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Originally Posted by Stuart R
The Wimberley mount which looked interesting was the "Sidekick" ( http://www.tripodhead.com/products/sidekick-main.cfm) not the full, and as you say, very expensive Wimberley head. I have asked Wimberley by email if the 488RC2 and the Sidekick are compatable. If so, it could be most useful for both macro (Sidekick off) and bird photography/viewing (Sidekick on with lens or scope). |
The sidekick is compatible with the ‘Arca-Swiss’ style quick-release adapter, e.g. the Arca-Swiss B1 or the Kirk BH-1. I’m not familiar with the Manfrotto range, so I can’t comment. I remember ringing Warehouse Express and asking a salesperson if the Sidekick was suitable for my previous Gitzo ball-head and she said it was. It wasn’t.
I have the sidekick and have used it two or three times on my Kirk BH-1 (I shoot birds only), but I've gone back to using my ball-head on its own. Unless I’m doing something wrong with the Sidekick, the problem comes when panning. If the tripod is not on absolutely level ground (or if the legs aren’t adjusted to take account of ground that isn’t level), when I pan the lens rotates about its axis, so I’m taking pictures at 45 degrees! (exaggerating slightly perhaps). It’s a similar effect to using a 3-way head, except you haven’t got the adjustment in each plane. I would imagine it’s the same with the Gimbal head? If the lens collar allows for easy rotation of the lens while still remaining secure, it would solve the problem, but it doesn’t on my 400mm f5.6.
These are not issues with a ball-head, of course, as the ball can be moved in all three planes with one adjustment.