SmallRig L-Shaped Mount Plate with Silicone Handle for Fujifilm X-E5
Summary Verdict
This is a subtle but very worthwhile upgrade for the Fujifilm X-E5. It makes the camera easier to hold with a more comfortable and secure grip, and it adds Arca-Swiss tripod compatibility so there’s no need for a separate quick-release plate. It doesn’t interfere with access to the battery or ports and hardly adds any weight, which means you get better handling and more flexibility with next to no downside.
Score: 5/5
For
More secure grip for handheld shooting
Built-in Arca-Swiss tripod plate
Doesn’t block battery or port access
Against
No vertical plate for portrait tripod mounting
Shutter release button is fiddly to attach
The SmallRig L-shaped Mount Plate with Silicone Handle matches the Fujifilm X-E5 very well, the bas plate in particular looks like it’s part of the camera.
What is the SmallRig L-Shaped Mount Plate with Silicone Handle for Fujifilm X-E5?
The SmallRig L-Shaped Mount Plate with Silicone Handle is a camera grip and base plate that’s specifically made for the Fujifilm X-E5. It’s designed to improve how the camera feels in your hand and also makes it easier to mount on a tripod if you use Arca-Swiss type heads. It attaches via the tripod mount on the bottom of the camera and has a discreet design that blends in really nicely with the X-E5’s styling.
The SmallRig L-Shaped Plate with Silicone Grip adds a considerable extension on teh X-E5’s grip, making the camera feel more secure in your hand.
SmallRig Mount Plate Price and Availability
The SmallRig Mount Plate for Fujifilm X-E5 is available in either silver or black to match the two body finishes of the camera. The price is £37.90 / $39.99 and you can buy it directly from SmallRig’s website.
From the back, the only visible part of the SmallRig L-Shaped Mount Plate with Silicone Handle is the bottom plate, which again blends well with the camera. Its profile fits Arca-Swiss-style tripod heads perfectly.
Key Features
Despite the name, this isn’t a traditional L-bracket with a side rail for portrait mounting. Instead, it’s a shaped base plate with a silicone grip on the side, designed to give you a better hold on the camera.
The base is made from aluminium alloy, which helps keep the weight down to just 64g. It’s shaped to fit Arca-Swiss compatible tripod heads, which makes it a breeze to pop the camera onto a tripod if you’re already using that system. And if your head isn’t Arca-compatible, there are a couple of standard 1/4"-20 threads so you can still attach a plate.
SmallRig has included a magnetic flathead screwdriver that sits in the base, ready for use when attaching or removing the plate. There’s also a little threaded red button that you can screw into the X-E5’s shutter button to give it a softer, more tactile feel.
The underside of the SmallRig L-Shaped Mount Plate with Silicone Handle for the Fujifilm X-E5, showing the flat-head screwdriver (aka wrench) that’s held magnetically in its bespoke recess. The large cut-out on the left gives access to the camera’s battery port and memory card slot.
Build and Handling
Once it’s attached, the plate feels really secure and doesn’t budge. I’ve been using the silver version with a silver X-E5 and it looks almost like it was made by Fujifilm itself. The aluminium blends in nicely with the top and bottom plates of the camera, while the silicone grip closely matches the look of the camera’s original covering - although the grip’s texture is finer-grained.
The grip is very effective, especially if you’re shooting one-handed or using a longer lens. It adds just enough bulk to feel more secure without making the camera feel chunky or awkward, and it has a lip that adds extra purchase. The whole thing is shaped to avoid getting in the way of any buttons or doors, so you can still swap batteries, change your memory card or plug in a cable without having to take it off.
As I mentioned earlier, the cut-out in the SmallRig plate allows full access to the camera’s battery and memory card.
Performance
The Arca-Swiss-style base is a time-saver if you’re frequently switching between handheld and tripod shots. You just slide or clip it into your tripod head and you’re good to go – no faffing around with extra plates. It worked well with 3 Legged Thing and Peak Design tripods.
Although I tend to leave tripod plates on a camera once it’s attached, I like the more streamlined look of the SmallRig plate in comparison to a regular tripod plate. It also means the camera is more stable when you put it down between shots. Another benefit is that the plate protects your camera‘s base from knocks.
Despite the extra grip and tripod functionality, the plate doesn’t change the X-E5’s look or weight much at all. It’s light and subtle, and once it’s on, you kind of forget it’s there, until you find yourself appreciating that extra bit of grip or the ease of popping it straight on a tripod.
The included shutter button is a sweet little bonus. It smooths the feel of the camera’s shutter button a touch, although, as it’s small, I found it a bit fiddly to screw in. It’s not essential, but it’s a nice addition all the same.
The threaded shutter button screws into the remote release connection in the Fujifilm X-E5’s shutter button.
Verdict
It’s not flashy, but this SmallRig grip is one of those accessories that just makes life easier and turns a very nice camera into something even more enjoyable to use. It improves the way the X-E5 handles, especially when you’re shooting one-handed or working with slightly heavier lenses, and it fits beautifully with Arca-Swiss tripod heads. It’s light, smart-looking and doesn’t get in the way – in fact, it’s easy to forget it’s there until you take it off and realise how much difference it made.
The only thing missing, for me, is a QD (quick detach) port to make it compatible with 3 Legged Thing’s Axis camera straps. That would have made it even more versatile, but as it stands, it’s still a well-priced and very useful upgrade for regular X-E5 users.
