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Gimbal Head suggestions needed
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Feb 22, 2013 20:54:41   #
Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip
 
I am thinking of getting a gimbal head, I use Manfrotto 055 XBPRO tripod.
Suggestions needed.
I see "off brands" like Optika. I have no experience with this brand.
I am happy ( well not HAPPY) to spend what is required for quality gimbal head, Rather buy good gear once.

Appreciate tips, guidance, suggestions, hints, direction.

Tanks
Bruce

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Feb 22, 2013 21:19:09   #
RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado
 
Even MT Shooter likes this one, albeit after dis-assembling, deburring and relubricating. They get good reviews even without MT's handiwork. I have one on order.

http://www.linkdelight.com/PK003-Gimbal-Tripod-Head-BK-45-Camera-Ball-Head-for-Tele-Lens.html

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Feb 22, 2013 21:26:31   #
Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip
 
RocketScientist wrote:
Even MTshooter likes this one, albeit after dis-assembling, deburring and relubricating. They get good reviews even without MT's handiwork. I have one on order.

http://www.linkdelight.com/PK003-Gimbal-Tripod-Head-BK-45-Camera-Ball-Head-for-Tele-Lens.html


Thank you fine sir, Appreciate your assistance!

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Feb 22, 2013 21:27:32   #
RocketScientist Loc: Littleton, Colorado
 
Bruce with a Canon wrote:
RocketScientist wrote:
Even MTshooter likes this one, albeit after dis-assembling, deburring and relubricating. They get good reviews even without MT's handiwork. I have one on order.

http://www.linkdelight.com/PK003-Gimbal-Tripod-Head-BK-45-Camera-Ball-Head-for-Tele-Lens.html


Thank you fine sir, Appreciate your assistance!


Found the post: http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-86803-1.html#1469081

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Feb 23, 2013 04:31:45   #
JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK
 
I use this one and have both models.

There are also TWO people on this forum who have bought them, I suggest you stay away from the cheap $80 ones, steel and not in the same league

http://www.lensmaster.co.uk/

I use it with my 120-400 and 150-500, see my surf shots on my site.

Being best quality alloy it has been IN the sea a few times, wouldn't do that with steel



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Feb 23, 2013 05:45:04   #
craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK
 
Bruce with a Canon wrote:
I am thinking of getting a gimbal head, I use Manfrotto 055 XBPRO tripod.
Suggestions needed.
I see "off brands" like Optika. I have no experience with this brand.
I am happy ( well not HAPPY) to spend what is required for quality gimbal head, Rather buy good gear once.

Appreciate tips, guidance, suggestions, hints, direction.

Tanks
Bruce


Hi Bruce - I'm one of those that bought the Lensmaster RH-2 on the recommendation of JRI who has already posted. I can't speak more highly of this head. The longest lens I use is a 70-200, but for me a good tripod head was a "one-off" purchase, and this will handle many different tasks.

No need to pay huge prices - this is perfectly adequate (see his video) and the maker is well-used to sending product to the USA.

A couple of photos so that you can see the head in a different light from JR1's camoflage gear !

With 70-200 lens
With 70-200 lens...

With 17-50 lens
With 17-50 lens...

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Feb 23, 2013 07:23:09   #
JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK
 
craggycrossers wrote:
Bruce with a Canon wrote:
I am thinking of getting a gimbal head, I use Manfrotto 055 XBPRO tripod.
Suggestions needed.
I see "off brands" like Optika. I have no experience with this brand.
I am happy ( well not HAPPY) to spend what is required for quality gimbal head, Rather buy good gear once.

Appreciate tips, guidance, suggestions, hints, direction.

Tanks
Bruce


Hi Bruce - I'm one of those that bought the Lensmaster RH-2 on the recommendation of JRI who has already posted. I can't speak more highly of this head. The longest lens I use is a 70-200, but for me a good tripod head was a "one-off" purchase, and this will handle many different tasks.

No need to pay huge prices - this is perfectly adequate (see his video) and the maker is well-used to sending product to the USA.

A couple of photos so that you can see the head in a different light from JR1's camoflage gear !
quote=Bruce with a Canon I am thinking of getting... (show quote)


They look sturdy legs you have what mount is that

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Feb 23, 2013 07:39:26   #
craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK
 
JR1 wrote:
craggycrossers wrote:
Bruce with a Canon wrote:
I am thinking of getting a gimbal head, I use Manfrotto 055 XBPRO tripod.
Suggestions needed.
I see "off brands" like Optika. I have no experience with this brand.
I am happy ( well not HAPPY) to spend what is required for quality gimbal head, Rather buy good gear once.

Appreciate tips, guidance, suggestions, hints, direction.

Tanks
Bruce


Hi Bruce - I'm one of those that bought the Lensmaster RH-2 on the recommendation of JRI who has already posted. I can't speak more highly of this head. The longest lens I use is a 70-200, but for me a good tripod head was a "one-off" purchase, and this will handle many different tasks.

