Leofoto MPG-01S Single-Axis Gimbal Head

Leofoto MPG-01S single-axis gimbal head for precise telephoto shots

The Leofoto MPG-01S single-axis gimbal head is a compact, remarkably lightweight head for your monopod, specifically designed to handle heavy telephoto lenses in a controlled, steady way without requiring much muscle power. Weighing only 0.325 kg, with a height of 8.2 cm, width of 5.0 cm and depth of 10.8 cm, it fits easily into your camera bag yet still offers a maximum load capacity of up to 10.0 kg – more than enough reserves even for large telephoto lenses up to 800mm f/5.6.

Made from robust 6061-T6 aluminum combined with stainless steel at high-stress points, the MPG-01S is built for continuous use in tough, everyday conditions – whether you’re waiting on the sidelines, in a hide, or at an airport gate for your next assignment. You could say: small in pack size, but in terms of handling it definitely plays in the “big tools” league.

Arca-style compatible, seamless integration into your existing system

The Leofoto MPG-01S is fully Arca-style compatible and accepts 38 mm dovetail profiles, which are standard on many high-quality telephoto lens feet and quick-release plates. According to the manufacturer, the clamp is suitable for Arca-style compatible 38 mm dovetail, Really Right Stuff dovetail, Wimberley dovetail and Kirk dovetail, so you can usually keep using your existing plates and lens feet without having to buy everything new.

If you’re generally looking for ARCA compatible accessories, it’s worth taking a look at our dedicated category under ARCA compatible, so your setup is cleanly matched.

Lever clamp for fast, secure clamping

The integrated lever clamp is designed for speed and security. Instead of turning a knob for ages, you open the lever clamp, tilt the 38 mm clamping profile of your lens or lens foot into the clamp, and close the lever again – done. The lever clamp ensures that the clamping force is reproducible and evenly distributed, which is a real advantage with heavy telephoto lenses.

Important: whenever possible, use clamping profiles that have a safety stop screw at the front and back to prevent the assembly from accidentally sliding out of the clamp.

When attaching the lens to the MPG-01S, the basic procedure is as follows: place the lens on its lens hood (this is perfectly fine for the vast majority of prime lenses) and, in this position, bring the open lever clamp of the head to the clamping profile of the lens foot. Then close the clamp and check that the assembly is firmly seated.

Specifically designed for long focal lengths on a monopod

The Leofoto MPG-01S was specifically developed for use on sturdy monopods with long focal lengths. If you work with 400mm, 600mm or up to 800mm f/5.6, you know the problem: even the slightest movements become visible, and a conventional ball head is often more of a compromise than a solution.

The single-axis gimbal head shifts the rotation axes so that they run almost through the center of gravity of the entire setup. As a result, even a heavy telephoto-and-camera setup feels almost weightless and can be guided with great precision. Especially in sports photography, telephoto work and travel photography, when you need to react quickly but don’t want to rebalance every time, the MPG-01S really shows its strengths.

Note the side mounting, attach telephoto lenses safely and in balance

On the Leofoto MPG-01S, the lens is inserted into the lever clamp from the side. This side mounting enables a kind of “weightless” support, because the system is designed so that the forces run around the center of gravity and don’t act somewhere above or below it. The result: movement feels controlled and predictable rather than wobbly or nervous.

For this to work, two conditions should be met: your lens needs a tripod collar and must be equipped with a 38 mm dovetail compatible quick-release plate or a replacement lens foot with an integrated 38 mm dovetail compatible clamping profile. The clamping profile should also be sufficiently long so you can slide the assembly cleanly forwards or backwards to balance it precisely.

Balancing the lens on the MPG-01S

To balance your telephoto lens on the Leofoto MPG-01S single-axis gimbal head, first tighten the locking knob of the monopod head. Then mount the lens together with the camera body and stand behind the setup, just as you would when shooting later.

Hold the camera body with a relaxed grip, loosen the lever of the MonoGimbal slightly (only enough so that the lens can be moved) and shift the horizontal position of the lens in the clamp forwards or backwards until the assembly is in equilibrium and does not tip forwards or backwards. After each small adjustment, close the clamp lever again so nothing slips. This process only takes a short time but ensures that you can later pan with minimal effort, which is extremely comfortable during longer sessions.

Mounting the MPG-01S on the monopod

You have two options for attaching the Leofoto MPG-01S to your monopod. First, you can mount the head directly onto the monopod, as there is a 3/8" UNC female thread on the underside, which is compatible with most professional monopods.

Second, you can insert the gimbal head into an existing quick-release clamp, since the MPG-01S also has a 38 mm dovetail clamping profile on its underside. This allows you to decide flexibly whether you prefer a fixed screw connection or would rather work with a quick-release base – for example, if you frequently switch between different heads.

Which lenses is the MPG-01S suitable for?

The Leofoto MPG-01S is designed for telephoto lenses up to around 800mm f/5.6, provided they have a sturdy tripod collar and an appropriate 38 mm dovetail clamping profile. It is important that the profile is long enough to position the combination of camera and lens at its center of gravity.

Whether you’re using a fast 300mm, a 500mm telephoto, or a classic 600mm f/4, the crucial point is that the lens foot is Arca-style compatible or equipped with a 38 mm dovetail so that the MPG-01S lever clamp can grip securely. This keeps your setup stable even when you pan quickly or change perspective on the spur of the moment.

Fields of use: travel, telephoto and sports photography

The Leofoto MPG-01S single-axis gimbal head is particularly recommended for travel, telephoto and sports photography. When traveling, you benefit from the low weight of just 0.325 kg and the compact design, which hardly takes up any space in your camera backpack but provides a noticeable increase in stability on location.

In telephoto work, such as wildlife or bird photography, the gimbal head helps you keep long focal lengths steady while still reacting quickly to movement. In sports photography, whether on the football pitch, at the racetrack or in the arena, the design allows you to track subjects smoothly without constantly having to fight against the weight of the lens.

High-quality materials and durable construction

By using 6061-T6 aluminum for the main body and stainless steel for heavily stressed components, the Leofoto MPG-01S is built for a long service life. This material combination offers an excellent strength-to-weight ratio and is resistant to typical environmental influences such as moisture or temperature fluctuations.

The precise workmanship ensures that the movements of the head are smooth and controlled. Especially at long focal lengths, it becomes clear how important it is that nothing jerks or sticks; this is where the MPG-01S plays to its strengths and remains reliable even when used regularly.