Nikonians Product Review

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The "L" brackets
for ball heads

by BJ Nicholls &
J. Ramón Palacios

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Introduction
RRS L-brackets
» Kirk L-brackets

KIRK L-BRACKETS

Kirk Enterprises produces high quality equipment for the outdoor photographer and offers a wide range of custom-made one-piece L-brackets, machined from light weight 6061-T6 aluminum.

Click for enlarged view
Kirk BL-D300 bracket for the Nikon D300 and D300s

As mentioned before, with the L-bracket it's much easier to work with your ball head while changing from a vertical into a horizontal composition and viceversa, without compromising the stability of the tripod with your camera. And Kirk has most models required by Nikon and other brands SLR and DSLR camera bodies. We currently carry them at the Nikonians PhotoProShop, including those for the D700, D300 and D7000, making them available all around the globe.

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Again, yes -like BJ said- the L-brackets are somewhat expensive; depending on camera and configuration, between US$130 and US$180. They lift weight from your wallet, add a little of weight to your setup and are cold hard metal instead of the nice leatherette or rubberized working surfaces. But now that we use a tripod for the majority of our shots, the L-bracket convenience is more than worth the cost and the bulk. Many refused to use a tripod because "it slows you down." Well, not anymore with a L-bracket on a pro ball head.

Nikonian Philip Boggs (Photo_Phil) summarized it better:

"I have one on both my bodies and never take them off:
1. Fast change from horizontal to vertical while maintaining lens and viewfinder to
   
eye-level relationship.
2. Help protect body like a truck grill guard.
3. Keep weight of lens and body over the tripod's center of gravity.
4. Look cool and like you know what you are doing!"

Like him, I now have one on each of my bodies. Try them, you'll love them.

Furthermore, by buying them at the Nikonians Proshop you also help to support the operations costs of the community   Nikonians Proshop

One of many testimonials

"After receiving my Kirk L-bracket for the D2x I couldn't believe how much easier it is to shoot vertically.

I am fairly partial to the portrait format so when shooting with the ball head I've always had to flop it down on its side. Now with a heavy camera and a heavy lens such as the 28-70/F2.8 this can seriously wreck havoc with the balance. The L-bracket has allowed me to maintain the Center of Gravity whilst in portrait format.

The center of gravity (COG) becomes even more important whilst using a monopod. I only have Kirk QRC-2 on my monopod with no head.

For anyone that still hasn't gotten a L-bracket for the D1/D2/D3 GET ONE NOW! Whilst supporting the Nikonians community (check out the Nikonian PhooProShop)."

Shing Yan Lau (Guts80) a Nikonian from Hong Kong

Have a great time
see also
Markins Ballheads 
Tripods, Heads & Camera Support forum 

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