3 Legged Thing Arnie review

The 3-Legged Thing 3-Legged Thing Arnie review is a dedicated L-bracket designed specifically for Sony Alpha cameras. It is compatible with various models, including the A7 IV, A7R V, A7 III, A7R III, A7R IV, A7S II, A7S III, A9 II, and A1.

As previously mentioned in this test, I’m using the Sony A7 IV. The L-bracket is made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, and 3LT has worked hard to ensure a perfect fit to the present Alpha Range as of July 2024. The fit, as well as enabling easier mounting options onto support, also gives the camera a little more durability.

One of the big features of the Arnie is the QD Socket on the base, this enables the quick connection and disconnection of straps, supports and other accessories and is a connection type that is rapidly taking hold across the industry.

When it comes to the type of tripod mount, the 3-legged Thing Arnie review is an Arca-Swiss compatible bracket, which enables easy integration with standard tripod heads, other mounting systems and, of course, the entire 3LT range.

The 3-Legged Thing 3-Legged Thing Arnie review L-bracket is built to last. It features a robust aerospace-grade magnesium alloy construction with the usual small design tweaks that highlight it as a 3LT product rather than a cheaper, lower-quality alternative.

On my review sample, 3LT supplied the bracket in the Copper (Orange) colourway, although for the more dark-minded of you, there’s also the darkness (Black) option. In many situations, black is actually a better option as it’s less likely to scare wildlife, reflect in glass, etc., but for general use, Copper (Orange) is my preferred option.

The aluminium material provides a lightweight and solid feel and helps ensure that the bracket can withstand professional use or slight clumsiness.

When attaching the L-Bracket to the camera, another nice touch is the self-contained 1/4-inch screw on the base ensures that it remains attached to the bracket, reducing the risk of losing components during use.

The vertical aspect of the 3-legged Thing Arnie review bracket is designed to accommodate rear screens, allowing them to be opened upright or tilted. However, the bracket will prevent the screen from fully opening in the default orientation.

The bracket also features two 1/4″-20 threads on the base for attaching additional accessories. These are placed towards the outer edge of the bracket, so they should sit clear of the tripod head when mounted.

The 3-Legged Thing Arnie review L-bracket offers several features that make it an excellent choice for Sony Alpha camera users. Its Arca-Swiss compatibility ensures easy integration with a wide range of tripods and mounting systems, including 3LT’s tripod range. The bracket’s design maintains access to the camera’s battery door and side ports, allowing easy access to accessories that need to be plugged in, batteries, or memory cards changed.

The inclusion of the Peak Design Capture v3 adapter enhances the bracket’s functionality, allowing it to be used with the Peak Design Capture clip system. The two accessory ports on the base also enable plenty of additional accessories to be easily attached if needed.

In use, the 3-Legged Thing Arnie review L-bracket performs exceptionally well, providing a secure and stable platform for the Sony Alpha A7 IV and, I’m sure, other compatible models. However, I wasn’t able to test this. The bracket’s design fits snuggly around the camera, and the small detail curve of metal at the front of the bracket positions perfectly into the curve of the base of the A7 IV, which helps to prevent movement or wobbling when in use.

The magnesium alloy construction does feel solid, yet because it’s aluminium, it’s extremely lightweight. It adds a little noticeable weight to the camera while providing a little extra protection from knocks.

Due to the design of the L-bracket, all ports are easily accessible, with the battery door opening just enough to slide out the battery. Likewise, the tolerance for the port doors is equally closed, with all doors opening to enable cable connection, although the room is tight. The one door that can be a little tricky to access is the audio, and actually opening the lower doors and working up is the easiest way to get this one open. Through the test, I left the cover to this port slightly ajar for ease of access.

When it comes to LCD, due to the nature of the L-bracket and L-brackets as a whole, you can’t open the screen fully in the standard to-the-side motion, although it will open to a decent enough angle before being stopped by the side of the L-Bracket. However, by twisting the screen vertically, then fully rotating it open and then tilting it back down, you get a generally perfect angle, and as the bracket covers the black edge of the screen rather than the screen itself, it’s actually all very neat. I do have some worries about scratching the screen over a long period, but generally, if you’re careful, this shouldn’t be an issue.

On the more usual mounting options in the landscape, there’s plenty of scope with the bracket enabling a secure fix to the tripod. Likewise, in portrait mode, even with the cutout for the monitor hinge, the bracket holds firm. The interesting point is that if you have a wireless mic system plugged into the camera, then there are plenty of scopes to adjust the position of the tripod clamp to facilitate the cables. However, there will need to be some cable compromise if you have all ports filled.

There is one other option that I have yet to address and that’s the QD socket which I’ll check out as soon as I have a QD compatible support of strap.

The 3-Legged Thing 3-Legged Thing Arnie review Sony Alpha Dedicated L-Bracket is an excellent choice for photographers and videographers using Sony Alpha cameras. Its solid build quality, perfect fit, and versatile features make it a valuable addition to any professional’s kit. While the premium price may be a consideration, the bracket’s performance and compatibility with various accessories justify the investment.

Designed for use with Sony Alpha cameras, including the  Sony Alpha A7 IV, A7R V, A7 III, A7R III, A7R IV, A7S II, A7S III, A9 II and A1, the 3 Legged Thing Arnie review bracket is highly versatile. What I really liked about this L-Bracket is the snugness of the fit, and while it is an L-Bracket and it does add some bulk, that design makes it feel more streamlined and slimmer than many others. It also has the advantage of direct compatibility with the Peak Design V3 mounting system, 1/4-inch accessories and, of course, the more common Arca Swiss compatibility.