Gimbal Recommendations - Birdmania People

Nancy AK

Nancy AK

Member
I’m looking for recommendations for a Gimbal for my Nikon 200-500 or Sigma Sport 70-200. I’m attending a Bird Migration next month and not sure if my regular tripod(Manfrotto 055 Carbon with Benro Head or MeFoto Globetrotter Carbon) is ok or do I need to get a gimbal head or just plan on hand holding ? The birds will be songbirds, water birds and raptors. The extent of my shooting birds are in the yard at the feeders. Thank you
 
my setup is a wimberly gimbal on a gitzo carbon fiber tripod , this is heavy and expensive, but was originally bought for use with my canon d5 and cannon 500mm f4 , a heavy combination . you'll probably do a lot of handheld, since you will need to move a lot , esp for songbirds, a good monopod with a quick release head is a good option. this is very weight dependent and maybe attend and see what other experienced birders are doing, chances are someone else will have similar gear and you can pick their brain. sorry for the late answer, i was out of town since wednesday and then the site was down when i returned home
 
@gary , thank you. I appreciate the reply. I have a Manfrotto 494/head(rated for 19#)on the Manfrotto 680b monopod. I know I need a better tripod head for the monopod? Im thinking my 200-500 lens will be my main lens, but I’m going to bring the 70-200 ?
 
I'd help if I could, but Gary's got this one. I'm still a masochist and carry all my big lenses by hand, no tripod or gimbal, even walking for miles a day. Figure the day may come when I can't do that any more, so might as well do it while I still can!
 
As far as ballheads i use and endorse only 1. Acratech, no other kind for me

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
my monopod is a benro mad49A, it is not a very light mono, i have an arca swiss release screwed onto the top. i searched long and hard through several monopods before i found this one, it suits my needs, on many rail charters i carry a 16 inch high folding stool made of plastic, so i can either shoot from the back of the photo line or sit on it down front versus kneeling or sitting on cold ground/snow, etc. this one is tall enough that when fully extended the camera is just about eye level when i am on the step, it has 4 flip lock sections so i can adjust to whatever height is needed, and it serves very well as a walking stick over uneven ground, this goes with me on every rail charter. it can also serve very well for birding with larger/heavier lenses
 
My light-weight carbon fiber MeFoto tripod has a leg that unscrews. I can then attach the center post to the top of it and voila, it's a monopod. But there are times when I prefer one of my actual monopods: an old, heavy and well-built Benro model and a newer, lighter but just as useful Induro.

And speaking of Acratech, their Long Lens Head looks like a good gimbal alternative. It can also be used instead of a ball head, and it's cheaper to boot.
 
ddindy said:
My light-weight carbon fiber MeFoto tripod has a leg that unscrews. I can then attach the center post to the top of it and voila, it's a monopod. But there are times when I prefer one of my actual monopods: an old, heavy and well-built Benro model and a newer, lighter but just as useful Induro.

And speaking of Acratech, their Long Lens Head looks like a good gimbal alternative. It can also be used instead of a ball head, and it's cheaper to boot.
Click to expand...

@ddindy thank you. That Acratech Long Lens head looks very nice and definitely a good option instead of a gimbal. I’ve never converted my MeFoto to a monopod, actually I’ve never used a monopod. The actual monopod I have Manfrotto 680b is aluminum and on the heavy side.
 
A heavy monopod is nice when it's supporting your camera, but not so much when you're carrying it around all day. I like using the MeFoto monopod leg because it's a few inches taller than the other ones I have. As a result, I don't have to stoop down as much.
 
ddindy said:
A heavy monopod is nice when it's supporting your camera, but not so much when you're carrying it around all day. I like using the MeFoto monopod leg because it's a few inches taller than the other ones I have. As a result, I don't have to stoop down as much.
Click to expand...

