Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

The most useful tripod accessory I own now. Attaches to the RRS BH 55 in seconds. Solid construction and perfect balance for my long lenses, and I don't have to take the ball head off. When I don't need the Wimberley Sidekick, I just slip it off and attach the camera directly to the ball head is just seconds.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I got this for birding with a long lens. Mounted on a RRS BH-55 ball head, it works perfectly.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I'm really impressed with this. It's easy to set up, and the balance it provides is great. Very stable too. Well worth the money.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

In all honesty, this review is a tad premature as I haven't had time to actually use this in the field. However, I did mount the Sidekick on the quick release of the ball head and mounted a 300mm f2.8 canon L lens w/ 2X telextender on it and it all fit and balanced quite well using the P20 Wimberley plate. This plate is longer than the one that comes with the Giotto quick release and allows you to shift the lens on the Sidekick for best balance. Also, I had to unscrew the safety screw in the Giotto quick release. You just use a small allen wrench for that. Overall, I'm looking forward to using this setup. I think it should be fine. It's less money this way than using an Arca ball (which by the way the Sidekick provides a warning in its instructions concerning using this Sidekick with some Arca heads). And also less money than purchasing the larger Wimberley Gimbal head. However, I would suggest using the larger, full blown, gimbal head for heavier and larger lens as suggested by others on the internet.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

The Sidekick is a great tool and a great addition to my kit. It handles the Nikon 200-400mm and the Nikon 500mm easily. Carrying less weight in the field is a plus for me.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

Great blue herons have built 50-75 nests in the top of several sycamore trees a mile or so from my house, and the county has built an observation platform about a quarter mile from them. The Wimberley Sidekick has helped me get some terrific pictures of the heron courting and nesting this spring. The Sidekick is an excellent product!

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

With my light travel Gitzo and ballhead, I now can switch to a Wimberley for that 300 or 80-400 zoom lens as needed. Great add for my quick-light travel bag. Just awesome for telephotos.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

Will work great for my hummingbird photgraphy.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I put this sidekick on my Acratech GV2 Ballhead and could not be more pleased. It is smooth, solid, and stable. I actually like the side mount; it feels like a more natural movement. I did add a longer lens plate to balance my Nikon 70-200vrII with converter on a D300. Would like to try a bigger lens - like the Sigma 120-300mm2.8- dg os-(someday)!

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I waited a long time to get this, now I wonder why. Easy to use, moves like a dream, and it sure does make bird photography easier.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I borrowed this to use with my Canon f/2.8L II 70-300 lens. I liked it so much, I bought one when I got home! It works perfectly with the collar included with this lens and also my others. I went to Bosque Del Apache in New Mexico and needed to be able to pan and also move vertically to shoot cranes and snow geese. It is small, easy to attach, easy to take off and go right back to a ball head. I used it with my RRS 55BH. I would highly recomend it.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

Works great, for me and I can still carry it around with the 500mm lens. It is so simple and allows me to use other lenses without a lot of reconfiguring of the tripod and head.
B&H always makes purchasing easy and they always have the best prices anywhere. Great job everyone.

Randy

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I use this adapter while shooting wildlife photography. I have a Canon 500mm lens and with this adapter I can quickly move the camera and long lens to capture birds in flight. The light weight and coupled use to my existing ball head is a real plus.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

Using a super telephoto lens is an unwieldy task on a ballhead at best, but after adding the Sidekick and balancing the lens and body it was even easier and better than I expected. The light weight (1.3lb), lower cost, space saving size, and increased versatility of the ballhead were the reasons I chose the Sidekick over a full-blown Wimberley head. Plus, I just didn't want to carry two heads (or two tripods with different heads) in the field and then have to switch from one to the other depending on the subject. The Sidekick is the perfect accessory and it gives me the best of both tripod heads. Of course, the crafstmanship is top notch, as expected from a Wimberley product.

If you already own a good ballhead and are contemplating a Sidekick I think you will be very happpy with the way it handles your telephoto lenses. One can move any big lens around with just a couple of fingers once it is balanced. A bit pricey, but much less than a full-blown Wimberley head and well worth it! I couldn't do without it now!

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

The sidekick mounts easily on my BH55 ball head and is light weight enough that I can take it when I travel. It makes it much easier to use my long telephoto lenses.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I use my sidekick with the Markins Q20 ballhead and a Feisol carbon fibre tripod. I bought it mainly for my Canon 500 mm 4.5 L lens, but I am also using it with my Canon 100-400mm USM IS L lens. It makes both lenses so effortless and enjoyable to use. My 500mm is not IS so I still need that stability and the results have been excellent.

The Sidekick is made very well and of high quality material. I love that I can just slip it off and then use my ball head for landscapes etc. I am also impressed with how light it is. I also like that I don't have to have a tripod dedicated to it like a full Gimbal would need.

Yes it's a lot of money, but worth it.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I first ordered an Induro gimbal head mount which was basically a knock-off of the Wimberley Sidekick. The Induro was okay, but was a little sticky. I found that I would have to reposition it slightly every time I framed my subject which was a pain, so I decided to give the Wimberley a try. The Induro was $200 and included the lens foot adapter; whereas, the Wimberly is about $300 for both the gimbal and lens adapter. The Wimberley is much smoother and well worth the extra $100. I mounted the Sidekick on a Markins Q10 ball head and absolutely love this setup.

I also tried the Acratech GPs ball head and found that the panning base had play in it. Same as with the gimbal, a little extra money for the ball head made a big difference in the quality.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I find the Arca Sidekick Ball to Gimbal Head Adapter by Wimberley will be great with the bigger lens

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

I don't need a gimble head often, and don't have a really heavy lens - no 500 or 600. The Sidekick gives me smooth gimble action with 300 + 2x, doesn't require me to switch out my ball head, and is lightweight and small enough to fit into my backpack. I've showed it to all my photo buddies, so I think you can expect some more orders soon.

Comments about Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head Adapter for Arca-Swiss Style Quick Release Clamps:

If you want to travel light or you already have a good ballhead and don't want to spend too much on a full gimbal, this is the product to use. I use this with as heavy as a Canon 400 f/2.8 (version I, 12 lbs) and have absolutely no problem. With AP-902 or AP-602 the movement is silky smooth. The only downside is this adds just a tad more vibrations (this is with a Gitzo GT3541 and Markins M20). In addition if you are going to use flash, the full gimbal (WH200) will be a better choice as you can balance the weight of the flash better. The Sidekick will work too, but you have to employ more tension to stop the lens from flopping due to the unbalance flash on top.