Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Nice simple design, works just fine. The level on the clamp is a waste though on a monopod.

I was looking at the RRS, but it was twice as much, this looks just as good and works great.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

This is a good practical solution for a monopod head. Very stable and well built it is a better solution than using a ball head on a monopod as it is smaller than a good quality ball head. With the Q-R it is very easy to take the camera on and off the monopod.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

I was tired of weighing down my monopod with my full-size ball head. Saw this and figured I would try it. It's a little better than I expected, but not perfect by any stretch.

The Arca-type QR mount is a necessary option and works well. I've not seen another type of QR plate that prevents twisting, and with a large lens or even regular gear, twisting can cost you the shot.

The head seems sturdy enough to handle my 300/2.8 AFS and D300 w/MBD10.

My one complaint is exactly what you would expect. I'm used to having precise control over the friction point and the screw-tightening style tension knob on this head doesn't get there. Like I said before, it's better than I expected - and definitely livable, but it's not great.

Overall, though, it's a good, workable head at a relatively attractive price. And it's a much better overall solution for a monopod than a ball head.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Exactly what I needed! As much as I love my Gitzo tripod I don't always find it convenient to carry around through the woods on snowy, icy Winter trails.
This lightens the load by allowing me to carry my monopod instead of my tripod. No more catching my trailing tripod leg on low-hanging, snow covered
tree limbs.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

My Main ballhead is a Really Right Stuff BH-40 with thier quick release clamp. I also use their camera L-bracket to quickly go from landscape to portrait mode.

I purchased this Kirk product since I also wanted a quick release solution for my monopod as well and I thought the RRS solution was overkill and overpriced for what I needed.

Bottom line is this clamp works very well and is reasonably priced. It is light but sturdy and supports my Canon 5D2 with 70-200L f4 with plenty of headroom. I was originally thinking that the twist know would take too long and be cumbersome, but I was wrong. It is ever so slightly slower than a lever type clamp, but not enough to want to replace it. It is also very small and light for travel.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Perfect for Bogen monopod

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

I put my Canon camera with a 100/400 lens on it with a quick release plate on a monopod and it is very sturdy. I feel very confident that this will hold up in heavy use.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Really good quality product,an option that I was looking for a long time. Attach to a Manfrotto 680-B monopod and holds a Canon 100-400mm L & 400mm f/2.8.
It really shines when I have to swap between lenses on the spot. Great combination between Manfrotto and Kirk.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

I use this swivel head on an Induro carbon 8X monopod. It really does what I need it to do by allowing me to take portrait or landscape photographs with one easy adjustment. The only thing I've had to learn how to do is when swinging the camera into the portrait position is to not over swing the camera more than the 90 degrees which this swivel head will allow you to do (it may be necessary at times but not normally).It handles my T1i Canon camera with a 400mm F5.6 lens with no problems. The fact that it has Arca type quick release is perfect, consistent with my other ballhead quick release, allowing for easy switch over to other cameras/lens as well.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Supports Nikon 300 f/4

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Bought this for the Jubo monopod. Set up easily and is easy to use.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

One thing I didn't see mentioned in the other reviews was that it comes with an Allen wrench that can be used to change the pivot direction 90 degrees. You can also have the knobs on opposite sides if you want (as one reviewer wished he could do). Maybe this was a recent design change, don't know, but that capability is there.

This is THE Arca-Swiss monopod solution, unless you have a huge lens, and a lot of money. If that is the case, you might want to look at the RRS monopod head. But this works fine for a 70-200.

The head is a little higher than the Manfrotto 234RC (which I had before). That might be a little less stable, but the extra height allows the camera to clear my monopod's "power disk" when flopped over to the portrait position. So it's a good thing, at least for me.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

This, of course, is used to support the camera on a monopod. In beginning a photo hoby one doesn't always know which way to go on some important gear. I started with a Manfrotto tripod and clamp. Since then I have discovered that I prefer the Arca-Type attachment system and have migrated in that direction. This is my last bit of kit to change out, so now I have complete uniformity. It's easy to use and gives a very secure attachment point to both camera and monopod. Using the Kirk Arca-Type clamp with the Manfrotto nodding positioner plays on the strength of both systems. That is sturdiness and reliablity. The quick release part in the description is somewhat of a misnomer as the jaws of the clamp are driven by screw and not by lever as the description would imply. I am however in favor of this screw lock arrangement on a monopod. Lastly.the leveling bubble on the Kirk clamp is all but useless in this application.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Attached to monopod the MPA-1 allows much more control than a direct mount

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

Great head. No more having to remove mounting plates on telephoto lenses. The swivel head had no problem holding my 70-200mm IS lens at an angle. The only change I would make would be to put the swivel handle and locking plate handle on opposite sides – personal preference, not a big issue.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

This item made using my Nikon D3s and 200-400mm Zoom much easier on my Manfrotto monopod. Well made and worth the money. I would also recommend using the Wimberley replacement foot as well, as it lowers the centre of gravity of the lens which also helps the balance.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

The combo of this monopod head and Kirk camera bracket or Kirk 70-200 foot is a simple and very effective solution.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

IF you want use a Manfrotto monopod to shoot with zoom 70-200 VR you need this item. Easy to use very quickly to disengage

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

I switched from a Manfrotto baseplate to an Arca-Swiss type baseplate on my tripod. This left me with no solution for my monopod.

I did some searches on the internet. Most were getting adapter plates and screwing directly to the monopod. I didn't like this approach, as I do shoot vertical from a tripod. I wanted my manfrotto style monopod head that I was used to with a baseplate. I couldn't convert my existing monopod head.

This was the best solution.

Comments about Kirk MPA-1 Swivel Tilt Monopod Head with Arca-Type Quick Release:

I use this for shooting sports with a 70-200 f 2.8 IS and it works very well./ I like the smooth locking mechanism for the tilt. The kirk mount is the best for mounting the lens.