Kirk BL-50DG Compact L-Bracket for Canon 50D with BG-E2N Camera

Comments about Kirk BL-50DG Compact L-Bracket for Canon 50D with BG-E2N Camera:

I will be using this mostly for landscape and portrait shooting. I was surprised with the combination of light weight and strong construction. Since I don't shot flash shots or attach cables to the left side of my cannon 40D, I didn't get the accessary attachment for cable runs. There is a notch on the horizonal and verital mount for ball head centering, which points to the fact that the bracket was well designed. I leave it attached to provide that added camera protection.

Comments about Kirk BL-50DG Compact L-Bracket for Canon 50D with BG-E2N Camera:

Not to disparage the competition (which I'm told makes a fine product), but I'm of the opinion that the best they can ever hope for is to APPROACH parity with Kirk. This product is designed and manufactured the way that I would design and manufacture such a device, which is to say with painstaking attention to detail, function and quality. After obtaining the EOS-1VHS version for my 1V on an online auction I HAD to have this 40/50D version for my 40 and 50D cameras. Worth every penny of the sky-high price.

Comments about Kirk BL-50DG Compact L-Bracket for Canon 50D with BG-E2N Camera:

I have a RRS BH-40 ballhead and used to use RRS L-plate for my 50D without the grip. Since I now primarily shoot w/ BG-E2N attached, I looked into getting an L-bracket w/grip. You'd think why I didn't just get the RRS brand again when the price difference is only $14 ([$] Kirk vs [$] RRS). [...]I've heard lots of rave reviews about Kirk products and they claim the compatibility with RRS heads, I thought I'd give it a try. The bracket looked pretty good too.Unfortunately, this plate doesn't fit snuggly on my RRS lever clamp. The Bottom dovetail is too tight and I had to use excessive force to make it close completely. The side dovetail, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit loose. How is that possible?? Perhaps Kirk's approach to the dovetail quality control in terms of size isn't as strict as RRS because Kirk ballheads use the knob-style clamps, whereas RRS is, AFAIK, only one of 2 lever offerings for arca style clamps. Arca-Swiss obviously being the other one. My old RRS L-plate, btw, fits PERFECT both ways.To make matters worse, there seems to be too much open space between the side of the 50D body and the plate. I guess Kirk did this intentionally so you can access the side panel easily even while shooting vertically, but it is TOO loose. Maybe I'm spoiled by the RRS quality, or maybe I received one that's slightly defective. Either way, I'm returning this and will be paying $40 more for RRS L plate... Just thought I'd share this with all those who are contemplating getting this particular L-bracket to use with their RRS lever clamps.