I've never heard and seen anyone explain and demonstrate so well. Thank you for breaking it down into sections. A novel idea that works happily for people like me who can get overwhelmed with tech info even though I'm a seasoned photographer. A piece of equipment I've never used and the worst is to try to figure it out on the fly in the field. Guaranteed disaster. Thank you. You're a great presenter.
Thank you Sir! While that specific model is no longer available, per your link, your vid was very helpful in demonstrating what to look for and set up gimble heads. Very well done!!
Thanks. Glad it was helpful. And thanks for letting me know the gimbal head isn't available. There is an updated model here: amzn.to/3J02E3X Thanks for watching.
Great demonstration, just bought a Gimbal & I knew it had to be level but only when my wife asked what the side arm is for that I just thought it was to achieve a higher or lower swing motion, nothing about setting the Gimbal up in the instructions & then found your brilliant demonstration ~ thank you so much for taking the time to explain setting this piece of equipment up, my camera now stays exactly in position when I take my hands away from it.
Hi Peter. Glad it was useful. I've never bought a gimbal that had an adequate set of instructions included, so hopefully this video will help a few people. Thanks for watching.
Hi, thank you very much for this clear and concise video. 2 years after its release, you just helped a guy who just bought his first gimbal. On to the outside to grab some pics, now !
I'm a latecomer here, but geez this video is really informative and helpful. I recently received a gimbal as a gift and you've corrected a few of my mistakes. Thank you! Great work!
I appreciate that you included the vertical adjustment in your tutorial. I had only just figured that on my own, but most videos don’t even mention it. Props and Kudos!
Thanks, I'm glad it was useful. There are lots of gimbal head options out there. There more expensive they are the lighter they tend to be, but also the smoother they will move. However, I would say, just avoid the really cheap ones. You have to be able to trust your gimbal to hold your camera and lens, so make sure whatever you get is reliable and won't drop your camera.
Excellent video thank you, I also have the electronic shutter/timer release, for my Nikon D7000, that I have used for bird shots, but that was without a gimble, which I am about to order. I will also get the battery grip for it as well.
Thank you for taking the time to explain this. I see most Gimbal VTs are on the newer styles so I was glad to find yours on the same Type I bought last year but have hardly used. Hoping I will get to use it with more confidence now.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Well, I have a sigma 150-600mm Telephoto Lens, Bazooka! that requires a Gimbal as I find it too heavy for me to hand hold! Thank you again.
Hi Mike. I've heard good things about the Sigma, but never used one. One thing I do know about it, though, is that it extends as you zoom - just be aware that that will affect the balance on the gimbal. As you extend the lens you will move the centre of gravity and the lens will dip forwards on the gimbal. If you're shooting at a particular focal length, you can lock the zoom at that focal length so that it doesn't change size and balance your gimbal for that length. If you're always changing the focal length you can balance it for the average (375mm) but just be aware that if you're out at 600mm it will dip forwards and if you're in at 150mm it will dip backwards.
Good video. I haven't used my Lens Master gimbal since moving back to Olympus, well OMD-S now, as I own 2 OM1 bodies. This video has actually inspired me to use it again when using my portable hide on a farm I have access to. I use a Vanguard carbon fibre tripod, so it's a very lightweight rig to carry about.
Excellent. It's a very addictive hobby, and everyone has to start somewhere. So stick with what you've got, keep practicing and build over time. Have fun.
Thanks Scot! Set up my MOVO $100 dollar Amazon buy. Hopefully good enough for my amateur backyard birding. I'm sure this is a gateway to a new part of this hobby.
Hey great video, thank you. For those of us with a telescoping zoom wherein the point of balance changes with different zooms/lens lengths, Isa gimbal a waste of money?
Hey Scott. Great video. What do I do if my lens doesn’t have a ring mount. I have the RF 100-400 with no ring mount. So I mounted the quick release plate to my camera body but the plate doesn’t move back far enough to balance the camera so it always tilts forward on my gimbal head. Thanks.
