Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Tilt Head with Quick Release , Black

Virtually all monopods have the same 1/4" thread; this will fit. Some might just have a 3/8" thread, in which case it is a simple matter of removing the thread adaptor from the head with a suitable screwdriver. This has the only movement required of a monopod head - tilt; it unlocks, moves and and locks easily and totally securely without any undue force. The quick-release plate removes easily when you want it to, but can be locked so that it doesn't when you don't want it to. It is held firmly with no play. In short, it is typical Manfrotto quality - there are cheaper heads out there, but this is hardly expensive and most people would only ever have to buy one.

You don't need a head for a monopod, just fasten the camera to it using the tripod screw and it will work. Two issues though, 1) that takes time, is inconvenient if you are on the move and 2) with the camera screwed to the monopod, you can only use it in landscape mode. This head is specially designed for monopods and provides the only two functions you need; a quick release plate and the facility to tilt the camera from landscape to portrait. All the other movements are done by tilting the monopod sideways and backwards and forwards. A pan and tilt or ball head are just overkill and simply add more weight. The only downside to adding this head to your monopod is that it does add weight. However, like all Manfrotto equipment, this is beautifully engineered to last. It is reassuringly solid when you have a few thousand pounds worth of heavy camera/lens attached to it.

I wanted this so that I could easily cope with two bodies on my MM294, and to give support for the occasional landscape panorama. Its certanly well built, but fairly heavy. It assumes you are going to use it with the release lever on the left and the tilt control on the right, opposite to what the picture shows, which makes removal of the camera simple, but tiltling awkward. That's not so useful, at least for me, as I like to hold my camera by the grip on the right, while adjusting the tilt with my left hand, with the head as shown. That wouldn't work with some video cameras as the extra pin would be in the wrong place. Also as shown, the head works well with a long lens with its own support, such as my 40-150 F2.8, but the plate is at right angles to a camera body. You can put the plate in line with a body, but then if you use both supported lens and a body-supported camera then the tilt control and quick release are going to be in different places. So, all in all it takes a bit of sorting out how to use it most effectively. Hence four rather than five stars as its maybe not quite as flexible as it could be. Gives great support though: really strong and takes weight well. Feels really solid and secure.

I bought this head for a Manfrotto monopod. It's the most basic monopod head but I can't see why you'd need anything more for monopod use. If anything, I'd be happier if it didn't even have the tilt adjustment and was fixed in position. The build quality is good and solid and easily holds a heavy camera and lens. It was important to me to get the rectangular quick-release plate so I can keep the same plate on my cameras and use them with the compatible head on my Manfrotto tripod. The monopod head mounts onto the monopod with a standard 1/4" tripod screw. This means it will fit on any other tripod or monopod from any manufacturer.

I originally owned this about a year ago and, which was completely my own fault, I couldn't take to it and just couldn't get it to work for me. I believe I bought it because i thought I needed it and never gave it a chance. A few weeks back I realised why I needed it which comes with getting more camera experience. I completely love this now. Brilliant product! Very sturdy, quite a bit of weight to it but that's not a bad thing in any way & so simple to use it. I mostly use it on my Manfrotto Monopod. I leave the quick release permanently on my DSLR and the bracket on my Monopod. Click the pin out to the left which unlocks the lock, slip the black bracket out to the left and slide the camera off. Place the camera back on, the plate will click back in and automatically move the slider back in them move the pin back for total locking.

