Kirk LP-63N replacement lens foot for various Nikon telephoto lenses with QD mount

Kirk LP-63N replacement lens foot for Nikon telephoto lenses, stable base for heavy focal lengths

If you’re out and about with long Nikon telephoto lenses, you know the issue: the original tripod collar foot is often more of a compromise than a comfort. The Kirk LP-63N replacement lens foot addresses this directly and offers you a significantly more stable, practical solution for daily use in the field, in the stadium, or at the edge of a football pitch in drizzle. In short: a solid, well-thought-out lens foot for demanding Nikon photography.

The LP-63N replaces the standard foot of your Nikon tripod collar and creates a secure, torsion-resistant connection between telephoto lens and tripod head. With a length of 17.8 cm, a height of 5.1 cm, a width of 3.8 cm and a weight of only 161 g, you get a robust yet pleasantly lightweight solution that quickly pays off in everyday use.

Developed specifically for the following lenses, precision-fit for Nikon F telephoto powerhouses

This lens foot wasn’t designed to be “roughly compatible,” but very specifically engineered for certain Nikon F telephoto lenses. The LP-63N is particularly suitable for the following lenses:

• Nikon 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 500mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 600mm f/4E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 200–400mm f/4G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 200–400mm f/4G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 180–400mm f/4E TC1.4 FL ED VR NIKKOR
• Nikon 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S NIKKOR
• Nikon 500mm f/4 G ED VR AF-S Nikkor
• Nikon 120–300mm f/2.8 E FL ED SR VR NIKKOR

This also makes one thing clear: this foot is deliberately not universal, but tailored exactly to these telephoto lenses. That ensures a clean contact surface, well-balanced positioning on the tripod, and noticeably more pleasant handling, especially when you’re shooting handheld for longer periods or working from a monopod.

Made in the USA, precision machining from 6061-T6 aluminum

The Kirk LP-63N is made in the USA and milled from high-quality 6061-T6 aluminum. In the photo industry, this material is something like the standard for serious accessories because it offers a very good strength-to-weight ratio. The surface is black anodized, which not only looks good but also makes the foot resistant to scratches and the elements.

The profile length of the top side is 5.0 cm, while the underside measures 15.0 cm. This well-thought-out geometry ensures a stable contact in quick-release clamps and at the same time provides enough space for screws and accessories. In short: robust, but not bulky.

With QD strap socket, quick attachment for carrying straps

The lens foot has a QD strap socket, more precisely a single QD strap anchor socket. This allows you to snap a suitable strap with QD strap anchors directly into the foot and carry your telephoto lens securely without having to rely on improvised solutions.

To use this QD strap socket, you need a strap with QD strap anchors. You can find more information here.

Especially with long focal lengths, it makes sense to carry the weight directly at the system’s center of gravity rather than only on the camera’s strap lug. The LP-63N makes exactly that possible and thus increases safety during transport, for example when quickly changing locations between two plays or when switching from tripod to handheld shooting.

Arca-style compatible, ready for direct use in quick-release clamps

The Kirk LP-63N is Arca-style compatible and therefore a very practical solution for anyone working with modern quick-release systems. According to the manufacturer, the integrated clamping profile fits into Arca-style compatible 38 mm quick-release clamps, so you no longer need to mount an additional quick-release plate under the foot.

You can find notes and matching ARCA-compatible components here.

This saves height, weight, and potential points of failure. You simply place the lens in the clamp, tighten it, and you’re done. For sports, wildlife, or even calm landscape photography, this is a real comfort upgrade because you can react more quickly and have less fiddling to do at the tripod head.

Thought-out details: safety stop screws, photo threads, and dimensions

On the underside of the LP-63N you’ll find two photo threads: one 3/8" UNC photo thread and one 1/4" UNC photo thread. This allows you, if necessary, to mount the foot directly on a tripod head, a quick-release plate, or another accessory. This flexibility is often worth its weight in gold in practice, especially when you use different setups in parallel.

In addition, the lens foot is equipped with two safety stop screws. These safety stop screws prevent accidental slipping out of the quick-release clamp if the clamp is not fully closed or loosens slightly during hectic work. A small detail that, in case of doubt, can protect your expensive telephoto lens from a hard impact with the ground.

The proportions of the foot are deliberately chosen so that it is easy to grip while at the same time providing a stable contact surface. With a profile length of 15.0 cm on the underside and the already mentioned width of 3.8 cm, the foot sits securely in the clamp without being excessively bulky. The height of 5.1 cm also provides a comfortable working height when you balance the lens on the tripod head.

Practical handling for Nikon telephoto lenses, not a universal compromise

The LP-63N is deliberately not universal, but clearly intended for specific Nikon telephoto lenses with Nikon F mount. This has a crucial advantage: the fit is right, the balance is right, and you don’t have to struggle with half-baked solutions that are somehow adapted to everything and nothing properly.

We see this lens foot as a sensible addition for anyone who uses their Nikon telephoto lenses seriously, whether in wildlife work, at sporting events, in nature photography, or on longer reportage assignments. The combination of QD compatibility, ARCA compatibility, precise machining from 6061-T6 aluminum, and the black anodized surface makes the LP-63N a durable component that you’ll likely buy once and then simply use in everyday life without giving it much thought.

In short: if you’re looking for a stable, Arca-style compatible replacement lens foot with QD strap socket for your Nikon telephoto lenses that convinces not only on paper but also out in the field, the Kirk LP-63N is a very coherent, technically sound solution.