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What do I need to attach Kirk L bracket to my tripod?
TheCheesehead
Registered Users Posts: 249 Major grins
Hi, I bought a Kirk L bracket. I see it clamps to an "Arca Swiss" style quick clamp...not sure what that is. I have a Manfrotto ball head with quick release...I looked on Amazon but can't really figure out what I need. Is there an adapter that I need so that I can use this L bracket on my current ball head? Thanks!
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Manfrotto have a number of different types of quick release designs. I do not believe that any of them use an "Arca Swiss" compatible design. Your best bet is to stick with Bogen/Manfrotto compatible brackets or replace the ball head itself.
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Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
These are the 2 "Elbow Brackets" of which I am aware:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&N=0&A=endecaSearch&InitialSearch=yes&Q=&Ntt=Bogen+Manfrotto+Elbow+Bracket
I have the #340 and I do like that it has a built-in anti-rotation feature that rapidly adapts to multiple camera bodies without requiring a separate plate for each body design (like most other systems.)
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I'm looking at the 340. I have the 496RC2 ball head, with the RC2 quick release. Looking at the 496, could I take the RC2 reciever off by removing the Allen screw, then attach the 340 to the ballhead, so that I can still use the ballhead?
Thanks!
Thanks! Hope this link works..
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004NEIE0M/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/178-4201188-8903945?ref_=cm_sw_em_r_am_ip_am_us
http://www.manfrotto.com/About+Us/Contact+Us/
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I wish I could tell you that I thought it would work. Then you could use your Arca-Swiss compatible L-bracket. I think you are going to find, however, that the Fotopro QR fitting requires a 3/8 stud, and not the allen screw fastener on your Manfrotto fitting. Here, have a look. If what you have looks like the fitting on the lower left, I think you're out of luck. If it looks like the one on the upper right, you're golden. Maybe the Fotopro QR has options other than the 3/8-1/4 bushing, but I doubt it.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Lower left is the one I have..shoot...Thanks for going through the trouble though. Maybe that 341 will work out and I can sell that Kirk on eBay...I know I should just breakdown and buy a new ballhead because in a couple years I might anyways....but I just bought that Manfrotto last fall. It very true though when photographers say to buy the best tripod setup you can, don't cheap out...
Do not dispair! I've lost the link, but I rooted around in Amazon and found a Arca Swiss fitting that DID allow (and come with) an allen bolt. Keep looking.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
To the OP: you got a Kirk L-bracket (I have one, too, and love it), why not check Kirk for compatible QR clamps?
http://www.kirkphoto.com/Specialty-Quick-Release-Clamp-List.html
My site 365 Project
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Interesting you mention that. Kirk's camera plates have safety stops on them (screws catch in the U-shaped cutouts on the QR plate), but they do not have them on the L-brackets. Maybe because with an L-bracket you typically do not have the body leaned over to the side like you would going to portrait mode using the drop notch if you just have a plate on the bottom of the camera. I've never worried at all about it, but I guess that's just me. I carry my tripod over my shoulder with the L-bracket secured on the ballhead and it's never moved a micron. But I understand the fear, and of course it only takes one time of not having it secured for it to go boom.
RRS also has the same kind of QR clamp that would work by removing that allen screw, and it also has safety cutout areas but the stops themselves would have to be on the bracket. (Sorry for the size of the pic.) RRS's L-brackets also do not have safety set screws on them, but their non-L-bracket plates do. There must be some reason for that...
My site 365 Project
How much more stable , if any, is the RC0 system over the RC2??
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Art, I don't know that it's inherantly any more stable, but the RCO system is just used on beefier stuff in general. I have a monster tripod with the old #229 tri-axis head, and it's like a rock. Trouble is it weighs a ton. I only use it in a "studio" environment 'cause it's just too much of a pita to move around.
It's not much better at "anti-rotation" than any other plate that relys on friction and little rubber sheets, IMO. Maybe a teeny bit, cause there's more surface.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
You need to cultivate some paranoia David. If it CAN hit the deck, it WILL . . . eventually. :cry I recently lent a lens to my daughter. Got a maracas back.
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Dgrin FAQ | Me | Workshops
Thanks, almost too easy! Do you think this Amazon rip-off would work too?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004ED815A/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/178-4201188-8903945?ref_=cm_sw_em_r_am_ip_am_us
Would it work? IDK, I guess it might. I'd doubt it will be as well made as Kirk or RRS, and I might have concerns about it loosening up and my gear falling off. There are certain places where I believe spending the money is the right thing to do, and others where skimping is ok with me. Things that prevent big crashes fall in the former camp for me. But that's entirely up to you.
My site 365 Project
Natural selection is responsible for every living thing that exists.
D3s, D500, D5300, and way more glass than the wife knows about.
Yeah, your right. Plus it looks like it's American made, and as a union worker I try to buy American when I can...even if it's $130.
The $130 clamps are the ones that come with the Manfrotto QR plate attached to it that you would just mount on your existing ballhead. If you are planning on removing the allen screw from your ballhead and instead installing one of these like I linked the picture of, those clamps are more like $90. Still not free, but somewhere in between the eBay special and the $130. Unless you like the idea of having a QR plate mounted on a QR plate, then you can go for the higher price deal.
You can also keep an eye on Kirk's website, they have specials and blemish/demo options where you can get what you're looking for for a few bucks less. I got the QR clamp for my monopod that way, saved myself $10 or so. Again, it didn't make it free, but I don't mind having a scratch or two and saving some money. And FWIW, the one I got from the blemish bin wasn't actually blemished at all, it just was their older style clamp that doesn't have the etched alignment marks on there. For my monopod, it was perfect.
My site 365 Project
When I'm using a longer lens with a tripod ring I mount the tripod ring directly to the tripod head. I rotate the camera/lens via the tripod ring.
I use an L/elbow bracket for lenses which lack a tripod ring and the bracket is mounted to the camera body.
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