Gimbal Head

[Tysonator]

Hi all,

I have a Slik Gimbal head ( I think it is SGH 300 ) which I have used for moon , and some landscape shots. manily for mounting the sigma bazooka 150-600 contempoary with my EOS 7Dii on.

I was at a fox shoot ( digital shooting only people, no foxes were hurt ) yesterday and I had very difficult time moving the gimbal arm up and down in small movements, and I guess apx 0.5 to 2cms up & down, or should say tilt up and down ! !
It was just sticking or very stiff and I had to use my free hand to apply pressure to the arm to move the same distance.
My understanding of a gimbal is to free moving with veritable resistance depending what you dial in ! !

What could be the issue with this gimbal, or is it me asking to much of the gimbal ! ! ! ? ? ?

many thanks

T

 

[sk66]

You are probably asking too much of that gimbal/design.
One of the main flaws with most gimbal heads is the drag system... typically it just sucks (binds, notchy, etc). And it is also typically used as the lock mechanism, which isn't particularly helpful/good for it. Most people (erroneously IMO) use gimbal heads completely undamped w/ no friction applied, so this limitation does not pose an issue for them.

 

[Tysonator]

You are probably asking too much of that gimbal/design.
One of the main flaws with most gimbal heads is the drag system... typically it just sucks (binds, notchy, etc). And it is also typically used as the lock mechanism, which isn't particularly helpful/good for it. Most people (erroneously IMO) use gimbal heads completely undamped w/ no friction applied, so this limitation does not pose an issue for them.

I purchased the gimbal used on here to support my sigma bazooka 150-600 Contemporary on a tripod. The new price is still pretty reasonable amount, so get a fluid smooth head do I have to pay near the £500 area !

 

[sk66]

I purchased the gimbal used on here to support my sigma bazooka 150-600 Contemporary on a tripod. The new price is still pretty reasonable amount, so get a fluid smooth head do I have to pay near the £500 area !

You can get smooth undamped (no drag) for less than that it general. But if you want smooth fluid type damping, then yeah... close to that anyway.

 

[boer13]

And you've tried to reduce the friction? It really should allow you to..
I've been using a Wimberley for 10 years now. Always supporting the camera-lens combo at its centre of gravity. Normal mode is at zero friction - I want to move about at max speed.
On the odd occassion, I may lock it down completely, e.g. when the subject is stationary or I'm waiting for it to appear in a specific spot / using a cable release. Never encoutered a similar issue.

 

[Tysonator]

And you've tried to reduce the friction? I really should allow you to..
I've been using a Wimberley for 10 years now. Always supporting the camera-lens combo at its centre of gravity. Normal mode is at zero friction - I want to move about at max speed.
On the odd occassion, I may lock it down completely, e.g. when the subject is stationary or I'm waiting for it to appear in a specific spot / using a cable release. Never encoutered a similar issue.

I did turn the dial some the arm was loose, however it still was sticky / stiff when just of centre, I could not get small movement with out using my other hand !

 

[Jase]

You don’t have to spend £500, you could look at a video head such as the monfrotto 502 series which are quite popular and less than £200. The gitzo fluid head gimbal is good and is under £400 and can often be got for around £300.

 

[Tysonator]

You don’t have to spend £500, you could look at a video head such as the monfrotto 502 series which are quite popular and less than £200. The gitzo fluid head gimbal is good and is under £400 and can often be got for around £300.

I will have a loo in to these products, thanks for the info

 

[sk66]

I did turn the dial some the arm was loose, however it still was sticky / stiff when just of centre, I could not get small movement with out using my other hand !

It could be worthwhile disassembling it and giving it a good clean and new grease.

FWIW, I use the Gitzo fluid gimbal and would recommend it over a video head for your uses.
Another head I use a lot is the UniqBall which also has very fluid like movements; it is not a fluid/video head and it is not a gimbal head, but it is more useful for photography in general than either of those are... I do use it with big lenses for wildlife/action (I have the UBH-35 on a ground tripod... I also have the bigger UBH-45 but it mostly sits on a shelf).