Wimberley Sidekick Vs. Full Gimbal Wimberley

I have seen a lot of guys using the sidekick for motorsports.

I think if all or 90% of your shooting rewuires the longer heavy lens's then i would go for the full. But if shorter lens's is used most fo the time or soe of the time I would get a good ball head and the sidekick. Dont want to do a family portrait with the full head i dont think.

Steve Beck wrote in post #2483783
I have seen a lot of guys using the sidekick for motorsports.

I think if all or 90% of your shooting rewuires the longer heavy lens's then i would go for the full. But if shorter lens's is used most fo the time or soe of the time I would get a good ball head and the sidekick. Dont want to do a family portrait with the full head i dont think.

Thats a great point, not sure what to do

Well, I made a decision. I found a used Gitzo 1348 and Arca Swiss Ballhead for a great price, so I will be going with the sidekick for the time being. Thank you all for the help. Now, what plates do I need for this set-up.

Here's the list from RRS:
http://www.reallyright​stuff.com/lens_plates/​canon/index.html

I'm very satisfied with the quality of their products.

Rumjungle wrote in post #2499321
Here's the list from RRS:
http://www.reallyright​stuff.com/lens_plates/​canon/index.html

I'm very satisfied with the quality of their products.

Thanks for the link

PacAce wrote in post #2452208
I don't think anything gets stripped out but it may also depend on how the heads are attached to the tripod. I have the 3221 which has a removeable center column. It has a metal top where you can screw your head to and it's got three set screws to keep the head in place. There's also a screw base (not sure what it's really called) at the bottom of the column which is comes off and it made of heavy plastic. When you take the center column off, you can place this plastic base on the tripod and attach a different head on it. So, my Wimberly is screwed onto the center column proper and the 486RC2 head is screwed on to the plastic screw base. When the tripod is set on its legs with the Wimberly head on top, the 486RC2 is hanging upside down at the bottom of the center column.

If you don't have a center column that works like mine does, it might be a pain to be screwing off one head and screwing on another though.

I use a Monfrotto 394 quick release plate on top of my Gitzo 1548 in order to conveniently switch between my full Wimberley head, my Manfrotto pano head, and a Gitzo ball head. I think the Manfrotto release mechansim is very safe and secure. I have drilled and tapped both the Manfrotto top plates and the tripod mounting plates, and inserted set screws in order to make sure that the plates can't twist off accidentally. The last thing I need is to be carrying a 600mm f/4 and tripod over my shoulder and have the head fall off!

My priorities, after 50+ years of photography: 1. The best tripods and heads I can afford (and can lift) for the given application. 2. The best lenses I can afford. 3. The best technique and vision I can master. 4th and last: The best and most modern camera I can afford. 1 though 3 will beat number 4 any day of the week. So far, I've gone through 6 35mm film bodies, 1 6x6 body, 3 4x5 cameras, two 5x7 cameras, one 8x10 camera, one 8x16 camera, and now two digital cameras (350Xt and 30D); plus six or seven (don't remember) Pentax lenses, both screw mount and bayonet, 14 or more Nikon lenses, seven Schneider view camera lenses and a couple of others including an Apo-Dagor, and so far nine Canon Ef and EF-S lenses, from the 10-22 up to the 600mm f/4L non-IS.

But in all that time I've only owned one Leitz Tilt-All, two Letiz tabletop tripods for use as a chestpod (still used), the aluminum Gitzo Tele-Studex Giant Cremellier (some 10 feet high, currently in storage in Utah and inaccessible, a slightly smaller Gitzo (numenclature not remembered, also in storage), and my curent favorite, the 1548 carbon fiber wth leveling column (and crank column) and my new suitcase-sized 1258 LVL

A good tripod and head should last almost forever, unless you run over it wil a truck. Buy a good one the first time, and you'll never regret it. Ansel Adams was right, if not completely practical: "The best tripod is a cubic yard of concrete with a 1/4" stud on top." I might prefer a 3/8" stud, myself.

I have got a 1348 now and I am loving it

I decided to go with the Sidekick and like the way it works...very smooth. However, it does have fitment issues with the RRS lever clamp. Initially, I was worried that it would be too loose. It turns out that it's too big and I can't clamp it all the way down. I may have to switch out the ball head and/or clamp.

Rumjungle wrote in post #2533236
I decided to go with the Sidekick and like the way it works...very smooth. However, it does have fitment issues with the RRS lever clamp. Initially, I was worried that it would be too loose. It turns out that it's too big and I can't clamp it all the way down. I may have to switch out the ball head and/or clamp.

Interesting info, I am still thinking of getting the full wimberley, in the long run, it makes more sense I believe