The Sony A1 is taking over the full-frame mirrorless camera market with its flagship features. It is rocking a 50-megapixel sensor that is capable of 30 fps shooting, 8K recording, and a lot more features.
That being said, the Sony A1 seems to be the perfect camera for sports photography, wildlife photography, and photojournalism. The burst mode alone is a huge advantage when shooting critical moments.
Just for a quick summary of its specs. The A1 takes all the good things about the Sony A7R IV, A7S III, and the Sony A9 II into one camera. But, with additional and improved features.
Besides the impressive 30 fps shooting, the A1 features a 9.44 million dots electronic viewfinder with a 240 fps refresh rate. All thanks to the BIONZ XR processor, this camera is 8X faster than the Sony A9 II.
For portrait photographers, the flash sync speed is up to 1/400th of a second. Meanwhile, the combo CFExpress A and SD UHS-II card slots are quick to take care of all the images taken.
However, the major downside of this new camera is battery life. One Sony Z battery is not enough to last a day.
L-Bracket: You’re must-have Sony A1 accessory
The Sony A1 is a well-rounded camera that is aimed at photographers who are into fast-paced action. This makes the L-bracket the perfect accessory to it.
The L-bracket is a tripod mount that hugs the camera from the bottom to the left side. It works as a tripod plate, but with flexible options.
It is understandable that there are photographers who skip an L-bracket for Sony A1. Instead, they go for other essential accessories.
However, here are some reasons why it is a great tool for your Sony A1 and other camera bodies.
Faster shooting
An L-bracket makes it easier to shift from portrait to landscape mode without altering the tripod’s position. It ensures that the entire setup is the same without changing the camera’s level.
Ball-head tripods take care of vertical shooting through its drop slot. However, this method changes the position of the camera to the side.
It is easy to use an L-bracket. Just unlock and lock the quick plate and you're good to go. This happens without moving the ball-head. The orientation changes while the whole position stays the same.
Better stability
As mentioned earlier, the ball-head drop notch works well for vertical shooting if the constant adjustment is fine with you. However, there is another disadvantage while using the drop notch.
Putting the camera to the side moves the camera’s center of gravity. There are several disadvantages to this method.
- Readjustment of the camera’s position
- Recomposing the shot to match the horizontal framing
- Risk of the camera falling down
The last one is the worst thing that may happen to your camera. The Sony A1 is a $6500 beast and no one wants to drop an expensive camera.
With an L-bracket, your camera sits in the middle of the ball-head. Plus, the entire bottom and left side serve as a contact point between the camera and the tripod.
Added protection
An L-bracket hugs the camera and serves as body protection. Though it leaves the right and top parts exposed, it lessens the risk of damaging the other sides.
Why is it essential for Sony A1 users?
Sony created the A1 for fast-paced photography such as sports and journalism. These instances often leave require quick movements to get in and out of a situation.
For example, a journalist attends an event full of people. The risk of bumping or dropping your Sony A1 gets higher.
The same goes for sports events requiring a lot of movement. Hopefully, it never happens to you, but there are times when the camera is left unlocked and falls.
What kind of L-bracket should you get?
There are a lot of types of L-brackets available on the internet. However, it is better to get one that is specific to the Sony A1.
The main advantage of this route is the L-bracket fits the camera better. The ports are also left accessible as it is tailored to a certain model.
ProMediaGear creates great L-brackets for cameras like the Sony A9 and the Sony A7R IV. A Sony A1 L-bracket is also available. Else, their Universal bracket works the same except for the tighter fit.
The company designed these with two pieces of aluminum for better adjustability. It has a slide-out mechanism for cables and to free up the ports.
The Arca-Swiss design allows it to fit ProMediaGear tripods and other compatible gears.
The universal brackets from ProMediaGear or other companies work well with the Sony A1 as well. However, some of these brackets block the ports.
Should you get one immediately?
L-brackets are considered a must-have for landscape photography. However, there are countless advantages for other genres as well.
The Sony A1, which is made for fast-paced shooting, benefits greatly from having an L-bracket. From quick orientation change to protection, this little accessory is a must-have for an expensive camera.
In summary, get one as soon as a custom fit Sony A1 L-bracket is available. This well-recommended accessory, which is often used in landscape photography, will benefit all-around shooters as well.