Kirk L-bracket

antonroland

antonroland

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Junk or must-have?

Please tell me what you base your opinion on...

Cheers all:thumbs::thumbs:
 
Its not really a case of "junk" or "must have"

Just because its not a "must have" for you, it doesn't mean its "junk"

Why not try to ask a sensible question?

Do you know what they are for? Do you know why you might need it? Do you think you'll use it if you'll buy it. If you don't know the answer, you don't need one.
 
Do you own one?

What do you use it for? Looks like a bit of a gimmick to me...educate me, why don't you?

I dunno, switching from portrait to landscape and back while on a tripod was never a great issue to me...what am I missing?



P.S.

I was looking for opinions on L-brackets, do you have one you are willing to share?
 
You've answered your own question. You don't need one.

Yes, I've got an opinion, and yes I've used and owned one.

The whole tone of your post, seems to indicate that you've already made up your mind.

If you want my opinion on them in general, they can be quite useful when you want to change a camera orientation without adjusting your tripod. You can't move from landscape to portrait without changing your composition when you go from say 12 oclock in landscape orientation to 3 oclock in portrait which you'll do when you rotate your tripod head 90 degrees to change orientation (it lowers the angle)

For me they are not essential. But that doesn't make them "junk" - things are rarely as black and white as your opening question implies.
 
puddleduck said:
You've answered your own question. You don't need one.

Yes, I've got an opinion, and yes I've used and owned one.

The whole tone of your post, seems to indicate that you've already made up your mind.

If you want my opinion on them in general, they can be quite useful when you want to change a camera orientation without adjusting your tripod. You can't move from landscape to portrait without changing your composition when you go from say 12 oclock in landscape orientation to 3 oclock in portrait which you'll do when you rotate your tripod head 90 degrees to change orientation (it lowers the angle)

For me they are not essential. But that doesn't make them "junk" - things are rarely as black and white as your opening question implies.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that.

The must have or junk was meant much more tongue-in-cheek than you have obviously perceived it to be.

I did not try to create the impression that whatever is not in my kit bag is junk...be that as it may, however, the fact that you owned one (past tense) tells me that it is not the absolute must-have some local pros have made me believe it is and, further, that it is possibly even a bit over-rated.

That is unless you need it to work with something else like the Kirk PB-1...

Cheers
 
Actually my main reason for owning in the past tense, was that my "L" plate was for a camera with a grip, and I *hate* grips.

It does really require investment in "Arca Swiss" ballheads and plates as well.

I got mine via a Wanted Ad (here or Nikon Cafe I think) as I was a bit unsure about them myself. I'd consider a non-grip version again, but I wouldn't pay £150 for a bit of bent metal either...
 
puddleduck said:
but I wouldn't pay £150 for a bit of bent metal either...
Click to expand...

Well this is one of the major considerations to me too...

If any piece of kit really makes that much of a difference I will most likely buy it eventually BUT then it must earn it's keep in my kit bag.

Also most of these things are not really rocket science and I do know a good number of peeps with fancy machine tools and know-how...might just end up costing a good bit less than the asking price.;)
 
i use a kirk l bracket on the 5d, its the convenience factor, they are made for specific cameras so they dont slide / twist from the proper forward position. once you setup your tripod in one position you dont need adjust for the portrait shot etc...
 
All my cameras are equipped with L plates from either Kirk or RRS, I find them easy to use quick to unclip and reclip when the need arises.
Cost is not as important factor but value for money is, and in that respect I would say they are worth every penny to me.

Everyone will form their own opinion as to if they are for them or not.
 
mho said:
Everyone will form their own opinion as to if they are for them or not.
Click to expand...

Fair enough, just to be sure I am not missing any function, they are simply used for easy precision switching between portrait and landscape whilst on a tripod, right?

In which case I (personally) have little use for them.

I'm sure they are a pleasure to those who do have a need and regular use for them but they do seem a bit pricey given the functionality, though.
 
I have RRS L brackets on my 1ds2 and 1d3, do I need them? NO I could live without them but they do make life easier as I can go from landscape to portrait without moving and raising the tripod to get the same framing.
 
antonroland said:
Fair enough, just to be sure I am not missing any function, they are simply used for easy precision switching between portrait and landscape whilst on a tripod, right?

In which case I (personally) have little use for them.

I'm sure they are a pleasure to those who do have a need and regular use for them but they do seem a bit pricey given the functionality, though.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what they do. On some tripod heads they're the only way of getting the camera vertical.

Oh, and they act as a beefy roll cage if you're clumsy.
 
Get a Manfrotto 322 RC2 head for your tripod, pistol grip allows for landscape or portrait. Far easier to use than any bracket and more stable as well.

Realspeed
 
realspeed said:
Get a Manfrotto 322 RC2 head for your tripod, pistol grip allows for landscape or portrait. Far easier to use than any bracket and more stable as well.

Realspeed
Click to expand...
What makes you think its more stable? What can be easear than uncliping the camera and mouting it in portrait mode without the need to re level the head.And believe me the bracket is a LOT more stable. I have had the
322.
 
realspeed said:
Get a Manfrotto 322 RC2 head for your tripod, pistol grip allows for landscape or portrait. Far easier to use than any bracket and more stable as well.

Realspeed
Click to expand...

That still won't allow you to keep the orientation though?
 
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