Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1334
Loc: London, UK
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If you want an example of a heart stopping moment, trying to use a long lens on a tripod with a ball and socket head must come close. They are fundamentally unstable because the pivot point is below the camera. Loosen the head too much and the heavy lens and camera combination can topple over, potentially sending the whole thing crashing to the deck or at least damaging the lens or tearing the lens mount out of the camera.
I've recently bought a Custom Brackets Gimbal Mount to use with my Nikon 200-400 f4, not their heaviest lens by a long way but still a handful. The mount works because the pivot point is now above the lens making it fundamentally more stable.
As you can see, it's two L-shaped brackets mounted on top of the tripod, can rotate horizontally at the bottom (by the CB) and at the top right to give pan and tilt. Rubberised hand wheels allow you to lock either or both motions as well as adding some friction. A simple thumb wheel allows you to restrict tilt movement while mounting the lens.
The lens itself mounts on a plate (via 2 thumb-screws from underneath) which attaches in turn on the mount. It can slide backwards and forwards to achieve a perfect balance and the scale allows you to easily re-attach later in the same position. There's a horizontal angular scale for panoramic shots and a bubble spirit level built in.
All in all, it's a great solution and allows the camera to be moved with ease and locked down when required. Not cheap, about £518 including the plate, but that's small beer compared to the damage you could do otherwise to the lens and camera. Recommended.
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Mark
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TimF
Taking it strictly
Reged: 30/07/2001
Posts: 18951
Loc: Herts/Beds border
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Interesting Mark, though very expensive as you say.
Those with appropriate ball heads might also look at the Wimberley Sidekick (£235 at WE). Even that company's full Gimbal head is a touch cheaper than the item under review.
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Tim BSRIPN
If I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink
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Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1334
Loc: London, UK
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Tim, hope you like the Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH and APO 90mm Summicron ASPH bokeh! LOL
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Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1334
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Interesting Mark, though very expensive as you say.
Those with appropriate ball heads might also look at the Wimberley Sidekick (£235 at WE). Even that company's full Gimbal head is a touch cheaper than the item under review.
Actually, the Custom Brackets is less expensive than the Wimberley because the price I quoted included the lens plate and shipping where the £499 charge at WE excludes both.
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Mark
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Norman
Could've been worse
Reged: 23/09/2004
Posts: 2210
Loc: Ealing, West London, UK
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I use the King Cobra.
Quite a bit cheaper but you do need the lens plates (Arca).
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Regards,
Norman
www.photobox.org.uk
I don't need exercise - I'm already tired.
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Malcolm_Stewart
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/2005
Posts: 4448
Loc: Milton Keynes, UK
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Did you consider the Manfrotto 393 gimbal head? (~£110)
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Malcolm Stewart
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Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1334
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Did you consider the Manfrotto 393 gimbal head? (~£110)
For about half a second. It's just a couple of bits of bent metal, mounts the lens upside down so you can't see the scales (because the lens foot gets in the way) and the basic friction swivel points all ruled it out. The CB has proper bearings for the pan and tilt and the controls and scales are not obscured so to me the extra expense was worth it. I'm a big fan of Manfrotto products (the pictures show the camera mounted on a Neotec tripod) but this product is just too basic.
The King Cobra does a similar job but I like the separate friction and locking controls plus it's not that much cheaper (£399 + plate + shipping at WE). I had a look at one and was not impressed by the quality of the welding where the 90 degree tube meets the bearing housings.
Edited by Mark_Norton (30/05/2009 18:54)
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TimF
Taking it strictly
Reged: 30/07/2001
Posts: 18951
Loc: Herts/Beds border
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Quote:
Tim, hope you like the Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH and APO 90mm Summicron ASPH bokeh! LOL
Well natch! There's the real reason for this thread, eh! 
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Tim BSRIPN
If I had all the money I've spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 6282
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
(Manfrotto 393) just a couple of bits of bent metal, mounts the lens upside down so you can't see the scales (because the lens foot gets in the way) and the basic friction swivel points all ruled it out.
The lens can be mounted either way up, just rotate the inner bracket through 180 degrees.
And the "basic friction swivel points" actually work very well.
The thing's not perfect (what is?) but it looks a lot more stable than the single arm gimbal brackets and is, IMO, excellent value for money.
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