Do I need a ball head as well? With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do...

SAVH Loc: La Jolla, CA

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

spaceylb Loc: Long Beach, N.Y.

Yep, expensive...

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

If you have a good L bracket and A/S balance rail , functionally , you will not need a ball head - unless shooting nearly straight up. But, weight may be an issue. Most good ball heads will be lighter and have a smaller footprint than a conventional gimbal.

If you want to use two different heads on the same tripod, I use and recommend the Manfro 625 RCO Rapid Connect Adapter for this purpose.

Ball head - https://www.ebay.com/itm/No-Neck-LEOFOTO-LH-55-NN-55mm-Low-Profile-Tripod-Ball-Head-Arca-RRS-Compat-55NN/202823438857?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l9372
.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

I have one carbon fiber tripod with a gimbal head for my large prime lenses and I have 2 smaller tripods with ball heads for when I use my camera with all the smaller lenses.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

When I bought my 500 f4 I bought a gitzo tripod, and the wimberley gimbal wh200 to use with it. And a gitzo monopod and a wimberley monobimbal head to use with it. About $2000 all together. I probably wouldn't have bought the lens had I realized how much it was going to cost to use it. All of this is expensive but once you have it you wonder how you got along without it.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Check out the Oben BE-117 ($84.95) or BE-126 ($109.95) https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=oben%20ballhead&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps. They come with 1 QR plate & are Arca Swiss compatible. The 117 is rated for 17.6 pounds the 126 is rated for 26.4 pounds. I have a BE-117 on my monopod. No problem mounting either my Sony Alpha 850 or A7RIII with a Tamron 150-600 attached.

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

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

I have an Arca Swiss, and other than the RRS, there is no other ball head I would rather own. Well, maybe - the FLM CB-58 FTR - which looks pretty darn good. The tilt mode is really cool.

You've got some nice gear - might as well treat yourself to the good stuff. There is a world of difference between a $100 or $200 ball head and the FLM, RRS, Arca-Swiss, Markins, Kirk, etc -

https://photographylife.com/reviews/flm-ballhead#flm-cb-58-ftr

As far as your question about another head besides a gimbal - yes - there are times when you want to attach the camera to the tripod head and not the lens - the lens collar foot is oriented along the lens axis, and the camera plate or L bracket is 90° off axis - so yes, another head is a useful addition.

TBPJr Loc: South Carolina

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

I just bought a gimbal; I played with it with all my heavy lenses, and checked its functions, but have not taken it outside yet (I did take some pictures, pushing the low-light capability of my setup to .8 second exposure). I have decided not to get another ball head to replace my old one (I do not like the proprietary QR system on it) right away because it seems the gimbal is perfectly suited to any tripod photography, at least to me. The gimbal has independent pan and tilt functions, with separate tension adjust/lock knobs. I haven't been able to imagine a situation where I can't use the gimbal as my full-time tripod head.

You might try sticking with just the gimbal for a while. Good luck either way.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

I have Gitzo/RRS/Wimberley/Arca Swiss gear obtained entirely from ebay. Shop smart for used gear and you can save a lot of money compared to buying new. These items are mechanical and built to last a lifetime, so buying used should not be much of problem. A few scratches gives it character!

CO

I'm a fan of Acratech products. I have their Nomad ballhead. It weighs only 0.9 pounds but can support up to 25 pounds. The bottom of the ball is open. It allows dirt and debris to fall away.

(Download)

tcthome Loc: NJ

With all the advice given, I will add if you decide to go with both you can add(more $$$) the arca Swiss (Dovetail set up) plate to the Top of the tripod & to the bottom of your heads for quick changes between the ball head & gimbal. Once your equipment is set up , you will be glad you spent the money if used a cheap tripod before this. Either way , enjoy your new equipment, Tom

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

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

From what you have purchased so far it appears money is no problem. For your ball head you are on the right track.
IMHO, your spending a lot of money on accessories. I always put my money in lenses.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I had Wimberley 200 gimbal and went to a Really Right Stuff instead. I find it to be a more versatile system. I use it 99 percent of the time even though I also have a RRS BH55 ball head too. I use it with longer and short lenses. You may want to look at some of the head and tripod reviews on TheDigitalPicture.com...

RichJ207 Loc: Sammamish, WA

I found a RRS BH55 ball head in perfect condition on Craigslist at a considerable savings. Can’t imagine a better piece of gear.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

SAVH wrote:

With great input from fellow Hoggers, I am going to purchase a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and a Wimberley 200H gimbal. But for those instances when I do not need or use the gimbal, it seems I also need a ball head as the tripod just comes with a screw attachment and no center post. I will be using my Nikon D-850. Comments and recommendations appreciated. This is getting to be rather expensive as the Really Right Stuff or Arca Swiss ball heads go for about $500.

Scotty

RRS BH-55