snipe Loc: Bitterroot Valley, Montana

Good morning MT.
I wish too thank you for the link to Camera Cottage, in reference to my request for info on a HD Gimbal Head. I had a satisfying telephone conversation with the owner and as a results of that conversation I ordered one of his Nest Gimbal heads. Looking forward to it; arrival and putting it to good use. snipe

snipe Loc: Bitterroot Valley, Montana

I would like too thank each and every one who took the time to comment on my inquirer about a good Gimbal tripod head.snipe

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I can affirm the Nest NT-530H-US is made of a full 10X layer of carbon fiber. I have disassembled the head to examine the bearing system and neck. The reason it is not as light as you may want it to be is because of the 10X design and the 55 pound load capability. I compare it directly to the Wimberley WH-200 and it is lighter. The Nest is 2.73 pounds without the QR plate, the Wimberley WH-200 is 3.15 pounds without the QR plate (the only way the WH-200 is sold, the Nest includes one 6" long plate in its 1338 grams total weight). That's about 14% lighter than the Wimberley. Please compare the weights of carbon fiber tripods to their aluminum counterparts and you will see the weight advantage of carbon fiber runs from 10% to 20% on average.
To compare the weight of the Nest to a knock-off metal Chinese head is not comparing anything with any similarity at all. Especially when you look at the pie-in-the-sky load ratings of many of these knock offs, some of which are rated at breaking load rather than stable camera load. Its too bad there is not a standard by which to compare load ratings of these type of heads, the manufacturers are the ones who need to be accurate and most are over-rated simply to gain sales.

By the way, I am the exclusive distributor of the Nest Gimbal Heads in the USA, and the ONLY source of the NT-530H-US Model which is fully ARCA compatible. I managed this distributorship by being instrumental in the heads design.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

It was my pleasure to assist you Gary. Your head shipped today and you should be using it by this weekend.

aflundi Loc: Albuquerque, NM

I ordered one from MT Shooter and it showed up today. Wow. What a deal!

I've never used a Wimberley WH-200, so there's always the possibility I have no idea what I'm talking about, *BUT*, this NEST NT-530H looks, feels, and operates pretty darn good. It is light weight but feels very solid -- as though it's made from metal, and the movement is butter smooth. I'd highly recommend considering it, but you'll have to talk to MT shooter as I'm not about to let mine go.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Thanks Alan, glad it met your expectations. I just got this shipment of 24 in on Monday and am down to only 5 left. Next inventory lot will be 50, but I won't have it until the 3rd week of April due to production capacity limitations, they can only manufacture 50 per month at this time. Capacity should increase to 200 per month by June as they are having 3 more carbon fiber molds made, right now they only have the one. These are literaly hand made, one at a time.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Two days after my copy of the Nest NT-350 arrived it's new partner in photography showed up at my door. I finally secured a copy of Canon's original 500mm ef mount lens. The lens and camera weigh about 10 lbs. The rig seems to float on air while sitting on the Nest. I have no problem sitting the lens on the arm and finding perfect balance almost immediately. I look thru the viewer, put my finger on the button and let my eye go wherever it wants. The whole thing moves so effortlessly that I hardly notice the motion. Thanx MT Shooter, great gear!