What do you guys suggest as far as ballheads/sidekicks, etc for this 9# sucker? I need fluid panning for birds and wildlife. ALL advise re this lens solicited!
Are th Kenko 1.4 TC's good - or are the Nikon ones a lot better?
Anyone have something good to sell?
Thanks, as always - what a excellent resource this site is!
I've got one of the first Wimberly's made, a model so old it's gray rather than black. The model has been modified in the decade since, but I think the principles are much the same. My 500 f/4P predates even the Wimberly, as do my TC's.
Taking all that into account, the Wimberly is sensational for both wildlife and birds. Set it up right, and I find it works great even for birds in flight. As an aside, I frequently mount my ballhead onto a Bogen Super Clamp (about $25), then clamp that to one of the legs of my tripod when using the Wimberly and a long lens. This lets me mount a second camera or switch between ballhead and Wimberly as circumstances dictate a lens change. You'll need a ballhead as well as a Wimberly for use with lenses not having tripod collars.
At the time I bought my Nikon TC's, the Kenkos were nowhere near as good. If that's changed, terrific, but I'd be careful to confirm that they are at least as good as the Nikons before buying. The conventional wisdom is to use TCs made by and recommended for the same manufacturer as your lens.
As for ballheads, I've got an Arca Swiss B-1 (yes, it's ancient, too!) which has proved fully functional with the 500 f/4. The Wimberly is lots better for fast situations, but the A/S easily supports the lens and pans well. You can adjust the tension screw to stop lens movement due to its own weight, but still moveable with a push of your hand. That's what I did before getting the Wimberly, and still do any time I'm caught without it. We've also got a much larger Foba Superball in regular use at the studio, but it provides no better function that the A/S in spite of its much greater size and weight.
I definitely DO NOT like the Sidekick or its competitors with big lenses, though lots of people think they are marvelous. Call it a taste thing.
Posted by Paul Burwell on December 2, 2006 at 9:21 PM
I highly recommend the products from Jobu Design. Wimberley gets all the attention, but I've used both and personally prefer the Jobu Design products.
I use their Black Widow Gimbal head with my 500mm lens. It has the advantage of being covertible from a full gimbal head to a sidemount gimbal head depending how much weight you want to carry around. I've shot the 500mm with both the full gimal and the sidemount and they both work really well. Very smooth and easy to track animals and birds.
I have no affiliation with Jobu. Just a satisfied client.
I have tried using my 500mm with a ballhead, but it isn't easy to use and I don't recommend using a ballhead with a big lens like a 500mm.
Posted by Kent Staubus on December 3, 2006 at 12:07 AM
I have the Kenko/Tamron 1.4x. This more expensive is around $190 and is APO design. I've found it quite good. I use it with the 80-400mm VR when I need the reach. The Tamron SP and the Kenko Pro are the same TC, both made by Kenko.
Kent in SD
Posted by Rob Theoret on December 3, 2006 at 12:33 AM
Hi Sandy,
Wimberly's model WH 200
Note: The WH-200 has a built-in Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamp. It is not available in a non-quick-release model. In order to use the head, your lens must be equipped with an Arca-Swiss style lens plate.
I use this set up with my 800mm f/5.6 Nikon lens (14lbs, sucker) I would not use a ball head with any lens larger than 400mm or larger. Just a preference in the motion of the head, I like the fact that I can lock the horizontal action completly for panning shots, as with a ball head you just cant do that. When you loosen the ball head for panning shots it leaves you prone to vertical movement also, and sometimes following horizontal action is very critical and the Wimberley will not move verticly when you don't want it to. Just my 2 cents worth.
It takes a litle getting use to but after some time with it you can get just the right tension on the movement in both vertical and horizontal (independently), thats why I like the Wimberley. PS I have the W-100 model and it has served me well.
Best regards,
Robert.
Posted by Ed Dubois on December 3, 2006 at 12:37 AM
Hi Sandy,
Just to add my 2 cents worth, I use the Canon 500 f4, often with a 2x or a 1.4 TC as well on an Arca Swiss B1 ballhead and a Wimberley Sidekick. I find this combination works very well for me and is versatile in that I can use the ballhead without the sidekick for shorter lenses as well.
