Tripod head for biggie lens

I was so very pleased to finally get my new 500 F4 L IS lens, I took it out this morning and realized that there is no way that my exisiting Bogen 3030 with quick release plates is going to work with this lens. So, I had blinders on, and was all consumed with getting the lens, I didn't think of what it would be sitting on. I headed over to the camera store only to be told I need to buy a $500 ballhead for my new lens, plus quick about $100 for each additional quick release plate I use with my other lenses!

Do I have to get this Wimberley that everyone is talking about? Then, do I go out and buy new quick release plates for each of my lenses?

What have you found that works well? Primarilly, I do action sports photography on a monopod

Thanks so much!

here is the link

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=Bogen+3421&image.x=6&image.y=9

I also have a Wimberley Sidekidk which is a nice gimbal head, but much lighter than the full Wimberley head. Some folks use it with the 500, some think it is a little light weight. Dont want to start an argument, but suggest you read what Thom says here

http://www.bythom.com/support.htm

I use my Sigma 120-300 2.8, but for lens any larger I would use the 3421.

LBVandal said:

I was so very pleased to finally get my new 500 F4 L IS lens, I
took it out this morning and realized that there is no way that my
exisiting Bogen 3030 with quick release plates is going to work
with this lens. So, I had blinders on, and was all consumed with
getting the lens, I didn't think of what it would be sitting on. I
headed over to the camera store only to be told I need to buy a
$500 ballhead for my new lens, plus quick about $100 for each
additional quick release plate I use with my other lenses!

Do I have to get this Wimberley that everyone is talking about?
Then, do I go out and buy new quick release plates for each of my
lenses?

What have you found that works well? Primarilly, I do action
sports photography on a monopod

Thanks so much!

Click to expand...

Go for the Full Wmberly and save youreslef some grief. No ball head works alone, if you already have a ball head, the Wimberly Sidekick is ok, but if you are staring from scratch, just get the full model.

You are paying too much for plates at $100 a pop. Check B&H, Really Right Stuff, Kirk and Wimberly. I have purchsed form all three and never paied that much for a plate. However I suggest the foot replacement, it has a plate built into a foot that replaces the 500F4 tripod foot.

I personally use the Acra Swiss ballhead and a Wimberly Sidekick. This works, but is a bit stiff in cold weather. I also have an Acratech and it does not work. It slips in cold weather and will not keep the Wimberly sidekick vertical.

--
http://www.pbase.com/roserus

Ben

Hi Ben,

I have the Arcatec ballhead which I use with my Sidekick. Never had a problem with it slipping in cold weather, coruse I live in Florida. I was wondering how cold the weather was when the Arcatec slipped?

Have you seen the Bogen 3421? Romy suggested it to me, and he uses one. As he said soon as it quits meeting my needs I will get a Wimberley, but till then I will keep using it cuz it is about 1/3 the cost.

Tom Rowland said:

Hi Ben,

I have the Arcatec ballhead which I use with my Sidekick. Never
had a problem with it slipping in cold weather, coruse I live in
Florida. I was wondering how cold the weather was when the Arcatec
slipped?

Click to expand...

the temp was about 4 deg F. I was trying to use it as a sort of monopod set-up that day. When it failed, I switched over to my Acra Swiss and it worked about the same as usual.

Tom Rowland said:

Have you seen the Bogen 3421? Romy suggested it to me, and he uses
one. As he said soon as it quits meeting my needs I will get a
Wimberley, but till then I will keep using it cuz it is about 1/3
the cost.

Click to expand...

I don't know anything about the Bogen, I live a million miles from a real camera store and seldom meet other photographers. The ones I have met all use Sidekicks mounted on Acra Swiss and Gitzo tripods.

I can't get the hang of birds in flight on a gimbal anyway, I so do hand held. I use the Sidekick for stationary shots. I would say, you need a gimbal for this too, a ball head is not the answer, you get the framing right, tighten the head and as soon as you let go it moves a bit.

