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Need help with a Gimbal head and a tripod to go with. The Gimbal selections are under 100-1,000 plus. What’s a lady to do? I do not use my Tamron 150-600 lens often but need stability when I do. Since I don’t use it much I don’t want to invest extravagant money in one. Suggestions?
Also need a better tripod to handle the big lens and Gimbal. Recommendations appreciated.
You all always have the answers.
Thank you!

dat2ra Loc: Sacramento

I love my Manfrotto gimbal and tripod. Even if you do not use yours much, if you like your lens and camera do not cheap out on either. I see lots of good used ones on my local Craigslist, and they are so much less $$ than new. Since there is not much to a tripod or gimbal that you can't inspect, purchasing a good one is easy. BTW, especially being a lady and all, for the recommend meeting the seller at a public place such as a Starbucks to seal the deal. It's SOP and I always do that for buying or selling "portable" gear.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Do you have a budget?

Mister H Loc: Michigan

Not as much of an expert as some here, but I would plan ahead and not just the here and now. I recently went thru the Tripod Angst and now have something I’m very happy with. First and foremost is the weight of everything and possibly what you may upgrade to in the future. From there it’s what and where. Then of course portability needs. Now I think budget comes into pay. I will probably get many corrections and options on my take, but I’ll welcome them all in the name of photography education.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

First, what is your budget?
I use a Nest gimbal head on a Nest Tripod. They are carbon fiber and therefore lighter than some others.
MT Shooter here on the UHH is the US distributor for the heads as he was involved in their design (the US head is not the same as the international model you see on Amazon and Ebay).

https://www.cameracottage.com/apps/webstore/

You can get a head and medium weight tripod (MT refers to it as a light weight but it has a 44# weight rating-Nest NT-6324CT CF Tripod) for just about $600 plus tax and shipping. The head is fluid dampened and in two versions, the second being an Arctic model for cold weather or those who don't like the stiffness of the heavier dampening on the standard model).
I bought my head from MT Shooter and got my tripod second hand

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

I bought a Nest gimbal from UHH member and camera store owner MTShooter at Carters Camera Cottage in Billings, Montana. Easy to deal with, good customer service and prompt. Seems very knowledgeable and helpful. The Gimbal is relatively inexpensive and works like a charm. I already had a tripod bu I’m sure he’d point you in the right direction.

CO

Make sure the gimbal head you get has dampening on the tilt and pan axis. I rented the Induro GHB2 gimbal head once. I hated it. It had no dampening at all. It was practically useless. I ended up getting a Jobu Jr.3 gimbal head. It has finely adjustable dampening on the tilt axis and they designed a bushing for the pan axis with smooth dampening. It weighs only 1.5lbs. but can support up to 12lbs. It's plenty for my D500 and 80-400mm lens.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I took this first image earlier this morning with a 150-600 Sigma Sport @460mm and a D810, hand held.

But I took the second picture with the same camera and lens, @600mm, but at 1/25 sec also hand held. The third image is the full image that the second one was cropped from.

Are you sure you need a tripod and gimbal?

You may want to try shooting without a tripod - in the case of the cat picture - it was a feral cat - and had I set up the tripod and gimbal and put the camera on it, the cat would have been long gone, and you wouldn't be looking at the "grab" shot I posted. You'll be surprised at how effective the optical stabilization is on the current lenses. I certainly was. I have had this lens 2 1/2 yrs, and have taken 6,000 pictures, and have yet to use a tripod with it. You might call it my wildlife "walkaround" lens.

I also have a 600mm F4 which, together with the camera and battery pack, weighs nearly 14 lbs - it is not possible to hand hold that thing.

If you decide to get a tripod - the minimal tripod I would get would be one that has a top leg tube diameter of 37mm or bigger. Gitzo Series 4, Leofoto LN364C, RRS Versa 3, Feisol CT3372 or 3472, or comparable - will be the correct tripod. The least costly would be the Leofoto and the Feisol, both are under $600. As far as a gimbal is concerned, I use a simple Manfrotto 393 - which is indestructible - and I paid $180 for it.

If you don't want to invest the $$, then don't. Save your money - getting an inadequate tripod would be a terrible waste of good money for you. You always need to make decisions like tripods for the worst case scenario - which would be a 600mm lens, which will vibrate on an unstable tripod - anything less than the Leofoto or the Feisol falls into that category. Just because you only use your Tamron occasionally does not diminish the need for stability. If you use it once a year, you'll still need the stability. If you use it 5x a week, then I would consider an RRS tripod - expensive but there is a great company that stands behind it's products and has exceptionally good customer service. I can personally speak about Feisol's customer service - which is also very good on the two occasions I have used them in the past 12 yrs with my CT3472.

BTW, my diminutive friend - a 66 yr old woman, 4'11" and 100 lbs - uses her Tamron G2 150-600 and a D800 hand held as well - she doesn't own a tripod. And she gets exceptional results.

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davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Your budget is limiting you severely. Have you considered trying a monopod instead?

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I would suggest getting a heavy, clunky film era tripod and spending your budget on the excellent Nest gimbal from MT Shooter.

I have an old ProMaster and Vivitar, which were $25 and $45 used, and are as rock solid as top end current models. The penalty you pay is in weight and folded height.

A great bargain, well worth the compromise for me.

Andy

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

With a tripod and gimbal you give up a lot of mobility and therefore, shooting opportunities !

I much prefer and bodypod or monopod and facial stabilizers for that reason !

This tripod will do what you want - and please read the user reviews - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Slik-Pro-700DX-Super-Titanium-Alloy-Tripod-Legs-615900/371546840953?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

This is the gimbal I would recommend for you - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Benro-GH2-Aluminum-Gimbal-Head-with-PL100-Plate/173126819677?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372 - and again, read the user reviews !

If you still have money left over, I would highly recommend one of these to go under the lens and help to stabilize the compromised tripod collar on these lenses. - https://www.ebay.com/itm/220mm-Y-ty-Telephoto-Lens-Support-Clamp-for-Arca-Hejnar-Benro-Fluid-Video-Head/172143858639?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372

PM me if you still have questions....

..

gwong1 Loc: Tampa, FL

Get in touch with MTSHOOTER. He is a member and has his own brick and mortar camera store in Billings MT. https://www.cameracottage.com/ Carter can help you with your needs and sells Nest Gimbal Heads and tripods, many hoggers own them. He often has used tripods for sale. Gary

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

I am quite happy with the Movo gimbal head. Priced well around $200. Sometimes on sale for $150. https://www.movophoto.com/pages/outdoor-photography-guide-giveaway?utm_source=MOVO&utm_campaign=7c2048bbc3-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_01_17_10_57&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_ca8f4ec061-7c2048bbc3-198637029&goal=0_ca8f4ec061-7c2048bbc3-198637029&mc_cid=7c2048bbc3&mc_eid=0bc5595db2#enter

Grace98 Loc: Waterlooville, Hampshire - United Kingdom

I think your diminutive friend must be extremely strong. I'm 65, 5'2", 126 lbs and cannot hold the lens steady at focal length of 600mm. I rented the Tamron 150-600 G2 (which is lighter than the Sigma version) for 3 days and just couldn't hold it steady. I only managed to get sharp photos at 150mm.
After 3 days walking around with it, my back and neck ached.

queencitysanta Loc: Charlotte, North Carolina

I also bought a Nest from Carter at Carter’s Camera Cottage. MT Shooter @ UHH couldn’t be happier