Spend my money for me! - Gizto Tripod, Head & Plate advice request

Ceege

Ceege

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Hi there,

I've come to the conclusion that I need to lug more gear around the field with me and what better way to sap my energy than buying a good quality tripod, plate and head combination to go with my setup.

I currently have a Nikon D200 (dabbling with the idea of a D300) and a Nikkor 200-400 f4 VR. I want to get a good tripod, plate and head combo for it (I currently handhold, use the local topography or occasionally put it on a monopod) and am looking for suggestions. The combo currently weighs in at 4kg but I could be tempted to try a bigger lens in the future so would need something futureproof. I take all sorts of birds and wildlife and like to be able to react to something I see, so a quick setup time would be ideal.

I have heard good things about the Wimberly Sidekick and also Gitzo tripods and am keen to hear feedback on any experience and advice with these. As for expenditure, well I don't mind paying for something that's going to give me years of good use, hence the interest in the Wimberly and Gitzo brands.

Any information people can post will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance :thumbs:
 
I use a Gitzo tripod, but I opted for a gimbal head which Gitzo don't do. Certainly get a Gitzo tripod they're great, but I think you need to look elsewhere for your head.

By far and away the best system to invest in from the start is the generic Arca Swiss plate system. With this system you can leave the plates attached to your various lenses all the time so it's very quick to swap lenses. The thing to avoid is having two different systems so that if you swap heads in the field you don't have mess around changing lens plates which is a PITA and just costs you in missed shots.

The Wimberley Sidekick is a smaller version of the full size Wimberley - the latter just screwing straight onto the tripod like any other head. The Sidekick however requires a separate ball head with an Arca type receiver plate. The Sidekick has a Wimberley flat stem which slides into the plate on the ball head. As the ball head is rotated sideways 90 degrees to accept the Sidekick, you'll need a very substantial ball head to cope with the weight of the longer lenses you anticipate using -something like a Kirk BH-1 or one of the reallyrightstuff ball heads.

The best option IMO is to buy a dedicated stand - alone gimbal head which accepts Arca lens plates, and a good quality ball head also using the Arca system for your shorter lenses, and still capable of using with your long glass when the degree of free movement of a gimbal isn't so essential - for example fairly static perched birds and you just want to carry something more compact.

I hope that's not too confusing. Unfortunately, this stuff doesn't come cheap, but trying to use long lenses with the wrong kit is pure frustration.
 
I use the following:

Gitzo GT3530LSV Tripod
Gitzo G1378M Ball Head
Wimberley Gimbal head version II

For long lenses you really do need to invest in a decent set-up. You can buy cheaper and I dare say that there are those who will argue the case for a cheaper set-up. For me, having a few grand of equipment on a cheaper set-up was a no go.

The Wimberley head is beautiful to use, very smooth in operation and a delight to pan for those birds in flight shots.

I did take some time to get used to the ball head on the shorter lenses.

One thing you will notice about the items above is the quality construction.

They are HEAVY though, especially when you factor in the weight of the lens and camera. I do lug around a Sigmonster with the above + D2x and smaller lenses. If you have a decent bag you should be OK....I regularly walk the Welsh countryside with mine.
 
It's worth just mentioning the Manfrotto 393 which is the cheapest gimbal head on the market. It's excellent, in fact I use it all the time now unless I'm going afield - but just with the 500mm - the Manfrotto plate is permanently attached to the 500mm.

The only problem with the 393 is that it utilises an Arca type plate peculiar to Manfrotto - wider than normal, so you can't use the head in an integrated Arca system - you'd need to continually swap the plate from lens to lens.

Despite that it's a great gimbal head at a great price.
 
And before some asks - the jaws of the standard Arca mount don't open wide enough to accept the Manfrotto plate - I've tried! :D
 
That's one sexy looking bit of kit - all my thoughts are strictly covetous. :D

The only thing which bugs me about it is looks to be a replacement for a gimbal head - in fact it seems it IS a very compact gimbal head, giving full pan and tilt movements.

Most gimbal heads effectively have the lens hanging in a 'U' cradle or some similar arrangement which is inherently very stable. If you inadvertently let go of the camera/lens on that head with the torque on both those side knobs eased off ( it happens!) it looks like the lens would nose dive like a bomb!

One cool looking head though.
 
Thanks for all the feedback folks. Do you know of any places in Wales or the South West that actually have some of this stuff in stock for a touchy feely session. I've certainly narrowed down my choices now but would prefer to have a play before splashing the cash.
 
I use a gitzo tripod and a Kirk king cobra gimble head, the king cobra is a lot cheaper the the wimberly2 head and unlike the wimberly sidekick you dont need a ball head.
 
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