Kirk KLP-450-2NL universal lens plate (114 mm) with QD mount and 2 screws

Kirk KLP-450-2NL universal lens plate 114 mm, precise base for your telephoto lenses

You often only notice it when something wobbles. A clean, play-free connection between lens and tripod head is exactly the point where good gear separates itself from “well, it kind of works”. The Kirk KLP-450-2NL universal lens plate (114 mm) is built precisely for this moment: it creates a stable, twist-proof base for your long focal lengths while remaining pleasantly light and unobtrusive in daily use.

The plate is made from a high-quality 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with a matte black anodized surface. That sounds technical, but in everyday use it simply makes the difference: high rigidity, low weight, a robust, scratch-resistant finish and a discreet surface that doesn’t reflect in the field. Weighing only about 71 g and with a length of around 11.4 cm, it fits well on modern telephoto lenses without being unnecessarily bulky.

On the top side you’ll find a universal 11.4 cm contact surface that adapts to the common tripod collars of telephoto lenses. The underside carries a precisely milled 38 mm dovetail clamping profile designed for quick-release clamps in the ARCA standard. The width is about 3.8 cm, so the plate engages snugly and securely in suitable clamps.

Arca-style compatible, precisely matched to 38 mm quick-release clamps

According to the manufacturer, the KLP-450-2NL is Arca-style compatible and designed for 38 mm quick-release clamps. If you’re already working with an ARCA system, this lens plate integrates seamlessly. It is ARCA compatible and thus ideal for many common ball heads, gimbal heads and quick-release adapters.

For more information on the ARCA system and suitable quick-release clamps, take a look here: ARCA compatible accessories.

The dovetail profile is cleanly milled and ensures a play-free fit in Arca-style compatible 38 mm quick-release clamps. In practice this means: you clamp the plate in, tighten it, and don’t have to constantly readjust. Especially with heavy telephoto lenses, this reliability is worth its weight in gold.

With QD strap anchor socket, flexible carrying option on the go

The plate has an integrated QD strap socket, more precisely a single QD strap anchor socket. It is QD compatible and allows you to attach a suitable carrying strap with QD strap anchors directly to the lens plate. This is particularly practical if you frequently switch your setup between tripod and hand‑held use.

Important: To use this QD strap socket, you need a strap with suitable QD strap anchors. You can find suitable straps here: Straps with QD strap anchors.

An additional classic strap eyelet is deliberately not present on this plate. The focus is clearly on a modern, fast QD solution that is very comfortable in practice when you want to carry your telephoto lens securely and still be able to fix it back on the tripod quickly.

Made in the USA, solid manufacturing quality without frills

The Kirk KLP-450-2NL is made in the USA. You notice this in the details: cleanly deburred edges, a uniform black anodized surface and precisely fitting holes. We’d describe it like this: no show effect, but honest, functional manufacturing quality as you would expect from professional photo accessories.

The 6061-T6 aluminum alloy used is an industrial standard for highly stressed components. Together with the black anodized finish, this results in a plate that remains attractive even with frequent mounting, removal and transport in a backpack. In short, it is made for tough everyday photographic use, not just for the studio table.

Universally usable, optimized for Nikon, Canon RF and Sigma telephoto lenses

The KLP-450-2NL is designed as a universal lens plate and, according to the manufacturer, can be used universally. At the same time, it is particularly well dimensioned for some specific telephoto lenses. These include:

• Nikon F: Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon F: Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED-IF AFS VR
• Nikon F: Nikon 120-300mm f/2.8 E FL ED SR VR NIKKOR
• Nikon Z: Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR NIKKOR (2023)
• Canon RF: Canon RF 200-800mm f/6.3-9.0 IS USM (2023)
• Sigma: Sigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM | Sports

Especially with these lenses, the length of 11.4 cm provides a well-balanced contact surface on the tripod collar. This helps improve balance on the tripod head, particularly when the camera and telephoto lens together put a substantial weight on the scales. Even though the plate is universal, you can tell it was developed with modern super-telephoto and telephoto zoom lenses in mind.

Anti-twist protection and variable lip, secure fit even with heavy setups

A key detail of this lens plate is the removable lip that serves as anti-twist protection. It has two different angles, one with 90 degrees and one with 30 degrees. This allows you to mount the lip according to your lens and tripod collar so that it works optimally against twisting.

The anti-twist protection is designed to be variable. This means you can adjust the lip or remove it if necessary, if the design of your lens requires it. In practice, this construction prevents the plate from slowly twisting under lateral load so that you suddenly end up working with a skewed alignment. Especially with longer focal lengths, this is a very noticeable advantage.

2 safety stop screws, extra protection against slipping out

The Kirk KLP-450-2NL is equipped with 2 safety stop screws. These small but important screws sit at the ends of the dovetail profile and act as a stop in the quick-release clamp.

They prevent accidental slipping out of the quick-release coupling if the clamp is not fully closed once or opens slightly due to an unfortunate movement. In practice, this can be exactly the difference between a brief moment of shock and an expensive fall of camera and lens.

The screws are designed so that they remain mounted and cannot be lost. So you don’t constantly have to worry about a tiny screw disappearing somewhere in the grass or on the studio floor.

Material, dimensions and handling, compact, light, practical

With a length of about 11.4 cm, a profile length of 11.4 cm on the top and bottom, and a width of around 3.8 cm, the KLP-450-2NL strikes a good balance between stability and handling. It is long enough to safely carry even larger telephoto lenses, yet compact enough not to be constantly in the way when you stow the lens in your backpack.

The weight of only about 71 g ensures that your setup doesn’t become unnecessarily heavier. Overall, this results in a lens plate that you can easily leave permanently on the lens. Many users also use such plates as an improvised carrying handle when they grab the lens by the tripod collar. The black anodized surface feels pleasant in the hand and is resistant to fingerprints and minor scratches.

QD compatible and ARCA compatible, one system, many possibilities

The combination of a QD compatible strap socket and an ARCA compatible dovetail profile makes the Kirk KLP-450-2NL a very flexible building block in your setup. You can quickly remove the lens from the tripod, attach it to a QD strap, and just as quickly fix it again in an Arca-style compatible 38 mm quick-release clamp.

Whether you shoot wildlife, sports, nature or travel photography makes almost no difference. The plate is designed to cover many situations in which you want to switch between hand‑held, monopod or tripod use without constantly fiddling with screws and plates. That’s exactly what it’s made for.