gimbal heads - so many - such a price range

F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
thinking of upgrading my gimbal head

I have the Jobu Micro Gimbal Ballhead adaptor
Jobu Micro Gimbal/Ballhead Adapter - Updated for 2017!

It works as advertised, holds my 200-500mm and camera well enough. I use it on my monopod (almost exclusively).
But always still keep the strap attached and around my neck, lose my grib on the monopod and the camera will not hit the ground (I might get whiplash but the camera and lens will be fine).

Began thinking I should 'invest' in a good gimbal head.

Of course looked at the Wimberley (now the WH-200) which comes in at $749 from Henry's of Toronto. (others come in between $750 and $800, except Amazon.CA which wants $1,117.00 ... I suppose because Amazon wants to get you to buy one of their many many cheap alternatives - some as low as $99, some are tempting, Neewer Carbon version at $229 -but not finding any independant reviews of that one, lots on the aluminium Neewer.

Gitzo has a Fluid Gimbal Head - $645 at B&H (CDN price - shipped free for a small fee). it looks the most compact - and I've never owned a Gitzo anything before - .... just think of the name dropping I could do. ... but then I'd have to buy a Gitzo tripod to go with it. (kidding)

And then there is the space-aged looking ProMediaGear Katana Junior coming in at $706.00 Has some nice added features and great reviews.

For about half the cost of the above I could get B&H's most popular unit (at least as they rank them) the Oden GH-30 - found very little about that unit online.

My local camera shop suggested I order a Fotopro WH-30 (aka Rollei WH-30) see https://www.rollei.com/products/tripods/tripod-heads/rollei-wh-30-gimbal,p171977 Took me a while to learn Fotopro and Rollie are same company.
That one looks cool but again, not much out there on this unit. But at $480 it is a little less.

Jobu also offers both a fullsized Gimbal and the Gimbal JR (I'd need the deluxe one according to the manufacturer website for the 200-500.) Jobu Jr. 3 Deluxe Kit

....

my frugile side wonders if the cheap ones are 'good enough' - my wife (not nearly as frugile) will say, get the one you want don't buy based on price. She never looks at the price tag (can you see me cringe)

I did notice that the ones where you can raise the plate up and down, allow you to mount a camera direct to the plate at the top if you have a second body with a wide angled lens for example and want to do a pano. And the more adjustment nobs the better eh?

At the moment I'm leaning towards the ProMediaGear JR one. More than big enough for my 200-500 and just too funky looking.

1479738968000_1298938.jpg

But wait a minute, that moment will pass and I'll wonder if the Fotopro is as good? Or maybe support the Canadian economy and buy the Jobu (made in Canada and at $400 not too bad of a price)

but on the other hand.....


" .... and then the oldies tune comes on ....'did you ever have to make up your mind ...' "
 
Last edited:
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I don't know anything about Gimbal heads, but I have an Oben macro rail and am highly impressed by its quality. If the Oben Gimbal head is similar in quality, I doubt you would be disappointed.

After doing a quick search for this head, I'm wondering if it is exclusive to B&H. That's a possibility. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
P

pforsell

Senior Member
I have used The WH-200 II for years and I am really surprised how high the price has climbed since I got mine.

The most important feature of a gimbal head is the smoothness of motion. It becomes very irritating very fast, if the movements are jerky or "tight" at any point. I would not pay for exotic materials unless the weight savings are huge and price increase very modest. I'd take a low-cost steel gimbal in a heartbeat if such a thing existed. Aluminum, light enough for me.

Carbon fibre is rigid and light, but doesn't like bumps.

I don't know if they are all created equal and can only comment on the Wimberley, but it has taken some abuse with grace. The thing will outlast me. :)
 
Last edited:
P

pendennis

Senior Member
I own both the Manfrotto 393 gimbal and one made by Induro (GHB2). While the Manfrotto is a bit more straight-forward in design, the Induro is just outstanding. I ran across the Induro almost by mistake. A local camera shop had one listed as "Used", but it looked N-I-B. For $275 is was too good a deal on which to pass.

I use the Induro for my Nikkor 200-500 f5.6, and it works like a charm. The controls are easy to work, and it comes with an Arca-Swiss head. I had to convert the Manfrotto.

B&H has a great selection, and you should look at what they offer. They have user ratings for most all the ones they sell, and the people who rate the equipment are very frank in their ratings.
 
