 3D printed grips for various makes. They work well and come in a variety of colors. As a bonus, they're fairly inexpensive so no great loss if you don't like it. The link above mentions Canon but it will take you to the one for the Nikon F. I've used them on Nikkormat's and they really are helpful,

 

[bdial]

In addition to Novaflex, Kirk makes a universal bracket. I don't have one, but the other Kirk plates I have work well.
FLM is another possible choice. Arca-Swiss makes one that appears to use adjustable mounting plates on rails that stand well off from the camera. Expensive, but might work well for you, since there would be minimal contact with the body (in theory).

Universal brackets at B&H

 

[xkaes]

The problem is there are too many to choose from -- great ones from Minolta 35mm to Pentax 6x7.

 

[madNbad]

Here's a Buttergrip on a Nikkormat:



1966 Nikkormat FS

 

[Pieter12]

I don't think that is the kind of grip the OP is looking for. My understanding is he wants an L-grip that attaches to an Arca Swiss style quick-release for use on a tripod.

 

[madNbad]

The Buttergrip is threaded for a 3/8 to 1/4-20 adapter. Overall, this grip will fit the camera better than any of the universal plates and minimize the chance of marring the paint. The user could adapt a third party universal Arca-Swiss plate to the bottom of the grip. It may not be the perfect solution but considering no one is making a dedicated L bracket for the Nikon F and I spent a lot of time looking for one, this may be the best option.

 

[Pieter12]

The Buttergrip is threaded for a 3/8 to 1/4-20 adapter. Overall, this grip will fit the camera better than any of the universal plates and minimize the chance of marring the paint. The user could adapt a third party universal Arca-Swiss plate to the bottom of the grip. It may not be the perfect solution but considering no one is making a dedicated L bracket for the Nikon F and I spent a lot of time looking for one, this may be the best option.

Will this grip allow the camera to be positioned on a tripod vertically? Otherwise, it is just a grip, not like what the OP cites in his request.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

The problem is there are too many to choose from -- great ones from Minolta 35mm to Pentax 6x7.

Please link to the L-bracket(s) available for Pentax 67. Thanks.

 

[JerseyDoug]

Yes, I want to be able to connect the F to an Arca-Swiss compatible clamp on my tripod head in either the landscape or portrait orientation, just as I do now with my F6 and a Kirk L-bracket. The bracket from Arca-Swiss that bdial mentioned looks promising, if only it wasn't so costly.

 

[abruzzi]

Please link to the L-bracket(s) available for Pentax 67. Thanks.

Kirk made one for the P67, but today, if you find one for sale, it almost always sells for more the $500. I've had a saved search on eBay for ~4 years and two have come up in that time. It was made for the 67II, but fits earlier models fine (supposedly): https://www.adorama.com/kirbl67ll.html

 

[Sal Santamaura]

The problem is there are too many to choose from -- great ones from Minolta 35mm to Pentax 6x7.

Please link to the L-bracket(s) available for Pentax 67. Thanks.

Kirk made one for the P67, but today, if you find one for sale, it almost always sells for more the $500. I've had a saved search on eBay for ~4 years and two have come up in that time. It was made for the 67II, but fits earlier models fine (supposedly): https://www.adorama.com/kirbl67ll.html

Yes, I knew about the Kirk plate and its status as unobtainium. That's why as asked for a link when the claim was made that "there are too many to choose from," including one for the Pentax 67. "Choose from" is a phrase typically used to indicate things one can readily purchase.

 

[Pieter12]

For the OP, I came across this one for the F2: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233223327917?hash=item364d3190ad:g:8wwAAOSwrFlcmA0R
I don't know how different the F is dimensionally, except for the fact the back comes off completely vs the hinged back on the F2.

 

[JerseyDoug]

For the OP, I came across this one for the F2: https://www.ebay.com/itm/233223327917?hash=item364d3190ad:g:8wwAAOSwrFlcmA0R
I don't know how different the F is dimensionally, except for the fact the back comes off completely vs the hinged back on the F2.

View attachment 306851

Thank you for pointing this out. It's clear from the eBay photos that it is specific to the F2. It looks like the two critical dimensions for fitting the F would be the distance from the tripod screw to the end of the camera to clear the upright and the distance from the tripod screw to the two nibs on the front of the horizontal part. Since the F2 was a complete redesign of the F the likelihood of both dimensions being the same as the F seems pretty small.

