If you have ever used a geared ball head for photography, especially with a heavier setup, you will know how frustrating it can be to rotate the camera into the vertical position using the gear head. The entire rig becomes rather imbalanced, and with a heavier lens setup, the base mounting plate tends to slowly loosen, causing the camera to slide downwards, which is both rather annoying and worrying.
The most straightforward solution to overcoming this would be to use an L-bracket. But for users of the Manfrotto RC2 plate tripod system, your options are extremely limited. The only native solution is Manfrotto’s Q2 L-bracket. While it is a well-designed product with a handful of thoughtful features, it does also come in at a rather steep price. Not to mention the set of compromises as well—like being locked to only the Manfrotto RC2 plate tripod head system, expanding the footprint of the camera by a lot, and also potentially losing access to the camera’s flip screen, battery door, and side ports. The last one is a no-go for me since I tether in most of my shoots.
Alternatively, you could stack adapters to convert your tripod head into an Arca-Swiss compatible system to use industry-standard L-brackets or camera cages. Depending on how it’s done, you may even gain double rotation flexibility for your geared tripod head. But again, this adds more parts to the system, which may potentially introduce instability, especially with third-party gear. This process just doesn’t feel as clean.
My reluctance to step away from the outdated Manfrotto RC2 plate tripod system has brought me towards the SmallRig Rotatable Horizontal-to-Vertical Mount Plate Kit as a potential solution, especially when using my Canon R5. At first glance, I was pretty intrigued as it promised a native mounting solution with very few compromises that I could think of. Naturally, I was curious to see how it would perform in real-world use and decided to give it a try and see if it could finally solve the issue of my setup.
Build Quality
Coming out of the box, the mount feels very solid—as most SmallRig products tend to be. The aluminum alloy construction gives a good balance between weight and durability. It doesn’t creak, shift, or feel fragile in any way. The rotating mechanism is very well engineered, giving it just the right amount of resistance to the rotation and does not wobble. However, I could not comment much on the resistance if it will loosen after an extended period of usage, as I just got it 2 weeks ago. It has a hard stop at 90° on the rotation instead of 180° for expanded usability or ease of storage. However, you could use the locking lever located in front of the tripod mount to lock the camera at any degree of the rotation from 0° to 90°.
Putting it together is rather straightforward as it comes in 3 separate parts: the camera base mounting plate, the rotation ring, and a tripod mount that is both Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto RC2 compatible. Do note that you are required to remove the lens before installation or during removal of the mount kit. The first obvious downside, once attached, is that the rotatable mount plate does significantly increase the overall footprint of your camera—visually and physically. While it adds function, it also adds bulk. You are going to notice the awkward protruding tripod mount when storing your camera.
Features
This SmallRig Rotatable Horizontal-to-Vertical Mount Plate Kit is specifically built for Canon EOS R series users, offering compatibility with the EOS R5, R5C, R6, and R6 Mark II. Other mirrorless camera brands like Nikon, Sony, or Fujifilm will require a different mount kit as this is not made as a universal kit attachment.
Personally, what attracted me to this kit is its hybrid base design, which integrates both Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto RC2 mounting standards. This allows me to keep my current Manfrotto tripod head system while allowing me to future-proof myself should I move towards the Arca-Swiss system in the future without needing additional adapters.
At the core of its functionality is a 360° rotatable camera plate, allowing users to switch between horizontal and vertical orientations quickly, without needing to detach and remount the camera. By rotating the camera using the mounting kit instead of the tripod head when switching orientation, it also allows the user to keep the same angle of view and also the setup’s balance. This is particularly useful in high-pressure shooting environments where speed and stability matter.
The tripod mount plate also features multiple 1/4"-20 threaded holes, providing extra mounting points, where you could also rotate it to the side to mount extra accessories like monitors, lights, or wireless transmitters—effectively acting as a camera cage. While I hate the awkward protruding tripod mount, it is a thoughtful design to allow sufficient rotation clearance to access crucial ports such as USB-C, Micro HDMI, and mic inputs, though compatibility may vary depending on the size of the connectors used. Additionally, SmallRig also includes a magnetic wrench/Allen key for convenience and a quick-locking lever system to ensure firm, reliable adjustments during use, though I wish the size wrench included is standardized so that it can also be used to detach the rotation ring and keep the base mounting plate on the camera without needing to carry the extra Allen key around.
Real-World User Experience
Here’s where it gets interesting. While the entire idea of using this rotating mount kit is solid and almost felt flawless, real-world use reveals some quirks you might want to know about. For starters, the remote control port on the Canon R5 is blocked by the rotating ring, making it unusable unless you detach the mount or use other means of controlling the camera. As far as I know, this is not an issue for Canon R6 and R6 Mark II, as the remote control port is not located in the front of the camera.
While the base is marketed as a hybrid Arca-Swiss + Manfrotto RC2 mount, the RC2 compatibility feels like an afterthought. Yes, it technically fits, but not in the usual orientation. You’ll need to mount it 90 degrees off from the usual way—following the "lens 2" direction marked on the original RC2 plate. However, this is not really an issue for me as I will now have a clear differentiation with my right hand controlling the camera or the tripod pan axis and my left hand controlling the tilt and yaw axis on the Manfrotto MHXPRO-3WG geared head. What you will need to be careful of is when mounting on a certain RC2 plate tripod head, as it will not fit perfectly. It does wobble and may come loose at certain positions.
Grip comfort does take a hit. With the rotating ring attached, your right-hand grip becomes noticeably narrower. It’s still usable, but if you shoot handheld a lot, I would advise you to detach the mount when not on a tripod. The thicker rotation ring design compromise is partly due to the mount needing enough clearance to fit most RF lenses, which results in a thicker build overall. That added bulk naturally affects the grip of the camera. That said, be reminded that not all lenses will fit perfectly—even with the added space. In my case, since I often use the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with EF lenses, the spacing works out fine and hasn’t caused major issues.
Clearance-wise, the USB-C and micro HDMI ports remain accessible, which is great for tethering or external monitoring. However, if you're planning to use the mic input or flash sync port, you might run into trouble—especially if your cables or dongles have thicker heads as they sit closer to the tripod mount. Another thing to note is that this mount may not be compatible with a battery grip, judging by the limited clearance between the base and the bottom of the camera. On the plus side, the mount does not obstruct access to the battery compartment itself, so swapping batteries remains quick and easy.
Summary
What I Liked
- Well-built and solid feel.
- True rotating function without remounting the camera.
- Compatibility with both Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto RC2.
- Saves time when switching to gimbal setups.
- Maintains access to most of the camera's ports, flip screen, and battery compartment.
What Could Be Improved
- Improve on the RC2 mount fitting.
- Slimmer rotation ring profile to allow access to remote port, reduce footprint, and improve camera grip.
- Adding a quick-detach option for the rotating ring.
- Streamline the size of the magnetized Allen key.
Closing Thoughts
The SmallRig Rotatable Mount Plate Kit for Canon R series is a clever solution to a long-standing problem, especially for those of us who juggle between vertical and horizontal shooting constantly. It brings much-needed functionality, but it’s not without compromises. However, this is also one of those accessories that I have mixed feelings about. On one hand, it solves real, tangible issues I’ve faced for years—especially with vertical mounting on the Manfrotto RC2 system. On the other hand, it introduces a few new annoyances: less intuitive RC2 mounting, bulkier camera footprint, and reduced port access. If you ask me if it is a perfect solution? I would say not really. But it is definitely a practical and usable solution with its minor annoyance and trade-offs.
