Monopod head modification

hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
After purchasing a Manfrotto monopod, I searched through the various types of heads available. Since I already have 2 Manfrotto tripod heads (one takes a hexagonal plate while the other is a rectangular QR plate), I looked at monopod heads made by them so I can use the same plates.

Manfrotto only has 2 monopod heads available although I believe one of them is no longer being manufactured. It is a Manfrotto 234 (I'm not talking about the 234CR that comes with a quick release plate). The Manfrotto 234 is still available new via Amazon through other sellers although quite limited in quantity. While reading its reviews, one person listed the following URL on how to modify this head to be Arca Swiss compatible. Just wondering how many people have modified their monopod heads?

 
Eduard

Eduard

Super Mod
Staff member
Super Mod
I just went through the effort to standardize my mini-table, travel and full-size tripods with Arca-Swiss compatible clamps. I've become a big fan of the Sunwayphoto clamps for both function and VERY reasonable cost. I added a DDC-26 to the mini-table tripod and a DDC-60i to the MeFOTO DayTrip and the Giottos ballhead. I also added a very sleek PN-D800 to my D800E to simplify life. The SUnwayphoto clamps are available on Amazon in the US.

FWIW all of Fuji's grips for the X-T1 (and other models) are Arca-Swiss compatible and was the impetus for cleaning up my mounting clamps.

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R

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Eduard said:
I just went through the effort to standardize my mini-table, travel and full-size tripods with Arca-Swiss compatible clamps. I've become a big fan of the Sunwayphoto clamps for both function and VERY reasonable cost. I added a DDC-26 to the mini-table tripod and a DDC-60i to the MeFOTO DayTrip and the Giottos ballhead. I also added a very sleek PN-D800 to my D800E to simplify life. The SUnwayphoto clamps are available on Amazon in the US.
Click to expand...

Why did you have to replace the clamp on the MeFoto? It should have been Arca compatible from the start?


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BackdoorArts

BackdoorArts

Senior Member
RocketCowboy said:
Why did you have to replace the clamp on the MeFoto? It should have been Arca compatible from the start?


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Click to expand...

That was one of my disappointments with the DayTrip was that it had a small plate. Really annoying. The other is that the single tension adjustment will not bear a lot of weight and not slip. If I want to use a macro I need to use rails just to try and balance the weight a little better, which isn't always possible given the way I want to point the camera.
 
R

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
Eduard said:
The MeFOTO clamp was too narrow and didn't fit the PN-D800 or X-T1 grip.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Good to know. I found the Manfrotto Arca Swiss "compatible" head was too narrow for a lot of plates, but the MeFoto was my other benchmark. Since it's the only other tripod I own... :)

BackdoorHippie said:
That was one of my disappointments with the DayTrip was that it had a small plate. Really annoying. The other is that the single tension adjustment will not bear a lot of weight and not slip. If I want to use a macro I need to use rails just to try and balance the weight a little better, which isn't always possible given the way I want to point the camera.
Click to expand...

I haven't gotten into rails yet, but they are on my Amazon wish list...they can act as an Arca Swiss plate and clamp into an Arca head? Sorry for the elementary question, but I hadn't thought about that configuration and could see where that could strain the contact a bit.



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