Manfrotto 234RC Monopod Head Quick Release – Replaces 3229

Makes using my monopod so much easier and stable. Before I had no head on the monopod but just attached the camera or lens direct to the tripod socket. Now I am able to use the monopod much more effectively. I prefer a tilt head like this rather than a ball head which would not be so stable. I’m also glad I went for the version with the quick release plate, which can be left on the camera/lens when I don’t need to use the monopod during transportation/walking. I’m glad I bought this for my wildlife photography.

Should of went with a ball head, so it’s my fault. Works with all of my other manfrotto gear though so I kept the unit.
Very heavy for a quick release head. Quality build just like you learn to expect from Manfrotto

I bought this for a monopod (most don’t included a head) this one offers a max load capacity of 2.5KG and a quick release plate. The plate has a rubber padded surface (48mm in width, by 34mm in depth) on the underside are markings for the lens direction, with a D shaped adjuster to tighten it up fingers will do just fine for this. Under the head you have a choice of two thread sizes 1/4 inch and 3/8 inch.

It’s important to note that unlike a ball head this one offers one axis of movement, though for many applications this will be quite suitable. You can rotate the head to 90 degrees for vertical shots if required. Possibly the most useful addition is the quick release plate this has an auto lock when pushed down, with an additional brass safety lever just flick this once the head is in place and it can’t be removed unless it’s pushed back to it’s original position. Quality is good a solid chunky feel, and it locks firmly in place (plate also has a harder rubber grip area). You might find depending on how you mount the lens that the release or adjustment lever are not where you’d like them, it’s perfectly fine to ignore the lens directions on the base plate and mount it how you wish. No spirit levels on this (one person left a dumb comment on the
is review recently – heads are interchangeable for tripods and mono pods a spirit level is useful on both); what I would like to see is a marking to show when the head is level nothing is here an embossed line would make it easier to align it.

A fairly simple head little to fault for the price it’s well made and suitably chunky, just make sure one axis of movement is fine for you.

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.

I already had a Manfrotto head for my tripod. It made perfect sense that the one for my monopod should be the same. Now I can swap my cameras out between accessories as the shoe is identical and everything is compatable.

The shipping is so fast! Excellent! It’s work perfectly to my C stand and holds my camera! Thank you!

Super strong handles large lens and camera