houdel Loc: Chase, Michigan USA

I have ordered a gimbal tripod head. This is something which will see limited, infrequent use, and the thought of having to swap out heads for an occasional gimbal shot or two is a bit bothersome. Would it be a particularly bad idea to attach a QR plate for my current head to the bottom of the gimbal head (recognizing I'd need a 1/4" to 3/8" thread adapter) and mounting the gimbal head on the regular head for occasional use? I would be using a Manfrotto 055XPROB tripod and 808RC4 head, both of which are pretty rugged, with a Nikon D3X camera and Nikkor 80-400mm lens. Has anyone tried this, how does it work, any thoughts?

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

I don't see why that wouldn't work. I have the 055XPROB and a 498RC4 head. I've attached a QR plate to an old Vivitar flash bracket and it works fine. The gimball head probably already has the 1/4" screw hole tapped into it. Just be sure to level and lock the head down tight.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

Not tried it - but it does sound workable ! Gimbals are usually relegated to heavier lenses than what you have ....and for good reason.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I use the Manfrotto version of this on cameras and tripods. Some of my tripods don't let me remove the original mount. In that case, I attach the Manfrotto tripod adapter to the original tripod plate using the camera plate that came with the tripod, and then I snap the camera with the Manfrotto QR plate onto that. It's a perfect foolproof system.

http://www.amazon.com/XCSOURCE%C2%AE-Release-Adapter-Manfrotto-200PL-14/dp/B00JRTFDMA/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1428943163&sr=1-5&keywords=manfrotto+qr+adapter

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

I have a Manfrotto 393 with a QR that fits my 150-500 and my Manfrotto MH055 w/Q2. Got Q2's on my cameras.

Don't know if it makes sense,but it's quick and stable.

Dik

I would not trade the time saved by not swapping heads for the loss of stability caused by moving the camera farther from the tripod's apex, unless it were going to be used strictly for panning shots.

Jerry Green Loc: Huntsville, AL

For the ease of changing in the field look at these:
Jobu Design
-Micro Gimbal/Ballhead Adapter
-Micro-Head Offset Adapter
I have ordered these and am looking forward to see how they work with my ballhead. I am currently using a Jobu Junior Gimbal Head and using a lens plate mounted perpendicular to the camera with good results.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Just because a person can do something, doesn't mean they should do that something.
--Bob

RRS Loc: Not sure

This may not be what you are looking for but I have a quick release mount on my tripod. I also have the matching adapter on a gimbal and ball head and can swap them out in seconds. Take a look at the RRS catalog just for ideas. What you are planning should work, just getting the picture in my head.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I would think that stacking heads that way would make for a pretty unstable setup. I wouldn't want to risk putting my big glass on it.

The best alternative to a full size gimbal, that's designed and intended to completely replaces any other head on the tripod, is a "Sidekick" style gimbal combined with a heavy duty ballhead. I've used the original Wimberley Sidekick for at least ten years now. It's quite good, works well and is rated to support all but the heaviest (600/4 and 400/2.8) lenses. I know folks using them even with those very heavy lenses, but the biggest I use personally is a 500/4.

Besides the original Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick: http://tripodhead.com/products/sidekick-main.cfm

There are now the Induro GHBA: http://www.indurogear.com/products/induro-gh-series-gimbal-heads-ghba.aspx

And the Jobu Micro Gimbal Ballhead Adapter: http://www.jobu-design.com/Jobu-Micro-GimbalBallhead-Adapter_p_15.html

The latter doesn't have much offset, so doesn't look like it would be ideal with some of the bigger lenses I use on a gimbal. I haven't used it, though.

All three of these simply work in conjunction with a heavy duty ballhead that's fitted with an Arca-Swiss quick release platform (I use a Kirk BH-1 on one tripod and a Smith-Victor BH8 on another). It's very quick and easy to swap back and forth, for gimbal use or for standard use.

These "side mount" type gimbals have another useful aspect... I've found that they work well with short lenses too, so long as the camera has an Arca-Swiss plate on the bottom. This takes the place of a bulkier, expensive L-plate on the camera.

Another possibility might be some sort of tool-free means of swapping the heads. I use Gitzo Leveling Platforms on two of my tripods. Those have a lever that locks the head in place. Simply moving that lever to unlock the head allows screwing heads off and on the tripod pretty quickly and easily by hand. That leveling platform also makes setup on uneven surfaces much faster and is especially useful with any gimbal head. The leveler does add roughly a pound of weight to the tripod, though.

These Gitzo levelers won't work on your tripod. They only fit Gitzo Systematics and a few others that are compatible with them. I know Manfrotto offers a leveling platform (I have a Bogen version on an old Bogen tripod).... but not sure it has the same head lock feature (my old one doesn't, it requires a tool to attach/remove the head).

Dik

Although the primary use for a gimbal head (long lenses, moving subjects) is well served by many, most are built with the horizontal rotation center not aligned with lens centerline.
This makes them unusable as a VR pano head.
RRS makes one that does it RIGHT, for about $1000.
Looks like it will do everything... now if they would offer one fitted with dual stepper motors...

RRS Loc: Not sure

Hey Dik, maybe your on to something!! Why not call RRS and tell them what you need/want and see if they can make it for you/us. I know that they could," All it takes is Love" no, wrong song, all it takes is money and lots of it. At my age it's hard enough to hum along let alone keep it in tune. :) :) :)

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

it is a real pain to change the gimbal head. I use two tripods and just pick the one I want to use.

But that said, the gimbal can be tighted down fairly securely and it would be possible to mount a ball heah on it and I see no reason this wouldn't work.

But the tripod with the gimbal mount is quite heavy. You would incur that extra weight whenever you used it.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Check with RRS in your home state, they have an easy fix. I use only one tripod and switch between gimbal and ball head in seconds. When out on a long shoot, two weeks to a month I do carry that extra tripod just in case!

peter cook

I have used in he past ten years a Arca swiss ball head & a R Right stuff L bracket on my camera head.
This combo to me seems Great .
But If you cant afford this combo keep it in you mind for a later time .
The RR stuff Ball head is Quit large ,lager than the Arc swiss Ball head .
But the R Right stuff L bracket seems to me the better L bracket than other brands.
Do not buy the ball heads made in china .
I bought the Aca swiss ball head in 2001 and it looks and still works like its new B&H photo has it for about $450.00 good luck