The Three Legged Thing

3 Legged Thing QR11 2.0 vs. an Affordable Alternative

So no, this isn’t about monsters, and no, I’m not about to tell you a sci-fi story. 🙂

The ‘3 Legged Thing‘ is a British manufacturer known for its high-quality tripods, monopods, camera bags, tripod heads, and—perhaps most famously—L-brackets. An L-bracket is a piece of aluminum, typically made from two separate sections joined together with hex screws to form an L-shape. Most L-brackets feature an integrated Arca-Swiss rail, making them compatible with a wide range of tripod heads.

One of the most well-known and widely compatible options is the QR11 2.0 Arca-Swiss-Compatible Universal L-Bracket. This bracket comes in three colors—black, grey, and orange—and is priced at around €50. Here are the key specifications:

• QR11-LC & LG 2.0
  • Base Length: 115 mm (4.52″)
  • Vertical Section: 87 mm (3.42″)
  • Arca-Swiss Shoe Compatibility: 38 mm (1.5″)
  • Weight: 104 g (3.52 oz)
  • Extras: Strap mounts on both sides and three additional 1/4″ mounting holes

For more details, you can check out the official product page:
QR11 2.0 Universal L-Bracket – 3 Legged Thing

A More Affordable Chinese Alternative

While 3 Legged Thing’s L-bracket is undoubtedly well-made, €50 for two small pieces of aluminum seemed a bit steep to me. So, I went looking for alternatives and found a Chinese version on AliExpress, simply called “Universal Camera L Bracket Quick Release L Plate 1/4 Inch.”

This budget-friendly alternative has slightly different dimensions:

• Base Length (inner measurement): 125 mm (larger than the 3LT)
• Vertical Section: 75 mm
• Mounting Options:
  • 7 x 1/4″ and 4 x 3/8″ threads on the vertical section
  • An extra 1/4″ thread on the baseplate
  • Small security screws on both sides to prevent accidental sliding out of the clamp (whereas the 3LT only has these on the bottom)
  • A single attachment point for a camera strap

Weighing 125 g, it’s slightly heavier than the 3LT version, but here’s the kicker—I ordered two of them for just over €15, meaning I paid €7.69 per bracket, including shipping! – The catch: You have to assemble them yourself.

These brackets are available in multiple colors, including red, black, grey, orange, and blue. I mounted them on my Olympus E-M1X and Olympus E-M1 Mark III, opting for red versions. Since I primarily use them for macro photography on a tripod, I figured the red color would help me see the Arca-Swiss rail more clearly in darker forest environments—a small but practical advantage for someone with slightly weaker eyesight.

So far, they’ve been working great! Sometimes, a little research can save you a lot of money without sacrificing functionality.

The header image was AI-generated using DALL·E and was inspired by the concept of “three legs” combined with a randomly imagined creature under the name “Thing.” Any resemblance to existing characters or creatures is purely coincidental – so, this is a “one-of-a-thing” 🙂