C

cbg

Senior Member
I have this one from Benro GH2 Aluminum Gimbal Head, which I believe is very similar to the Induro GHB2. I got it from B&H for $349 (US), not sure what the is in CDN. I have no complaints about it, very stable and well made. I use it with a D810 and the Sigma 150-600 (C)
 
F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Sounds like the ones in the $300ish $400 are the better quality ones - not hearing anyone singing the praises of the cheaper 'neewer' Amazon versions out there in the $100 or so range. I have looked at the Benro - I think it was the GH3 but one of the heavier ones (and maybe that is a good thing). There are several good reviews of the Jobu Jr. 3 out there - one of the lighter ones. Still in that $400ish range. I can order from B&H and have done so in the past, typically a week to ten days to cross the border. They have a good shipping rates to Canada. But if I have a problem, return shipping can be prohibative. Found that to be the case with a Westcott softbox I ordered from them, return shipping was close to 80% buying new again so made no sense, but with higher priced items it would be. Most Canadian retailers special order gimbals so options to handle one are limited. Witht his kind of thing, how it feels matters.
 
F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
Well in the end the hands on experience at McBain's of Edmonton won the day and I openned the wallet wide to buy the Jobu Mark IV Gimbal Head.

First impressions are very good. I had thought it might be too big - but no, it is not. I did see the Benro's (GH3 and GH2) and gave them some thought, as well as the Wimberley and a pair of Promaster gimbals. In the end the qualify of the Jobu won out. It was almost 200 less than the Wimberley, and the Jobu's plate can be raised and lowered (which I found handy already). It is very smooth.

Posted pics in "latest purchases"

Jobu Heavy Duty MK IV
 
P

pforsell

Senior Member
It's great that you could see and try the gimbals. Back her I'd have to travel two-three hours to find a dealer with any kind of supply. The Jobu reviews seem to be unanimously favorable and it's a very well made gizmo by the looks of it. Congrats.
 
F

Fortkentdad

Senior Member
pforsell said:
It's great that you could see and try the gimbals. Back her I'd have to travel two-three hours to find a dealer with any kind of supply. The Jobu reviews seem to be unanimously favorable and it's a very well made gizmo by the looks of it. Congrats.
Click to expand...

It was a 3 hour drive (each way) but not in a blinding snow storm at least. Edmonton is the nearest big city and it is a full day outing, leaving early, home late, but made a day of it. Almost left with a D800E that was on offer used for a decent price ($1300) but decided to pass, spent enough today. It was tempting though.
 
Z

zaboaa

New member
I own the ProMediaGear JR and use it with my 200-500 A LOT. It's a top of line piece of gear. HIGHLY recommend it. Smooth as silk, built like a tank, and just plant looks great.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
i have a cheap gimbal but have been very happy with it since I do not use it much,

This is the same way I sue mine

"I use it on my monopod (almost exclusively). But always still keep the strap attached and around my neck, lose my grip on the monopod and the camera will not hit the ground (I might get whiplash but the camera and lens will be fine). "


 
canuck257

canuck257

Senior Member
Liz and I have both been using the Neewer aluminum Gimble Head for several months now and are very happy with them. Mine supports the D550 and 200-500 without any problems, is very smooth and solid. No wobbles or shakes. When I bought the first one I followed the advice I found on Youtube and dis-assembled it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OynWP24CSqU&t=951s. I then removed ALL the sticky factory "lubricant" and replaced it with a light grease. It spins without effort and when setup properly the camera retains any position I put it in horizontally and/or vertically. They are definitly worth the price. https://www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Panora...&qid=1532555646&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+gimbal.
 
Last edited:
K

Kevin H

Senior Member
canuck257 said:
Liz and I have both been using the Neewer aluminum Gimble Head for several months now and are very happy with them. Mine supports the D550 and 200-500 without any problems, is very smooth and solid. No wobbles or shakes. When I bought the first one I followed the advice I found on Youtube and dis-assembled it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OynWP24CSqU&t=951s. I then removed ALL the sticky factory "lubricant" and replaced it with a light grease. It spins without effort and when setup properly the camera retains any position I put it in horizontally and/or vertically. They are definitly worth the price. https://www.amazon.ca/Neewer-Panora...&qid=1532555646&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+gimbal.
Click to expand...

Wow a D550 Ivan you a new Nikon tester ::what:: In know a typing error :D
 
canuck257

canuck257

Senior Member
One thing I would like to fit to the Neewer Gimble is the RRS quick release clamp (Cradle Clamp for PG-02 Pano-Gimbal Head) but I don't know if it would fit. I have asked RRS but they are not very helpful.

If anyone has a Wimberly and would be prepared to make some measurements I can compare them to the Neewer. The clamp is too expensive (more than the gimble head) to take a gamble.
 
Top