3 Legged Thing Announces XPAND - A Patented New Build-Your-Own Rig Sys

3 Legged Thing today announces XPAND, a modular rig-building ecosystem designed for content creators and videographers who need customisable, robust, and adaptable support solutions.

Building a camera rig has always meant piecing together components from different manufacturers, hoping they’ll play nicely together – and accepting the compromises when they don’t. XPAND changes that. Designed as a complete, cohesive ecosystem from the ground up, every plate, riser and connector is built to work seamlessly together, giving content creators and videographers a single, unified system they can configure exactly as they need it.

Building on 3LT’s reputation for versatile, modular tripods and camera support accessories, XPAND is a Patented system of cheese plates, risers, and connectors that allows users to build bespoke set-ups tailored to their workflow, environment and ever-expanding kit. It’s a creative toolbox for those who prefer their rigs as individual as their shooting style.

“Creators have spent years cobbling together components from different manufacturers, and frankly they deserve better,” said Stuart Boston, COO of 3 Legged Thing. “XPAND is our answer to that – a system where every element is designed to work with every other element, so they spend less time wrestling with their kit and more time actually shooting.”

At the heart of XPAND are a range of highly adaptable Cheese Plates, featuring mounting grooves, ¼”-20 and 3/8”-16 screw threads, 3/8” Arri screw mounts with locator pin holes, and QD (quick detach) port across different plates. QD ports enable 3 Legged Thing’s AXIS camera straps to be attached. They are available in four different sizes, with rectangular and square options. Every Cheese Plate is supplied with an XPAND Connector and 4 screws.

The system offers Risers in four heights - 25, 50, 75, and 100mm – all featuring multiple ¼”-20 screw threads to enable even greater configuration possibilities.

All XPAND plates and risers have the unique triple-axis XPAND slot, allowing components to be connected securely and intuitively using XPAND Connectors.

XPAND Connectors allow two components to join together and are secured using premium stainless steel Hex screws.

To join XPAND to cameras, the 70mm XPAND Base features a choice of two camera mounting slots, is supplied with a stainless steel ¼”-20 camera screw, and is supplied with an XPAND Connector and two screws.

Several existing 3 Legged Thing L-brackets already include XPAND slots - including the Lexie universal base, Zadie QD for Nikon Z6 III and Z5 II, as well as Alfie (Sony Alpha) the original Ollie (OM-1) and Zaara (Nikon Z9). This enables users to attach a broad range of accessories directly to the camera rig using a single plate.

Every XPAND element is built to last, and constructed from anodised, precision-engineered, aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, with stainless steel connecting screws for enhanced durability.

The XPAND system’s ¼”-20 and 3/8”-16 threads support a wide array of accessories, including 3LT’s Pivot Magic Arms, Monty Mini Mounts, as well as rods, clamps, convertor boxes and battery plates.