Kirk PZ-186 camera plate for Nikon Z6II & Z7II, Z5, Z6, Z7

Kirk PZ-186 camera plate for Nikon Z6II, Z7II, Z5, Z6, Z7, precisely fitting and amazingly unobtrusively helpful

Sometimes it’s the inconspicuous parts that make the biggest difference in everyday photography. The Kirk PZ-186 camera plate for Nikon Z6II, Z7II, Z5, Z6 and Z7 falls exactly into this category: compact, precisely milled, matte black anodized, and simply designed so that your mirrorless Nikon Z sits securely on the tripod in the studio, out in the rain, or at night. No wobble, no fiddling.

The camera plate is not universal, but quite deliberately designed to be form-fitting with the camera. It nestles against the body of your Nikon Z7, Nikon Z6, Nikon Z5, Nikon Z6II or Nikon Z7II and thus reliably prevents rotation on the tripod head. The versions with battery grip are also cleanly covered: Nikon Z7 with MB-N10 battery grip, Nikon Z6 with MB-N10 battery grip, Nikon Z6 II with MB-N11 and Nikon Z7 II with MB-N11 can also be mounted just as securely. In use, the whole thing almost seems unspectacular, which, honestly, is exactly the point, because you want to focus on your subject, not on a slipping plate.

Made in the USA, solid construction from 6061-T6 aluminum

The Kirk PZ-186 is made from high-quality 6061-T6 aluminum, a material that has been a standard in aerospace engineering for years. The surface is black anodized, matte and low-reflection, so nothing reflects back undesirably in the studio or during long exposures. We’d say: pleasantly unobtrusive, but robust enough to still look good even after years of hard use.

With a depth of about 3.8 cm, the camera plate remains compact, adds hardly any bulk and fits easily into your existing kit. The stainless-steel screw is designed to be captive, so you don’t have to rummage through your camera bag for a spare every time things get hectic. An integrated hex key is also included, so you can quickly and securely attach the plate to your Nikon on the go without having to carry extra tools.

There is also an integrated strap eyelet if you prefer to attach your camera strap in the classic way or simply want an additional safeguard. All in all, this creates a small but well-thought-out component that not only holds your camera securely, but also behaves pleasantly low-key in daily handling.

Developed specifically for the following cameras, precise fit instead of compromise

The Kirk PZ-186 is not modular and also quite deliberately not universal. Instead, it was developed specifically for the following cameras so that everything fits exactly:

• Nikon Z6
• Nikon Z7
• Nikon Z5
• Nikon Z6II
• Nikon Z7II
• Nikon Z6 with MB-N10 battery grip
• Nikon Z7 with MB-N10 battery grip
• Nikon Z6II with MB-N11
• Nikon Z7II with MB-N11

Especially if you work with a battery grip, you know the problem: many standard plates only half fit, block access points or don’t really sit twist-proof. Here it’s different. The PZ-186 is shaped so that it conforms to the respective camera body or to the combination with MB-N10 or MB-N11 and thus provides reliable protection against rotation. No constant retightening, no micro-play in the quick-release clamp.

Because the plate is designed specifically for these cameras, important controls and doors remain accessible, so you can change batteries and memory cards without having to remove the plate every time. In everyday use this sounds like a small detail, but over time it saves a surprising amount of time and nerves.

Arca-style compatible, seamlessly integrated into your quick-release system

The Kirk PZ-186 camera plate is ARCA compatible and, according to the manufacturer, assigned to Arca-style compatible (according to manufacturer) 38 mm quick-release clamps. For you this means: you can insert it directly into a wide range of common quick-release clamps without adapters or DIY solutions. If you want to learn more about Arca-style compatible systems in your setup, you’ll find suitable information under Arca-style compatible.

The clamp profile fits, among others, into:

• ProMediaGear clamps
• Wimberley clamps
• Really Right Stuff screw clamps
• Really Right Stuff lever clamps
• Jobu Design clamps
• Kirk clamps
• FlexShooter screw cross clamp

This allows you to integrate the PZ-186 practically seamlessly into existing tripod heads and quick-release systems. We’d put it this way: once mounted, the plate feels as if it has always been part of your setup. No trial and error, no compatibility experiments.

With QD strap anchor mount, flexible security and quick changes

The camera plate features a QD strap mount and is therefore QD compatible. If you use modern carrying systems with quick-detach anchors, you can attach your camera strap directly to the plate and detach or reattach the camera in seconds when needed. Especially when you frequently switch between tripod use and handheld shooting, this is a real comfort boost.

To use the QD strap mount, you need a strap with QD strap anchors. Suitable straps and QD anchors can be found under QD strap anchors. Without these special anchors, the QD function cannot be used in a meaningful way, so it’s worth considering the system as a complete setup from the start.

Together with the existing strap eyelet, you thus have several options for carrying or additionally securing your Nikon Z7, Z6, Z5, Z6II or Z7II. Whether you prefer to work with a classic strap or a modern quick-change system is entirely up to you; the plate works smoothly with both variants.

Sensor center mark for precise alignment and panoramas

A detail that is easily overlooked but extremely valuable for demanding shots: the Kirk PZ-186 has a sensor center mark. This mark helps you position the optical axis of the camera precisely, which is essential in particular for panoramic photography.

If you create multi-row panoramas, precise architectural shots or very exact reproductions, the sensor center mark makes alignment on the tripod head significantly easier. You don’t have to estimate anew every time, but can orient yourself to a clearly defined reference. This may sound a bit nerdy, but it really pays off at the latest when you want to stitch your images together cleanly later on.

Thought-out details for daily use

Beyond the big buzzwords like Arca-style compatible or QD compatible, it’s the many small refinements of the Kirk PZ-186 that convince in everyday use. The combination of being form-fitting with the camera, the captive stainless-steel screw, the integrated hex key and the robust, black anodized surface results in a tool that you simply mount and then, in the best sense of the word, forget.

The plate is designed to hold your Nikon Z7, Z6, Z5, Z6II or Z7II securely in a wide variety of quick-release clamps without you having to worry about compatibility. It is not modular because it doesn’t need to be, and not universal because it prefers to fit your Nikon Z cameras perfectly. Or put another way: fewer compromises, more stability.

So if you are looking for a camera plate that integrates your Nikon Z cleanly into an Arca-style environment, offers a QD strap anchor mount and strap eyelet, provides a sensor center mark for precise alignment, and unobtrusively does its job, the Kirk PZ-186 is a very coherent choice for your everyday photography.