Let me start this review by saying this is typical Manfrotto quality. That is to say solid and perfectly engineered. You could tie an ocean liner to this head and do no damage!! Now this is were the mistake comes in on my part. My technique with a monopod entails the monopod foot being slightly forward from vertical or slightly back, close to my body with my right foot acting as a stop. This means the camera is slightly pointing at the sky or the ground. This is fine as long as the quick release plate is mounted on the camera with the long side at 90' as in the product shot. You can adjust the camera perfectly via the head. You cannot take portrait shots like this as the camera can only be pivoted up or down. In order to take portrait shots you must dismount the camera from the monopod, loosen the quick release plate on the camera, turn the plate 90', tighten it and remount onto the monopod. My mistake when ordering it was assuming the plate was square so no loosening was neccessary, just a dismount-mount of the camera. I'm in the process of ordering Manfrotto 494RC2 Ball Head with Friction Control which is the same as I have on my tripod. As I have said the product is A1 in all respects. Indeed I have not sent it back as I now use it as a do it all attachment for my flash off camera setup. Also, being Manfrotto it is the same quick release plate as my tripods ball head.

A great deal of thought went into this design and hopefully it will last a lifetime (though I am already 68!!). The release lever is huge and can get in the way, although accidental operation is unlikely since it has to turn 90 degrees against spring pressure to release the mounting shoe and additionally there is a small security latch. Still, it would be possible to design a rather smaller lever with a 'built in' security latch and that would be better. When the shoe is fitted the lever snaps ahut automatically. This shoe has a rubber facing and a camera can be fitted on to it either 'fore and aft' or sideways to the tilting mechanism. In the latter case rotating the mounting vertically through 90 degrees neatly changes the picture format from landscape to portrait. This is a quality product but at £26 you pay dearly for the Manfrotto name: the nearly identical Kingjoy version costs only £17. It will fit many non- Manfrotto mono or tripods provided they have a 1/4in thread. I use mine with my excellent Kingjoy monopod. The reasons for dropping a star here are the price and the 272gm weight of the thing. It is massive in construction and made, it seems of cast iron (or steel). Since my monopod weighs little more than 600 gms this mounting adds half as much again to the weight, making the monopod much heavier to carry around. I'm fairly sure cast aluminium would have been strong enough. This item is a nice thing though--the very weight of it makes it tactile and somehow pleasing to own.

Compatible with the quick release for my 141RC head and now my monopod head, meaning I can switch directly between the two. Package arrived with signs of being opened and sellotape back up. Disappointingly I purchased this as a new item and not second hand. Will take this up with Amazon. Other than that - perfect

stable, very good

حجم صغير وثابت على الحامل الاحادي .

Prodotto ricondizionato (confezione danneggiata), ma perfettamente funzionante e in condizioni "come nuovo". Lo utilizzo in abbinamento con un monopiede Manfrotto 676B e una Fujifilm X30. La testa è molto robusta e anche se permette la sola inclinazione di un asse, questo non rappresenta una limitazione con il.monopiede. Dalla descrizione (anche del produttore) non di capisce se l'abbinamento con la vite del monopiede è possibile o meno (lo è con il 676B). L'ho preferito alla più recente versione che prevede l'aggancio rapido in quanto il monopiede lo uso saltuariamente e quindi preferisco evitare di avere attaccati alla macchina fotografica "accessori".

Excelente como todos los productos de manfrotto, gran construcción y terminados. Gran producto

皆さんのレビューにもありますが、2～3kgくらいの機材であれば保持力に問題なく、クイックリリースプレートの脱着も安全に行え必要十分と思います。今までは、一脚＋自由雲台で主に野鳥や航空機を撮影していましたが、一脚ではチルト方向しか使わないのでこちらの方が好ましいです。難点を言えば、メーカ指定の方向にレンズをセットするとハンドルが右側にくるのですが、そちらだとカメラを保持しながらのハンドル操作が難しく感じます（プレートの回転防止ピンを使いたいので、レンズの向きを反対にはできない）。カメラのグリップではなくレンズ側を保持すれば良いので、慣れの問題だとは思いますが。 補足ですが、チルトの動きはさすがにベアリングを使った高級機には劣りすこしギクシャクします。分解するとハンドドルの下にあるワッシャーに汚れが見られたので、パーツクリーナーで洗浄しシリコングリスを塗布したら動きが良くなりました。ご参考まで。