Supplement to Gimbal - FlexShooter Pro vs. AcraTech GXP

fotosean · Nov 19, 2021

Looking for opinions and experiences from those that have used both. I currently use a Siriu PH-10 with a Nikon D500 and the Nikkor 200-500 (with the RRS foot) for wildlife/BIF/sports. Looking for a travel alternative to use with a beefier Benro travel tripod that can handle the weight.

I have a good friend who is a local pro who uses the FlexShooter exclusively and loves it, doesn't even bother with a gimbal anymore. I am not ready to go that route, but would like an alternative or supplement. I am wondering if the GXP might be a little more versatile for travel use, but I don't know anyone who has used it.

There are some YT videos about both, but I learned long ago to take those with a grain of salt. One of the guys I do put a lot of faith in, Hudson Henry, spoke quite highly of the GXP, even though he's not ever going to give up his fluid heads anytime soon...

Thanks in advance for the help!

tclune · Nov 19, 2021

Batska said:
Looking for opinions and experiences from those that have used both. I currently use a Siriu PH-10 with a Nikon D500 and the Nikkor 200-500 (with the RRS foot) for wildlife/BIF/sports. Looking for a travel alternative ...

I also shoot wildlife and BIF with a D500 and Nikon 200-500 lens. For my purposes, the ultimate support for that combo is the Wimberley MonoGimbal on a monopod. Tripods are just too much trouble in the field, and the Steve Perry video link above gives a good idea of the ease of use of this set-up. The ease and comfort in carrying the rig with this set-up was an unexpected and much appreciated bonus. FWIW

fotosean · Nov 19, 2021

tclune said:
Batska said:

Looking for opinions and experiences from those that have used both. I currently use a Siriu PH-10 with a Nikon D500 and the Nikkor 200-500 (with the RRS foot) for wildlife/BIF/sports. Looking for a travel alternative ...

Click to expand...

I also shoot wildlife and BIF with a D500 and Nikon 200-500 lens. For my purposes, the ultimate support for that combo is the Wimberley MonoGimbal on a monopod. Tripods are just too much trouble in the field, and the Steve Perry video link above gives a good idea of the ease of use of this set-up. The ease and comfort in carrying the rig with this set-up was an unexpected and much appreciated bonus. FWIW

I appreciate the post and the feedback. Looks like a good setup for those that like to use monopods. I for one do not care to use monopods, having tried a few and found I'd rather hump the little extra weight of a lighter carbon fiber travel tripod.

Doug Greenberg · Nov 23, 2021

The Flexshooter is expensive, but once you learn how to set it up optimally, it is an excellent piece of gear. The smaller model is probably good enough for use with the rig you have, but the Pro model is not much larger or more expensive, so it might be the better choice, especially if you use it with a larger lens at some point.

You would also do well with one of the smaller gimbals, such as the Jobu Design BWG-J3K Jobu Jr.3J.

I will add that there is a big difference in the field between using a monopod and a lightweight tripod. The latter is a little less convenient, but I much prefer a travel tripod to a monopod in terms of stability at slow shutter speeds. I use both a RRS TQC-14 tripod and a FEISOL CT-3441T Traveler, and these work quite well for quick setup in the field. They are easy to carry and the stability of a tripod is a big plus (for me, anyway), over a monopod.

Doug Greenberg

tclune · Nov 23, 2021

Doug Greenberg said:
I will add that there is a big difference in the field between using a monopod and a lightweight tripod. The latter is a little less convenient, but I much prefer a travel tripod to a monopod in terms of stability at slow shutter speeds.

I agree completely if you are talking about night shots with long exposures. The OP said they were doing wildlife/BIF/sports. You'd have to be completely incompetent with a monopod to be able to tell the difference in IQ with any plausible shutter speed for any of those applications.

lokatz · Nov 23, 2021

I use the FlexShooter (smaller version) and won't ever go back to a Gimbal. It is much more versatile, as well as easier to travel with. I was eyeing the GXP, as well, when looking for a head like this, but it strikes me as less well constructed and built.

Currently at a one-week photo workshop on Scotland's Isle of Skye. One of the other participants is a bird shooter like me, he also uses the FlexShooter, though this time the larger one, and is equally happy with it.