Wimberley is great because they'll let you try their product for something like 60 days for free. If you like it you pay and the warranty starts then. If not you return it and that's that: I don't think you can lose with that arrangement.
Whatever you end up with I'm sure you'll love having a 500.
Discussion
6 repliesAre th Kenko 1.4 TC's good - or are the Nikon ones a lot better?
Anyone have something good to sell?
Thanks, as always - what a excellent resource this site is!
Sandy
I've got one of the first Wimberly's made, a model so old it's gray rather than black. The model has been modified in the decade since, but I think the principles are much the same. My 500 f/4P predates even the Wimberly, as do my TC's.
Taking all that into account, the Wimberly is sensational for both wildlife and birds. Set it up right, and I find it works great even for birds in flight. As an aside, I frequently mount my ballhead onto a Bogen Super Clamp (about $25), then clamp that to one of the legs of my tripod when using the Wimberly and a long lens. This lets me mount a second camera or switch between ballhead and Wimberly as circumstances dictate a lens change. You'll need a ballhead as well as a Wimberly for use with lenses not having tripod collars.
At the time I bought my Nikon TC's, the Kenkos were nowhere near as good. If that's changed, terrific, but I'd be careful to confirm that they are at least as good as the Nikons before buying. The conventional wisdom is to use TCs made by and recommended for the same manufacturer as your lens.
As for ballheads, I've got an Arca Swiss B-1 (yes, it's ancient, too!) which has proved fully functional with the 500 f/4. The Wimberly is lots better for fast situations, but the A/S easily supports the lens and pans well. You can adjust the tension screw to stop lens movement due to its own weight, but still moveable with a push of your hand. That's what I did before getting the Wimberly, and still do any time I'm caught without it. We've also got a much larger Foba Superball in regular use at the studio, but it provides no better function that the A/S in spite of its much greater size and weight.
I definitely DO NOT like the Sidekick or its competitors with big lenses, though lots of people think they are marvelous. Call it a taste thing.
I use their Black Widow Gimbal head with my 500mm lens. It has the advantage of being covertible from a full gimbal head to a sidemount gimbal head depending how much weight you want to carry around. I've shot the 500mm with both the full gimal and the sidemount and they both work really well. Very smooth and easy to track animals and birds.
I have no affiliation with Jobu. Just a satisfied client.
I have tried using my 500mm with a ballhead, but it isn't easy to use and I don't recommend using a ballhead with a big lens like a 500mm.
Kent in SD
Wimberly's model WH 200
Note: The WH-200 has a built-in Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamp. It is not available in a non-quick-release model. In order to use the head, your lens must be equipped with an Arca-Swiss style lens plate.
I use this set up with my 800mm f/5.6 Nikon lens (14lbs, sucker) I would not use a ball head with any lens larger than 400mm or larger. Just a preference in the motion of the head, I like the fact that I can lock the horizontal action completly for panning shots, as with a ball head you just cant do that. When you loosen the ball head for panning shots it leaves you prone to vertical movement also, and sometimes following horizontal action is very critical and the Wimberley will not move verticly when you don't want it to. Just my 2 cents worth.
It takes a litle getting use to but after some time with it you can get just the right tension on the movement in both vertical and horizontal (independently), thats why I like the Wimberley. PS I have the W-100 model and it has served me well.
Best regards,
Robert.
Just to add my 2 cents worth, I use the Canon 500 f4, often with a 2x or a 1.4 TC as well on an Arca Swiss B1 ballhead and a Wimberley Sidekick. I find this combination works very well for me and is versatile in that I can use the ballhead without the sidekick for shorter lenses as well.
Wimberley is great because they'll let you try their product for something like 60 days for free. If you like it you pay and the warranty starts then. If not you return it and that's that: I don't think you can lose with that arrangement.
Whatever you end up with I'm sure you'll love having a 500.
I've bought the Wimberley WH-200 for my 600 f/4 and I love it