Anyone use Manfrotto MN234(RC)?

woolcsr

woolcsr

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I've got a Manfrotto CX694 Monopod and am looking for a head for it.
Thought about getting a ball head, but am now considering the Manfrotto MN234 because it can rotate 90 deg.

Anyone have one? C/C on it?
 
What do you want to rotate 90 degrees?

I ask as it is designed to be forward/backwards tilt...

I had one, found it useful on my tele lenses when shooting wildlife & dogs.
 
woolcsr said:
I've got a Manfrotto CX694 Monopod and am looking for a head for it.
Thought about getting a ball head, but am now considering the Manfrotto MN234 because it can rotate 90 deg.

Anyone have one? C/C on it?
Click to expand...

The Manfrotto MN234 is a tilt only head which, although perfectly adequate for a monopod, does not rotate.
 
yes i use a 234 RC2 , i also have a small ball & socket head that i used to use on a monopod .
i prefer using the 234.
 
rgrebby said:
would also like to know about it.

Can you turn the camera from horizontal to vertical?
Click to expand...

Probably not, the edge of your camera will likely foul on the top of your monopod - and you would have to mount the QR plate differently on the camera.
 
rgrebby said:
would also like to know about it.

Can you turn the camera from horizontal to vertical?
Click to expand...


No, and I don't believe it was ever designed with that in mind. I use a 234 on my monopod but only when I'm using a lens that has a tripod collar allowing for the whole rig to adjusted to portrait orientation. As an aside, I've found using a monopod attached to bottom of the camera (or grip) of little help, but if that's what you want to do then a ball head on the top of you monopod will be much better than the MN234RC.
 
Quote from the manfrotto website: Simple tilt head to allow a camera on a Monopod to be turned 90° to provide either vertical or horizontal format.

I take it this really isn't accurate?
 
woolcsr said:
Quote from the manfrotto website: Simple tilt head to allow a camera on a Monopod to be turned 90° to provide either vertical or horizontal format.

I take it this really isn't accurate?
Click to expand...

That's interesting woolcsr.................and the more I think about it the more I can see it will allow vertical or horizontal format as well as being a tilt - but not both at the same time. Anyway I swapped the ball head on my monopod for my 234RC to try it and you're absolutely right, it will allow for vertical or horizontal positioning. The problem is as I've said, it won't allow for both at the same time as the plate needs to be turned through 90 degrees to change the use. Obviously if it is used fitted to the tripod mounting bracket of a lens it can be left in the tilt position with the tripod mount used for changing the vertical / horizontal orientation.
 
Gofer -

Thanks. I hadn't considered that I'll need to rotate the QR plate. But it is good to know it will work. Think I'm going to buy it.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I can't see using this as a 'tilt'. Can't you just walk forward/backward to achieve the tilt? What am I missing?
 
Can you have the camera in portraiture mode on the monopod using a 234RC YES

DSCF0838.jpg
 
woolcsr said:
Gofer -

Thanks. I hadn't considered that I'll need to rotate the QR plate. But it is good to know it will work. Think I'm going to buy it.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I can't see using this as a 'tilt'. Can't you just walk forward/backward to achieve the tilt? What am I missing?
Click to expand...

I have to admit the only time I've ever used the tilt on my 234RC was when I was trying to take a picture looking down over the parapet of a bridge. I had to keep the monopod upright because angled it didn't have enough height. Normally I don't bother with the tilt facility and just lean the pod backwards or forwards to get the right angle as you suggest.
 
My understanding of the whole purpose of these heads was that they allow you to change from landscape to portrait very quickly. That certainly seems to be Manfrotto's idea about them from that link. After all panning is easy with a monopod, and presumable once you set a working height you can achieve forward and back tilt by moving.

Many ball heads have a slot to allow this 90 degree rotation by the way so a ball head would achieve the same.

The other advantage of a head over no head is the quick release plate (if fitted)

I only know all this because I'm trying to decide what to do myself, and haven't yet made a decision, I have just bought a 2nd hand tripod and head with 200pl plate so that is tipping the balance towards a tilt head.
 
From what I've read on many forums a ball head is NOT the way to go on a monopod, apparently it's just to fiddly and wobbly try to hold the monopod and set the ball head at the same time.

I have the 234(rc) and my father has the tilt head without the release plate which is far cheaper to buy and just as good IMHO. I do find that I rarely use the tilt but on the odd occasion like the one Gofer mentions it's very useful. For 99% of the time I could use the monopod without any sort of head.
 
whiteflyer said:
I have the 234(rc) and my father has the tilt head without the release plate which is far cheaper to buy and just as good IMHO. I do find that I rarely use the tilt but on the odd occasion like the one Gofer mentions it's very useful. For 99% of the time I could use the monopod without any sort of head.
Click to expand...

Thanks whiteflyer!

I was considering w/out qr plate, but discovered it is the same plate as for the 486rc2 ball head, so can move between monopod and tripod with ease. I am not sure I would ever need to do that, but be nice not to have to change it out.

I'm sold on the 234 for monopod now!

Thanks to all for the input!
 
Another + vote for the 234 from me.

AND for the QR version to allow the plate to be left on the camera when it's used on other support devices. I have fitted all my bodies and my Sigma 150-500 with the plates and all my supports accept them.
 
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