The 3 Legged Thing Freya is an L-bracket tripod plate designed specifically for use with the Fujifilm X-T5 camera. It allows the camera to be attached to a tripod for both landscape and portrait format shooting, while keeping the body positioned directly above the head for maximum stability. As the bracket uses standard Arca-Swiss type plates, it will fit onto a wide range of tripod heads.
Kit contents include a cable management bracket, Peak Design Capture plate, and tools, plus a microfibre storage bag. Credit: Andy Westlake
3 Legged Thing Freya at a glance:
- $120 / £100
- Arca-Swiss type L-bracket
- For Fujifilm X-T5 only
- Peak Design Capture compatible
- Choice of three colours
- www.3leggedthing.com
Freya comes in two sections, so needs to be assembled before use. This is easy enough, as it simply requires fixing the vertical and horizontal sections together using a pair of screws. This requires the supplied 2.5mm hex key and should only take a minute.
3 Legged Thing Freya vertical and horizontal sections. Credit: Andy Westlake
3 Legged Thing Freya key features:
- Tools: 3 Legged Thing supplies its Toolz multi-tool in the box, along with a 2.5mm hex key
- Cables: A slide-on bracket can be used to secure an HDMI cable, which is handy given the X-T5’s micro connector
- Colours: Three different colours are available: Copper, Slate Grey, and Black
- Peak Design Capture compatible: An optional adapter plate is supplied for use with the Peak Design Capture V3 system
This black plastic adapter plate adds compatibility with Peak Design’s Capture camera-carrying system. Credit: Andy Westlake
Unlike ‘universal’ L-brackets, Freya has been designed to fit the X-T5 as closely as possible. For example, it doesn’t block the battery compartment door and has cut-outs to provide access to the camera’s 3-way tilting screen. There’s an anti-twist lip on the horizontal section, while the vertical bracket has been specifically shaped to accommodate the camera’s connector ports.
The vertical bracket has been shaped to provide access to the camera’s connector ports. Credit: Andy Westlake
It is, however, practically impossible to open the port covers when the bracket is attached, without using some sort of tool such as the tip of a penknife. To be fair, though, the same is true with other L-brackets on the X-T5. However, help is at hand from one of the bracket’s key features, as it can be extended away from the body. This provides much easier access when using a wired shutter release or a microphone.
The bracket allows portrait frmat shooting while keeping the camera well balanced over the top of the tripod. Credit: Andy Westlake
There’s even a slide-on plastic bracket that should stop cables from being accidentally pulled out, for example when using an external video recorder, which is something of an occupation hazard with the X-T5’s micro-type HDMI port.
This slide-on black plastic bracket prevents cables from being pulled out of their ports. Credit: Andy Westlake
Extending the bracket isn’t difficult, but it is quite fiddly. It requires undoing a screw using the 2.5mm hex key, pulling the bracket out, then matching up the screw with one of 7 holes and tightening it back up again. This also means you have to remember to either carry that hex key with you, or accept having the bracket sticking out from the side of the camera.
Two protruding screws underneath the bracket prevent the camera sitting flat on a table. One of these secures the vertical section, so can’t be removed. Credit: Andy Westlake
Another minor gripe is that the camera won’t sit flat on a table with the bracket attached, due to two small screws that protrude underneath.
3 Legged Thing’s L-bracket range
3 Legged Thing also makes a wide range of L-brackets for other cameras. This includes the Alfie for select Sony A7-series cameras; Gracy for the Fujifilm GFX 100S and 50S II; Ollie for the OM System OM-1; Roxie for the Canon EOS R5 and R6 series; Zelda for Nikon Z5, Z6 and Z7 models; and Zaara for the Nikon Z9. Meanwhile, its Ellie and QR-11 2.0 are universal designs for a wide range of cameras.
Three different 3 Legged Thing L-brackets, in three different colours. Left to right: Ollie in Copper, Alfie in Midnight, and Freya in Slate Grey. Credit: Andy Westlake
3 Legged Thin Freya: Our Verdict
The 3 Legged Thing Freya is a nicely designed L-bracket that fits the Fujifilm X-T5 perfectly. It’s extremely well-made too, with no hint of twisting or flexing. It has a few design irritations, and there are certainly cheaper options available for the X-T5. But none that I’ve used are quite as robust.
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