The word “Kirk” immediately brings to mind Captain Kirk, whether you’re a fan of the Star Trek franchise or not. Hopefully after reading this blog, that’ll change for us all.

In this informative blog we tackle a few FAQs to ensure you think of the right Kirk next time.

What is a Ball Head?

Simply put, a ball head is a device that fits onto the top of a tripod. It assists with stability and composition setup. It’s an alternative to a 3-way head and even through it has similar weight carrying capabilities, it’s much smaller. A ball head allows you to adjust the camera horizontally and vertically, and from landscape to portrait orientation with the advantage of only having to loosen one locking knob instead of three different knobs. By only needing one knob for adjustment in all 3 axes, the speed at which you can make adjustments greatly increases.

On the ball head you’ll find three knobs:

  1. The largest of the three is the locking/release knob which, if loosened, enables the user to make adjustments on all the axes. Once composition is made it can be tightened to keep the frame as desired.
  2. The medium-sized knob (situated in the middle of the other two knobs) is used to set tension/friction control. This is used to avoid sudden changes in direction when working with heavier camera setups.
  3. The smallest knob can be used for 360º ration when the locking knob can’t be used as with panoramic shots that require stitching. Ball heads are most typically used for portrait and landscape photography and the Kirk BH-3 ball head won’t disappoint. Its compact and rugged body is designed to last its user a lifetime and comes with a confident five-year warranty.
Photograph showing the use of Kirk Photographic equipment being used in a studio

Do you need a Ball Head for a Monopod?

Generally speaking, you can put a ball head on a monopod, but we suggest to rather use a tilt head especially with heavier prime lenses. Tilt heads like the Kirk MPA-2 enable users to shoot up or down without having to lean uncomfortably forwards or backwards when following moving subjects like birds in flight that can change direction spontaneously.

Photograph showing how the Kirk MPA-2 tilt head is being used
Photograph showing how the Kirk MPA-2 tilt head is being used

What is an L-Bracket Used for?

An L-bracket, like the Kirk L-Bracket for Canon 5D Mk III with BG-E11 grip, allows you to easily switch from shooting portrait to shooting landscape without having to change the position of your ball head, which also means that you still have all the mobility-advantages of using a ball head. The addition of an L-bracket makes your camera setup slightly heavier, but apart from its design functionality, it also acts as extra protection for your gear.

Photograph showing how a Kirk L-Bracket is being used for a landscape shot in studio
Photograph showing how a Kirk L-Bracket is being used for a portrait shot in studio

How to use a Mini Tripod?

Another neat product is the Kirk Table Top Tripod. Sometimes you need to get a super low angle shot of birds at the waterhole or a skaterboarder doing some insane tricks? Simply attach your camera to the Kirk Table Top Tripod, place your gear in a strategic spot and with your wireless remote trigger, take some interesting point-of-view shots. This rock solid, compact, sturdy and lightweight mini tripod can easily fit into your backpack, so you’re always prepared. The Kirk Table Top Tripod is great for travelling when normal tripods are too bulky and you need something you can trust to support your precious and expensive camera gear.

Although experienced photographers predominantly use Kirk Enterprise Solutions’ products, Kirk is a brand that has a product that will enhance your photographic experience no matter what you enjoy shooting.

A photograph of a guy and his skateboard taken from a low angle