Question for users of both the Wimberly gimbal head, and a ball head.

[Canonswhitelensesrule]

Do you use each head on a separate tripod, or do you use one tripod, and switch heads?

I'm mostly wondering on how you manage to use both when you know you'll be needing to use both heads. i.e. the Wimberly for a super-telephoto such as the EF 500mm f4L, or especially, the EF 600mm f4L, and a ball head for use with smaller lenses?

To me it would seem cumbersome having to carry two separate tripods, but then again having to switch heads would also seem to be a bit annoying.

Just curious.

I look forward to your responses.

[funhouse69]

I assume this means you have the full Wimberley Head? I ended up going with the Sidekick for this very reason. I didn't want to have to switch heads and the chances of me affording two high end tripods let alone carrying them was just not happening.

With the sidekick you use your ballhead so there is no need to swap anything. The added bonus is that the sidekick is small, light weight and easy enough for me to stick in my backpack.

I have the 500L and I have to say that it works awesome with the sidekick. Once you get it balanced it truly does feel weightless. I'm sure the full gimbal is even better but though this made the most sense for me.

http://funhouse69.smugmug.com/photos/451476629_8fsUx-XL.jpg

[PacAce]

I have two separate tripods with a Wimberley full gimbal head on one and a regular ball head on the other. But I only ever use one tripod outdoors. To be honest, I've never had a need for the two different heads during the same outing but if I did and had the Wimberley head with me, it would be no big deal using it with smaller lenses, too. It's just not as flexible as a ball head but I'd be able to get by with it, especially since I also use a level base on the tripod with the Wimberley mounted which gives me a little more leeway in adjusting the postion of the camera.

[Canonswhitelensesrule]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm leaning toward your "solution" Funhouse, as the Sidekick seems to make the best of both worlds. It gives you a "gimbal" head to use with the 500 f4, or say the 300 2.8L with or without TCs, plus you can also remove it, and use the straight ballhead if needed.

I'm looking at perhaps the Markins M20 ballhead.

One question. Once you got your 500mm lens properly balanced in the sidekick, did you mark it's position in the sidekick's clamp (with a Sharpie or similar item) for future reference so you'll know exactly where to "set it" into the clamp the next time you use it so you won't have to adjust it back and forth again? i.e. "Set it and forget it". Just curious.

[funhouse69]

I'm using the Kirk BH-1 which is a freaking tank and has no problems holding this beast of a lens or the Sidekick for that matter. I also have the Kirk Replacement Foot on the Lens which I think it a little better solution than a plate on the original Canon Foot.

With that said you can't really go wrong with Kirk, Really Right Stuff or Markins. I know there are a few others but I have experience with only these. If you want to consider Kirk check out e-bay as Kirk Sells some of their stock there. I got a "Blemished" one for a smoking deal. Oh and the blemish was a small scratch on the clamp that will never been seen when anything is mounted in it.

That said I do have it marked with a line so I know where to place it. Honestly it hasn't been difficult to find the sweet spot even without it. I did however want it just to make it quicker to locate in the field.

[Canonswhitelensesrule]

Thanks for the suggestions, and the response to my question, Funhouse. I'll be sure to check out ebay and even craigslist when I'm ready to buy.

Gotta love the biggest vice or "sickness" we photographers can be diagnosed with...Equipment Envy. aka Lens Lust etc.

[funhouse69]

My pleasure assisting in your quest. I did a LOT of research before buying anything this time around.

And yes it is a sickness alright... I had to upgrade my entire support system. It started out with one thing (a new head) then that lead to upgrading pretty much everything to support Arca-Swiss Plates instead of another proprietary one (I was using Manfrotto).

Since then I sold off two of my Tripods, Monopod and heads. Now have a new Gitzo GT3530 Tripod with the Kirk BH-1, I picked up a used Kirk BH-3 off Craigs list that is now on my travel tripod. Just today I got the Gitzo GM5541 with the RRS High Capacity Monopod Head. Lets not forget the Wimberley Sidekick and all of the Kirk / RRS Lens / Body Plates.

Thankfully I got a good number of these things off e-bay when they were offering the Live Cashback. The way I look at is that with these items I can't see myself needing to upgrade anytime soon and they all hold their value very well so they are decent investments.

[mobileman]

If you go to Kirk take a look at their Cobra. I have had one for several years and it has performed very well Personally I carry a Powershot G10 with me when I'm filming wildlife with my 500f4 setup. I also have another tripod set up for my 5D which I use for most of my scenic shooting. I've found for the most part I'm either doing one or the other.