Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

If so I would like your opinion on what you use. I will be mounting a Nikkor 200-500 f5.6 with a D7200 on it.

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

A decent alternative if you already have a good sized ball head with A/S clamping is a used Wimberley sidekick for about $150 or so used. It takes up less space and works well. Uses the ball head's pano lock to control that movement, up/down via the sidekick.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Thanks for answering. Not what I need

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Just what do you need? If you think it is too "wimpy" think again. I routinely mount a D850 with either a 300 f2.8 or a 500 f4 on it.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I do not have a ball head

Orphoto Loc: Oregon

Ahhhh, i understand. There are a lot of fairly recent higher quality knock off products that hoggers have referred to in recent posts. So you should get some on point responses.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

...I went back and forth, Wimbly to RRS, and ended up getting a Neewer for, I dunno, a buck fifty or so? I pre-googled and found that the packing grease was heavy, hindering motion, but there is a fix, which is rather easy, to thin it out (YouTube)...so I bought, brought my vast tooling to bear, and it works like a charm. Nothing to compare it to, but it's smooth. Carbon fiber, too. <shrug> Had it since pre-covid and actually used it quite a bit shooting surfing...looking forward to the next airshow I can get to...

Boone Loc: Groundhog Town USA

Thanks,
Boone.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

For $179.00 this works well with a sturdy monopod
https://www.tripodhead.com/products/monopodhead-main.cfm

It may feel a bit awkward until you get used to it because the weight of the camera will be to one side. I use this with a 500 f4 which is a heavy lens.
After getting used to it I really like it.

You will need to order one of these:
https://www.tripodhead.com/products/lens-plates-main.cfm

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

Manfrotto 393 gimbal plus a Hejnar Photo 4" Arca-Swiss clamp screwed to the Manfrotto 3272 QR plate.

https://www.adorama.com/bg3421.html

http://www.hejnarphotostore.com/product-p/f64.htm

In 2009 I paid $225 for the combo - today the price would be $265. I've had a D3S and an 800 F5.6 lens on it with no issues. Simple device, and the cheap Wimberley knockoffs can't touch it.

VTMatwood Loc: Displaced Vermonta in Central New Hampsha

I use a Benro gimble that was around $250 or so. I love it.

george19

I have the $90 special from B&H. Nothing extraordinary, sturdy but too much backlash, and nothing to really compare it to.

I bought it for the Nikkor 200-500, which it supports well. I also had to get it replaced after a week because one of the knobs froze. No problems since.

CO

I have the Jobu Jr.3 gimbal head. It weighs only 1.5lbs. but can support up to 12lbs. Your D7200 with 200-500mm lens weighs 6.5lbs so it's well within the capacity of the head. It has needle bearings in the tilt axis for smooth motion. They designed a bushing for the panning axis that supplies the right amount of friction. It's around $298 and the Jobu Jr.3 is around $303.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

No I do not use a Gimble head that cost less than $250
I have been using a Wimberly Wh200 for over 15 years, I did try a Bogen ($150 approx) but it just wasn't what I wanted If you just tapped the tripod leg you could see the vibration in the view finder, But it will safely support your equipment.
The Wimberly while being very well made was highly over priced at the time, But it did what I wanted.
About five years ago I bought my GF a Nest carbon fiber gimble from Carters Camera Cottage ( owned by MT Shooter) UHH) member, for slightly more than $250 and it is every bit as steady, smooth operation and looks as good as the Wimberly. I have not seen the Nest advertised and CCC was the only dealer in the US.
I am not sorry I spent over $700 at the time, it is still working great , hold settings and smooth in the swings. I use it for everything except landscape for which I use a Manfroto Carbon fiber with a Acra-Tech ball head with a D800.
The Wimberly is mounted on a Gitzo GT5561 SGT ( comp to the Gitzo 5563GSUS model with a D810 with a Sigma 150-600 sport and a Nikkor 200mm micro, the tripod is overkill but it will still be around long after I'M gone, and it is sturdy enough I can use it to haul my 250# butt up from shooting laying down on the ground to get a shot.

CO

Look for gimbal heads that have needle bearings in the swing arm housing. It provides smooth, accurate motion. They will usually have a thrust bearing also.

Needle bearings in swing arm housing


Thrust bearing