What is the best gimbal head for a monopod?

[sh1209]

I use a very simple tilt head made by Desmond:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1345432-REG/desmond_dmh_2_x1_monopod_head_with_clamp.html

I have used it for about 5 years with no issues.

Personally I do not understand the appeal of the MH-100, especially if you are using a heavy lens. It seems incredibly awkward and unbalanced to have a 5-10 pound camera/lens combo hanging out 6+ inches off-center of the monopod.

I feel exactly the same. It would literally cause severe wrist pain trying to move around with a monopod because it was so side off, balanced and getting a large rig onto that was a nightmare for me, but I guess lots of people like it for some reason.

 

[PFP]

Ciao a tutti, in effetti non capisco perché molti elogiano la mh100, mi sembra scomodo avere il baricentro spostato di lato. Come prodotto sarà di ottima fattura come altri della Wimberlay ho il gimbal, il sidekik, le staffe e le piastre per flash e sono tutti prodotti eccellenti, ma questa con il peso laterale non mi piace proprio, uso questa, molto meglio.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[PFP]

Ho anche questa economica della Manfrotto che fa il suo lavoro la 234 RC

 

[ecycled]

I've used the Wimberley MH-100 with both the D850 (with battery grip) and D6 with the 300 f2.8G VR II and 500 f4E FL and it work extremely well. Yes I did compensate a small amount to balance the weight since it does sit "off-center" yet after a few minutes it isn't an issue. Love it's simplicity. Very well made and sturdy.

 

[maxxus46]

Agree, I never experienced any wrist pain or fatigue when using the wimberley WH100 , even with a heavy Canon 500F4. Took me all but a few minutes to adjust and it felt very balanced. No issues whatsoever... Would still be my first pick if buying another today

I've used the Wimberley MH-100 with both the D850 (with battery grip) and D6 with the 300 f2.8G VR II and 500 f4E FL and it work extremely well. Yes I did compensate a small amount to balance the weight since it does sit "off-center" yet after a few minutes it isn't an issue. Love it's simplicity. Very well made and sturdy.

 

[Jose Raposo]

I've used a Fotopro E-6H Eagle gimbal head on my monopod for a number of years now it works extremely well. It's a very light weight ( 700 grams without the cradle )smaller sized gimbal that allows the centre of the lens to sit on the vertical axis of the monopod which I much prefer to the off axis of the Wimberly. The head uses Arc-type screw clamps however there is a small button on each screw clamp that has to be depressed to fully unscrew the clamp, great safety feature. The only downside is it's only rated for 10kg but it works well with some of the smaller super teles.

 

[maxxus46]

I have run quite a few systems/lens combos on the Wimberley WH100. The heaviest lens by far was the Canon 500F4L and more recently the Nikon 400 2.8TC. both balanced well on this mono gimbal head, and felt very natural in use. The head is very strong and can easily hold any super tele . I do not feel the offset mount creates any issue in use, well at least not for me. Very pleased with this gimbal head

What lens are you using on the MH100 (I'm assuming that you meant MH and not WH)? As I mentioned, for smaller lenses it can be a great compact solution. For larger lenses it works but it is pulling to the side as the thing is side mounting a huge lens....physics don't lie and you are always counterbalancing that the entire time you are shooting....sort of defeats the purpose. The JR 3 is so small and light that it just works 100x better than the MH100 for larger lenses like 400/2.8 and 600/4 (even the latest lighter versions).

 

[maxxus46]

For anyone still trying to decide, here is a good review on the more popular monopod gimbal heads: https://shuttermuse.com/best-monopod-head/

 

[Anjin San]

MH100 for me. While a true gimbal would be slightly better…it is more weight and tivally one carries a monopod instead of a tripod for weight reasons. I don’t use one on my tripod either…a light fluid head is almost as good IMO and much lighter…and us geezers appreciate lighter.

 

[dbligon]

Yes, 100% still recommended. I use it all the time.

Thanks for your all your advice! You mentioned in your video you wished the Wimberly MH-100 had a lever clamp for the ARCA Swiss plate. I’m going to give the Leofoto MPG-01S, which does have a clamp, a try.

 

[Calson]

With a monopod and a heavy lens a gimbal head is not needed for horizontal rotation and this flexibility makes it more difficult to attach a lens foot with only two hands. What I would like is a separate disconnect mechanism between the head and the monopod that could be done with one hand on the mechanism and the other hand holding the lens and camera. Ideally I want to take my camera and super telephoto lens out of the carry case and quickly attach it with two hands onto the monopod with no worries about damage to anything.

I consider the Canon 500mm f/4 lens as a medium weight lens and only a couple pounds heavier than the 800mm PF but 6 lbs lighter than some of the 600mm f/4 lenses I have owned. Nikon recognized the value in making its lenses light over time and its appeal to potential customers.

 

[Oosty]

I have a simple Manfrotto monopod with a tilting head which is more than adequate for my D500 + 200-500VR

For me a gimbal would just add one more moving part and I can't see the point.

If I'm ignorant please enlighten me.

Thanks

 

[Jose Raposo]

I have a simple Manfrotto monopod with a tilting head which is more than adequate for my D500 + 200-500VR

For me a gimbal would just add one more moving part and I can't see the point.

If I'm ignorant please enlighten me.

Thanks

The value for me personally for using a Gimbal or a Wimeberly MH100 style head is that you can perfectly balance the lens so it doesn't tilt forwards or backwards when I'm not holding the camera and still have the freedom of vertical movement when tracking birds in flight for example, Steve illustrates this nicely in his video.

 

[aolander]

With a tilt head, you have to constantly be aware of the knob tightness. If it's loose and you let go, lens flops.

