Kirk PZ-17 universal camera plate with QD mount

Kirk PZ-17 universal camera plate, Arca-style compatible for precise support

The Kirk PZ-17 is a universal camera plate with a 38 mm dovetail profile which, according to the manufacturer, fits all common Arca-style compatible 38 mm quick-release clamps. This gives you a solid base for your tripod setup that integrates seamlessly into ARCA compatible quick-release systems and makes constantly switching between different heads and clamps significantly easier. Especially if you often switch between ball head, geared head or video head, such a standardized Arca-style compatible plate makes everyday use noticeably more relaxed.

Because the plate is universal, you can use it on a whole range of cameras. It is suitable, among others, for Nikon DSLR models such as Nikon D500, Nikon D800, Nikon D800E, Nikon D810, Nikon D7500, Nikon D780 and even the analog Nikon FE-2. On the Canon side it covers classic DSLRs like the Canon EOS 7D and Canon EOS 5D Mark II. Modern mirrorless systems can also be equipped effectively: for example Canon EOS R with BG-E22 battery grip, Canon EOS R7, Nikon Z7 with MB-N10 battery grip, Nikon Z6 with MB-N10 battery grip or Nikon Z5. In addition there are mirrorless Fuji models such as FUJIFILM X-T3 with FUJI VG-XT3 battery grip, FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJIFILM X-H1, Sony cameras such as Sony Alpha 7S III, Sony Alpha 9 II, Sony Alpha 1, Sony Alpha 7R IV, Sony FX3, Sony Alpha 7R III as well as the Leica M9 and the analog Olympus OM-1. In short: if you use multiple systems in parallel, this plate is a kind of small peace treaty between them.

Because the PZ-17 is ARCA compatible, you can easily mount it in suitable quick-release couplings. You can find more information on ARCA systems and compatible clamps here.

With QD strap anchor mount, quick carry option always available

A key detail that is easily underestimated: the Kirk PZ-17 features an integrated QD strap mount, more precisely a QD strap anchor mount, and is therefore fully QD compatible. This means you can snap a suitable strap with QD strap anchors directly into the plate without additional adapters or rattling intermediate parts. Especially when you frequently switch between tripod use and carrying on a strap, this saves you a lot of fiddling.

Important to know: to use this QD strap mount you need a strap with suitable QD strap anchors. You can find suitable straps and anchors here. Without these special anchors, the quick-release system will not work as intended.

In addition to the QD mount, there is a classic strap eyelet if you prefer to work with a conventional camera strap or a hand strap. This lets you decide depending on the situation whether you prefer maximum flexibility with QD anchors or tried-and-tested standard solutions. We find this combination quite practical because you do not have to change the entire system every time just because you want to carry the camera differently once in a while.

Made in the USA, robust 6061-T6 aluminum construction

The Kirk PZ-17 is made from 6061-T6 aluminum, a high-quality material proven in aviation that offers a very good weight-to-strength ratio. The plate is black anodized, which keeps the surface matte and prevents distracting reflections. At the same time, the anodized layer provides a durable, scratch-resistant finish that holds up well even with frequent clamping and unclamping in the quick-release clamp.

Weighing only 32 g, the plate remains pleasantly light and adds hardly any bulk to the camera. The dimensions are deliberately kept compact: about 6.4 cm in width, 3.8 cm in depth and 1.1 cm in height. This generally preserves access to most battery compartments and memory card doors, and the camera does not look unnecessarily “jacked up.” At the same time, the contact area is large enough to securely support larger bodies or bodies with battery grips.

The captive stainless-steel screw ensures that the plate can remain permanently attached to the camera without the screw suddenly disappearing into the grass when you are reconfiguring your setup. Especially outdoors, when things have to move quickly and you do not want to search for small parts in wet grass, this is a detail you will eventually come to appreciate.

Universal fit with anti-twist protection and safety stop screws

Although the Kirk PZ-17 is labeled as universal, it has been designed to sit ergonomically on many common DSLR and mirrorless cameras. The integrated anti-twist protection or stop prevents the plate from rotating under the camera when subjected to lateral forces. Especially for portrait-orientation shots or when you carry the camera sideways on a strap, this keeps the alignment more stable.

In addition, 2 safety stop screws are integrated. These safety stop screws prevent the plate from accidentally sliding out of the quick-release coupling if the clamp is not fully closed or has slightly loosened. The plate can still be shifted somewhat within the clamp, but it will not simply fall out. This is particularly helpful when you are working with heavier combinations of camera and telephoto lens or frequently tilt into portrait orientation.

The combination of universal fit, anti-twist protection and safety stop screws makes the PZ-17 a reliable base for very different setups, from compact mirrorless cameras to DSLRs with battery grips. Even though not every camera has exactly the same shape, the design ensures that in practice you get a stable, repeatable connection to the tripod head.

Practice-oriented design for photo and video

In daily use it becomes clear that the Kirk PZ-17 is not only well thought out on paper. Thanks to its low-profile design, the camera remains comfortable to handle even when you use it without a tripod. Many users simply leave the plate mounted permanently because it hardly gets in the way in everyday use and is immediately ready for the tripod at the decisive moment. Users who switch between photo and video in particular benefit from the fact that the plate fits easily into Arca-style compatible 38 mm quick-release clamps on various heads.

Since there is no sensor-center marking, the plate is not specifically designed for panoramic photography, but of course it still works in normal panorama situations as long as you use a suitable panorama head. The PZ-17 is better understood as a robust, universal base plate that securely connects many different cameras to your tripod system without drawing attention to itself. A kind of quiet helper that simply does what it is supposed to do.

All in all, with the Kirk PZ-17 universal camera plate you get a lightweight, stable and versatile Arca-style compatible solution that combines QD strap anchor mount, strap eyelet, anti-twist protection, safety stop screws and a high-quality black anodized finish in a compact package, all made in the USA from robust 6061-T6 aluminum.