FotoHog Loc: on Cloud 9

I like shooting hand held but recently bought a Yelangu gimbal head for my monopod and can't live without it anymore. It was on sale far below $250. Check it out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=yelangu+a17+gimbal+head&rlz=1C1GCEA_enCA921CA921&oq=Yelangu&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l9.7841j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

I have the same tripod and a Nest Gimbal head. Love them both. Bought the nest here used for 175

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Had the Nest been available when I bought the Wimberly I would have bought it.

Saycheeze Loc: Ct

I have a lens master. they come from England. ships in about a week and no hassle. its strong, stable and works fine. I used a d5 and a 200-500 on it no problems at all. Let me know if you are interested in buying mine...I just dont use it anymore...I give you a good deal on it

LeRoy Hart Loc: Monterey California

I have the Neweer Aluminum Gimbal head about $80.00 on amazon handles my canon 100-400 L on a t7i without a problem but the grease is thick and easily replaced.

ShelbyDave Loc: Lone Rock, WI

I use a Yelangu gimbal head, 57.60 from Adarama. Love it, works very well, well built. I mount a Sony A7iii with a Sony 200-600 on it. Because it was so cheap I was skeptical and read a lot of reviews before buying it. Everyone liked it and I decided to take a chance and was glad I did. I can't imagine the more expensive gimbals being any better. It is a little heavy but they also have a carbon fiber gimbal for about 150.

lhardister Loc: Brownsville, TN

About a year or so ago, I picked up a carbon fiber Nest gimbal on eBay for less than $200.00. I have never used any other gimbal head, but I am quite satisfied with this one. It does everything that I think could be reasonably expected from any gimbal head.
This is the same mentioned by Manglesphoto (above) that was sold by Carter Camera Cottage in Montana. The Camera Cottage has since gone out of business, but according to my recollection, a number of UHH'ers purchased this item back in the day and gave it good recommendations.

neillaubenthal

I agree…too often here folk get beat up for asking a question or it descends into an argument. So…very nice to see a pleasant discussion.

Me…I use a FlexShooter Pro on my Induro tripod and it has both ball and gimbal head characteristics and I really like it for an overall head. If it comes to I actually would use a real gimbal head I might get one…but like others have said the Wimberly might be the gold standard but it's just out of bounds cost wise considering how much I would use it…so I would go with either the B&H $90 special or perhaps the Nest but even that is probably more than I would want to spend given how much it would be used. Longest lens for me is a Nikon 500PF that might get a TC on it later on…but given my hobby makes me zero money the $12K long fast primes aren't something I'm going to be buying…and even if I was willing to spend that much the size and weight make them not an option since I'm not going to carry one of those on a hike.

Equus Loc: Puget Sound

Take a look at the Neewer gimble. It is around $100 and does the job.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Neewer Professional Heavy Duty Carbon Fiber 360 Degree Panoramic Gimbal Tripod Head with Arca-Swiss Standard 1/4 inch Quick Release Plate and Bubble L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M262LLV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_bglRzO9Gkufnn
$121.

Very sturdy, works well with 100-400 Sony E

uhaas2009

$149

uhaas2009

I’m not sure....

(Download)

EastWest

I've been using my 200-500 on my D850 with this;
https://smile.amazon.com/Neewer-Professional-Panoramic-Arca-Swiss-Standard/dp/B01I57SS5S/ref=sr_1_3?crid=FFQAZKD2RWCB&dchild=1&keywords=neewer+gimbal&qid=1622420652&sprefix=neewer+gimb%2Caps%2C229&sr=8-3
Has performed flawlessly for 2 years.
This is a 1/10th second shot at 500mm f8 from that gimbal. Lots of haze at the horizon and the sun was just starting up behind me but the lens was steady.

Bankshot Loc: Henderson, NV, USA

Hi, I recently bought a Movo metal gimbal for around $115, and it works great. It has a slight amount of play in the base, so I just turn in the rotation tightening knob a little. I think it’s great, much better than the one I built using 2 ball heads that I have been using for 10 years.
Bill

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I don't know why you rule out the Sidekick (or the similar Induro GHBA).

I've been using one for 20 years, often with lenses considerably heavier than your 200-500mm. It's with my Gitzo G1325 tripod and Kirk BH-1 ballhead. That's my "go to" tripod... the one I always take with me on a shoot. (I have several others that are more specialized, that I only take when needed.)

The Sidekick gimbal "adapter" has the advantage that you can quickly and easily convert the tripod back to "regular" use with shorter lenses that don't have a tripod mounting collar. Since the ballhead stays on the tripod, just install the Sidekick when you need the gimbal and remove it when you don't. You do need to have at least a medium duty (around 30 lb. rated or higher) ballhead with an Arca-compatible platform, to use a gimbal adapter. And the ballhead needs to have a separate panning movement (some use a single lock that controls both tilt and panning movements).

With a "full size" gimbal you replace any other head on the tripod, effectively making the tripod "large telephoto lenses with tripod collars only". Yes, you can carry around another head and swap it out when needed... might need tools and it's probably going to be heavier than a ballhead + the Sidekick. I have no idea the brand of the cheap gimbal head. It's probably made the same place as Meike, Neewer, Movo and a dozen other "brands" from China.

I also have a "budget" full size gimbal like you're asking about, on a second tripod that I only use with big telephotos and only take with me when I plan to use two telephotos. It's a cheap (~$100) Chinese clone of the original Wimberley WH-100. Works fine, but probably won't hold up over the long run. Not sure I'd trust it with my heaviest lenses.

A "bonus" with the Sidekick is that it also can be used to vertically mount a camera when using a shorter lens. That allows me to avoid bulky, expensive L-brackets on my DSLRs. I just use Arca-compatible camera plates.