What is it that makes you avoid this head? I understand cost, but is there anything else?

fotosean · Nov 24, 2021

lokatz said:
What is it that makes you avoid this head? I understand cost, but is there anything else?

No, not really, and the cost is not that different. Neither the FlexShooter nor the GXP is exactly cheap. Just want to compare the two and evaluate based on what would be a better, more versatile fit for my skinny travel kit. I am taking a trip to Costa Rica in the near future and probably would rather leave the gimbal at home.

Doug Greenberg · Nov 24, 2021

tclune said:
Doug Greenberg said:

I will add that there is a big difference in the field between using a monopod and a lightweight tripod. The latter is a little less convenient, but I much prefer a travel tripod to a monopod in terms of stability at slow shutter speeds.

Click to expand...

I agree completely if you are talking about night shots with long exposures. The OP said they were doing wildlife/BIF/sports. You'd have to be completely incompetent with a monopod to be able to tell the difference in IQ with any plausible shutter speed for any of those applications.

Wow, those are strong words. I know there are monopod wizards who can hold the things completely steady at low shutter speeds (and for birds lurking in a tropical forest we are talking about speeds down to say, 1/15 of a second sometimes), but for most people, a monopod is simply not as stable or as easy to use as a tripod. I will add that with a tripod, you can take your hands off of the rig to use your binoculars or take something out of your pack without laying your gear on the ground. It's also a lot easier to do short videos on the fly or do panning.

Meanwhile, with the improved IS performances of newer cameras and lenses, some people go out in the field with no monopod and no tripod at all. Some people are gifted with uncanny steadiness (maybe they don't drink coffee), and some (like me) are not.

We all have opinions, ultimately equally valid, I guess. I use both monopod and travel tripod in the field for my lighter rigs, and most (not all) of the time, I end up using the travel tripod. Just one man's view.

Doug Greenberg

fotosean · Nov 24, 2021

Doug Greenberg said:
tclune said:

Doug Greenberg said:

I will add that there is a big difference in the field between using a monopod and a lightweight tripod. The latter is a little less convenient, but I much prefer a travel tripod to a monopod in terms of stability at slow shutter speeds.

Click to expand...

I agree completely if you are talking about night shots with long exposures. The OP said they were doing wildlife/BIF/sports. You'd have to be completely incompetent with a monopod to be able to tell the difference in IQ with any plausible shutter speed for any of those applications.

Click to expand...

Wow, those are strong words. I know there are monopod wizards who can hold the things completely steady at low shutter speeds (and for birds lurking in a tropical forest we are talking about speeds down to say, 1/15 of a second sometimes), but for most people, a monopod is simply not as stable or as easy to use as a tripod. I will add that with a tripod, you can take your hands off of the rig to use your binoculars or take something out of your pack without laying your gear on the ground. It's also a lot easier to do short videos on the fly or do panning.

Meanwhile, with the improved IS performances of newer cameras and lenses, some people go out in the field with no monopod and no tripod at all. Some people are gifted with uncanny steadiness (maybe they don't drink coffee), and some (like me) are not.

We all have opinions, ultimately equally valid, I guess. I use both monopod and travel tripod in the field for my lighter rigs, and most (not all) of the time, I end up using the travel tripod. Just one man's view.

Doug Greenberg

You brought up the three reasons I avoid monopods unless absolutely required. Perhaps I am incompetent with a monopod as well, as I definitely see better IQ, composition, etc. while using a light travel tripod vs. a monopod.

lokatz · Nov 24, 2021

Batska said:
lokatz said:

What is it that makes you avoid this head? I understand cost, but is there anything else?

Click to expand...

No, not really, and the cost is not that different. Neither the FlexShooter nor the GXP is exactly cheap. Just want to compare the two and evaluate based on what would be a better, more versatile fit for my skinny travel kit. I am taking a trip to Costa Rica in the near future and probably would rather leave the gimbal at home.

I will be going to Costa Rica again (my sixth time) next month. The FlexShooter will come along as my only tripod head.

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Supplement to Gimbal - FlexShooter Pro vs. AcraTech GXP

fotosean

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tclune

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Doug Greenberg

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tclune

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lokatz

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