Nest gimbal head: I just got the Nest gimbal head yesterday and took it out for a test run today. I was extremely pleased with its performance. It is everything that I hoped it would...

larryim Loc: Ohio

I just got the Nest gimbal head yesterday and took it out for a test run today. I was extremely pleased with its performance. It is everything that I hoped it would be...solid, light, and smooth. I would highly recommend this, if you are interested in an affordable gimbal head. I use it with my Tamron 150-600.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

What subjects are you photographing?
I ask, because if birds-in-flight, or birds-on-water, your experience will be of interest to subscribers of the
Birds-In-Flight / Birds-On-Water Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html

larryim Loc: Ohio

Today, it was both. I went to see some shorebirds, including a red-necked phalarope and buff-breasted sandpiper, but was fortunate enough to also see an immature eagle fishing in a rather unorthodox manner.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Please consider posting your experiences here:
Birds-In-Flight / Birds-On-Water Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-112-1.html

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

I'm using the same combination (7DII, Tamron 150-600 and Nest Gimbal head).
I just got the 7DII so I haven't really had a chance to capture BIF (unless you consider hummingbirds feeding BIF)
I did go to a nature center yesterday but the only BIF were so very far away that all I got were tiny bird shaped blobs.

Interestingly.....the camera/lens was able to grab focus instantly on some very difficult to track birds hitting bugs on the surface of a pond. I think they were some kind of swallow. They are small, they were a couple of hundred feet away and I was at 1600 ISO so I can't share any images but....I'm convinced this setup will work if;
-you have enough light to stay at ISO 1250 or below and 1/1250 or above. (My particular 150-600 looks pretty darn good at 600 wide open)
-the bird can be kept in your sights
-the bird occupies at least 1/10 (or so) of the frame.
Good luck!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

larryim wrote:

I just got the Nest gimbal head yesterday and took it out for a test run today. I was extremely pleased with its performance. It is everything that I hoped it would be...solid, light, and smooth. I would highly recommend this, if you are interested in an affordable gimbal head. I use it with my Tamron 150-600.

It is my experience, especially with a lens as small and light weight as the Tamron, that the quality and quantity of your images overall will benefit greatly from the portability and mobility of a properly used monopod with tilt head.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

larryim wrote:

I just got the Nest gimbal head yesterday and took it out for a test run today. I was extremely pleased with its performance. It is everything that I hoped it would be...solid, light, and smooth. I would highly recommend this, if you are interested in an affordable gimbal head. I use it with my Tamron 150-600.

Glad you like it Larry. You might also want to know the padded case will fit your Tamron lens perfectly if you have not yet purchased a case for it.

jimbrown3 Loc: Naples, FL

Love my Nest Gimbal. But I prefer the freedom of hand holding for BIF. I even put the Nest on a small travel tripod collapsed to shortest length for low beach shooting. Love the dampening.

RRS Loc: Not sure

Psergel wrote:

I'm using the same combination (7DII, Tamron 150-6... (show quote)

Paul, are you saying that your ISO limit on the 7D MK II is 1250? Is that good light or just overall. I'm shooting a 7D and my ISO limit is 800 unless I want to spend time in PP for noise. Still sitting on the fence but the price of the 1DX is coming down.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

jimbrown3 wrote:

Love my Nest Gimbal. But I prefer the freedom of hand holding for BIF. I even put the Nest on a small travel tripod collapsed to shortest length for low beach shooting. Love the dampening.

This would be a great application for the gimbal !

Vladimir200 Loc: Beaumont, Ca.

I also love my Nest......just love it. I use my Tammy 150-600mm on my Nikon D610 mounted to the Nest. Also, no reason the combo can not come off of the Nest for some hand-held shooting too. It is the best of both worlds. BTW, after lots and lots of research, it seems that the Tammy (which we all know loves lots of light, ergo, the reasonable price), shoots best at f-8 unless zoomed all of the way in to 600mm when it seems to then do best at f-11. Lots of good advice from others on this post also.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

RRS wrote:

Paul, are you saying that your ISO limit on the 7D MK II is 1250? Is that good light or just overall. I'm shooting a 7D and my ISO limit is 800 unless I want to spend time in PP for noise. Still sitting on the fence but the price of the 1DX is coming down.

Get your 1 Dx and forget about ISO limits. Turn it loose and watch as 12800 and 25600 are used easily with little trace of noise. Auto ISO will make you lazy, manually set your aperture and shutter speed for whatever you want (foot-stomp "want") and the camera finds the needed ISO. This allows for a lot of creativity which leads to fun. The fast shutters with deep focus fields this camera offers are options most other cameras will not come close to matching. You are cheating yourself by waiting! Stop drooling and get your order in.

RRS Loc: Not sure

davidrb wrote:

Get your 1 Dx and forget about ISO limits. Turn i... (show quote)

Thanks David, I've been waiting for a reply but never got one on the 7D MKII. I'm checking B&H right now. I'll wait until we come back from Yellowstone so that I can use a camera that I am familiar with.

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

RRS wrote:

Paul, are you saying that your ISO limit on the 7D MK II is 1250? Is that good light or just overall. I'm shooting a 7D and my ISO limit is 800 unless I want to spend time in PP for noise. Still sitting on the fence but the price of the 1DX is coming down.

I came to the 7dII from a 6D so.....as far as high ISO noise goes....I'm spoiled.
With the 6D I can get really good results at 3200 and even 6400. With the 7DII I find the upper limit to be 1600 if I ETTR. 3200 works if you don't mind loosing some detail. Acceptable noise is very subjective.
What I haven't done yet is to make some prints from some images shot with my 7DII at 1600, 3200 and 6400.
They may very well look good enough.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

larryim wrote:

I just got the Nest gimbal head yesterday and took it out for a test run today. I was extremely pleased with its performance. It is everything that I hoped it would be...solid, light, and smooth. I would highly recommend this, if you are interested in an affordable gimbal head. I use it with my Tamron 150-600.

I, too, have the Nest and the Tamron 150-600, but have not yet been out in the field with them. However, have mounted them on my tripod and agree that the Nest fits your description exactly.