I have been using my 500mm lens with the Sidekick, and even though I got around my main fear of using it by mounting it on the lens first and then mounting the Sidekick in the ballhead clamp, it seems to me that the full Wimberley, version II, is probably a more secure choice, with a greater range of operation than the Sidekick.
On the B&H website I came across a Jobo heavy duty Black Widow gymbal head that resembles the Wimberley full head, for about $130 less. Here is the link:
Does anybody here have experience with this product? Would the Wimberley still be the one to get? And finally, for those who switched from the Sidekick to the full Wimberley, was there any gain in functionality?
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Either the full Wimberly or the Black Widow will work fine. I have used both but settled on the Wimberly. The main point is that they mount directly to the tri-pod and do not depend on a "ball head" for support or rotation.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
We don't own the Jobo, so I'm afraid that I won't be any help there. We do use the Wimberley (Mark I version) for the 500 mm/f4 and it works really well. (I understand that the Mark II version is about a pound lighter than the Mark I and that would be nice, especially when traveling!) We use the Sidekick/ball-head combination for the 300 mm/f2.8 with no problems.
A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to spend the weekend with a nature/wildlife photographer who's opinions I value very much. He indicated that he doesn't use the gimble at all (in fact he doesn't even own one) and uses the Sidekick/ball-head combination for everything including the 500mm/f4 and is very happy with the results (he shoots for Corbis, Alamy, etc). Since I am always looking for ways to reduce weight when we travel I thought the suggestion might be useful. (I've only tried it here at home and not in the field, so I don't have any practical experience) You seem to be having some reservations about the 500 on the Sidekick/ball-head combo and I was wondering if you could elaborate on your concerns?
Thanks
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
I mount the Sidekick on the lens first, and then lower the combo into the Arca Swiss clamp. Somehow, it seems way less secure than putting the lens' tripod foot down on a horizontal surface, as with the full Wimberley. Maybe it just takes getting used to.
I'll give it another few tries, though. Thanks for the replies.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Well, I just got back from the Jamaica Bay wildlife preserve. I used the Sidekick with my Arca Swiss B1, and it was easier than I remembered to mount the Sidekick on the lens, and then into the ballhead. Panning and other motions were smooth, and the combo ws easier to maneuver this time.
I also checked out the Wimberley website and they claim the same range of motion, etc as for the full Wimberley.
Now I can get my flash extender, flash mounting arm, and even the camouflage cover for the lens, and still have some spare change, for what the Wimberley II would have cost me.
Thanks for the responses, everybody.
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
Walter, if you change your mind, and want the wimberly, you can get the old version, rebuilt on the nature scapes site. they are dealers for them. I believe they are rebuilts, which consists of replacing the washers and such. Around 400.00. That is what I have, and I like it.
Christopher
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
The wimberly is the only thing that I would consider for my 500F4. I used the sidekick at first but after I tried the wimberly, that was it. You can get a loaner of any of the wimberly products and try it out for 60 days free and return it if you don't like it. I'd give that a shot before settling on something else based on price only.
Matt
White Balance so easy, even our 5 year old can do it.- Melissa Strickland
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