Choosing a Gimbal head

Phideaux wrote in post #2494754
I have to agree. There seems something inherently wrong about using a lens mounting ring (designed to support the vertical weight of the lens) to hang the weight from one side for any length of time. Perhaps there is a plausable danger of metal failure of the ring, or bolt, over time

That doesn't seem credible. Since the ring itself is removable, the lens obviously doesn't "know" what the orientation is. And at least with a lens of moderate weight, e.g., a 100-400 or 28-300, the chance of the mounting foot, tripod bolt or Arca-Swiss plate failing seems remote indeed. (Photographer error, and/or not cinching up the clamp properly, is a different issue. That's one reason why I wouldn't use a level-style Arca-Swiss clamp.)

Having said that, I certainly wouldn't hang my 600mm f/4 on a sideways mount, whether the Sidekick, the Jobo, the Kirk, or the Mongoose. For that much weight the full size Wimberley on my Gitzo 1548 is the ONLY way to go, IMHO.

I did just order a Mongoose M-262 for use on a lighter Gitzo 1258 tripod with my 100-400 or 28-300 because I thought the Wimberley would be overkill for that tripod, and not really needed. But if I wseren't using the 600 at the time, I would still use the Wimberley and the big tripod.

Steve Beck wrote in post #2493614
Thanks for the info. i do not think i could get past that arm sticking out trying to look through the view finder etc..

If you are talking about the arm on the 501, you just don't install it - I don't have it on mine. . .

Have Fun,

I've used a Wimberley Sidekick with 400mm and 100-400mm zoom lenses for years on a RRS BH-55 ballhead and a Gitzo 1325 tripod. No problems or issues at all. Balances fine (although the zoom naturally needs adjustment), no problem zeroing with a 300mm or 400mm. The only downside to the Sidekick is that by its very usage design, it results in what is termed a 'decoupled' state in relation to the ballhead and sacrifices a bit of stability. I have never found that to be an issue in terms of destabilization or vibration damping. If I were to go longer than 400mm though, I would move to a dedicated gimbal head like the Wimberley Mk II or King Cobra.