Posted by Elliott Neep on April 24, 2006 at 11:56 AM
Hi All,
After several long and embattled years I'm finally retiring my 055PROB tripod and 3-way head. I'm looking at a new carbon tripod and a combination of heads. I've had limited practice with a few different makes and models but would like some objective recommendations.
I like the Gitzo carbon tripods (was thinking about the 1325) but am open to suggestions. A love the feel of the fluide heads but recently tried a side-kick on an Arca swiss ball head and was quite impressed. Then there is the full wimberly to consider.
My main focus for the next couple of years is British mammals in the field and from a hide. There is also some limited work with birds of prey and wildfowl and insects.
Another factor is that I tend to work very low to the ground.
As you have a 500mm/4? I would suggest that this is the best choice providing you don't want to move to a 600mm at any stage. I will admit however that after owning a 1548 and buying a 1325 I moved back to a 1548 - but it was a confidence thing on my behalf. Both can be laid nearly flat on the ground, i.e. the legs go nearly horizontal, but the 1548 has the shorter leg length. (if you are tempted by the self leveling head - be aware that the tripods cannot go 'flat' with this head)
As to a head, again if you stick to a 500 then the sidekick would do, however the cost of a 'ball' and a sidekick would ~= a new full wimberly --- I use the full wimberly and have a £80 FHM ball for use when I want to do landscapes - usually never If you want to move to a heavier lense (than the 500mm) in the future, then choose the full head.
There are however a few alternatives, Manfrotto 393?, Black Widow?, King Cobra (I owned one of these and the wimberly is better) , and the Gitzo Fluids..
If you want a comparison between the wimberly full and the Ball and sidekick I am sure David_K will give you the low down later as he has just switched.
BTW -I don't know how tall you are, but do check the fully extended height of the Gitzo before you jump! Your neck and back don't want to be bending for hours on end...
Clive
Posted by Rene de Heer on April 24, 2006 at 1:42 PM
Get the Gitzo 1325 and the Black Widow, call Photo Scotland and ask for a test run of this Wimberley design. Its great!
Rene de Heer
I doubt that you will have any regrets if you buy either the Gitzo 1325 or the 1548. The choice of heads is much more a personal matter. The Wimberley gimbal head is excellent for birds and mammals but not much good for lenses without a collar. The new Wimberley WH200 head is not as ergonomically efficient as the older model (WH101) in my opinion.
Lots of people like the Gitzo Fluide 1380 but it is heavy and never feels as well balanced as the Wimberley - again, my opinion. If you have AS-type QR-plates for your lenses then you will have to buy a clamp and fit this to the 1380 - a Really Right Stuff B2-LLR-II lever clamp will fit; the screw-type will not.
Lots of people use the Wimberley Sidekick, or products of similar design, with a ball head but this is an inherently unstable set-up requiring great care while mounting and dismounting the lens. The AS ball head is excellent if used in accordance with the manual but many people have problems with it locking-up on them because they don't read the instructions properly. The RRS BH-55 is a better product though and with a lower profile compared with the AS B1, can be used successfully with a 500/f4 if you want a single, "all purpose" head.
I no longer have the Sidekick or the AS-B1 head but I have all of the other items listed above and probably 90 percent of my shots are taken using the Wimberley gimbal head. Most of the rest are shot using a beanbag for support.
Hi Elliott, for what it's worth, I'm using the G1325, sidekick and AS B1 with a 1d2 and 500/4. I haven't any experience with any of the kit mentioned in the previous comments, but just to let you know that I don't think you'd be disappointed with what I'm using. It can be used close to the ground, it's lightweight(in comparison to some) and it's fluid action is superb... just check out all my panning flight shots (I'm joking, I haven't any - relatively new to avian stuff). I suspect that anything of higher spec to my tripod and head would be superb, but possibly at a cost. I would try some out if possible as it's quite a personal thing at this level of tripods I imagine - but I absolutely love my setup, but as Phil said, care must be taken when mounting and dismounting the 500/4 - but I do take care and it's fine. Saying that, I'm an amateur, and not getting shots due to a cumbersome setup doesn't matter to me. Perhaps it would to a pro!
