Can someone help me understand brackets/ballheads please?

[Jethro790]

I'm having a little trouble understanding what I need...

As I understand, L brackets are all pretty much Acra style mounts. It looks like Kirk has the market on these suckers for mounting your camera on the tripod, swithcing between portrait to landscape. Regardless of the cost, I can see the value of them, so I want one. I guess there are no cheaper options?

Now I guess I have to replace my cheap Manfrotto 486rc2 ballhead, which is ok since I got myself a decent set of legs and would like something lighter and better anyway for the field. Are the Induro or Benro heads Acra compatible? I am not seeing the words Acra compatible in the specs. What are? I am trying to get away from having to spend 3 or 400 dollars on an Acratech or Markins Ballhead, but are these the only Acra compatible types of heads? What about Giottos? Can they be or are they Acra compatible?

I'm happy with my Induro pod, it's great. If I can get an Induro or Giottos or Cullman head to work with an L bracket, that would be great.

[ed rader]

I'm having a little trouble understanding what I need...

As I understand, L brackets are all pretty much Acra style mounts. It looks like Kirk has the market on these suckers for mounting your camera on the tripod, swithcing between portrait to landscape. Regardless of the cost, I can see the value of them, so I want one. I guess there are no cheaper options?

Now I guess I have to replace my cheap Manfrotto 486rc2 ballhead, which is ok since I got myself a decent set of legs and would like something lighter and better anyway for the field. Are the Induro or Benro heads Acra compatible? I am not seeing the words Acra compatible in the specs. What are? I am trying to get away from having to spend 3 or 400 dollars on an Acratech or Markins Ballhead, but are these the only Acra compatible types of heads? What about Giottos? Can they be or are they Acra compatible?

I'm happy with my Induro pod, it's great. If I can get an Induro or Giottos or Cullman head to work with an L bracket, that would be great.


Jethro -- if you are using an L bracket that tells me you are fussy :D. my recomendation is to get a good ballhead like markins. if you are using your tripod alot you'll appreciate a good ballhead that you don't have to fiddle with :D.


BTW it's "arca" and benro is compatible.

ed rader

[Jethro790]

Jethro -- if you are using an L bracket that tells me you are fussy :D. my recomendation is to get a good ballhead like markins. if you are using your tripod alot you'll appreciate a good ballhead that you don't have to fiddle with :D.


BTW it's "arca" and benro is compatible.

ed rader

Well, I shoot in portrait a lot, do you find it unnecessary for work on a tripod? Yes, I am a little fussy, but i'd like to save a few bucks. Maybe instead of the $150 I'd spend on a bracket I should just put that towards a better ballhead like a Markins or a RRS and just be done with it? I was hoping that because I am so happy with the Induro I would be satisfied by the Benro/Induro heads as well.

[ed rader]

Well, I shoot in portrait a lot, do you find it unnecessary for work on a tripod? Yes, I am a little fussy, but i'd like to save a few bucks. Maybe instead of the $150 I'd spend on a bracket I should just put that towards a better ballhead like a Markins or a RRS and just be done with it? I was hoping that because I am so happy with the Induro I would be satisfied by the Benro/Induro heads as well.


i use a benro tripod with a markins Q3 ballhead ... i love it :D.

i'd get the ballhead first ....

ed rader

[Lowner]

Jethro,

Kirk are not the only manufactures of Arca-Swiss L plates, but may be the only ones available here in the UK. Have a look at what Warehouse Express offer, thats about the fullest range here. Sadly RRS kit is not imported and neither is Markins, so if you choose to go with either you are forced to order from abroad.

Markins you can get from Germany, very straightforward as its within the EU. But RRS is in the US, and that can mean struggling past a very dubious and probably illegal Royal Mail/Customs scam.

[Maxdave]

I use a Giottos MH-3300 and a Flashpoint F-1 ball head on my two sets of tripod legs. Both have Arca Swiss compatible QR assemblies and mate with my Giottos MH-680 VR sliding plate. This 90 degree plate fits anay camera, including both my 50D and 40D and allows portrait and landscape mounting. It will fit any QR system that is Arca Swiss standard (some of the Giottos QR assemblies are not, but their most recent series are, the MH-655, MH-656, MH-657 and MH-658, the Flashpoint F-1 works also).

http://www.adorama.com/GTMH680.html?searchinfo=VR

The MH-680 VR costs quite a bit less than a dedicated L-plate and can be used on both bodies. I do not leave it on either, but use it as needed.

Maxdave

[Jethro790]

I am in the US of A, so getting Markins or RRS is no problem.

[rklepper]

I have Kirk and could not be happier with it. Great products and a great product.

[Lowner]

Jethro,

My apologies, I missed the crucial "New", and assumed you were close to me.

[René Damkot]

Jethro -- if you are using an L bracket that tells me you are fussy :D.

Ed -- If you are not using an L-plate that tells me you:

probably never tried one, or
never shoot portrait orientation, or
like to adjust the tripod and ballhead a lot, or
don't worry too much about composition.


Off course, a combination of any of the above is another option :lol:

Markins you can get from Germany, very straightforward as its within the EU.

I ordered my Markins straight from Markins (not germany). Was cheaper (after customs) then getting one in Germany. (I'm in the Netherlands).

Now; on the L-bracket: Best purchases of camera gear I made in a while. I have 2: One for my 1D, one for my 1D2. Both bought used. IIRC, one for 60 euro's (ebay, used), one for 90 (member here, Like new), both prices incl. P&P.

Few options to spread / lower the costs:
You can add an arca style clamp to your existing ball head.
You can buy a generic Arca style plate for the body first (and use that on a longer lens with tripod ring later)
You can buy stuff used.


Also: There is a kind of L plate for Manfrotto RC2: Link (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/283710-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_341_341_Jr_Elbow_Bracke t.html). Not worth the cost IMO. (I paid less for one of my RRS L-plates)

[Jethro790]

Also: There is a kind of L plate for Manfrotto RC2: Link (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/283710-REG/Manfrotto_by_Bogen_Imaging_341_341_Jr_Elbow_Bracke t.html). Not worth the cost IMO. (I paid less for one of my RRS L-plates)

Fantastic! i will try that L-plate and see if it's something that will work for me. If it is, maybe I'll spring for a Arca style and ball head in the future. :)