lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Fellow Ugly Hedgehoggers, I am asking for recommendations for a Gimbal Head.
I would like it for use with my K-5 and K-3 Pentax Bodies to photograph birds
and other wildlife. Using a tri-axial or ball head is not easy or fast.

Specifically For:
Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lens.
Gitzo (old Aluminum - Ser. 2) Reporter 2 Performance Rapid Tripod Legs.
Prefer with a Swiss-Arca Lens/Camera Mount.
And Extra Swiss-Arca Plate(s) and Mount(s) for additional tripods.
Gimbal Head Budget: $75 to $300.
Thank you.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

If you can find a used Nest gimbal I love mine.

williejoha

Use the MOVO carbon gimbal with my Canon set up ( heavy 300mm mounted to the 5D III). Never any problem and it is quite affordable.
WJH

ricardo00

Slightly above your price range, but love my Jobu Jr ($405 canadian dollars, so about $320 us dollars
https://www.jobu-design.com/product-page/jobu-jr-3

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

If your ball head is beefy, wimberley sidekick is more flexible and comes in well under budget.

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

I shoot only in Florida Wetlands. Any tripod or gimbal will limit you in getting images of birds in flight. And your just kidding yourself if you think a tripod and gimbal head will give you a greater number of keepers for birds in flight. Hand holding is the only way to go. IMHO.

fishy

If you have arthritis or worn out shoulders handholding is difficult.I wish I could. Tripods on those manufactured treatment wetlands are tough in those cellphone talking joggers and crowds.

There is a mini Jobu right now on eBay for cheap that works with @ ball head for 50.

I’ve had one on a 400 f5.6 that works well

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Shooting in wetlands gives cause to unforeseen problems. You may be forced to shoot from and area under water and tripods can get problematic in water. Manfrotto makes a model designed just for this type work. The legs are designed to extent upwards instead of the opposite downwards. It also features an extendable center-post which can also be used horizontally. Mine is currently in use with a Nest gimbal and camera body. As such, I am unable to identify it's model number. It was purchased sometime since 2010 from B&H Photography. It is small and light-weight but performs very well. Its applications are somewhat limited but it does what it was designed to do!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Wimberley or equal is ideal, but out of your budget.

A while back I looked at what was available, and the $150-$350 Wimberley knockoffs were not of the same build quality. Nest seems to be no longer sold or supported. So I ended up buying a Manfrotto 393, and I simply attached an Arca-Swiss-style clamp to the one that came with the 393, using two screws that came with the 393. So, for about $287, ($221 for the gimbal + $65 for a 4" clamp from Hejnar Photo), you have a really solid and stable head that won't freeze up or lock in cold weather, and takes seconds to dismantle for cleaning or parts replacement. Mind you, I've had my 393 since 2007 and have only cleaned it a couple of times, and so far have never had to replace anything on it. I prefer a "U" over a cheap cantilever (Wimberley style) for it's added stability.

Initially I used mine with a D200 and a 50-500 Sigma, and later progressed to a much heavier D700/800/810 + 600mmF4 - none of which were an issue. And it was easy enough to balance the load in the clamps.

Hejnar has another solution that replaces the Manfrotto clamp with one of his Arca-Swiss clamps that was not available when I purchased mine -

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/554099-REG/Manfrotto_393_393_Heavy_Duty_Gimbal.html?ap=y&smp=y
http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/product-p/f64.htm
http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/product-p/m393f64ab.htm

.

(Download)

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I have a MOVO GH800 carbon gimbal, which is about $200 or less through the usual retailers. Heaviest combination that had on it is a Canon 5d4 and Sigma 150-600 C, which presented no issues. I purchased the gimbal to satisfy only occasional need for such a rig. I’ve had no issues whatsoever. Smooth operator and recommended.

balancr Loc: VA

Have you considered a chest mount? Your body takes the weight of your gear and you can move to track flight.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Actually the budget is not fixed, I just know people will ask. I could go if for say a new one over $400. I'm and not going into any rugged places, I have to shoot sitting down in a wheelchair due to arthritis. And I really do not have the strength or coordination to shoot with such a heavy and long lens with out support. I even use a cable release and sometimes tripping it with my teeth so I have two free hands. I agree capturing BIF will be difficult. I have noticed that on the Hog the more information one includes, the less likely one will answer a person's question. So I did not include the infirmities issues just the objective technical specs needed. Thanks for the answers provided so far, but I wish there were more consensus on only one or two brands and models.

rcorne001 Loc: Cary, NC

I went the budget route (as I don't use the gimbal a lot) with a Newer branded one. I followed advice in the reviews and "re-greased" the components. It is a very easy thing to do and I can't imagine it moving any smoother. Definitely meets my needs.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01I57SS5S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

flasfill Loc: Sandy Springs GA

I just purchased a MOVO carbon fiber Gimbal for my D500 w 200-500 Zoom. It was $200. I love it. Its solid and works well.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Mike I have *(and actually use frequently) an Induro GHB1 Gimbal Head.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/655339-REG/Induro_485_001_GHB1_Gimbal_Head.html/

While it isn't as precision tooled as my Wimberley it is definitely up to handling your 3.94lb Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Lens.

That said, I'm with billnikon here "...Hand holding is the only way to go..."
Mike I don't shoot birds... no money in it... besides they are ugly... one of the few surviving dinosaurs...
If you don't believe this, look at their feet... Yep so totally Tyrannosaurus... only difference is one "Opposed" toe claw for hanging on tree limbs...

I shoot League Soccer... and it generates a healthy revenue stream... besides the players are so totally charismatic!

Likely the only draw for Bird Photography is the primitive male desire to kill... a.k.a. "Hunter Instinct"...
Mike maybe join the "Family of Man" and shoot sports... which btw has long ago replaced the primitive male desire to kill with a NEW desire to compete! Try it Mike... it's awesome!

Hope this helps or is at least food for thought...
Cheers! Thomas