 

[cmhammon]

MH100 for me. While a true gimbal would be slightly better…it is more weight and tivally one carries a monopod instead of a tripod for weight reasons. I don’t use one on my tripod either…a light fluid head is almost as good IMO and much lighter…and us geezers appreciate lighter

Thanks for your all your advice! You mentioned in your video you wished the Wimberly MH-100 had a lever clamp for the ARCA Swiss plate. I’m going to give the Leofoto MPG-01S, which does have a clamp, a try.

I’ve used the MPG-01S for exactly that reason—I prefer a clamp to a knob. I just feel more secure with a clamp and it’s quicker (for me) to adjust the position of the lens-camera combo to balance it, as Steve shows in his videos. Of course, it’s a personal choice and up to everyone‘s preferences.

 

[fcotterill]

Steve's videos covering big lens support, gimbals: setup etc

Long Lens Tripod Technique - Backcountry Gallery

It can be a real source of frustration. You get this fancy new telephoto lens, hang it off the front of your camera and are more than a little disappointed with the not-so-sharp results. So, you do a little digging and discover that maybe a tripod is what you need to sharpen up those photos. […]

backcountrygallery.com

How To Properly Balance A Gimbal Head - Backcountry Gallery

“Hey! You’re doing it wrong!” That’s what I want to shout pretty much every time I’m out and spot other wildlife photographers with gimbal heads. It seems that well over half of them believe they have their gimbal properly balanced when they really don’t. It’s a shame too – a properly balanced...

backcountrygallery.com

Using A Gimbal Head On A Monopod - Backcountry Gallery

So… A few months ago I released a video where I discussed my various tripods, heads, and how I use them. It generated a lot of comments and a few really stuck in my mind – they were about using a gimbal head with a monopod. At first, I sort of dismissed the idea. I […]

backcountrygallery.com

Tripod, Monopod, Or Handheld - Which Is Best? - Backcountry Gallery

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you should use a tripod, monopod, or just go handheld? In this video, we’ll look at a quick, easy way to determine the best support solution for any given wildlife scenario. We’ll talk about the four major considerations and how to weigh them against...

backcountrygallery.com

Shoot Razor Sharp Images From Your Car! - Backcountry Gallery

A car makes a fantastic blind and often allows you to approach wildlife at a much closer range than you can ever dream of on foot. However, the excitement many photographers feel when they capture an amazing image is quickly replaced by disappointment when closely examining their photos. Too...

backcountrygallery.com

Swap Tripod Heads The Fast Way! - Backcountry Gallery

Question – What happens when you have multiple heads that you want to use with multiple support methods? Maybe you have a gimbal head and want to use it on a tripod, then later want to use a ball head on that same set of legs. Or perhaps you want to use your gimbal head on both […]

backcountrygallery.com

 

[Andeye]

I just ordered the Leofoto MPG-01S and it comes with the lever release clamp, if you want that on the MH100 you have to do some modification and it would cost you more.

 

[BrettP]

I just recently got the Leofoto MPG-01s after using the RRS Monopod head for many years with my 600mm. Only took me 2 minutes to get the hang of the side design. It eliminates the potential flop issues so it is safer to use and just stays in place when you take your hand off the camera regardless of the angle. It is also a bit lighter than the RRS. I have only used it for a couple of hours so far but looks like a winner to me. Basically the same design as the Wimberley MH-100.

 

[Andeye]

Jobu Jr 3. Smallest, lightest, smooth. I use a gripped A1/600GM without issue. I also have the larger Jobu HD4 but I find the Jr 3 to be all I need.

I dislike the MH-100 for larger lenses....pulls to the side, requiring constant counter balancing force all the time. For lighter lenses it can be a good solution. Mine collects dust in a bag somewhere.

Have you considered the Tomahawk GT2 or the Leofoto MPG-02? They will give you the benefits but without the requirement for constant counter balance.
Here is a video of it:

Anyone got experience with a head like this?

 

[Magicspell]

Have you considered the Tomahawk GT2 or the Left MPG-02? They will give you the benefits but without the requirement for constant counter balance.
Anyone got experience with a head like this?

I have and use the Tomahawk GT2 on a monopod. I think it works fantastically. My primary use case is with a Canon R5 plus RF 600 + RF 1.4x TC. I think it provides a little better side to side balance than the MH100 since the design brings the lens closer to "vertical center" over the monopod.
The only downside I've noticed is that since there is no way to adjust the lens vertically up or down over the monopod mount, the balance point of the whole rig is sometimes not perfect. This results in the lens trying to return to "even" (read level) when you remove your hand from the camera. I only notice this when shooting with the battery grip on the R5 since that lowers the camera's center of gravity. It's not a huge issue as the lens is still horizontally level when I'm not holding the camera so I still don't need to tighten the GT2's gimbal knob in use.

 

[Luskentyre]

RRS tilt head has been the best I have tried to date. I actually bought the Wimberley twice and sold it both times. I found the mono gimbal extremely difficult to use in the field.

This has exactly been my experience, too. I regularly use my RRS tilt head/Manfrotto monopod combo to carry a 400 2.8 e fl/D850 & it is very smooth & no issues whatsoever (400 is not the lightest of lenses!). I tend to carry it over my shoulder for walks up to 5 miles & I can thoroughly recommend it.

You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.

 

[sh1209]

This has exactly been my experience, too. I regularly use my RRS tilt head/Manfrotto monopod combo to carry a 400 2.8 e fl/D850 & it is very smooth & no issues whatsoever (400 is not the lightest of lenses!). I tend to carry it over my shoulder for walks up to 5 miles & I can thoroughly recommend it.

View attachment 102178

That’s the very one I have and have never used anything on a monopod any better than that.