Gimbal head quandry: I have been looking at gimbal heads for my Nikon D7200 with the Nikon 200-500 lens I use for bird photography. I see prices from $99 to well over $500. Some lower...

old poet

I have been looking at gimbal heads for my Nikon D7200 with the Nikon 200-500 lens I use for bird photography. I see prices from $99 to well over $500. Some lower priced ones have 4-5 star reviews making choices difficult. I would like advice on a head that won't break the bank, but isn't junk. I suspect this topic has been beat to death. Pardon me if so.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Les Brown wrote:

I have been looking at gimbal heads for my Nikon D7200 with the Nikon 200-500 lens I use for bird photography. I see prices from $99 to well over $500. Some lower priced ones have 4-5 star reviews making choices difficult. I would like advice on a head that won't break the bank, but isn't junk. I suspect this topic has been beat to death. Pardon me if so.

Nest gimbal head. MTShooter, a regular, trusted member heresells them at his shop (Carter’s Camera Cottage) in Billings, Mt. Excellent quality and won’t break the bank. I’ve had or a few years and shoot with a Tamron 150-600 mounted on either a Nikon D7200 or D500. Carter sells online.

TBerwick Loc: Houston, Texas

I bought a Benro GH2 direct from a supplier in mainland China via Paypal. Took about 10 days to arrive but I am very happy with the quality of the unit. Normally I would buy from B&H but the $125 savings was too much for me to pass up. My research on the "really" cheap units turned up too many negative comments about quality which was the reason I went for something kind of in the middle of the pack.

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

MadMikeOne wrote:

Nest gimbal head. MTShooter, a regular, trusted member heresells them at his shop (Carter’s Camera Cottage) in Billings, Mt. Excellent quality and won’t break the bank. I’ve had or a few years and shoot with a Tamron 150-600 mounted on either a Nikon D7200 or D500. Carter sells online.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Another vote for gimbal heads and tripods from UHH member MTShooter.

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

I too use a Nest gimbal. But there is more to consider then just the gimbal. Your tripod, must support (to be safe) about three times the total weight of your camera and largest lens. Ditto, gimbal.

CO

Definitely get a gimbal head that has dampening on the tilt and pan axes. I really like Jobu gimbal heads. They have precision needle bearings in the tilt axes and the locking knob applies finely controlled dampening. They designed a bushing for the pan axes that nicely dampens the panning motion. I purchased their Jobu Jr.2 gimbal. It weighs only 1.5lbs. but can support up to 12lbs.

The Wimberly WH-200 also has adjustable dampening.

I rented the Induro GHB2 gimbal head once. It has no dampening at all. It was a clunker and useless.

Haydon

I'm with CO on this one. I own the WH-200 which is aluminum billet with adjustable dampening. Solid USA made quality.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

"The Wimberly WH-200 also has adjustable dampening.
I rented the Induro GHB2 gimbal head once. It has no dampening at all. It was a clunker and useless."

too funny... I actually bought an induro ghb1 gimbal head... which is a pain to use...
Then I purchased the superb Wimberly WH-200 which is without equal, period!
The Wimberly WH-200 is a dream to use...
bottom line? a poor man pays twice... when will they ever learn?

Les Brown my question to you is why the gimbal for birding? maybe rethink this an try a monopod, k?
I shoot the D7200 with the 200-500mm f/5.6 on a Sirui P-424 monopod for league soccer.
Monopods are far more versatile than a tripod/Gimbal for on location assignments.
The Wimberly is only used in the studio for complex dynamic motion fashion editorials...

Haydon

All due respect Thomas, but there's a very large number of Gimbals used for birding with 500/600 F4's. Those lenses which I'm sure you are aware of aren't an easy task to handhold and in blind shooting the freedom of support is genuinely appreciated. Yes I'm patronizing my purchase but I can't think of any other way of using my 8.5 lb. 500F4 with a tired body. Monopods do offer flexibility but they aren't the only way in succeeding.

Robyn H Loc: MainLine PA

I can't tell you what gimbal to buy but I can tell you, don't get a cheap one. The cheap ones wear out too quickly and are a big headache. I have two gimbals, they cost around $250 each and they have the word pro in their name. Are they pro gimbals? I don't know, what makes a gimbal a pro gimbal?! Am I happy with them? Yes, very much.
Someone suggested a monopoly instead of a gimbal. Hey, to each their own, except, it would be very difficult for a monopoly to stand on its own and even more difficult to operate two cameras if they were on monopods.

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

MadMikeOne wrote:

Nest gimbal head. MTShooter, a regular, trusted member heresells them at his shop (Carter’s Camera Cottage) in Billings, Mt. Excellent quality and won’t break the bank. I’ve had or a few years and shoot with a Tamron 150-600 mounted on either a Nikon D7200 or D500. Carter sells online.

I use it with my Canon 500mm f/4. Love it!

jims203 Loc: Connecticut

Check out ProMedia Gear at B&H.
Katana jr. expensive but works well with D500 and 200-500 lense.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Les Brown wrote:

I have been looking at gimbal heads for my Nikon D7200 with the Nikon 200-500 lens I use for bird photography. I see prices from $99 to well over $500. Some lower priced ones have 4-5 star reviews making choices difficult. I would like advice on a head that won't break the bank, but isn't junk. I suspect this topic has been beat to death. Pardon me if so.

Les I own and use a Wimberly WH-200 a fantastic tool but highly over priced, I recently purchased a Nest carbon fiber head for my Lady friend, price about half of what the Wimberly cost.
If the Nest had been available at the time I was looking at Gimbles I believe I would have bought one!!! .
If the Wimberly wears out before I kick the bucket it will be replaced by a Nest, due to cost, not that I am unhappy it.

bioteacher Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I am not sure if it is true, but was advised not to get a gimbal for zoom lenses. The center of gravity changes as you zoom in and out so you would have to readjust the camera each time you change the focal length.