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Is a a Promaster a good Gimbal head?
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May 10, 2018 10:15:27   #
Fotoartist Loc: Detroit, Michigan
 
Promaster is a generic brand of photo accessories, not known for superior quality.

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May 10, 2018 10:22:31   #
Screamin Scott Loc: Marshfield Wi, Baltimore Md, now Dallas Ga
 
Here is a link to the camera Wiki about them. They are simply a distributor who brands other products with their name... They make nothing...

http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Promaster

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May 10, 2018 10:50:23   #
Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL
 
jcboy3 wrote:
I think a $150 head is just fine for a $1000 lens. It's those $11,000 lenses that need a more robust head.


Here's another free opinion that's worth what you're paying for it, and probably not much more.

I think whatever does the job at whatever the cost is the ideal product. If I can get a product for $150 that does the job, then that leaves me more money for something else. If I have to spend a lot more, so be it.

I don't need a gimbal head, because I don't shoot with heavy telephotos, but have used lots of Manfrotto/Bogen products and never found any of them lacking. I did have the impression that Promaster was mostly low budget stuff for the occasional user, but if one of their products would do the job for me, I'd use it.

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May 10, 2018 10:51:59   #
jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ
 
Joexx wrote:
Hunts has the Promaster GH25 Professional Gimbal Head Kit on sale for about 1/2 price ($150). Is this Gimbal head any good? I am thinking of using it for a Nikon D750 with a 200-500 lens. There are other options even less expensive. Does anyone have a suggestion. I will not be using this all that much, so I would rather keep the cost to under $150, But I do not want to get something that works poorly. Thanks


Honestly, it really doesn't look well built at all to me. I'd go with this one before I'd go with the one you are considering: https://www.amazon.com/Movo-GH700-Professional-Arca-Swiss-Quick-Release/dp/B00GK4IYP8/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_421_bs_lp_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=F490XMTZPW16HA5QY9AX


$99 plus free delivery, and almost 5 star rating at Amazon. This actually looks like a Whimberly knockoff too.

NEVER MIND, I JUST READ SOME OF THE REVIEWS AND SAW SOME HAD BROKEN. YOU DON'T WANT THAT!

I own a Benro head and have been happy with it for 7 years now.

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May 10, 2018 11:04:18   #
dat2ra Loc: Sacramento
 
I had a Promaster 8 years ago (don't remember the model) but after a while it got sticky and would creep. I have a Manfrotto now and it's fine.

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May 10, 2018 11:21:01   #
AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!
 
Gene51 wrote:
I have no experience with the Promaster, or any gimbal under $400, other than a Manfrotto 393 - but that is another story.

What bothers me is that the cheaper gimbals are made in India or China, to look just like the industry standard - the Wimberley. But they are not made the same. I will never understand why someone would go out and spend $1000+ on a computer, $1000+ on a camera, and $1000+ on a lens, and even consider putting it on a $150 head.


Because they've spent thousands on everything else, and that's all they have left? Sorry just had to say that.

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May 10, 2018 11:41:59   #
pendennis
 
I looked at the Promaster yesterday while browsing equipment at a local store. Not overly impressed with the build or the operation.

Some time back, I compared the Manfrotto 393 to the Promaster, and opted for the Manfrotto. It's a very high quality piece of gear, and I still use it mounted on a Manfrotto 055 tripod, with my Nikon 200-500mm f5.6.

However, I did find a very high quality gimble head made by Induro (GBH2), at the same local shop. This one was advertised as used, but was really N-I-B. Not a scratch or mark, and it's really a high quality gimble. It far surpasses the Promaster.

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May 10, 2018 12:57:43   #
AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC
 
Again, I'm still reading lots of opinions, but not many people who actually use the product. I have used mine for one year and I appreciate it more every time I use it. I think it it will serve your needs unless you are putting a huge ten thousand dollar lens on it. But I'm guessing you are not or you would not be asking this question.

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May 10, 2018 15:19:15   #
Joexx
 
Very informative reply, thanks for the information. I appreciate all of the responses. thanks alot!
jcboy3 wrote:
I have the GH25, and use it with a D750 or D500 and 200-500mm lens. It works well. It does double duty as a multi-row panoramic head, although you have to add a double Arca clamp (which they should have included). It does have a few issues:

1. It uses the horrible black grease used in lots of cheap Chinese gear (although even some Manfrotto gear uses it as well). Very sticky, not viscous. I tore down the horizontal bearing and cleaned it out, replacing with a good silicone grease. I left it in the vertical bearing for damping, because the vertical bearing does not have a friction adjustment (it's indexed).

2. Speaking of the vertical bearing, it's indexed. Which means it will lock securely in fixed positions. The first one I bought, however, was misaligned so it wouldn't lock at 90 degrees. I got them to arrange a swap at my local camera store; the replacement is fine.

