It's just like using a center column. More fittings with points of play and more leverage. When I need absolute rigidity with long FL's (800+) I use a rather obscure NPC ProHead on a massive Gitzo w/o center column (or my Benbo Classic 2). It's all relative...(even locked down a Gimbal seems more "wobbly").
Can't say I've ever noticed that with mine. Use it all the time with my 500.
I have a Wimberly II and a Benro GH2... the Wimberly is a little nicer in use (a little more finesse in tension adjustments) but I'm not sure it's "worth" the cost differential. It's not any more rigid than the GH2 when locked down and the GH2 has been in use for ~6yrs w/o issue (typical ~15 lb loads).The wimberley mkii is simply in a league of its own. I had 3 gimbals before I got the wimberley & all of them were poor in comparison.
You put the wimberley on & forget it. It's a simple but fantastic piece of engineering.
A pleasure to use
It's just like using a center column. More fittings with points of play and more leverage. When I need absolute rigidity with long FL's (800+) I use a rather obscure NPC ProHead on a massive Gitzo w/o center column (or my Benbo Classic 2). It's all relative...
Just got my hands on the wimberley...feels and looks great just need to get home to try it out
a gimbal is not inherently steady anyway .
That depends on what it's mounted on ?
We might have a different definition of "rock solid".... I use a 5541. My camera/lens weighs ~ 15lbs. Some of the movement comes from the tripod itself...Got to disagree with you there I'm afraid. I don't use a centre column on my Gitzo (GT5532LS), and it's rock solid with either a W MkII Gimball or an RRS 055BH attached, although I don't stretch to an 800+ lens. A 500 MkII / up to a MkIII x2 TC all attached to a 1Dx is sufficient for me. Perhaps it's the extra length/weight of your 800+ that's the issue although with the Wimberley once balanced that should be unlikely.
Bill I am getting the Gitzo GT5542LS Systematic 6X Carbon Fiber TripodThe Manfrotto 393 is £120 and it is really good for the money especially to travel with as it breaks down into easy package pieces and it is light - lots of movement and very steady - a gimbal is not inherently steady anyway .
Bill I am getting the Gitzo GT5542LS Systematic 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod
Bill I am getting the Gitzo GT5542LS Systematic 6X Carbon Fiber Tripod
I thought that was the whole idea of getting marriednice - 3kg - you are going to need a "pack mule" to carry all your stuff
Yes I am getting an extra oneDid you get an extra plate as suggested? One for gimbal and one for BH or whatever
I know what your saying Bill and Steven. I also use LV with mine, as well as IS on occasions (I'm Canon).
I think your right that there probably isn't an answer to this. What I'd say is that in my personal experience I do find the gimbal a superb bit of kit. I suppose it was wrong to state mine is (or anyone else's for that matter), 'rock' solid as that would defy the laws of physics. Yes, in LV you can see movement more easily than through the viewfinder BUT, what I believe is that it is not down to the gimbal being unstable but the size of the lens coupled with its small angle of view.
I also use a BH and in LV even there you will find some movement. Does that read correctly? And/or make sense?
Yes, but is also generally shouldn't matter. A gimbal isn't meant to be locked down. And SS's that would require it to be locked down are probably going to be too slow for the subjects being photographed.
I shoot handheld/monopod/slider much more often than I use a tripod/gimbal.
Maybe I should have said that it "isn't the purpose of a gimbal head."who said a gimbal head isn't meant to be locked down?
I have had a wimberley since the beginning,
my point was, when you want to take a pic., simply lock the knobs then you can take a nice snap without anything moving.........isn't that the idea?
(You twiddle it around, but eventually you want to take a pic, at that moment it's nice to have NO movement, so you lock it down)
Yes there are hazards, but it was the way it was done before gimbals, and they do negate the effects of mirror slap or other vibrations at really low shutter speeds better than a fully tightened up gimbal.Have you tried a 600 lens on a ball head?..........I think it would be a bit of a daft idea!
Definitely more fiddly and less convenient to use. But once locked down it's essentially the same as anything else that's locked down.Have you tried a 600 lens on a ball head?..........I think it would be a bit of a daft idea!
Yes but that will apply to anything supporting the lens!Yes there are hazards, but it was the way it was done before gimbals, and they do negate the effects of mirror slap or other vibrations at really low shutter speeds better than a fully tightened up gimbal.
Having said that, wimberly mk2 user here too.
The arm that rotates on the gimbal does amplify certain types of vibration in certain situations, but it's so rare that i'd still always have my gimbal on. One of the situations i've found where the gimbal is vulnerable is suspended wooden walkways, on which other people are walking around on as well. This is at 700mm focal length though in low light. The longer the focal length the more it'll be noticed.
I agree, I would like to point out that I also use ball heads, monopods, bean bags.Definitely more fiddly and less convenient to use. But once locked down it's essentially the same as anything else that's locked down.
I have a NPC ProHead (it's a 2-axis ballhead oddity) that I use for maximum rigidity w/ heavy gear.
I use an Acratech ballhead as a makeshift gimbal with lighter gear.
Have you tried a 600 lens on a ball head?..........I think it would be a bit of a daft idea!
I hummed and haaded over the 800 then decided to go with the 600mm