Ball Head or Gimbal Head, which do you prefer and why?

modchild

modchild

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I have a tripod with a Ball head at the moment and shoot a lot aviation and wildlife, including BIF, and TBH I don't get on too well with the Ball head for aviation and specially BIF shots. I've just seen a Gimbal head that will fit on my tripod legs and I'm wondering if that would be any easier for me. For those of you out there who have tried both, which do you prefer and why. What's the main benefits of the Gimbal head over the Ball head and vice versa. I did briefly try a Gimbal head tripod at a camera fair a while back but that's not really the same thing as using one in the field so to speak and I could always swap back to the ball head for my other shoots I do if it's necessary.
 
I've used both a ball head and a gimbal head. Which is best depends on what you are photographing and the size of the lens. I found a 300 f4 or 70-200 f2.8 just tipped either sideways or downwards hitting the tripod. A cheap gimbal head stopped this issue as long as it's balanced properly. I like being able to let go off the lens/camera once it's balance and not needing lock up the mechanism like I have to with a ball head every time I wanted to let go of the camera.

Gimbal heads take a little time getting used too with following BiF, but it works well once you are used to it. I've recently upgraded from the cheap gimbal to a 2nd hand manfrotto 393 which I find works nicely with the 300 f2.8 I've recently upgraded to. It's probably a little on the big side for a 300 f4 or 70-200 f2.8. I probably won't go back to a ball head now, especially now using a 300 f2.8.

I still have a ball head but I mainly used this for landscape images.
 
Gimbal all the way.
I use a wimberley mkii on a 5 series gitzo & I have to say its worth every penny. Fantastic bit of kit.
 
Thank you Guys, that's the sort of info I'm after. I'll have a look for a cheapish Gimbal head and see how I get on with it and then get a better one if and when I like it and find it more useful than the ball head.
 
modchild said:
Thank you Guys, that's the sort of info I'm after. I'll have a look for a cheapish Gimbal head and see how I get on with it and then get a better one if and when I like it and find it more useful than the ball head.
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Make sure the gimbal allows you to alter the vertical position of the lens plate. That's essential for getting the setup balanced properly. Which is essential for free and easy movement.
 
hollis_f said:
Make sure the gimbal allows you to alter the vertical position of the lens plate. That's essential for getting the setup balanced properly. Which is essential for free and easy movement.
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OK, silly question time, how would i know if it allowed the vertical position of the lens plate to be altered
 
I second Rob's comments and I've followed a similar path. Originally I used a ballhead with a 100-400, almost all the time at the 400 end, but soon realised that I needed a better mount with more movement and stability, and so bought a Manfrotto 393 which made a huge difference especially for BIF. As has been said, its also useful because you can leave the camera/lens in any position ready to use and without having to lock anything up. Later I invested in a 500f/4 which unlike the 100-400 is quite heavy but the 393 still worked well. When I had to opportunity to buy a Wimberley Mk2 second hand I grabbed one, and while its hard to justify the extra cost over the 393, there was a big difference in the feel and stability. My keeper rate went up sharply with the Wimberley. I still feel the 393 is very good value for money and a good gimbal, so perhaps its best to try one first before you commit to any big expense. Once you have got used to them, in my opinion, you wont want to go back to a ball head.
 
Thanks Trev, that's great info. I have ordered a cheap head (£75) that does allow me to alter the vertical position too (Thanks Frank). I had a look on Youtube at a few videos of them in action and they all said about the vertical movement to balance it. I'm quite looking forward to getting it and giving it a go.

Very generous offer Ade, wish there was more people about who would do similar. Gary, I'd grab that offer straight away.
 
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I honestly don`t know Gary, never used that model.

To be very frank, the Wimberleys are superb, no doubt about that, but the cost is outrageous.

I think Martyn bought a GH1 and he hated it, I have the Benro GH2, I find it more than adequate. as said sated, you can borrow it and see if it works for you.
 
The vertical height adjustment is to align the axis point of the horizontal tilt spindle with the centre line of the lens which makes the whole setup smoother. You may also need a longer tripod plate to allow you to slide the lens/camera combo forwards and backwards to achieve the perfect balance.

When you have got the balance correct you should be able to move the camera and lens to a position and it should stay there when you let go.

I only wanted a gimbal for my 500mm so vertical adjustment wasn't a priority for me so I made my own head just for that lens.
 
jerry12953 said:
I'm daydreaming about a gimbal head at the moment (obviously a bad sign.....) and came across this thread which discusses the vertical adjustment issue. Any comments from the experts?

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/lensmaster-gimbal-rh-1.403685/
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Like Gaz says, you really want the axis of rotation (AoR) of the camera/lens system to pass through the centre of gravity (CoG) of the system. If it doesn't then tilting the camera/lens will move the CoG so that it causes an unbalanced force on the lens causing it to rotate...

gimbal%20balancing.jpg


When you have your camera/lens set up perfectly then you can loosen any friction knobs and move your lens left/right and up/down with just a light finger touch and it will stay in position when you remove that finger.