Cheers, Graeme
Just to reiterate on the Sidekick or any sidemounting gimbal types - I have now got into the habit to slacken the plate jaws only sufficiently to slide the lens plate in and out, that way there is no possibility of a crooked alignment and the lens dropping off if only 1 of the parallel clamping rails mounts into the jaws.
If you are going gimbal type head - a levelling base saves a lot of setting up headaches for smooth horizontal panning - the Gitzo unit is really quick to operate and extremely sturdy and is a direct replacement for the flat plate on 3 and 5 series CF Mountaineers, but will prevent the tripod going flat to ground as the bowl lock handle protrudes down a couple of inches
Mike
Posted by David Kjaer on April 24, 2006 at 3:06 PM
I have just changed from an Arca Swiss BH1 + Sidekick to the Wimberley WH200 which I use on a Gitzo G1325 (when using my 500f4 IS) which I can't really fault - I'm well pleased. As Phil points out you can't really use this head unless your lens has a tripod collar. So when I am out doing general photography and using nothing bigger than my 300f2.8 plus extenders I use a Gitzo G1227 + Arca Swiss BH1.
If you are going to use just one tripod for all applications then the G1325 + Arca Swiss BH1 + Sidekick is a good and very flexible choice.
Re. the Gitzo G1548 it is quite heavy and for IS lenses up to the 500f4 IMO the G1325 is more than up to the job!
Hope this helps.
David
Posted by Rene de Heer on April 24, 2006 at 3:19 PM
Elliott: concerning the JOBu Balck Widow. Check out the following website:
http://www.photo-scotland.co.uk/acatalog/Jobu.html
Total cost is approx £350, which is cheaper than the Wimberley and its as good. I have used the Gitzo Fluid head and while in terms of stability you cant get any better than that....its hevy and akward to walk around with!
Give PhotoScotland a call, i believe its possible to have a test run on one...mention my name
Rene de Heer
Posted by Elliott Neep on April 25, 2006 at 3:30 AM
Thanks all for the great response! This has given me some invaluable insights into the various setups. I now feel more inclined to the G13series and the full wimberley.
Cheers Rene for the tip on the trial. I will give them a call. I'm going to pop into fixation also and see if I can hire a kit for a couple of days.
Posted by Sean Bolton on April 30, 2006 at 3:33 PM
Hi Elliot
I am a bit late responding to this post but thought I would chip in anyway in case you are still evaluating.
I would take a look at the Manfrotto options before throwing the 055 into the skip. The Manfrotto 501 fluid head is an ideal option and relatively cheap (about £100 I think). I know of at least one pro wildlife photographer who uses the 055+501 head and likes it a lot.
I use a Manfrotto 190 tripod, a lighter version of the 055. Fitted with the short centre column it goes almost flat so is good for low-level photography.
For flight photography the 393 gimball head is a cheap and cheerful option and has a few fans on UKNP, including myself. It pans easily, is simple to adjust and balance, and supports the lens safely from below. The 393 is about £100.
If you are on a budget the Manfrotto equipment performs very well and is excellent value.
Discussion
11 repliesAfter several long and embattled years I'm finally retiring my 055PROB tripod and 3-way head. I'm looking at a new carbon tripod and a combination of heads. I've had limited practice with a few different makes and models but would like some objective recommendations.
I like the Gitzo carbon tripods (was thinking about the 1325) but am open to suggestions. A love the feel of the fluide heads but recently tried a side-kick on an Arca swiss ball head and was quite impressed. Then there is the full wimberly to consider.
My main focus for the next couple of years is British mammals in the field and from a hide. There is also some limited work with birds of prey and wildfowl and insects.
