Thoughts and recommendations on best Tripod heads for long lens?

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I'm bucking the trend then. Just switched to a cheap Manfrotto fluid head, for 600TC on my 3 legged tging tripod. Loving it so far, does all that a gimbal does but smaller, lighter and that little bit of resistance from the fluid makes it a joy to track birds/critters..
 
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Marcus said:
I'm bucking the trend then. Just switched to a cheap Manfrotto fluid head, for 600TC on my 3 legged tging tripod. Loving it so far, does all that a gimbal does but smaller, lighter and that little bit of resistance from the fluid makes it a joy to track birds/critters..
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What model of the fluid head are you using? Heavy enough to support the 600TC, but light enough to carry around?
 
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DKBirds said:
What model of the fluid head are you using? Heavy enough to support the 600TC, but light enough to carry around?
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Using the Manfrotto MVH500AH. Very basic pan and tilt, but gives me the same range (Pan/Tilt) as my old gimbal. It is totally enough for the 600TC, if you look at the specs then you wouldn't think so but the specs relate to video where you want nice slow steady movement, with a big lens like the 600TC on it it overrides the fluid to a degree, giving you a more gimbal like motion, not sure i am missing anything with this vs the Flexshooter except it is a little heavier and a 5th of the price!
 
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Wimberly MH100 on my monopod. Had a FlexShooter Pro on my tripod as its smaller and lighter than a gimbal but replaced it with a SmallRig fluid head for CR to het a higher angle ability. It’s not quite as good as a real gimbal would be I agree…but it means I don’t need to have and carry two heads on travel and is more than good enough.
 
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DKBirds said:
Allan, what do you like about this unit, and what, if any, downsides are there?
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It’s a nice head…quasi gimbal in nature but not as close as a fluid head. Big drawback is heavier than Fluid but not as much as gimbal and the maximum 15 degree elevation limit. Of you decide you want one…PM me as mine could be for sale, haven’t used it or wanted to since I got the fluid SmallRig.
 
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Russ4750 said:
The RRS PG-02 MK2 side mount gimbal gets my vote for long lenses, or actually for any lens. I used the old model for years and was very happy with it. The new design, which I've used for most of the past year, is even better. There's an excellent review at https://shuttermuse.com/really-right-stuff-pg-02-mk2-pano-gimbal-head/
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This is what I use as well. While a bit heavy, it is a joy to use with any lens. I bought it for the 600mm f/4, but most recently used it photographing auto racing with the 800mm PF and 400mm f/4.5. It works very well for birds in flight because you can adjust it in so many ways. It works for panos and the components can be separated for easy packing.

I also have a Wimberley Sidekick for occasional use with my BH-55 head. It's great for moderate weight and size lenses like the 500mm PF and 600mm PF. It can handle heavier lenses, but I prefer a gimbal head for heavier lenses.
 
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Take a look at the Markins Q20i with the BV-22 adapter. Ingenious solution when a gimbal is too cumbersome.

Markins Global Home

www.markins.com www.markins.com
You buy the Markins head and the adapter as a set. Not cheap but worth the money. Alternatively, a Leofoto BV-20 video head. You can have a look at the comparison of Video heads from Scott Keys (Wildlife Inspired) on YouTube.
 
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I dislike side mount gimbals as they get in the way of my accessing the camera's controls with most lenses. The Gitzo "fluid dampened" works very well for still and pretty well for video. What I like it that unlike all other gimbal heads there is no worry about forgetting to lock the head before removing the camera from the lens and having the lens crash down.

For video the Sachtler Ace XL fluid head is very good and I combine mine with a Robus RC-5570 that converts to a 75mm bowl for a video head. Robus makes and excellent tripod that is every bit as good as my RRS and Feisol tripods and better than the Gitzo series 3 tripods being sold. A key difference with Feisol and Robus is that they include an excellent carry case with their tripods. With Gitzo and RRS I needed to spend another $100 on a carry case.

My needs changed considerably from when I was using 600mm f/4 lenses that weighed more than 13 lbs. Now my heaviest lens is the 800mm PF at 5.2 lb and so the load capacity of the head is less of an issue. Still important to have stiff legs and many tripods I have purchased did not live up to the manufacturers' load ratings. If I can fully extend the legs and then press down on the top of the tripod and see the legs flexing I return the tripod to BH Photo (which makes the entire process easy and painless).
 
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I agree with those who recommended the Markins head with the accessory to transform it into a gimbal. The Q20i is the smallest and lightest among the top heads like RRS BH55, Kirk etc. but it has an excellent load capacity, is very solid, is really fantastic as a ball head and when needed it transforms into a gimbal what more could you want. It is very popular on Nikonians, check it out.
 