--
http://www.pbase.com/roserus

Ben

I agree that a Wimberley or Jobu full gimbal setup is better than Sidekick, but the Sidekick has the advantage of working with your standard ballhead (which should be a good one) when you don't need the gimbal. The Sidekick will work fine with the 500 f/4.

Thanks all, mine is not a ball head, so it looks like I'll be into it for about the same money as the full on Wimberley. I see no deals on these anywhere. B&H has them for $594, Wimberley has if for $595. I just saw someone on eBay pay more than Wimberley's retail price for a used one with cover. It's just hard for me to spend this much on something that just holds my stuff up. Kind of like buying tires for my car, not a lot of joy in that experience as well.

The full Wimberly is nearly the equivalent of $1000 here in the UK - the sidekick is about $450. Is there a cheaper alternative?
( for use with 100-400 +1.4TC (sometimes) for sports)

Phil Y said:

The full Wimberly is nearly the equivalent of $1000 here in the UK

• the sidekick is about $450. Is there a cheaper alternative?

( for use with 100-400 +1.4TC (sometimes) for sports)

Click to expand...

Yes

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=Bogen+3421&image.x=6&image.y=9

This is what I use with the Sigmonster and Romy uses it too.

Phil Y said:

The full Wimberly is nearly the equivalent of $1000 here in the UK

• the sidekick is about $450. Is there a cheaper alternative?

( for use with 100-400 +1.4TC (sometimes) for sports)

Click to expand...

If you don't have a ballhead, you may find this cost difference is not a much as you think. The Sidekick requires a ball head, the full Wimberly does not.

--
http://www.pbase.com/roserus

Ben

if you want to save some money. Works great.

Tom Rowland said:

Phil Y said:

The full Wimberly is nearly the equivalent of $1000 here in the UK

• the sidekick is about $450. Is there a cheaper alternative?

( for use with 100-400 +1.4TC (sometimes) for sports)

Click to expand...

Yes

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=RootPage.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t&shs=Bogen+3421&image.x=6&image.y=9

This is what I use with the Sigmonster and Romy uses it too.

Click to expand...

--
Regards,

Deepak
http://www.rnhinfo.com/Photographs
http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/galleries/deepakvrao

I had the bogen 3421 but after using my friends wimberley...i went straight for it.... you will never regret the wimberley but will always feel unsatisfied with the bogen3421 for the following reasons:

1) to stop panning, well you cant stop it on the bogen 3421 but with a wimberley, a simple half turn stops it 100%. I can shoot locked down, manual focus with 2x TC on my 500 f/4 so much more easily...

2) To stop swinging, you need to turn 2 knobs on the bogen 3421 versus a half turn on the wimberley..

to me, i get to lock down a lot more easily with just one hand on the wimberley...go for it...you will never regret it...you bought the 500 f/4 for the simple reason that its among the best primes in the world...why skimp on the head?

just my 2c. Enjoy your gear !

[email protected]

just to clarify - i got the full wimberley....

originalamit said:

I had the bogen 3421 but after using my friends wimberley...i went
straight for it.... you will never regret the wimberley but will
always feel unsatisfied with the bogen3421 for the following
reasons:
1) to stop panning, well you cant stop it on the bogen 3421 but
with a wimberley, a simple half turn stops it 100%. I can shoot
locked down, manual focus with 2x TC on my 500 f/4 so much more
easily...
2) To stop swinging, you need to turn 2 knobs on the bogen 3421
versus a half turn on the wimberley..

to me, i get to lock down a lot more easily with just one hand on
the wimberley...go for it...you will never regret it...you bought
the 500 f/4 for the simple reason that its among the best primes in
the world...why skimp on the head?

just my 2c. Enjoy your gear !

[email protected]

Click to expand...

--
[email protected]

I have the same lens and I highly recommend you go with the sidekick and a good ballhead like the markins M20. You spent alot on that lens and IMO other setups are inferior and at best will not be as steady as the sidekick and lead to frustration and at worst have the potential to result in damage to the lens.