Another factor is that I tend to work very low to the ground.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
As you have a 500mm/4? I would suggest that this is the best choice providing you don't want to move to a 600mm at any stage. I will admit however that after owning a 1548 and buying a 1325 I moved back to a 1548 - but it was a confidence thing on my behalf. Both can be laid nearly flat on the ground, i.e. the legs go nearly horizontal, but the 1548 has the shorter leg length. (if you are tempted by the self leveling head - be aware that the tripods cannot go 'flat' with this head)
As to a head, again if you stick to a 500 then the sidekick would do, however the cost of a 'ball' and a sidekick would ~= a new full wimberly --- I use the full wimberly and have a £80 FHM ball for use when I want to do landscapes - usually never
There are however a few alternatives, Manfrotto 393?, Black Widow?, King Cobra (I owned one of these and the wimberly is better) , and the Gitzo Fluids..
If you want a comparison between the wimberly full and the Ball and sidekick I am sure David_K will give you the low down later as he has just switched.
For a long lens you might consider the Manfrotto 393 - Much cheaper than the Wimb. I've used one for over a year now and find it wonderful!
See:
http://www.nikonians.org/html/resources/non-nikon_articles/manfrotto_393/393_1.html
BTW -I don't know how tall you are, but do check the fully extended height of the Gitzo before you jump! Your neck and back don't want to be bending for hours on end...
Clive
Rene de Heer
Lots of people like the Gitzo Fluide 1380 but it is heavy and never feels as well balanced as the Wimberley - again, my opinion. If you have AS-type QR-plates for your lenses then you will have to buy a clamp and fit this to the 1380 - a Really Right Stuff B2-LLR-II lever clamp will fit; the screw-type will not.
Lots of people use the Wimberley Sidekick, or products of similar design, with a ball head but this is an inherently unstable set-up requiring great care while mounting and dismounting the lens. The AS ball head is excellent if used in accordance with the manual but many people have problems with it locking-up on them because they don't read the instructions properly. The RRS BH-55 is a better product though and with a lower profile compared with the AS B1, can be used successfully with a 500/f4 if you want a single, "all purpose" head.
I no longer have the Sidekick or the AS-B1 head but I have all of the other items listed above and probably 90 percent of my shots are taken using the Wimberley gimbal head. Most of the rest are shot using a beanbag for support.
Cheers, Graeme
If you are going gimbal type head - a levelling base saves a lot of setting up headaches for smooth horizontal panning - the Gitzo unit is really quick to operate and extremely sturdy and is a direct replacement for the flat plate on 3 and 5 series CF Mountaineers, but will prevent the tripod going flat to ground as the bowl lock handle protrudes down a couple of inches
Mike
If you are going to use just one tripod for all applications then the G1325 + Arca Swiss BH1 + Sidekick is a good and very flexible choice.
Re. the Gitzo G1548 it is quite heavy and for IS lenses up to the 500f4 IMO the G1325 is more than up to the job!
Hope this helps.
David
http://www.photo-scotland.co.uk/acatalog/Jobu.html
Total cost is approx £350, which is cheaper than the Wimberley and its as good. I have used the Gitzo Fluid head and while in terms of stability you cant get any better than that....its hevy and akward to walk around with!
Give PhotoScotland a call, i believe its possible to have a test run on one...mention my name
Rene de Heer
Cheers Rene for the tip on the trial. I will give them a call. I'm going to pop into fixation also and see if I can hire a kit for a couple of days.
I am a bit late responding to this post but thought I would chip in anyway in case you are still evaluating.
I would take a look at the Manfrotto options before throwing the 055 into the skip. The Manfrotto 501 fluid head is an ideal option and relatively cheap (about £100 I think). I know of at least one pro wildlife photographer who uses the 055+501 head and likes it a lot.
I use a Manfrotto 190 tripod, a lighter version of the 055. Fitted with the short centre column it goes almost flat so is good for low-level photography.
For flight photography the 393 gimball head is a cheap and cheerful option and has a few fans on UKNP, including myself. It pans easily, is simple to adjust and balance, and supports the lens safely from below. The 393 is about £100.
If you are on a budget the Manfrotto equipment performs very well and is excellent value.
cheers
Sean