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Custom
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Pictured above right is a Really Right Stuff L-Bracket attached to a Nikon D200 camera with battery pack. Above left is the PZ6 camera plate for the Nikon F5 from Kirk Enterprises.
Custom plates and brackets such as these are nearly essential for vibration-free photography, and those from Kirk Enterprises and Really Right Stuff are the best. Use the links above to visit their sites.
I've been into photography since a boy, always doing my best to learn and improve. When I first heard about Kirk and Really Right Stuff products, I was very interested, but I kept putting off trying them for many years, partly because of price, and partly because I thought getting better tripods and heads would solve all my problems. So, it was not until after I turned 60 years of age that I finally tried them out. I purchased a universal platform and an L-Bracket for my D200 from Kirk. When they arrived, I replaced the platform on my expensive pro ballhead from Manfrotto with the one from Kirk. I attached the L-Bracket to my D200 and mounted it on my tripod. I was amazed. I'd never experienced such steadiness before. The camera was absolutely rock-solid! Before the day was over I had a plate ordered for my F5, and a couple of days after that I ordered a platform for another of my Manfrotto ball heads from Really Right Stuff, one made to fit it. I was sold! I knew that before long I'd be buying plates or L-brackets for my most used cameras and heavy lenses. After 50 years of photography, I had finally found what I'd been looking for!
Yes, they are expensive for what they are, just a bit of engineered metal, but not for what they do. And, yes, one still needs a sturdy tripod and head to attach them to, but even with the best tripoods and heads there can be vibration and/or drooping with heavy lenses. By using a custom camera or lens plate or bracket from one of these two companies, on a sturdy tripod and head, one will receive rock-steady performance in any situation.
These plates and L-brackets require an Arca-Swiss style platform/clamp on which to be attached. If you do not have an Arca-Swiss head, both Kirk Enterprises and Really Right Stuff can also supply these platform/clamps for a wide variety of tripod heads, or you can buy one of their Arca-Swiss type heads. Either way works fine. I replaced the platform/clamp on two of my Manfrotto ball heads, one from Kirk and one from Really Right Stuff, and both worked perfectly with my existing heads. One brand is as good as another. However, Really Right Stuff has an advantage in having platforms that are actually made to fit a variety of heads from other manufacturers, and in such a case one will have a better or easier fit.
