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Gambal Head with a tripod
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Nov 19, 2016 12:48:46   #
wrk1234 Loc: Russellville, Arkansas
 
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.

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Nov 19, 2016 12:56:27   #
rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX
 
I use a gimbal head for pretty much everything. I mostly shoot macro and birds but I've used the gimbal for landscape, buildings, etc.
I keep my ball head on my travel tripod in case I want to go light but almost all of my photography is done on my big tripod with the gimbal.

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Nov 19, 2016 13:22:06   #
cpkeith
 
I have s large tripod and a travel tripod, both with ball heads. I switch out the ball head for a Newer heavy duty gimball when I go shooting wildlife. If I am shooting landscapes, portraits, or anything other than wildlife , I use a ball head. The gumball is great for things in motion such as birds and race cars. It helps you pan and track smoothly. However, by its nature, it does amplify vibration for things like landscapes...not saying that it can't be used for still photography but it is just my preference.

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Nov 19, 2016 13:25:09   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
wrk1234 wrote:
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimb... (show quote)


I AVOID using tripods period. For me, much easier/faster using a monopod/bodypod with video fluid head. I would prefer to have the same video fluid head on my tripod and not switch around/share but have not made the financial commitment to do that yet.

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Nov 19, 2016 13:30:43   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
wrk1234 wrote:
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimb... (show quote)


Be aware that a gimbal head will usually not work connected to the camera body, but rather to the lens collar. Most gimbal heads do not have the room to fit the camera body. you may want to check out a pan and tilt head to use for all situations. as opposed to the ball head, a pan and tilt head will only move vertically and horizontally. it is much more stable and easier to adjust that a ball head in my opinion, and offers the flexibility to be attached to the camera body or a lens mount. gimbal heads are great to follow the action of a ball game or birds in flight, but they are very restrictive as to which lens/camera combinations you may want to use.

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Nov 19, 2016 14:32:12   #
rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX
 
orrie smith wrote:
Be aware that a gimbal head will usually not work connected to the camera body, but rather to the lens collar. Most gimbal heads do not have the room to fit the camera body. you may want to check out a pan and tilt head to use for all situations. as opposed to the ball head, a pan and tilt head will only move vertically and horizontally. it is much more stable and easier to adjust that a ball head in my opinion, and offers the flexibility to be attached to the camera body or a lens mount. gimbal heads are great to follow the action of a ball game or birds in flight, but they are very restrictive as to which lens/camera combinations you may want to use.
Be aware that a gimbal head will usually not work ... (show quote)


I use my gimbal with all of my lenses including the ones without a collar.
Mounting the camera to the gimbal I use is not an issue.

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Nov 19, 2016 14:39:21   #
Haydon
 
I use a gimbal for wildlife and a ballhead for almost everything else. A tripod is INDISPENSIBLE especially when performing long exposures. I usually frame static images first handheld and if required adjust a tripod with a similar POV. The moment you don't bring a tripod is the moment you need it.

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Nov 19, 2016 16:02:22   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Haydon wrote:
I use a gimbal for wildlife and a ballhead for almost everything else. A tripod is INDISPENSIBLE especially when performing long exposures. I usually frame static images first handheld and if required adjust a tripod with a similar POV. The moment you don't bring a tripod is the moment you need it.


Ditto

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Nov 19, 2016 18:38:44   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
wrk1234 wrote:
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimb... (show quote)


Gimbal and video fluid heads are mostly for smoothly tracking action at high shutter speeds.. Ball heads are more appropriate for static subjects and longer shutter speeds.

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Nov 19, 2016 19:28:32   #
Jim Bob
 
orrie smith wrote:
Be aware that a gimbal head will usually not work connected to the camera body, but rather to the lens collar. Most gimbal heads do not have the room to fit the camera body. you may want to check out a pan and tilt head to use for all situations. as opposed to the ball head, a pan and tilt head will only move vertically and horizontally. it is much more stable and easier to adjust that a ball head in my opinion, and offers the flexibility to be attached to the camera body or a lens mount. gimbal heads are great to follow the action of a ball game or birds in flight, but they are very restrictive as to which lens/camera combinations you may want to use.
Be aware that a gimbal head will usually not work ... (show quote)



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Nov 19, 2016 19:38:21   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
rwilson1942 wrote:
I use my gimbal with all of my lenses including the ones without a collar.
Mounting the camera to the gimbal I use is not an issue.


You should name the brand of gimbal and camera that you are using, as a lot of the gimbal heads I have seen will not support a DSLR camera body.

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Nov 19, 2016 20:31:36   #
JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA
 
wrk1234 wrote:
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimb... (show quote)


I use two tripods. One for the gimbal head, and a slightly smaller with the ball head.

I don't like using a ball head with long lenses. But I also wouldn't want to carry the bigger tripod and gimbal, plus cameras and lenses, very far.

I have another tripod with a panhead mount, and fluid dampened. I find myself using it more and more.

Or I use a monopod if I want less weight.

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Nov 20, 2016 06:03:51   #
Roger Lee
 
I use both, depends on what I'm shooting or with what. Both are easily interchangeable. For the monopod I use a head that tilts only.

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Nov 20, 2016 06:15:24   #
gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL
 
Contact MTShooter, a member here. He has his own Camera Store and sells a Nest Gimbal Head at a reasonable rate. Several members here own it and swear by it. Gary
wrk1234 wrote:
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimb... (show quote)

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Nov 20, 2016 06:28:33   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
wrk1234 wrote:
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimbal head on their tripods. I also see that most landscape or portrait photographers use ball heads on their tripods. Do most people use one tripod and change out their heads depending on what they anticipate shooting that day, or do they have two tripods taking the requisite tripod? I can’t see taking two tripods into the field or stopping to change heads during a shoot. I have one manfrotto tripod with a sirui ball head and am thinking about getting a gimbal head but even if/when I get the gimbal head, am not sure where to go from there. Thanks for any help.
I have seen that wildlife photographers use a gimb... (show quote)


Save your money. I have done wildlife photography for over 50 years and my current set up is the Nikon D500 with the Nikon 200-500 lens. I reverse the tripod collar and carry the lens around with it. When I want to shoot, I simply bring the lens up and shoot. I believe people get HUNG UP on tripods, mono pods, heads, and they miss a lot of shots because they are fussing with equipment instead on concentrating on the action as it presents itself. Good luck in your hunt for the right gear, I have found mine.

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