@ddindy Thanks for the idea. I have 2 MeFoto tripods, a globetrotter Carbon and Roadtrip aluminum. I don’t use the Roadtrip anymore since I got the Carbon globetrotter, so maybe I’ll convert it to a monopod. It’s lighter then the Manfrotto monopod.
 
this is a link to page 1 of 3-4 of arca release clamps, from many manufacturers, jobs, nova flex, induro, really right stuff, etc, this is what i have screwed onto the top of my monopod. later today i will try to remember to take and post a photo of man setup. i am heading out soon to the ospreys so i'll be downloading photos anyway

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=arca-swiss quick release clamp&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=hist-ps

let me put in a word about really right stuff. i have mixed feelings about this company, both negative regarding their attitude towards the labor force, and positive towards their products. i have some rrs stuff, including my very first quality bullhead, and the products are first rate. but also on the high end of price. made to last a lifetime. i got to acratech after reading an article in a motorsports paper about the companies products for racing, that has been their bread and butter for years. it mentioned that they made photo products so i went and checked it out, more out of curiosity than anything else. turns out the founders son is a photographer and was complaining about the weight of ballheads and other gear, so out of that came acratech ballheads, elegant, lightweight and now my full time ballheads, other than my wimberly head, which is such a massive unit i will not replace that until i have to. acratech made their bones machining lightweight and strong parts for drag racers.
 
Last edited:
Acratech makes good stuff. I bought my ball head from them after seeing Gary's.

As for other stuff, we all have our personal preferences. I buy my quick-release accessories and L-brackets from Kirk Photo. They make high quality products and they're located in northern Indiana. That means if I place an order in the morning, UPS delivers it the next day. I'm rarely in that big of a hurry, but it's a nice perk.

The bottom line is listen to everyone's opinions, do your research then make your choice. We're here to help, not make you buy cheap junk.
 
Second that kirk is good stuff have bought all my L brackets from kirk

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
i was a little pressed for time so these are pretty poor, but you'll be able to ge the idea. and i was wrong this is a kirk arca release head, i know i have one from rrs kicking around here, probably on my table top or a jobo.








 
Last edited:
gary said:
i was a little pressed for time so these are pretty poor, but you'll be able to ge the idea. and i was wrong this is a kirk area release head, i know i have one from rrs kicking around here, probably on my table top or a jobo.








Click to expand...


Thank you.
 
i spent about 90 minutes yesterday walking around inside the haupt conservatory at the ny botanical garden with the orchid show. photos to follow later. and i really wish i could have used this monopod, my rig was my sony A1, the sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens, with my new nissen mf18 ring flash attached, and while that is one sweet macro lighting setup, my arms were feeling all that handholding. fyi, i came to extensive monopod use after a rail photo charter, the tennessee valley rail museum charter that i posted a few shots on here. there was an attendee that i see on quite a few charters, and he was using a monopod, meanwhile i was lugging a tripod on and off the train, i talked to him and he was very persuasive about a monopod giving 85% of the benefits of a tripod with much less weight and much more portability, well i think it's closer to 95% of the functionality. to the point that now i question even taking a tripod. the recent us sugar charter had no official night session so it was monopod only for that trip.
so i firmly believe that you should check out going monopod for much of the birding
 
Last edited:
gary said:
i spent about 90 minutes yesterday walking around inside the haupt conservatory at the ny botanical garden with the orchid show. photos to follow later. and i really wish i could have used this monopod, my rig was my sony A1, the sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens, with my new nissan mf18 ring flash attached, and while that is one sweet macro lighting setup, my arms were feeling all that handholding. fyi, i came to extensive monopod use after a rail photo charter, the tennessee valley rail museum charter that i posted a few shots on here. there was an attendee that i see on quite a few charters, and he was using a monopod, meanwhile i was lugging a tripod on and off the train, i talked to him and he was very persuasive about a monopod giving 85% of the benefits of a tripod with much less weight and much more portability, well i think it's closer to 95% of the functionality. to the point that now i question even taking a tripod. the recent us sugar charter had no official night session so it was monopod only for that trip.
so i firmly believe that you should check out going monopod for much of the birding
Click to expand...

@gary Thank you. I think using a monopod is a wise decision too. I’ll throw a tripod in the car just in case. I’m going to try to get out and shoot some early spring flowers before at a community garden area(if it ever warms up some b4 the bird migration next month) and I’m going to take a monopod(Dennis suggested my Mefoto - detaching one leg turns it into a monopod or using my Manfrotto monopod, which is a heavier aluminum).
 
i prefer the benro, it is heavier, but doubles as my walking staff, " also known as the staff of knowledge" rail charters can involve hiking over some very uneven terrain to get the killer shot, and my older model legs appreciate the additional support
 
gary said:
i prefer the benro, it is heavier, but doubles as my walking staff, " also known as the staff of knowledge" rail charters can involve hiking over some very uneven terrain to get the killer shot, and my older model legs appreciate the additional support
Click to expand...

thank you. I’ll have to check out my converted MeFoto Monopod to see if it’s useable as a walking stick. I know my Manfrotto definitely is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top