Wimbelry or other gimbal for 500?

OK, I bought a Calumet gimbal head because it felt solid and robust....turns out they are cheap and plastic inside. Wimberley have the reputation but are there any alternates out there which equal it?

Here in Europe the Wimberley is 550€, yes, alot! But you get what you pay for!

I recently purchased a Wimberley MkI from another POTN member and whenever it's appropriate for what I'm shooting* I can't imagine working any other way! On a Gitzo 1548, it's absolutely rock solid! No doubt the current model is equally solid.

(*I tend to hand hold my 500 probably more than I really need to, but it's what I'm used to doing)

I first tried using the poor man's gimbal, the Manfrotto 393, with my 500, and then bought a Wimberly 2. It was like going from a 1963 Volkswagon to a 2010 Audi.

At first all I could afford was one of the Ebay Indian knock-offs, and a second-hand one at that. It was OK and, if I hadn't played with a real Wimberley before I might have been satisfied. But I had, so I wasn't. I ended up with a Jobu Black Widow because it was cheaper than the Wimberley but still was very high quality (their UK distribution centre is only a few miles from where I live - so I could check out the different models). But their prices don't seem quite as competitive now.

Custom Brackets CB Gimbal...

https://www.youtube.co​m/watch?v=ZmymjfOExdQ

I use one these with a 400mm f/2.8....http://www.tripodhead.​com/products/sidekick-main.cfm

Seems pretty good!

Yes the CB head does look good but even costs more than a Wimberly and the Jobu's I see are almost the same price too. Hmmm, I guess it may have to be a Wimberly then, since they have the name and rep.

AJG1, I do have a side kick but don't use it for the most part as the 500 sticks in its tripod collar when side mounted...and my flash bracket does not work well when mounted side on.

Thanks all.

Have you given a thought to the Benro GH2? To be had at about 350€ in your part of the world if you look a bit around.

AJG1 wrote in post #13928561
I use one these with a 400mm f/2.8....http://www.tripodhead.​com/products/sidekick-main.cfm

Seems pretty good!

I have the same one to mount my 300 2.8L and 200 1.8L glass... Solid as a rock!!!

I mount a Wimberley Sidekick on my RRS ballhead.
It's fine with the 400/4DO and a 1.4x tc.

I use the Sidekick, too.... with 500/4 IS and 300/2.8 IS. It works fine and I prefer the side-mount arrangement rather that the "cradle" under the lens. I prefer the Sidekick, so I can switch the tripod back to standard ballhead (I'm using a Kirk BH-1) quickly and easily.

Also, if you have an Arca-Swiss style camera plate, you can use the Sidekick to mount the camera vertically with short lenses... so no need to buy and lug around an L-bracket.

nordlysBW wrote in post #13946343
Have you given a thought to the Benro GH2? To be had at about 350€ in your part of the world if you look a bit around.

+1 on the Benro, works like a charm. Have compared it real-life with the Wimberley II and found them equivalent.

Wimberly, period. If you can afford 500mm f4, extra $500 for wimberley is nothing IMHO. I don't like using sidekick with 500mm f4. And if you add cost of a nice ball head and sidekick, you talking same if not more money. What ever sidekick folks say sidekick is not like WH II head. Try one yourself and you will see. And i never had issues quikcly removing my 500mm f4 from WH II and shooting HH. With sidekick if you not extra careful some day that whole thing is going to come down fast on the ground and you not going to be happy then.

I've been using the Wimberly Sidekick for several years now with my 500 F4 and 1.4 x extender. It works great in my opinion and make the whole kit much lighter than the full Wimberley II. Not sure how using the SideKick would cause the whole thing to let go??? Hasn't happened to me in many years of use.

I have an Induro GHB2. Love it. Very solid. Very smooth.