DesmondL Plate DAL-1 Quick Release Arca Swiss Compatible for Camera / Tripod Head

I like this bracket quite well. It seems well made and sturdy. The issue I had was with the attached four tiny screws designed as some say to "keep the bracket from sliding off the tripod." They inhibited a close fit to my Acra quick release plate attached to my tripod's ball head. The good news is that if you already have a quality acra compatible plate on your tripod complete with a stop to prevent any Acra mount from sliding off, you won't have to keep the tiny screws on this bracket. Simply remove them and you'll be good to go. It'd be great if the manufacturer would note that these screws aren't necessary in all cases, however.

I got this to use on my Nikon D500. For the price I was expecting to be cheaply made and expected to send it back. But thought I would give it a try. Well I did not send it back. It is sturdy and works well. Now don't get me wrong. This is not the quality of something like Really Right Stuff. But it also doesn't cost over 10 times more. Glad I took a chance on it.

Picked this up to use with the A73 so I could use it in portrait mode on my tripod, but this makes just about everything inaccessible if you're trying to tether. Missed the return window because it ended up unused on a shelf so I guess it's off to be recycled.

DISAPPOINTING - This Desmond "L" plate for $40.00 is only so so, (compared to the $12.00 Docooler® Universal MPU100 Quick Release L Plate). Personally, I DO NOT think it's worth the extra $28.00. OK, here's my assessment of them both:1. THE DOCOLLER BRACKET: I first bought the $12.00 plate because it was cheap. After I tried it out I decided that having a safety stop screw at only one end of the dovetails might be a bit dangerous (danger of having a camera slide out). In every other way it worked just fine. The dovetails fit every one of my Arca/Bogan clamps. By mounting the vertical component on the left side of my Nikon D600 camera and leaving a bit of a gap between the plate and the left side of the camera I was able to access the Mini USB port, without removing the "L" bracket. The bracket is sturdy and well made............ Still, not having safety stop screws at BOTH ends of the tracks troubled me.2. Seeing that the Desmond "L" Plate had safety stop screws at BOTH ends of the dovetail I decided to buy it.THE PROBLEM - No matter how much you fiddle with the mounting there is no way to access the Mini USB port, for downloading your photos, without removing the bracket completely. (A real pain, since you have to find the Allen wrench (supplied) to effect this.3. I'm just a weekend photographer and I see no reason to pay $135.00 (and upwards) for a dedicated "L" bracket that may or may not work any better. If I were a super serious amateur or a pro? Sure, I would spend the money. But the (Docooler® Universal MPU100 Quick Release L Plate) works just fine for the occasional times I need one. I just have to pay attention to watch that my camera doesn't slide out of the clamp. Bottom line? I plan to send this one back and keep the $12.00 one.iF YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND - By all means, buy one of the "high end" brackets that are specifically engineered to fit your camera. After all, you spend upwards of $3,000.00 for a great camera and lens, you certainly don't want to dump it on a concrete floor.I hope this review helps you.

I was a bit skeptical about buying this L plate because of the very low price compared to similar products such as Kirk and Sunwayfoto, however this turned out to be one of those instances where it was the right decision. I use a Pentax K-5 and the length of the Desmond L bracket from the inside corner is 82 mm (3 1/4") so on the Pentax it doesn't cover the battery door, a plus. The Sunwayfoto DPL2 is 100 mm (4") which would cover the battery door. I'm not sure about the Kirk Universal L bracket since those specs are not listed. The mounting bolt range is approximately 30 mm (1 1/8") to 67 mm (2 5/8"). Note: The was measured with a metric steel ruler and I measured to about the center of the bolt and they are the extreme measurements, add a couple of MM's from inside and/or subtract from the outside to insure a fit. The width is 39 mm (1 1/2"). The finish is excellent as well as the machining. Oddly, the name of the company is not on it, just the model number DAL-1, no big deal, just odd. It fits perfectly on my Vanguard ABH-230k head and I'm sure it will fit other Arca-Swiss compatible clamps. . There are 2 bolts that are used as stops on the bottom and the side, they have to be tightened with the supplied hex wrench. They provide positive stops, the clamp does have to be opened more to remove but the with extra security this is very minor. I supposed one or both could be removed if you want and have another safety pin, a foolish thing to do if you don't. The only negative thing about this plate is the mounting bolt. To tighten or loosen you have to use the supplied hex wrench or a coin and the head of didn't seem to have a wide enough surface to make it secure, although it actually did secure it well. Regardless I replace it with a D-ring mounting bolt but getting it out was very difficult. Anyway and excellent product and if you need, or want, and L bracket this one works very well and the price is unbelievable.

It fits my 6D MarkII well and doesn't block the battery door. That being said there is one improvement to be made that other have mentioned in the reviews. It needs a rubber cushion, otherwise it can rotate on the bottom of your camera. I used some thin self adhesive backed anti slip rubber and just cut out the slots for the screw with a razor blade. Now it is perfect, solid as a rock, and much cheaper than the name brand brackets. I am sure they could add the rubber from the factory for a small cost increase, make it Version 2, and then it would be a home run out of the box.