the best way to shoot with a Sidekick

I was just wondering how other photographers use the Wimberley Sidekick? Do you lock down the knob that controls the up/down movement right before you take a photo OR do you rotate the lens into place, then just hold the lens steady with your hand (and not lock it down)?

I've been seeing different ways of using it, and was wondering if there's a "right" way of doing it so one's photos are as sharp as possible and the lens as steady as can be?

Thanks in advance for any help on this,

Nancy

I keep the big side knob unlocked unless I'm trying to shoot a stationary subject at a very slow shutter speed. The whole point of a gimbal mount is to make the lens "float" about the center of gravity, so if you've positioned the lens plate properly everything should be well balanced. I keep the base of the ballhead unlocked as well to allow the camera and lens to swing about so I can follow a moving bird or get on another subject quickly. I use my Sidekick on a Really Right Stuff BH-55, on a Gitzo 1325 tripod. Lens is a Nikkor 300/2.89 AF-S with a matched TC20E 2x, all on a D200 body.

Thanks, Richard, for answering what may not have been the smartest question in the world!

Nancy,
I agree with Richard and would add the following. When you mount the Sidekick in the ballhead be sure to do so such that it is on the left putting the knob in your left hand, Your right hand is then on the camera body, finger on the shutter button and your left ready to lock the knob. You can react very quickly this way. I use mine with Canon 1d MkIII and 500mm Canon lens and at times with the Canon 1.4x teleconverter, This is a heavy combination and it works very smoothly,

All questions are smart questions.
John

Thanks, John. That is how I'm using it, so that's good to know I'm doing it right.

I was worried about shake when depressing the shutter button, but I guess tightening down takes care of that. That's why I started to realize my question wasn't really on target with what I was trying to figure out.

I use my Sidekick and 500 f/4 as John suggests. I attach the Sidekick to the lens after firmly locking down the ball head (Kirk BH-1 on a Gitzo 1228). I then attach the camera body (either an F4S or F5) to the lens. This is to have good balance before mounting onto the Sidekick. I usually keep the Sidekick locked down as I often will add, or remove a teleconverter, and I don't want the whole assembly to crash forward when the camera body is removed for access. If panning the subject, I still keep it fairly snug. When actually firing the shutter, I often will lay my left arm over the lens to dampen any inadvertent vibrations. If photographing static subjects at slower shutter speeds, I use a cable release, and sometimes mirror lockup.

You might wish to review some of the forums on long lens technique to see if they apply to your situation.

Best of luck!

Nancy: I hope you don't mind me invading your space with a question of my own, now that you have gathered sidekick users together. How do you and others like using this mount? I plan to buy a 500/f4 soon and also intended to buy the Wimberely gimbal mount. I would like to save a few hundred $ if I can and opt for the sidekick instead. I like the idea of being able to change quickly from a ball mount to the sidekick. Best Regards.

Greg
I use a sidekick with my 300 f2.8. Being able to remove the sidekick to mount a smaller lens or the camera directly to the ballhead is an advantage of the sidekick. When I have the big lens slung over my shoulder, the sidekick remains attached to it.