I don't currently own a Gimbal head and using a nice Ball head with a Nikon 18 - 200mm f5.6 lens. I am seeing a lot of nice Birds in flight, are these taken with a Gimbal head or Ball or something else? If using a Gimbal head, do you find it a pain to carry on an all day outing? Thanks
Ball head vs Gimbal
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tclune
Well-known member
They are taken with noticeably longer lenses than you are using. Many long lenses are very heavy, in which case a gimbal head on a tripod or monopod is very helpful. But some of the long lenses, especially the Fresnel lenses, are light enough to be hand-held. FWIW
Thanks, I mistyped the lens, so used to posting 18-200mm....I meant to say nikon 200 - 500mm f5.6.
Gimbal heads are used to help track birds, animals, and other subjects in motion when using super-telephoto lenses. They allow long lenses and cameras attached to them to be balanced about their centres of gravity, so that they seem to be essentially weightless. You cannot do that with a ballhead. The big benefit to using a ballhead is that it is very compact and allows the camera+lens to be adjusted quickly and locked very securely. A ballhead can work for your setup, although a gimbal head would be more ideal for a heavier lens like your 200-500. FWIW, when I use a tripod I use an old, very sturdy Arca Swiss ballhead.
Interestingly, at least one company (Acratech?) has produced a hybrid ball/gimbal head.
Interestingly, at least one company (Acratech?) has produced a hybrid ball/gimbal head.
Thanks for your input, just did not want to spend money on something that will be a pain to use and carry around. I will have to check out the hybrid. Thanks again.
Sling across the chest, something you made or purchased? Some type of center support that pivots up? Looking to take the least amount of gear on an outing and still get good results.
Doug Herr
Well-known member
For lenses with a rotating tripod collar a ball head has too many axes of rotation. Acratech makes a long-lens head which is more compact than a gimbal and eliminates the excess rotation axis, so it's somewhat more stable when loosened than a ball head. It can still flop fore/aft but will not flop side-to-side like a ball head can.
www.acratech.net
Tripod Head for Long Lens - Acratech
Acratech Long Lens Head is designed as a telephoto lens support system capable of providing solid anchoring for super telephoto lenses such as a 600mm f/4 lens
www.acratech.net
Thanks for the link.!I use a Peak Design Slide strap attached to the lens foot.
Slide
The original Peak Design flagship camera strap, Slide is everything other pro camera straps aren't: beautiful, low-profile, adjustable, quick-connecting, and configurable to your gear. Wear Slide as a sling, neck, or shoulder strap. Internally-padded nylon webbing has a smooth side that glides...www.peakdesign.com
I hand hold bird flight photos. It's 99.9% daylight photography.
I never got the hang of the ball head, flip flop gizmo. But I do use a couple Wimberley II heads. Balance well and pan so smooth
I never got the hang of the ball head, flip flop gizmo. But I do use a couple Wimberley II heads. Balance well and pan so smooth
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Good to know, I update my rotating collar for the 200 -500mm, the factory collar did not rotate smoothly and had detentes at 90 deg intervals, it was pain to use.For lenses with a rotating tripod collar a ball head has too many axes of rotation. Acratech makes a long-lens head which is more compact than a gimbal and eliminates the excess rotation axis, so it's somewhat more stable when loosened than a ball head. It can still flop fore/aft but will not flop side-to-side like a ball head can.
Tripod Head for Long Lens - Acratech
Acratech Long Lens Head is designed as a telephoto lens support system capable of providing solid anchoring for super telephoto lenses such as a 600mm f/4 lens
The Acratech ball heads with the gimbal function are quite good. They function like a Wimberley monogimbal but retain all the benefits of a ball head when you need it. The limitations..... the weight is offset from the tripod centreline. A bit of care with leg placement can negate potential instability. For frequent long lens use you’d be better with a sidekick or full gimbal........ or a Flexshooter if you’re that way inclined.
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Thanks for the information, some decisions to make.
I now pretty much use FlexShooter ball heads, which have the advantages of both ballheads and gimbal heads. I have a small mini and also the "pro" model.
See ballhead.com
See ballhead.com
I use a ball head, RRS-B55, and a sidekick, mine is from Enduro, on my tripod. Works great. The sidekick slides on when needed and off when not needed. Very easy to use and to control.
Replytoken
Well-known member
There is always the option of using a Wimberley Sidekick with your existing ballhead. That should hold a 200-500 without issue if you have a good ballhead.
--Ken
--Ken
More to think about, read the reviews, some positive and some negative.
The RRS gitup. Indispensable for panos.
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I use both; depends on what I'm shooting (of course). And while it's almost exclusively gimbal for wildlife I do use my ballhead on my platypod with the long lens for wildlife on occasion. I have more than one tripod, but do have RRS quick release thingy on all my tripods and plates on all my heads so can and do simply switch out heads on the same tripod.
That's a gorgeous set up!
Thank you. It's the RRS PG-02 with leveling base on a lighter RRS tripod. RRS L-bracket cladding on XT4 with 200/2. Yes, I am an RRS fan(boy).
While many people shoot BIF handheld, I prefer to use my gimbal on a sturdy tripod whenever possible (which is most of the time). Not only does it give you good stability and fluid motion, it relieves fatigue considerably when using a long lens. A ball head won't do you a lot of good for BIF - it's just too hard to maneuver. Wimberley gimbals are the reputed gold standard, but I found the Benro GH2 to be excellent at about 40% less expensive. I've used both my Benro and a friend's Wimberley, and can't tell any real difference in performance. I've also tried ball head/gimbal hybrids, like the Flexshooter Pro, but found their range of motion and fluidity no match for a good gimbal, although they are useful when traveling, when space and weight are considerations. One other consideration: if you do landscapes, panos, or macro work, you'll definitely need a good ball head - a gimbal is generally useless for thus kind of work. I use a Kirk BH1 ball head, but there are many other excellent brands. Really Right Stuff (RRS) is very highly rated, but pricey.
Hope this helps.
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I have been checking out all posters recommendations, and this tip helps. Some of the setup are pricey and don't want to invest in something that ends up sitting in the closet. So what I am gathering from the posts is, if you want to shoot BIF with good focus you need invest in a Gimbal. I will check out the Benro GHW. Thanks to all posters.
If you have a local camera shop, take your tripod and camera there, and try out gimbal and ball heads (most camera shops will let you try stuff out), just to get an idea of the differences. Even if they don't have brands that interest you, at least you'll be able to see the relative pros and cons of each. Try to imagine tracking birds with your camera mounted, and see which one makes sense, then imagine using them for landscape or macro work.
Whatever you decide, I'd encourage you to invest in the very best head(s) that you can afford, as quality will serve you well for many years. It's always tempting to try to save a few bucks by buying something more economical, but I've found that, invariably, it's a better bet to buy quality up front, rather than a succession of better _______ (fill in the blank). I went through this with tripods, and ended up with several that I never use anymore, before I bought my current Gitzo carbon fiber tripod.
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Lensprotogo.com rents gimbal heads inc the Wimberly.
Never gave that a thought, thanks