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DKBirds said:
I would appreciate any comments or recommendations on tripod heads (fluid, geared, etc.) for a long lens. I am shooting with a Nikon Z600 TC and Z9. My current set up is with an Acratech Panoramic head and while it works (light and small) it requires the screw knobs to be reasonably tight so the lens doesn’t dip, which also means it can be slow to aim the lens where I need it to be for birds in flight. Forgot to mention, I’m a birder…. I also have a Gitzo Gimbal fluid head which is great but heavy and big to carry around. I am looking for something in between this and the Acratech.
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I would use any good quality gimble head. I have a Nest gimble that I got through a person
I found thru the Ugly Hedge Hog photo site. I would recommend any good quality gimble over a regular triple head especially a big lens. I use my Tamron 150-600 on mine and it's well balanced.
 
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I use the RRS BH40 for ballhead and Wimberley 200 gimbal. Anymore with the lighter setups you don’t need the massive ballheads.
 
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Lots of great ideas here! As someone who is also always looking to lighten my load, it would be helpful if people list the weight of their recommendation? I currently am using the Jobu Jr 3 (1 pound 10 ounces) and have used it for a number of years and happy with it.
 
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I used this some with my D6 and 600 f/4E, FlexShooter Pro Lever Black Ball Head. It worked great and lighter than my Wimberly Gimbal. I am an birder and photograph for ID first and the birds appear at all levels, angles distances etc.. so any support can get in the way. Think kneeling or laying down to shoot through a narrow opening in brush to get an ID shot of a life bird (one you have never seen before). Since went to Z9 and Z800 I have no used any of my tripods, monopods or other supports. Now with the Z600 f/4 TC as I get older I will someday end up bringing the supports out of the closet :)
 
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I own the Wimberly WH-200 & MH-100. The WH-200 is expensive and heavy. A couple of weeks ago I was in Value Village (thrift store). To my surprise, in the hardware section was a "Neewer" GM100 carbon fiber gimbal head. Not a mark on it. The price was a staggering price, $6.49 (Cdn). Obviously the person marking the product didn't have a clue what it was or it's value.

Believe it or not, I prefer it over the over priced Wimberly WH-200. It's much lighter and well made.

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I use the Wimberley MH-100 Mono-gimbal on my monopod and love it, but my 'go to', on my main tripod is the ProMedia Gear Katana Jnr ... I have never had a gimbal as good as this.
 

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DKBirds said:
I would appreciate any comments or recommendations on tripod heads (fluid, geared, etc.) for a long lens. I am shooting with a Nikon Z600 TC and Z9. My current set up is with an Acratech Panoramic head and while it works (light and small) it requires the screw knobs to be reasonably tight so the lens doesn’t dip, which also means it can be slow to aim the lens where I need it to be for birds in flight. Forgot to mention, I’m a birder…. I also have a Gitzo Gimbal fluid head which is great but heavy and big to carry around. I am looking for something in between this and the Acratech.
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I use a Benro gimbal head. Very happy with it. Pans and moves smoothly and locks down quickly & easily. Using it on a D850 with 150-600 tele.
 
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Feiertag said:
At a whooping $700.00 USD, it better be the best darn gimbal ever.
Question: Why would you use the MH-100 over the ProMedia, on your monopod?
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I've bought loads of cheap things in the past, ignoring my own advice...'you get what you pay for', thought I'd take a chance and money well spent in my opinion.

The MH-100 is is a lighter combination for the monopod, which I use when mobile. I use the tripod when mostly stationary, hence the bigger gimbal.
 
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DKBirds said:
I would appreciate any comments or recommendations on tripod heads (fluid, geared, etc.) for a long lens. I am shooting with a Nikon Z600 TC and Z9. My current set up is with an Acratech Panoramic head and while it works (light and small) it requires the screw knobs to be reasonably tight so the lens doesn’t dip, which also means it can be slow to aim the lens where I need it to be for birds in flight. Forgot to mention, I’m a birder…. I also have a Gitzo Gimbal fluid head which is great but heavy and big to carry around. I am looking for something in between this and the Acratech.
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I shoot with a Z9 and F mount 600mm F4 using the FTZ2. On my tripod I use the previous version of the Leofoto PG-1 gimbal and am able to balance it perfectly. Leofoto, while made in China, is a great quality product at a reasonable price and quite light as we.
On the monopod however, I have the Leofoto MPG-01 Side Saddle Tilt Head and also able to balance my set up easily.
 
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