Hi,
Long post. Sorry.
I know there’s already a few questions on here about support for lenses and bullheads and gimbals but I wanted some advice specific to my lens and situation if possible so started this new thread.
I’m awaiting delivery of a Canon 500mm f4L IS II lens which I believe weighs in around 3200g. I want to use this for bird/wildlife ( but mainly bird ) photography.
I am old and feeble and so I’m looking for a lightweight, safe way to mount this which will take the strain from me and keep my lens safe. I would sacrifice some functionality for security and weight - saving. I would go up to around a £500 budget. Less is obviously nice.
Some options I have thought of are:
Wimberley gimbal Seems good but heavy and expensive.
Gitzo fluid head. Seems good but also heavy though less expensive.
Jobu Jr3 is lightweight and cheap but stated max load is only around 4kg which worries me.
Wimberley sidekick seems to tick the boxes. I’d put it on my Z1, but I can’t shake the idea that it looks precarious attached to the ballhead like that and I fear lenses might fall out or over. It looks like it might need a fair bit of care attaching and setting up. Am I worrying too much I hope so because it looks like a good option.
While looking I also saw this
This guy likes it
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDctsMYMh2E
I’m new to this so can someone tell me what the big deal is ? Apart from some enhanced panning/levelling is it so much different from my Arca Z1? Would it be a better albeit more costly option than the sidekick?
Last and only today, I have found Lensmaster and am also tempted by their offerings. I am drawn to the T1 or RH1. Both are sidemount gimbals ( so I guess the same issue of attaching as the Sidekick ) and according to the site the T1 Weighs 535g IT says: "Although small this sidemount Gimbal can hold the longer super telephoto lenses such as 300F2.8 - 500F4- 600F4 -800f5.6 with or without converters it can also take a small lens such as a 50mmf1.8 or 17/85 f4/5.6 using the supplied L bracket.
As far as I can make out the RH1 is the bigger version and weighs in at 784g.
They don't give max loads for these but they do another version RH2 which is around 1200g and has another bracket. It isn't side mounted I believe this lets you use a variety of smaller lenses more easily but I'm not sure. If anyone knows about these I'm very attracted and these are made by a smaller UK company. On the other hand it's almost as heavy as the Gitzo so I'm back to that again.
I'm still fairly tempted by the T1 or maybe the Sidekick. Are my reservations about attaching these securely groundless? Any views?
Anyway these are my thoughts and I’d appreciate any advice you can give me.
Thank you for your help.
Long post. Sorry.
I know there’s already a few questions on here about support for lenses and bullheads and gimbals but I wanted some advice specific to my lens and situation if possible so started this new thread.
I’m awaiting delivery of a Canon 500mm f4L IS II lens which I believe weighs in around 3200g. I want to use this for bird/wildlife ( but mainly bird ) photography.
I am old and feeble and so I’m looking for a lightweight, safe way to mount this which will take the strain from me and keep my lens safe. I would sacrifice some functionality for security and weight - saving. I would go up to around a £500 budget. Less is obviously nice.
Some options I have thought of are:
Wimberley gimbal Seems good but heavy and expensive.
Gitzo fluid head. Seems good but also heavy though less expensive.
Jobu Jr3 is lightweight and cheap but stated max load is only around 4kg which worries me.
Wimberley sidekick seems to tick the boxes. I’d put it on my Z1, but I can’t shake the idea that it looks precarious attached to the ballhead like that and I fear lenses might fall out or over. It looks like it might need a fair bit of care attaching and setting up. Am I worrying too much I hope so because it looks like a good option.
While looking I also saw this
This guy likes it
I’m new to this so can someone tell me what the big deal is ? Apart from some enhanced panning/levelling is it so much different from my Arca Z1? Would it be a better albeit more costly option than the sidekick?
Last and only today, I have found Lensmaster and am also tempted by their offerings. I am drawn to the T1 or RH1. Both are sidemount gimbals ( so I guess the same issue of attaching as the Sidekick ) and according to the site the T1 Weighs 535g IT says: "Although small this sidemount Gimbal can hold the longer super telephoto lenses such as 300F2.8 - 500F4- 600F4 -800f5.6 with or without converters it can also take a small lens such as a 50mmf1.8 or 17/85 f4/5.6 using the supplied L bracket.
As far as I can make out the RH1 is the bigger version and weighs in at 784g.
They don't give max loads for these but they do another version RH2 which is around 1200g and has another bracket. It isn't side mounted I believe this lets you use a variety of smaller lenses more easily but I'm not sure. If anyone knows about these I'm very attracted and these are made by a smaller UK company. On the other hand it's almost as heavy as the Gitzo so I'm back to that again.
I'm still fairly tempted by the T1 or maybe the Sidekick. Are my reservations about attaching these securely groundless? Any views?
Anyway these are my thoughts and I’d appreciate any advice you can give me.
Thank you for your help.
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