MattEg
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- Matthew Egan
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Gimbel head on a budget
I received my new manfrotto 393 head.
It is described as a 'Long lens monopod bracket'.
Mounting the head
It attaches to your tripod via 3/8" female thread.
Once on the tripod tension the large rubber knob to secure.
The head will pan left to right without having to adjust any settings on the head,
but if the factory set panning isn't smooth enough or tight enough for the user it
can be adjusted via an allen key screw at the bottom of the head.
Mounting the Lens
The lens is mounted using the 357PLV quick release plate(qrp).
The qrp comes supplied with two 1/4" and two 3/8" thread screws.
This gives the user lots of options when wanting to use on multiple lenses.
The qrp inserts from either side of the head, and the head has a locking pin
to stop the qrp from sliding out.
By pressing the brass pin in, it allows the qrp to be removed.
Once the plate is in position on the head (with lens attched), slide the lens until it balances
before locking off with tension knob.
If properly balanced, the user should now be able to move the camera up/down left/right
and when released the camera/lens should stay in place.
If the lens drops forward or backwards the balancing will need re adjusting.
There is also two tensioning knobs at the top of the tuning fork shaped arms,
These can be used to assist in holding the lens in position.
Conclusion
This head is very stable and solidly built. It supports the 800mm and 10d without a problem.
At a cost of approx £95 (including a quick release lens plate) it is the cheapest option on the market.
The competition
King Cobra
Cost £319, requires a quick release plate to purchased at a cost of £48.95
Wimberley Gimbal Head
Cost £410, requires quick release adaptor C-10 £89 or C-30 £99
Wimberley Sidekick
Cost £235, needs a large solid ball head for use and usually cost around £250 upwards.
May also require the purchase of a lens plate see Gimbal Head above.
Black Widow Gimbal
Available from Canada at a cost of $509 US, Lens plate $60 US.
As you can see from the above competitors, the prices are quite high. And unless you are getting a high income form your images
these can be a long way out of most peoples budgets.
Camera and Lens balanced for use.
A shot of one of our nesting Dunnocks using the above setup.
Update
After some use today I have two things to report.
1. The rubber outer on the main locking knob comes off, it is advisable to put this somewhere safe if you don't want to lose it.
2. If you carry the camera/lens mounted on the tripod, the factory set tension for panning loosens, this results in there being wobble as pointed out by Andy.
Furtunately I had something to retighten this with me.
I received my new manfrotto 393 head.
It is described as a 'Long lens monopod bracket'.
![1.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2F1.jpg&hash=6b65ced06c91d2fe039f443334b9de4b)
Mounting the head
It attaches to your tripod via 3/8" female thread.
Once on the tripod tension the large rubber knob to secure.
The head will pan left to right without having to adjust any settings on the head,
but if the factory set panning isn't smooth enough or tight enough for the user it
can be adjusted via an allen key screw at the bottom of the head.
Mounting the Lens
The lens is mounted using the 357PLV quick release plate(qrp).
![5.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2F5.jpg&hash=bf65bf5c9d58ce2f79daf70be81ba639)
The qrp comes supplied with two 1/4" and two 3/8" thread screws.
This gives the user lots of options when wanting to use on multiple lenses.
The qrp inserts from either side of the head, and the head has a locking pin
to stop the qrp from sliding out.
By pressing the brass pin in, it allows the qrp to be removed.
![4.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2F4.jpg&hash=574045622c79385a47339b12b017f144)
Once the plate is in position on the head (with lens attched), slide the lens until it balances
before locking off with tension knob.
![3.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2F3.jpg&hash=0c8fdfb2d03d48176e600fe241fe9358)
If properly balanced, the user should now be able to move the camera up/down left/right
and when released the camera/lens should stay in place.
If the lens drops forward or backwards the balancing will need re adjusting.
There is also two tensioning knobs at the top of the tuning fork shaped arms,
These can be used to assist in holding the lens in position.
Conclusion
This head is very stable and solidly built. It supports the 800mm and 10d without a problem.
At a cost of approx £95 (including a quick release lens plate) it is the cheapest option on the market.
The competition
King Cobra
![KC.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2FKC.jpg&hash=327f5e90ce07223b09fd919e53bd5d3a)
Cost £319, requires a quick release plate to purchased at a cost of £48.95
Wimberley Gimbal Head
![wg.gif](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2Fwg.gif&hash=17680864b9ceb11767f6cea133d37ac2)
Cost £410, requires quick release adaptor C-10 £89 or C-30 £99
Wimberley Sidekick
![wsk.gif](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2Fwsk.gif&hash=5154f3cb98893006e7319b48733593a1)
Cost £235, needs a large solid ball head for use and usually cost around £250 upwards.
May also require the purchase of a lens plate see Gimbal Head above.
Black Widow Gimbal
![BWG.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2FBWG.jpg&hash=e0a630230c057c1669df1004303f08a0)
Available from Canada at a cost of $509 US, Lens plate $60 US.
As you can see from the above competitors, the prices are quite high. And unless you are getting a high income form your images
these can be a long way out of most peoples budgets.
Camera and Lens balanced for use.
![2.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2F2.jpg&hash=74fe44d9ddd6f4047deb1cdcc7fb4415)
A shot of one of our nesting Dunnocks using the above setup.
![6.jpg](/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.matthewegan.net%2FTP%2F393head%2F6.jpg&hash=8620db6956c260bb093a6c62a40b25f1)
Update
After some use today I have two things to report.
1. The rubber outer on the main locking knob comes off, it is advisable to put this somewhere safe if you don't want to lose it.
2. If you carry the camera/lens mounted on the tripod, the factory set tension for panning loosens, this results in there being wobble as pointed out by Andy.
Furtunately I had something to retighten this with me.