3 Legged Thing Lexie Review

The Lexie by 3 Legged Thing is a universal L-bracket, that builds on the success of the 3 Legged Thing Ellie. Its ‘universal’ design means that it’s adjustable and suitable for use on a wide range of cameras. Like all L-brackets, it fits along the camera’s base and left side to take the place of a tripod plate. It allows the camera to be mounted quickly on a tripod head, in vertical or portrait orientation, without adjusting the head.

As the 3 Legged Thing Lexie has an Arca-Swiss design, it allows a camera to be mounted on an any Arca-Swiss type tripod head, including those from 3 Legged Thing which are available by themselves or bundled with tripods such as the 3 Legged Thing Billy 2.0.

Lexie is available in three colours: Copper, Metallic Slate Grey, and Darkness (matte black).

The unique selling point of the Lexie is that it can be adjusted to fit almost any camera. It arrives with its upright and base plates unattached, which means they need to be connected to form the classic L shape.

The plates slot together easily before they are secured with bolts. The horizontal plate’s length can be adjusted to accommodate different camera sizes, though this requires the small hex key included in the provided Toolz multi-functional tool, which is fiddly because of its diminutive size. Nevertheless, it’s great to have necessary hex keys together on the  plastic carabiner.

Crafted from anodised aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, the 3 Legged Thing Lexie featured a robust 1/4-inch-20 stainless steel ‘Stagsden’ screw to mount it onto the camera.

There are also four 1/4-inch-20 threads, two each on the upright and base plates, for mounting various accessories like lights, arms, or monitors.

3 Legged Thing’s choice of anodised aerospace-grade magnesium alloy for the Lexie’s construction gives the bracket a durable yet lightweight feel. That’s ideal for photographers who have taken pains to selected a light camera and lens setup.

Once assembled, the bracket feels very strong and it mounts securely on the camera.

I found the best way to set-up the Lexie to suit the camera is to remove the bolt in the horizontal plate so the plate is free to move, and then tighten the mounting bolt on the camera. Before the mounting bolt is tightened fully, I find the optimum position of the horizontal plate and slide the vertical plate in towards the camera until it touches the camera or it lines up nicely.

I tested the 3 Legged Thing Lexie on several cameras including the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Fujifilm X-S20, Olympus OM-D E-M10, Nikon Z7 II and Sony A7R IV. It fitted very neatly on the Z7 II and 5D Mark III showing it’s suitable for large DSLRs and medium-sized full-frame mirrorless cameras. It also works well on the tiny E-M10, but access to the battery compartment is compromised because the base plate is a little too long for the camera body.

In addition, because the E-M10 is so small, the strap lug sits inside the cutout in the vertical plate, making for a neat and secure fit.

The Lexie mounts well on the Sony A7R IV, but the most secure fixing point is with the horizontal plate further forward than on the other cameras so that the notch in the vertical plate matches nicely with the camera’s strap lug. However, if you plan to use the connection ports, you’ll need to extend the base plate a little.

I was abale to attach the Lexie securely to the Fujifilm X-S20, but the movemnt of the vari-angle screen was limited by the vertical plate.

After the initial setup, Lexie performs well. It enables the camera to be mounted on an Arca-Swiss type tripod head in both portrait and landscape orientations without altering the focal plane. This ensures the camera’s centre point remains directly above the tripod, maximising stability

Although they are inevitably fiddlier to access than when there’s no bracket on the camera, it’s still possible to open the port covers and connect cables. However, in some instances, it maybe necessary to extend the bas plate a little so the vertical plate is further from the camera body.

While it may not fit as perfectly as a camera-specific bracket and vari-angle screen movement may be restricted, the Lexie’s clever universal design means it is very versatile. Consequently, the bracket can be swapped between different camera bodies quickly. Its wider compatibility also means that it’s more economic to produce, which makes it more affordable for photographers to buy.

The 3 Legged Thing Lexie is an excellent choice for photographers seeking a versatile, durable, and cost-effective L-bracket. Its modular design, coupled with high-quality materials, makes it a reliable and adaptable accessory for  a variety of cameras. While the fitting may not be as perfect as with a bespoke bracket that’s shaped to suit a particular camera’s curves, its universal design, stability, and affordability make it a valuable tool for photographers.

The 3 Legged Thing Lexie is a smart investment for those who value flexibility and quality.