No need to pay huge prices - this is perfectly adequate (see his video) and the maker is well-used to sending product to the USA.

A couple of photos so that you can see the head in a different light from JR1's camoflage gear !
quote=Bruce with a Canon I am thinking of getting... (show quote)


They look sturdy legs you have what mount is that
quote=craggycrossers quote=Bruce with a Canon I ... (show quote)


It's a Redsnapper set of legs (http://www.redsnapperuk.com/index.html) which I bought brand new on eBay after finding a review somewhere on the Redsnapper site. The review, which was extremely well-presented said something like "it's the quality of a £170 set of legs at considerably less money". And I got it for even less on eBay - all this BEFORE I started reading here that your tripod purchase should be a "one-off" buy.

It's another great buy for me as per the Lensmaster, and for the same reasons.

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Feb 23, 2013 07:43:07   #
jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK
 
The best gimble head is by far the Wimberley; it is expensive, but when you have used one, you will never buy anything else !

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Feb 23, 2013 07:53:00   #
craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK
 
jeryh wrote:
The best gimble head is by far the Wimberley; it is expensive, but when you have used one, you will never buy anything else !


Hey man - YOU might think Wimberley is "best", but there are two contradictory and similar opinions already posted - and I bet we paid a helluva lot less than you. ! Always dangerous to describe a consumer product as "best". Too many different types of consumer ......

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Feb 23, 2013 09:01:09   #
JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK
 
WHO says the Wimberley is the best, show me ANY consumer report that compares available gimbals, and that says it is the best, no............

And I will tell you another thing, go on any respected birding forum and see what people say about the Lensmaster, sold 99% by word of mouth.

http://www.naturephotohub.com/topic/1148-lensmaster-gimbal-rh-1-full-review/

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Feb 23, 2013 09:09:12   #
Lorendn Loc: Jackson, WY
 
I would comment that the "best" gimbal is the one that works for you. It is probably true that the Wimberly is the most popular and maybe the first to be commercially successful. I would be careful in the selection, however. I notice that some of the links above do not give maximum weight or lens specifications and the reviewers report their lenses being up to a 150-500mm f/5.6 - not a huge lens.

What size of lens do you expect to use? If it is a 400mm f/2.8 or a 600mm f/4 you are talking significant weight and size.

Finally, you must admit that to some degree, you get what you pay for. I just ordered a new ARCA Swiss quick release plate for a Wimberly and it cost $80 - almost as much as some of the gimbals above! Let the buyer (including me) beware.

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Feb 23, 2013 09:19:01   #
craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK
 
Lorendn wrote:
I would comment that the "best" gimbal is the one that works for you. It is probably true that the Wimberly is the most popular and maybe the first to be commercially successful. I would be careful in the selection, however. I notice that some of the links above do not give maximum weight or lens specifications and the reviewers report their lenses being up to a 150-500mm f/5.6 - not a huge lens.

What size of lens do you expect to use? If it is a 400mm f/2.8 or a 600mm f/4 you are talking significant weight and size.

Finally, you must admit that to some degree, you get what you pay for. I just ordered a new ARCA Swiss quick release plate for a Wimberly and it cost $80 - almost as much as some of the gimbals above! Let the buyer (including me) beware.
I would comment that the "best" gimbal i... (show quote)


Thanks for your far more "constructive" comment. Not sure who your comment is aimed at, and perhaps not me if you've read this complete thread, but have you taken the trouble to look at the Lensmaster website and watch the video ? There you'll discover whether it'll support your "super lenses" or not.

Time for me to bow out ....... rugby on the telly !

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Feb 23, 2013 09:22:11   #
Lorendn Loc: Jackson, WY
 
No, just a general comment and I only looked at the sites and reviews. Sorry I missed the video that would have been helpful.

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Feb 23, 2013 09:30:12   #
treadwl Loc: South Florida
 
I'm not going top the the dreaded "B" word. However I will offer my 2 cents worth on the gimbal head that I love.

I am using a Really Right Stuff Ball head. (that is another matter all together. I Backpack for days carrying my tripod and photo gear including my 200-400 Nikon zoom lens. My gimbal head is a Wimberly Sidekick. I love this head for the following reasons.

1. It supports my camera and lens better than I could have hoped for.

2. The sidekick weighs 1 pound.

3. The side kick slips into the arca swiss barcket on the top of my ball head. This means when I want to mount my camera body with a wide angle lens to shoot a scenic I merely loosen the thumbscrew, slip out the sidekick and mount the camera onto ball head with the plate attached to the bottom of the camera. Now I have the best of both worlds at my finger tips.

Since I already had the ball head, adding the sidekick was simple and easy. I would not trade my combination for anything. I works for me---that is the key!! Love the versatility!

I avoided using the "B" word, but you draw you own conclusions! :-)

Larry

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