?? Gimbal Head ?? (Page 2): I have used my Nest Gimbal (on a Nest tripod) with my 100-400L + 1.4x III extender and a 150-600. Works great and when on a stationary setup I can leave the...

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

I have used my Nest Gimbal (on a Nest tripod) with my 100-400L + 1.4x III extender and a 150-600. Works great and when on a stationary setup I can leave the rig waiting and my hands are free to do other things. (In my case "read a book".) Yet when the subject comes into range it swings into action instantly. When I hand hold I have to devote my hands to holding the rig all the time unless I am willing to sit it down (not often when I am out).
Now for roaming around, I hand hold unless it is someplace where there are a few spots to do a temporary setup then I might take the tripod and gimbal.

For smaller lenses I have both a pan & tilt and a geared head (for macro) but with my nest I found I could mount a 6D and 7DII body (both with battery grip) on the gimbal using the Nest's long QR plate. see attached Not ideal and a bit awkward but saves carrying two different heads and/or tripod head combos.

MT Shooter here on the UHH is the US distributor for the Nest head: http://www.cameracottage.com/

(Download)

RRS Loc: Not sure

robertjerl wrote:

I have used my Nest Gimbal (on a Nest tripod) with... (show quote)

That setup is not practical at all. How would you even be able to place your eye up close to the finder. With that lens I wouldn't even use a tripod. Just saying that I would carry that camera and lens around my neck and the tripod folded up over my shoulder. Gimbals are for long lenses, not camera bodies.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

RRS wrote:

That setup is not practical at all. How would you even be able to place your eye up close to the finder. With that lens I wouldn't even use a tripod. Just saying that I would carry that camera and lens around my neck and the tripod folded up over my shoulder. Gimbals are for long lenses, not camera bodies.

If you paid attention someone wanted to know if you could mount the body to a gimbal. Last year I did this just to see if you could and that lens was the one on the body at the time. You could mount it. As for the eye relief, just put it on the other end of the QR plate and the problem is solved.

Not ideal, awkward, but it worked - I tried it. If I had taken time to remove my battery grips it would have been easier to do.

RRS Loc: Not sure

robertjerl wrote:

If you paid attention someone wanted to know if you could mount the body to a gimbal. Last year I did this just to see if you could and that lens was the one on the body at the time. You could mount it. As for the eye relief, just put it on the other end of the QR plate and the problem is solved.

Not ideal, awkward, but it worked - I tried it. If I had taken time to remove my battery grips it would have been easier to do.

Well I can't mount a camera to my gimbal without going through cock robin's barn. A gimbal is designed to mount a lens to not a body. I see you can do it but it is not something that will work. How does that set up you show balance, it doesn't, but you are right you can mount a body to a gimbal. For anyone that wants a tripod head to mount a camera to I'd suggest a pan and tilt or a ball head, not a gimbal.

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Like anything it takes time to get use to the gimbals. But once you do you will love it. Happy shooting.

TomV Loc: Annapolis, Maryland

When using a 500 or 600 mm lens you are talking about 15-20 ft of minimum focus distance. I am not shooting anything that close that my tripod legs are an encumbrance.
I use a gimbal nearly all the time with my 500 (sold my 12+ lb 600 for a 5 lb reduction). It is really necessary when you are shooting active subjects for hours with a 9+ lb rig. The movement is nearly effortless with the gimbal compared to a ball that needs to be constantly loosened & tightened.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

RRS wrote:

Well I can't mount a camera to my gimbal without going through cock robin's barn. A gimbal is designed to mount a lens to not a body. I see you can do it but it is not something that will work. How does that set up you show balance, it doesn't, but you are right you can mount a body to a gimbal. For anyone that wants a tripod head to mount a camera to I'd suggest a pan and tilt or a ball head, not a gimbal.

Well it didn't bother me much. But then instead of balancing a gimbal I use it like a pedestal mounted machine gun. (learned to use those once upon a time)
I know many gimbals don't work like this but with my Nest and my Canon bodies it fit, just barely. Would have been easier if I had taken off the battery grip.
And I do have 2 three way pan and tilt heads, a fairly heavy Slik for general use and a Manfrotto geared head for doing macro.
The ones I personally have no use for are the Ball heads, I own two, both came with tripods. One so-so and one fairly high end one. Don't like either of them. I also have a pretty good monopod (and one tripod has a convertible leg) and I don't like those either. Maybe if I was in a stadium or similar seating I would use a mono, but in general use I would just as soon carry and use a tripod.

RRS Loc: Not sure

robertjerl wrote:

Well it didn't bother me much. But then instead o... (show quote)

I know a lot about machine guns too that I learned a long time ago but I didn't fire them on the ground, well not entirely true. They worked pretty well too when mounted on a modified Deuce and a half. As to the flying, a case of beer rode on every landing with the final resting position of the prop determining the winner or loser. I do love my gimbal head but can change to a ball head in about 15 seconds. This does require carrying that extra head and neither is light!

gemartin Loc: Statesboro, GA

Another option is the Acratech GP Ballhead which is a unique ballhead that can be used as a Gimbal, a leveling panorama head, and a standard ballhead. It is relatively light itself but holds up to 25 lbs. Heres a link to a video (don't dismiss the guy because of robot-like delivery, the info is solid). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKoNUPilNy4 and the website is https://www.acratech.net/ballheads/gp/gp-ballhead/ I use this in lieu of a gimbal, thus assuring my mobility when used with a carbon fiber tripod. It is rated for up to 400mm lens.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

Steve Perry wrote:

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.

Bob Boner

I photograph landscape and wildlife. I always use my long lenses (400--600) on a gimbal head. One of the major advantages of the gimbal is that you don't have to "maneuver around the legs". A descent gimbal allows completely free movement, up and down, left and right. I use the Wimberley, but there are many others available.

nikonkelly Loc: SE Michigan

about 5 years ago I saw a gimbal and played with it... a week later mine was delivered. there are times that I simply need a tripod and not a gimbal... so I use an L bracket... it still is a great tripod head for even that situation. sure they are heavy... which means that it does not move very much... oh and that is a good thing. listen to steve perry... he speaks from the same type of experience as do I, it be $500 or so well spent!
Kelly

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

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

If you have a fast prime, the Gimbal head is a good investment. I shoot a lot of wildlife and shoot with a Nikon 200-500 mm lens. I chose this lens because I could hand hold it and move quickly. I move in and around wildlife preserves, I found that heavy prime lenses that required a tripod and a gimbal head slowed me down to much and I could not react fast enough to birds in flight or any quick changing event.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

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

Love my Gimbal, would not consider anything else for birding with my 500mm and 1.4 Extender.

steinr98

It was mentioned that you cannot use a gimbal head with the "camera body" and you need need to have a long lens foot mounted on the gimbal head- you can do this if you also purchase a long camera rail mount for just a few bucks- Also, make sure if you do purchase a gimbal head, you inquire as to it having "Ball or Needle bearings and "not sleeve" bearings as some less expensive models have. Again, you get what you pay for!!! I have the Sigma 100-400 and use a gimbal head with the camera body mounted on a long rail mount(6-8") to get the body back and away from the gimbal head arm and also for better balance. That long rail was only about 10-15 bucks more. Works great!