Hi Scott, I wish I’d found you earlier m8, great video, simply explained I’ve just ordered the very same gimble tell me I have a tripod but the legs extend to a very thin end I primarily use my D500 with my 200 x 500 5.6, I was wondering if I could use this with a good monopod ?, I do a lot of rough ground walking with the camera and do worry about having to keep adjusting the legs of the tripod every time I stop to use it on the go,
Thanks and sorry for the late reply. I use mine with a monopod on some occasions. I lock off the rotation on the gimbal because you can just rotate the monopod instead. It's more stable the hand held, but not as stable as a tripod - so a decent compromise.
I have the same gimbal, but with only one locking screw on the quick release, the camera quickly comes loose and turns. This has become a major issue and despite tightening it with a screwdriver, I find it unusable.
I had a similar problem. My lens foot has two screw holes, both different sizes. So what I had to do, and what you can see on my lens foot in this video, is get a new quick release plate such as this: amzn.to/3ENuS1g and get some screws such as this: amzn.to/3tOSnkd so that I could attach the lens foot at two points. If yours is the same problem as mine, this might help.
Having difficulty using Oben gimbal head. Using 28-300 sigma first. I have a sigma 600, but I’m finding the tripod shoe that screws into canon80d is turning. I’ve tightened it quite a lot but it’s not balancing well. Using one finger to move camera is not the case.had it zoomed out to 300 & if I hadn’t tightened it would have dropped & bottom of lens would hit. I wanted this to work be4 I put on 160-600.
Does the 28-300mm have a foot? If you're trying to balance it by mounting the camera body to the gimbal instead of the lens' foot, you'll find it difficult. It should be much easier with your 150-600mm. The other thing to note is that your 150-600mm lens extends when you zoom. Each time you zoom in and out it will change the balance because you're moving the centre of gravity for the lens. If you normally shoot at say 500mm, lock the zoom at 500mm and use it like a prime - you will be able to balance it perfectly that way.
Wonderful..thank you! Can I ask you a question...do you know where you can get the foot ring that sits in the quick release plate..nikkon wants 500.00 for it ....kind of outrageous
Hi Michelle. It depends what lens it is for. There are some companies that make third party lens feet/rings. Wimberley and Really Right Stuff both spring to mind but there will be others. I would recommend talking to your local camera shop and they will give you some advice about your specific lens. There may be quite cheap ones you can find online that are made in china. But I would avoid them or you might risk the safety of your camera and lens.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide ok thank you..its for the contemporary lense 150 to 600 niikon ..the sport lense comes with the longer version but not mine ...I will check those out ..much appreciated
Incredibly helpful. Thank you! I just bought the Benro GH2 and can’t wait to try it out! Question: Instructions say NEVER to keep camera attached to tripod/gimbal while moving to a new location, yet I see people doing the opposite all the time. What are your thoughts? Seems like such a pain to connect, disconnect, reconnect each time, but then I don’t want to drop my equipment either...
Sorry for the late reply. I'm sure they say that to protect themselves in case you drop your camera and blame the tripod manufacturer. I move around with mine attached to the tripod all the time. But I always keep my hand around the camera strap just to be a bit more careful.
Another challenge I am facing is the annoying noise the lens produced at auto focus while videoing wildlife. At this moment, I have to switch to manual focus..
I enjoyed the video. I often see the gimbal used on both the right side and left side of the camera. In your video, I see you use it on the right as you use your left hand as a counter balance. Is this simply a personal preference?
Hi Tarik. Thanks for watching. To some extent it is a personal preference. But there’s also a practical matter. The len’s control buttons are always in the left side. So if you mount the gimbal to the left of the lens it can get in the way if you need to adjust anything whilst using it.
Sorry for the late reply. I use mine with a monopod on some occasions. I lock off the rotation on the gimbal because you can just rotate the monopod instead. It's more stable the hand held, but not as stable as a tripod - so a decent compromise.
Great job ‘ by the time u have all this done your subject is in the next county ‘ the best of kit to improve your photography is a good paid of strong arms ‘ pan left right up down in an instant
While I am usually on the move as well when photographing birds and other wildlife, there are occasions where I was wishing I had a Gimbal on my tripod. For example, there is a dam near where I live where there is a lot of Bald Eagle activity. Standing there for hours trying to keep a heavy lens at the ready is unrealistic. It was a day like that that prompted me to buy a Gimbal, and I'm glad for such an easy to follow video to learn how to set it up.
