Review: Replica Wimberley Head

After reading from this thread:

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=5305922&p​ostcount=1

I decide to give it a try. What the heck, only 1/3 of the price compare to what i paid for the real deal from BH. I bought it from Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com …%252BUCI%252BSI​%26otn%3D4

The transaction went smoothly. The only problem i had was DHL. They delivered to the wrong address. The people that received my package called DHL up and they don't even come by to pick up. The folk there end up dropped off the package at DHL store (nice people) and DHL redelivered. Keep in mind, this comes from India (the country) so expect about a week and cross your finger that DHL not mess up on the delivery.

The package comes nicely in the box. It looks and feel the same as the authentic wimberley Head ( i also have authentic Wimberley Head version II). I tried it on with my 300IS/500IS/600IS and sigma 800mm and it works with no problem. I tried it with Mark III/40D with all the lens i listed above. Solid build and smooth panning up/down/left/right. I carry it to at least 4 hiking trail with monopod/tripod and few times to the beach. Haven't have any problem yet.

Pro:
1. 1/3 the price
2. Solid build
3. Support all heavy lens (tested on 500IS/600IS and Sigma 800)
4. Support all combo body/lens : tested with mark III/ 40D plus lens
5. Work as advertised.

cons:
1. Paint comes off a bit easy. I don't know if it just the unit i have
2. Not brand name
3. Order from oversea
4. Heavy (weight pretty much the same with authentic head)

I would recommend this due to the low cost and build quality. I have this mount on the tripod with Sigma 800mm at all time while using the authentic wimberley v2 with the 600IS. (yes, i'm bias to brand name product too..lolz)

Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Bubble wrote in post #5698701
After reading from this thread:

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=5305922&p​ostcount=1

I decide to give it a try. What the heck, only 1/3 of the price compare to what i paid for the real deal from BH. I bought it from Ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com …%252BUCI%252BSI​%26otn%3D4

The transaction went smoothly. The only problem i had was DHL. They delivered to the wrong address. The people that received my package called DHL up and they don't even come by to pick up. The folk there end up dropped off the package at DHL store (nice people) and DHL redelivered. Keep in mind, this comes from India (the country) so expect about a week and cross your finger that DHL not mess up on the delivery.

The package comes nicely in the box. It looks and feel the same as the authentic wimberley Head ( i also have authentic Wimberley Head version II). I tried it on with my 300IS/500IS/600IS and sigma 800mm and it works with no problem. I tried it with Mark III/40D with all the lens i listed above. Solid build and smooth panning up/down/left/right. I carry it to at least 4 hiking trail with monopod/tripod and few times to the beach. Haven't have any problem yet.

Pro:
1. 1/3 the price
2. Solid build
3. Support all heavy lens (tested on 500IS/600IS and Sigma 800)
4. Support all combo body/lens : tested with mark III/ 40D plus lens
5. Work as advertised.

cons:
1. Paint comes off a bit easy. I don't know if it just the unit i have
2. Not brand name
3. Order from oversea
4. Heavy (weight pretty much the same with authentic head)

I would recommend this due to the low cost and build quality. I have this mount on the tripod with Sigma 800mm at all time while using the authentic wimberley v2 with the 600IS. (yes, i'm bias to brand name product too..lolz)

Thanks for the review it sounds like a great piece of kit and as i cannot afford the real thing yet i think i will splash out on one as its a more realistic price for a complete amateur like myself. you mention the paint being bit iffy? well you could always get it powder coated by the guys who do work for motorcycles etc (had lots of it done over the years great finish and very durable, check out your local yellow pages) for small parts its very cheap too!
I recently bought a Redsnapper tripod on Ebay and the build quality etc is exactly the same as Giottos but cost less than £50 if you printed Giottos's on it you wouldn't be able to spot the difference.
Cheers
Brian

I've been looking into these via eBay as well recently. Good to know they're usable. I take it the big difference is that these are made out of steel, whereas the real deal are made of aluminum?

Have you tried this with "lighter lenses" as alluded to in the other thread? Something like the 100-400mm or 400mm f/5.6?

Good job Bubble. Good to see another satisfied clone user.

Thanks for posting this. I will consider this in a near future.

Double Negative wrote in post #5703112
Have you tried this with "lighter lenses" as alluded to in the other thread? Something like the 100-400mm or 400mm f/5.6?

i haven't but i don't think you will have any problem with it. However, i don't see the point of using this heavy ball head for 100-400 or 400mm f/5.6 since these two lens are light and you can handheld the lens all day long.

^ Good point. I guess just because using a gimbal for some things is easier than a ballhead, but true, they're much more handholdable...

Double Negative wrote in post #5705620
^ Good point. I guess just because using a gimbal for some things is easier than a ballhead, but true, they're much more handholdable...

for light lens like 400mm f/5.6, we will have more control/faster respond if handheld compare to using ballhead/gimball.