Recommend Tripod Head For Wildlife Photography?

[paulhillion]

I'm looking to purchase a new tripod head, I'm shooting more and more wild bird/nature photography so I'd be interested in any recommendations of heads suited towards this area.

Thanks.

[Wildewinds]

Kirk BH-1 or BH-3 or Markins M10.

http://www.kirkphoto.com
http://www.markinsamerica.com/MA4/index.php

[IanD]

Paul,
We are basically using the same equipment and I have been extremely happy with the Kirk BH-1 I picked up a while ago. It is a fairly large head but silky smooth and locks up tight with nary a smidgen of movement. Supports the MKII + 400 + 2X TC with no problems. The best plates I've found are the Wimberly plates. Excellent quality and extremely well made. Nest feature it the ability of using stoppers on both ends of the plate so the whole rig will not accidently slide off the head.

[radar-eclipse]

Love the Kirk BH3 and BH1 heads. For serious weight, use the Wimberly Head. I also have the Kirk Cobra, and slightly like the Wimberly better. The Wimberly Sidekick is incredible for less weight large lenses.

[InSituPhoto]

I use the Bogen "GRIP ACTION BALL HEAD W/QUICK RELEASE PLATE / Cat. No: 3265" . it's like a pistol grip, you just squeeze the grip and you can move the camera in any direction. release the grip and it's locked in place. no turning of nobs or locking levers or anything like that. I love it. it does have a channel like a normal ball head to put it into vertical position completely so you're sure where you're at. it's more lightweight though, i think it only holds about 6 pounds.

[Moses]

What impresses me about the Markins is once you have the tension set for the camera and whatever lens (supports up to 80lbs) then you can easily move the camera, pointing where you need it and when you let go, it stays where ever it's pointed.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Paul,. both the Kirk and the Markins will work very well with a Wimberley Sidekick...
this will offer a more flexible and portable solution than the "full Wimberly"

I would not worry about a "full Wimberly" unless you are looking to get one of the larderg primes.