3. If you mount the head on the horizontal indexer, you need to use an Arca plate (they provide). This is a single point contact, and it has a tendency to work loose if you use it as a gimbal head while mounted on the indexer. I fixed that by drilling holes in the base and using the Arca security screws as a second/third point of contact. You can get by without doing that if you realize that the indexer should not be attached if you are using it as a gimbal. I like a robust solution, and am always willing to drill some holes in my gear to achieve that result.

So what do I like about it? It's light. It works with lighter lenses (the telephoto zooms are okay). You don't want to use it with a 500 or 600mm prime lens...too heavy. And it comes apart and packs up very compactly (it's like the RRS head, only not as robust). So it doesn't take up a lot of room in my back pack, and hauling it is not a strain. I've used it for shooting the Burton US Open Snowboard Championship...you have to hike up the hill to get there.

I do not recommend the cheaper ProMaster (Wimberly style) head. That one is a real POS.

My other recommendation would be to consider the GH-13 gimbal head made and sold by Rob Pleas. It's a smaller gimbal head as well, not suitable for the big primes but great for the telephoto zooms. I've worked with him on some design changes from his original version; I think it's pretty good now. All roller bearings. Good Arca mount. Not a Wimberly copy. But US made (which is nice, when available). And inexpensive, and very easy to tear down to clean and lubricate. He has a nice flash mount adapter as well, if you are into the "better beamer" approach. There are some British heads, but most are Chinese. Not saying that's bad, but it's nice to get some American gear every once in awhile.
I have the GH25, and use it with a D750 or D500 an... (show quote)

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May 10, 2018 16:30:49   #
tenny52 Loc: San Francisco
 
Robeng wrote:
Because they are cheap and don't know better!

Why you eat a hamburger, not the steak? At least I can say, I have beef for dinner.
You can spend as low as $50 and perhaps cannot tell the difference; but you can experience a 360 degree Panoramic Gimbal. Which you might use less than once a year.
https://www.amazon.com/SHOOT-Aluminum-Panoramic-Telephoto-Supports/dp/B00IGOSBOE/ref=sr_1_6_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1525982695&sr=8-6-spons&keywords=Promaster+GH25+Professional+Gimbal+Head&psc=1

We don't pay extra if we don't care about the difference.
Usually is the case, you spend a lot more for a little better.
Most of us don't sell our captures, but just to keep good decent memories or to satisfy our enthusiasm.
If money is no object, I would spend them somewhere else before buying the best gears for my hobby.

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May 10, 2018 16:44:21   #
jcboy3
 
tenny52 wrote:
Why you eat a hamburger, not the steak? At least I can say, I have beef for dinner.
You can spend as low as $50 and perhaps cannot tell the difference; but you can experience a 360 degree Panoramic Gimbal. Which you might use less than once a year.
https://www.amazon.com/SHOOT-Aluminum-Panoramic-Telephoto-Supports/dp/B00IGOSBOE/ref=sr_1_6_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1525982695&sr=8-6-spons&keywords=Promaster+GH25+Professional+Gimbal+Head&psc=1

We don't pay extra if we don't care about the difference.
Usually is the case, you spend a lot more for a little better.
Most of us don't sell our captures, but just to keep good decent memories or to satisfy our enthusiasm.
If money is no object, I would spend them somewhere else before buying the best gears for my hobby.
Why you eat a hamburger, not the steak? At least I... (show quote)


Two comments.

First, this is not a panoramic head. It's a gimbal head. You cannot align the lens axis or no parallax point with the vertical axis of rotation.

Second, one word: stiction. Cheap heads suffer from this a lot. Means the head takes more force to get it moving than to keep it moving, which means you overshoot your subject when you start to track.

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May 10, 2018 18:01:49   #
latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS
 
lone ranger wrote:
I purchased a Wimberley Gimble Head, I find it to be excellent, check out the reviews on Amazon.....

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May 10, 2018 18:03:57   #
latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS
 
starlifter wrote:
Try the Nest gimble. Great damping and carbon fiber for around $300/



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May 10, 2018 20:47:43   #
AlfredU Loc: Mooresville, NC
 
jcboy3 wrote:
Two comments.

First, this is not a panoramic head. It's a gimbal head. You cannot align the lens axis or no parallax point with the vertical axis of rotation.

Second, one word: stiction. Cheap heads suffer from this a lot. Means the head takes more force to get it moving than to keep it moving, which means you overshoot your subject when you start to track.

Never heard of stiction before. But that doesn't happen on my GH25. I haven't told y'all how much I paid for mine when I bought the Tamron 150-600. I got it for $25. But regardless of what I paid for it, it just works. And no stiction.

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May 11, 2018 02:53:26   #
Einreb92 Loc: Philadelphia
 
AlfredU wrote:
Never heard of stiction before. But that doesn't happen on my GH25. I haven't told y'all how much I paid for mine when I bought the Tamron 150-600. I got it for $25. But regardless of what I paid for it, it just works. And no stiction.


I got the same deal and have had absolutely no problems using it when shooting birds from my tripod. If I had extra cash, after buying camera, four good pieces of glass, software, cards, case etc., I might have sprung for something better. I will use it until it fails and be none the worse for my experience. YMMV😎

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