Hi All. Kirk Enterprises used to make a very nice L-bracket for the Mamiya 645. They've since discontinued it, but they tell me that if they get enough calls, they'll do another fab run. Their fab runs are 100 parts, so it's a long shot. But you never know.

So, if you have a Mamiya 645, and would like a great L-bracket, please give them a call and let them know you'd really like that bracket. Here's the link for the bracket. It's the next to the last one on the page. http://www.kirkphoto.com/lbracketso.html Their phone number is on the page.

Hans.

Hans you got further than I did a couple months ago when I began my very long search for my L-bracket. I even offered to pay more and Kirk said no. I did find a used Kirk L-bracket off of E-Bay.

Anyone who even thinks they might need one should get one or at least contact Kirk. I have their L-brackets on every camera body I own and woun'd know what to do without them.

These are simply awesome!

I ended up using their Mamiya camera plate (that has the two pins to keep it from twisting) and one of their large generic L brackets - it works pretty well, but not as good as a real one, so I'll give them a call two, maybe three times...

I would be interested as I use the AFD in the studio vertical 90% of the time. Will there plate work on the Induro ball head? Or can you change the bottom plate on a ball head?

Hi Mcfoto. The Kirk bracket works with any tripod head that uses an Arca clamp. Lots of heads now use the Arca clamp, including Arca Swiss, Kirk, Really Right Stuff, and several others.

Hi Tim. I told them I would call them back a hundred times. They laughed. What they didn't realize was that I was serious :-)

I'll take another look at their generic L bracket. I asked them about that and they said it wouldn't work. I guess you showed them :-)

Hans.

Well actually that generic L bracket will work but not too well. What they advertise is that you can use their camera plate and the universal L bracket together - the camera plate addes a pair of pins that stick into the body to keep it from twisting, and then you attach the L bracker to this camera plate - it is not as nice as a custom fit, but it does work, and I can access all controls - actually the only control in the area is the lens release latch, and you can just barely reach in through the bracket and move it. I hope they accept e-mails too as I just sent them one.

I kept searching e-bay till I stumbled on a sale out of Boston. Used brackets are out there but they are very rare. I did find a store in the UK on the internet that advertised the brackets but also found they don't export to the US.

Does anyon have any idea hoe many Kirk made? Really Right Stuff also makes a good L-bracket - they just don't offer one for the Mamiya AFD. I would think that if either Kirk or RRS felt the demand was there they'd make em. I've decided to contact Kirk again to put my name on to the 100 list even tho I have one, I might get another body and then the search would begin all over again.

We really can't let this drop.

Hi
I emailed Kirk wanting this bracket so that makes 3-4 requests, we need another 80 at least.

Any news on this?

Hi
I emailed them and never received a response.

I emailed them after I started this thread and got a nice reply that they'd like to help, but at this time all they could suggest was Ebay. So it goes.

I ended up getting their standard Mamiya plate and I'll just have to flip the body on it's side using the ballhead slot. It's not quite as nice as an L-bracket, but it's OK.

Mort.

I e-mailed them and got no reply either. I had already purchased the Mamiya plate and their universal L plate and have been using them together so do have a usable L bracket for this camera. I would rather have a real one, but this one works fine for now. It is funny but they are the ones who suggested this rig, however when I placed the order online they called and said I had ordered the wrong plate so they sent me a different plate - I think they have something listed wrong on their web page. At any rate, it is working fine so I am a happy camper until someone comes up with a better solution...

Folks, I was just browsing KEH's site and they have a Kirk L Bracket listed in new arrivals for $79. It is in the Mamiya Auto Focus sub group.

Just got off the phone w/KEH and thet do not show any L bracket. Oh well...

Don:

Yup, it could be that someone slipped in there and bought it - glad to see that they update their inventory quickly which means it might be pretty accurate on both ends (although I'm not going to count my L bracket until the package has shipped)...

The search continues .......

Hi
Should I email them again, I think there is demand.

Thanks Denis

Perhaps, this need could also be met with the adapter that is marketed by Mamiya, which is quite easy to use, requiring no removal of the camera from the Arca Swiss mount as the "L" brackets do. Instead, there is a chrome lever on the front of the device, which when depressed releases the lock and allows the camera to rotate withing the circular frame holding the center of the lens in the same position relative to the subject, landscape or portrait mode.

I bought mine through Michael Ulsaker in East Hartford Connecticut. I will leave his email address, should someone want to pursue this item.

Jerry Reed

mulsaker@ulsaker.com

Why not attempt to get a "group buy" thing going with Kirk. See how many that would have to be ordered in order for them to take their mold out of retirement and make more. Who knows, maybe we can have Luminous Landscape engraved on them - with Michael's permission. Just a thought.

Hi
I wonder since the ZD back is coming that it would now be worth it for Kirk to make 100 units?
Denis