With no height control you may be lucky if your gimbal and your lens combine so that the AoR and the CoG are at the same height (which is why you'll find some people claiming that 'I didn't need no damn height adjustment). Or you may be unlucky and suffer terminal droop without clamping the lens down firmly.
 
Frank is right. If you plan to use it for more than one lens then height adjustment is good to have.

My head only really works with the 500. Put my 300 on it and its all out of balance.
 
jerry12953 said:
Thanks. I think I'd need to see that in action before I understand it fully, though........
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Get a cardboard tube that has been used for kitchen towel. Stick a knitting needle, or something similar, through the tube exactly halfway along its length and exactly halfway up its height. Notice how easy it is for the tube to stay at any angle of tilt.

Now stick the knitting needle 1/3 of the way up its height. Assuming the tube is free to rotate it should droop uncontrollably.
 
Martyn... said:
The best bit was the box it came in :D, for less money you can get a British made gimbal which has received great reviews LENSMASTER
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Phewwww, I thought you had mentioned before that you were not keen on it........................:D
 
Just took the gamble and ordered the BK45 after watching this

 
jerry12953 said:
They don't seem to have the vertical adjustment that people are talking about, though.......
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This is true. So, depending on just which lens you use, you may find it requires a fairly tight friction control knob, especially at steep angles.

Note, however, that the single-arm, side-mount, gimbals (like the LensMaster RH-1) control the position of the CoG with repect to the AoR with the forward/back motion of the lens/camera. That means it should be easy to get it right as long as your lens foot or QR plate is long enough. OTOH they do have a reputation for not being as rocksolid as the 'proper' gimbals.

If you're only thinking of using the gimbal with one lens then perhaps the best solution would be to get a LensMaster RH-2 and see how the height works with yout lens. It may be that the alignment is OK. If it's not you can always return it under the DSR and get a Triopo DG-1. Personally I'd go for the Triopo from the start as it's only £20 more expensive.
 
mikew said:
Just took the gamble and ordered the BK45 after watching this
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Hmmmm, I used to own one of those Ebay gimbal heads and it was stiff. I can see how that may not be a problem if it's consistently stiff. However, mine slowly started to get stiffer, so that when I tried panning it would stick-jerk-stick-jerk in an annoying manner. However, £70 wasn't too much money and it gave me something to use while I saved for something better.
 
jerry12953 said:
They don't seem to have the vertical adjustment that people are talking about, though.......
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Not an issue on the RH1 or similar style as the lens is always central to that axis.

I have been using a JOBU Black widow II (similar concept to the RH1) for years with a 500mm lens and it is as smooth as silk, and offers the greatest range of vertical movement over several others I have tried.

The Kirk King Cobra is as solid as a rock, however it is twice the weight and vertical movement is severely restricted.
 
crofter said:
Based on that I've just ordered one myself, been toying with the idea for a while.
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Dont blame me then ;) we haven't spent a lot and to be fair it does look useable
 
jerry12953 said:
very helpful. Thanks. Let us know how you get on with the Gimbal, won't you!
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Arrived today,quick play in the garden and first thoughts are where have you been all my life,so easy to use the lens stays at the angle you want looks to be well worth the money.
 
I wasn't sure what make the one I ordered off ebay was but, after watching the video for the Beike and having a look into it, it seems I ordered the same model. Unfortunately I haven't received mine yet as it's coming from abroad (my fault, I forgot to click on UK only option) but it's due any day and I'm really looking forward to giving it a go. I also ordered a spare QR plate so I can have one on each body and just slap on the most suitable body and lens combo for whatever I'm shooting. Hurry up Mr. Postman... Please.
 
I picked up a used Beike on Ebay for £40 and it came today, rough and ready test with D3S and 400mm f/2.8 really impressed me, need to look at getting a less high foot for the lens as the stock foot is too high to perfectly balance the vertical height, even so it is very very good, was slightly panicking at first just leaving it dangling there but its pretty rock solid
 
Martyn... said:
The best bit was the box it came in :D, for less money you can get a British made gimbal which has received great reviews LENSMASTER
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I've had my lensmaster for about a year now, the 300mm F4.5 IDEF balances perfectly on it with the X-Pro1 & cable release (yes old style cable release) and I can move it easily with just one finger.
This is all the more unusual as my gimble head is mounted hanging up side down from a hanging pole thats mounted on my bed (disabled).
 
Been out today with it absolutely loved it,will need to practice more and today was not a good day for light or subject matter,wind and rain


Removed picture as it linked through to another forum and didnt know the politics of this
 
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