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?? Gimbal Head ??
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Mar 25, 2018 08:45:14   #
Spirit Hawk Loc: Michigan,Sunrise side
 
Whats your thoughts on this style of head ??for Birding & Wildlife useing a long lens?? my old Ball head (which I never did like,,flips& flops too much "" needs to be replaced and a friends recommends getting a Gimbal??
Cheers Ron

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Mar 25, 2018 08:50:30   #
WayneT Loc: Paris, TN
 
Gamble's are great especially with long lenses that have tripod connections on the lens. Long lenses is where I use the Gimbal almost exclusively, I would only use a ball head when connecting the camera directly to the head. For me the Gimbal really makes a difference outdoors.

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Mar 25, 2018 08:52:56   #
Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona
 
Probably a good idea, but what do you consider long as far as a lens. Less than 400 you should be able to hand hold, maybe more if you are good. Getting toward 600+, you will need support.

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Mar 25, 2018 08:52:56   #
Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona
 
Probably a good idea, but what do you consider long as far as a lens. Less than 400 you should be able to hand hold, maybe more if you are good. Getting toward 600+, you will need support.

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Mar 25, 2018 08:57:28   #
Spirit Hawk Loc: Michigan,Sunrise side
 
I have a Canon 400mm L and do hand hold it some,,but also getting Tamron 150-600 G2
Cheers Ron

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Mar 25, 2018 08:58:05   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Spirit Hawk wrote:
Whats your thoughts on this style of head ??for Birding & Wildlife useing a long lens?? my old Ball head (which I never did like,,flips& flops too much "" needs to be replaced and a friends recommends getting a Gimbal??
Cheers Ron


A gimbal/tripod will render you - for the most part - immobile and burdened with weight. Whereas, a bodypod or monopod will still leave you with mobility and speed - which is very important in the bird and wildlife work I do.

..

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Mar 25, 2018 09:19:19   #
orrie smith Loc: Kansas
 
Spirit Hawk wrote:
Whats your thoughts on this style of head ??for Birding & Wildlife useing a long lens?? my old Ball head (which I never did like,,flips& flops too much "" needs to be replaced and a friends recommends getting a Gimbal??
Cheers Ron


Personally, I prefer a pan and tilt head. The gimbal head is nice for birds in flight, but it is restrictive and bulky. Plus, you are usually restricted to using it with longer lenses only, as a camera body will not attach to most gimbal heads, they are designed for mounting directly to the lens, not the camera body. I agree that a ball head is not a great head, but I would replace your existing head with a pan and tilt head before i would get a gimbal for the added usage. If you have a camera store in your area, go in and set your camera to some pan and tilt heads to see if you like them before you purchase one.

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Mar 25, 2018 09:21:02   #
RRS Loc: Not sure
 
Spirit Hawk wrote:
I have a Canon 400mm L and do hand hold it some,,but also getting Tamron 150-600 G2
Cheers Ron


There's a slight problem when using a zoom lens that actually moves with a gimbal head. Your 400mm body length is fixed so once you have the balance set it will handle very well, however unless you plan on only using your 150-600 at a certain focal length then every time you zoom in or out your balance will change. Also the 150-600mm lens is lighter then the 400mm f/2.8. You will have to buy a longer foot for both lenses and they run about $100.00 each. The longer foot facilitates the ability to balance and most likely the gimbal will have an Accra-Swiss mounting plate. I use the Jobu gimbal with the 600mm f/4.0 but now hand hold the 300mm f/2.8 as it gives me more freedom of movement. On a long lens a gimbal works for me but I have seen men shooting in Yellowstone hand holding 600mm f/4.0 with Pro bodies and an 83 year young lady that always shoots her 600mm f/4.0 hand held.

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Mar 25, 2018 09:41:59   #
Spirit Hawk Loc: Michigan,Sunrise side
 
I have and use a monopod alot,,but just looking for a new head<<
Cheers Ron

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Mar 25, 2018 10:04:04   #
Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio
 
Go with a gimbal head and you'll never look back. I do this for a living and I've tried a ton of options over the years. A gimbal head with a long lens is by far the best tripod solution I've ever found for wildlife - both still and action. I'm just as quick on my gimbal head for BIF shots as most people are hand-holding.

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Mar 25, 2018 11:00:22   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Spirit Hawk wrote:
Whats your thoughts on this style of head ??for Birding & Wildlife useing a long lens?? my old Ball head (which I never did like,,flips& flops too much "" needs to be replaced and a friends recommends getting a Gimbal??
Cheers Ron


Which lens?
Are you trying to shoot active subjects?

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Mar 25, 2018 12:01:42   #
Spirit Hawk Loc: Michigan,Sunrise side
 
NOT BIF,,but like deer or ducks,geese, just resting??
Cheers Ron

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Mar 25, 2018 12:18:42   #
Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)
 
Spirit Hawk wrote:
NOT BIF,,but like deer or ducks,geese, just resting??
Cheers Ron


Then you won't likely be encumbered by using a tripod. If you have a great tripod, a gimbal should work extremely well with your long lenses.

My biggest concern are active subjects, particularly those up fairly close. It's hard to maneuver around the legs, and nearly impossible to get a bird flying high overhead.

Having said this, I have taken 1000s of images with a gimbal-mounted 600mmF4, (almost 11 lbs) and a D800 and battery grip. The gimbal has served me well. However, with the recent purchase of a Sigma Sport 150-600, I find myself using the Sigma far more frequently than the 600F4. When the light is marginal (early/late in the day), I will bring the tripod and big lens, but for most everything else I use the lighter setup.

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Mar 25, 2018 13:09:48   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Spirit Hawk wrote:
NOT BIF,,but like deer or ducks,geese, just resting??
Cheers Ron


All wildlife is ACTIVE - unless it is a 3 toed sloth or dead.

If you MUST have a gimbal - here are the options -

http://www.carolinawildphoto.com/gimbal_list.htm - and don't forget the nice big tripod ....

..

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Mar 25, 2018 13:11:46   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
[quote=Gene51
My biggest concern are active subjects, particularly those up fairly close. It's hard to maneuver around the legs, and nearly impossible to get a bird flying high overhead. [/quote]


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