Nest Gimbal Head: I have the Nest gimbal head (Thanks MT), and noticed the other morning that with the lower temperatures the movement was starting to stiffen up. Since this gimbal is...

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

I have the Nest gimbal head (Thanks MT), and noticed the other morning that with the lower temperatures the movement was starting to stiffen up. Since this gimbal is fluid filled, is there any way to get this loosened up a little for cold weather use?

Thanks

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I have encountered a similar situation with telephoto lenses in cold weather (Arctic Circle). One solution was a flexible, chemical hand-warmer, with a terrycloth towel (as an insulator) holding warming packet against cold area. Easily removed when adjustment was needed.
http://www.google.com/search?q=chemical+hand-warmer&lr=&as_qdr=all&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CEgQsARqFQoTCJGgx-T2qcgCFQaNDQod268CMQ&biw=1120&bih=564

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

MarkintheHV wrote:

I have the Nest gimbal head (Thanks MT), and noticed the other morning that with the lower temperatures the movement was starting to stiffen up. Since this gimbal is fluid filled, is there any way to get this loosened up a little for cold weather use?

Thanks

I have shipped several of these heads to Alaska and before doing so I replace the damping fluid with a lower viscosity fluid. The only downside is that it can tend to seep some of the fluid out if used at a different high temperature location. This happened to a customers of mine from Denali Park who used his in Florida on vacation..

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

MT Shooter wrote:

I have shipped several of these heads to Alaska and before doing so I replace the damping fluid with a lower viscosity fluid. The only downside is that it can tend to seep some of the fluid out if used at a different high temperature location. This happened to a customers of mine from Denali Park who used his in Florida on vacation..

that would probably happen to me here are home. I think I am going to try the heat pad option first, unless anyone has a better idea.

Thanks!

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

MarkintheHV wrote:

that would probably happen to me here are home. I think I am going to try the heat pad option first, unless anyone has a better idea.

Thanks!

Move to California.
No oil problems, and humming birds the year round.
That would be my better idea. :twisted:

I hope you enjoy your Nest Gimbal Head as much as I do mine! ;)

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

SonnyE wrote:

Move to California.
No oil problems, and humming birds the year round.
That would be my better idea. :twisted:

I hope you enjoy your Nest Gimbal Head as much as I do mine! ;)

Couldn't stand the politics :)! Same as Colorado, loved it when I used to live there, but not with the California 2.0 politics. Besides, not very many bald eagles in Cali!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

MarkintheHV wrote:

I have the Nest gimbal head (Thanks MT), and noticed the other morning that with the lower temperatures the movement was starting to stiffen up. Since this gimbal is fluid filled, is there any way to get this loosened up a little for cold weather use?

Thanks

I own the Wimberley WH-200 and have never experienced this problem, I have never had to load anti-freeze into it to get it to work in very low temperatures. Guess I just got lucky and got a good one first.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

billnikon wrote:

I own the Wimberley WH-200 and have never experienced this problem, I have never had to load anti-freeze into it to get it to work in very low temperatures. Guess I just got lucky and got a good one first.

Same here. I was photographing polar bears in 20 below temps with no issues.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

billnikon wrote:

I own the Wimberley WH-200 and have never experienced this problem, I have never had to load anti-freeze into it to get it to work in very low temperatures. Guess I just got lucky and got a good one first.

That's because the Wimberley is a free-wheeling design and not fluid dampened. On a fixed Tele lens there is little advantage to the nest other than being half the price. But when used on today's long, extending type zoom tele's the fluid damping can be a real lens saving feature due to their radical change of balance when zoomed. Not an issue with prime teles.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

My only video demonstrates what MT is saying. It's a lens saver. I hadn't noticed before but in the first 4 seconds the Nest gimbal is not squeaking. That's my dog whining. :lol:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqniqn2NAYQ

ggttc Loc: TN

Being from Mt...like Shooter is...the quick fix is a chemical glove warmer....altho. I try to avoid -20 at all costs..

Get the small ones....dont put it on the Nest itself ...but on the tripod mount...duck tape is your friend