While the full wimberly might equate to the cost of the sidekick + a good ball head the latter combo will give you more flexibility and be more efficient as you won't need 2 tripods or have to go through the frustration of taking the wimberly off every time you want to use the tripod with your other lenses. It also sounds like you want a cost effective solution.

The sidekick is a joy to use with the 500mm and the setup is fast and rock solid. Others have reported slippage or stiffness in the cold but I have not experienced any problems using the M20 ballhead (i've been out in -30c). It's rocksolid and slippage free.

One other suggestion, which you probably don't want to hear as the $$ are adding up, is that if you go with a gitzo tripod such as the 1325 the gitzo leveling base ($180) is a very good accessory to get if you plan on doing alot of panning shots with the sidekick. It ensures your tripod base is level and enbles you to rotate the ballhead in a level plane when using the sidekick.

I really didn't want to spend the $$ either on plates and ballheads either but got tired of slippage and inconvenience of other systems. My only regret now is that I didn't buy all this stuff from day one as it's much more convenient and rock solid.

--
http://www.pbase.com/pwh

What doo you have. You'll want something sturdy and stiff to hold all that weight. I would reccomend the Gitzo 1325 (or its equivalent in their ne line-up). That will cost you around another $500+ (here in the US).

Gene

--
Gene (aka hawkman) - Walk softly and carry a big lens

Please visit my wildlife galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/gaocus
http://hawkman.smugmug.com/gallery/1414279

I understand your reasoning, but dont completely agree with your conclusion.

I have a Sidekick and it does work well. But I also agree with Thom Hogan that the Sidekick is not as robust as the Full Wimberley. And I agree with his claim that the Sidekick is limited to lens smaller than a 300 2.8. I know others dont always agree with it and YMMV.

I also understand your point about stopping movement more easily on a Wimberely than on the 3421. In fact I use my Sidekick as a very flexible macro support system, but that is with a 150 macro.

But I mostly use my 3421 almost exclusively with a Sigmonster. So stopping panning or up and down motion is not really a consideration. I want to be able to easily follow BIF and the 3421 is very easy to do that with.

And the 3421 just seems like a better design from the standpoint of saftey. The U shape of the 3421 not only protects the lens on three sides, but if there was some type of plate failure there seems to be less chance the lens would fall to the ground. Other gimbal heads are more L shaped and have an open side that would allow the lens to fall to the ground more easily.

And even if there is no plate failure I feel more secure mount and unmounting the lens with a U shape than with an L shape.

originalamit said:

to me, i get to lock down a lot more easily with just one hand on
the wimberley...go for it...you will never regret it...you bought
the 500 f/4 for the simple reason that its among the best primes in
the world...why skimp on the head?

Click to expand...

Hi Amit,

Glad that you're happy with the full Wimberley. I use the Manfrotto 3421 and it's good enough for my needs. I'm sure the Wimberley is a bit better and call it skimping if you will, but I can get the following shots using the 3421 as support.

Panning at 700 mm, 1DM2:



Slow shutter, no MLU, 1600 mm, 1/50 sec, 350D:



Slow shutter, using MLU, 800 mm, 0.8 sec, 350D



Romy

--



Philippine Wild Birds - http://www.pbase.com/liquidstone
(Over 200 species captured, and counting)

The Manfrotto 3421 gimble head is quite a stable platform.
800mm at 1/200



--
http://www.pbase.com/dc9mm

Unfortunalely the 3421 doesn't seem to be available in the UK... so if I get the sidekick, would it be ok with my Manfrotto 190 Pro and 486RC2 ball head? Which plate do I need for the 100-400?

I shoot a lot of windsurfing where the sailors can be going in any direction - towards, away, panning and a combination of any of these. Would this setup be suitable?

Thanks

Phil

You will love the Wimberly. I use one with the 500f4 IS all the time and never been a problem,in fact I have two of them.
Ken
--
http://www.pbase.com/sailorboy