 

[reddesert]

I compared a Nikon F and F2. Their bottom plates are virtually identical in size, but the tripod hole on the F is shifted about 6mm to photographer's right. So the F2 bracket wouldn't quite fit. The ears on the front would probably be ok but the length to the L part would be too short. The L-bracket shown on ebay is actually in two pieces held together with a bolt, so one might be able to back out the bolt and fit a spacer in between to make it longer, but at that point you're sacrificing rigidity that is the point of the bracket in the first place.

I think at some point one has to accept a compromise. There are various solutions, including:
- finding a universal bracket with perhaps a rubber/cork pad and accepting less secure fit
- using a regular QR plate instead of the L and accept flopping the tripod head for verticals
- buy an F2 and the bracket for the F2
- use a Buttergrip and find an L bracket that fits the Buttergrip
and so on.

 

[Pieter12]

I compared a Nikon F and F2. Their bottom plates are virtually identical in size, but the tripod hole on the F is shifted about 6mm to photographer's right. So the F2 bracket wouldn't quite fit. The ears on the front would probably be ok but the length to the L part would be too short. The L-bracket shown on ebay is actually in two pieces held together with a bolt, so one might be able to back out the bolt and fit a spacer in between to make it longer, but at that point you're sacrificing rigidity that is the point of the bracket in the first place.

I think at some point one has to accept a compromise. There are various solutions, including:
- finding a universal bracket with perhaps a rubber/cork pad and accepting less secure fit
- using a regular QR plate instead of the L and accept flopping the tripod head for verticals
- buy an F2 and the bracket for the F2
- use a Buttergrip and find an L bracket that fits the Buttergrip
and so on.

One could drill a new hole to line up with the F tripod socket. And I wouldn't recommend a grip on top of a (rubbery?) grip...too much to come loose or just not be very solid together.

 

[madNbad]

I bought a late model F with the plain prism in the spring of 2018 and searched for a L bracket that would fit it. Nothing but universal brackets that would allow the camera to slide around when attached to a tripod head. Finally, I bought a Buttergrip and went back to using the tripod head to adjust for landscape and portrait mode.

 

[Pieter12]

I bought a late model F with the plain prism in the spring of 2018 and searched for a L bracket that would fit it. Nothing but universal brackets that would allow the camera to slide around when attached to a tripod head. Finally, I bought a Buttergrip and went back to using the tripod head to adjust for landscape and portrait mode.

Was it the fit of the camera to the bracket or the bracket to the quick-release? Arca-Swiss type?

 

[madNbad]

Dedicated L brackets have a ridge or a tab that keep the camera from shifting when mounted to the proper Arca-Swiss plate. Third party universal mounts will have the slots and the ability to mount to a Arca-Swiss but not the tabs to keep the camera from shifting. If you're going to spend a lot for a L plate it should hold the camera it was designed for securely. What I found was, no manufacture was making a dedicated L plate for the Nikon F. You could find them for F2s and easily for F3 and above but nonexistent for the original F. The Buttergrip fits the camera well and doesn't shift when mounted. Being 3D printed, they're not perfect. I had one for a Nikkormat that needed a buffer of duct tape between the grip and the body to keep it from squeaking. I had another that needed plumbers tape to keep the 1/4-20 adapter in place. I understand what the OP is looking for, it just may not exist.

 

[JerseyDoug]

By taking some care with the direction the tripod legs are pointing I can get away with flopping the Nikon over by 90 degrees with the Leitz KGOON tripod head. Trying the same thing with the big offset ball Gitzo head puts the whole setup dangerously out of balance.

 

[madNbad]

3 Legged Thing QR11-FBC 2.0 Universal L-Bracket​

This may be a good choice. It has rubber inserts along the bottom rail to keep the camera from shifting. It will also provide some protection against marring the paint.

 

[Pieter12]

A rubber grip strip like something from https://cattonguegrips.com could be applied to the L bracket to help keep the camera from rotating. The Nikon F is not a heavy camera by and unless the OP is using a long lens, I would think it would all hold up well. To an earlier point, there are plenty of good ball heads that will allow the camera to be rotated to 90º without clearance problems.