Very nice job. Thank you. I am needing a “fix” for a camera shaking/vibrating on a tripod in a church setting with a lot of bass. Will this gimbal work or is there another solution you would suggest? In your example outside with wildlife I suppose I’d ask if you had an earthquake while videoing, would your filming shake or would the gimbal absorb the vibration? Thank you again.
Hi. Thanks for watching. If the vibration is coming through the floor, no tripod set up will stop it. It can be reduced a little if you have a camera and lens which both have stabilisation. The best thing I can think of is to use a "body worn camera stabiliser" - which is something often used my film makers, or handheld stabiliser gimbal. An example of this is the "Hague HDMC HD Motion Cam Camera Steadicam". But I have no experience of any of these products, so I can't tell you if they are any good.
Hi, Scott! Great video- I just received the Gimbal I purchased and this helped me set it up so easily. I do have a question. Why is it necessary (or, is it necessary) to use the quick release plate? I only use my tripod occasionally, since I more often than not am on the move when birding, so I use a cross-body strap which won't attach with the quick release plate on. I'd use the same strap just getting to a location where I would then be setting up my tripod. Seems like it'll be a pain to put it on and off when I want to use the Gimbal, since the foot of the lens collar has the same channels (seems you could attach it directly without the use of the quick release plate- does that make sense?). Thanks!
Hi Kathi. Glad you liked the video. That’s a tricky question. I have my strap attached to the lugs on the lens leaving me free to attach the quick release plate to the foot. I’m guessing you’ve either got a Tamron or Sigma lens as they’re the only 150-600mm lenses I can think of. I believe neither of these lenses have lugs. So you need a different solution, which I’ve been trying to think about. The only thing I can come up with is to buy a new foot. Get one that has at least two screw holes, preferably three. You could then attach your strap to one hole and a quick release plate to the other two.
Hi I got a Benro GH2 gimbal and a benro rhino tripod and when I attach the gimbal to the tripod there isn’t really any locking mechanism to secure the connection between the two , so if I apply a bit of tension on the gimbal it quickly unscrews from the tripod , is this supposed to happen ?
Hi Rafaela. No, if definitely shouldn't do that. There should be a screw the joins the two. Did the tripod come with a ball head? If so, the screw may still be in the bottom of the ball head when you remove it. You can use the same screw to attached the gimbal head.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Hi thanks for replying , yeah the tripod came with a ballhead and I detached it to install the gimbal head , the tripods centre column has a screw where you mount the gimbal head and then I turn the gimbal head until it’s attached to the tripod the thing is if I apply pressure in the opposite direction it will unscrew and I can’t find a way to lock it
@@rafaelafernandes863 That’s shouldn’t happen. There should be enough tension that it doesn’t move easily. Can you unwind the screw in the centre column a bit so that there’s more of it sticking out? Approximately half the screw should be inside the centre column and half sticking out to attach the gimbal head to.
Any tips on how to not throw your back out of whack when the bird flies up up and up, so you're bent over trying to look through the viewfinder to focus? I always see videos where the photographer is shooting with the lens level and then they show how the lens can shoot up, but they aren't showing how they look through the viewfinder.
Thanks for the question. I don’t tend take photos when the bird is that high up for lots of reasons, but mainly because a bird set against nothing but sky looks quite boring. In fact, the video after the next one covers exactly this topic. If you do want to photograph birds that high in the sky though, it’s best to set your tripod higher than your head so you can tilt the camera up and still see through the viewfinder or go handheld.
I notice that your lens foot is attached to the long platform piece by two bolts; my set up only seems to have one. One of the two holes on the lens foot is not being used so I have to tighten the one bolt quite a lot to ensure a good connection. Am I missing something? I have the same tripod and gimbal as you and my lens is a Nikkor 500mm f5.6.
Sorry for the late reply. Mine only had one bolt too. I bought a pack of bolts from Amazon for a few pounds - and now I've got some spares too in case one gets lost.
Hi Rafaela. It should fit on any tripod with a removable head. a few tripods have fixed heads, but most of them allow you to unscrew the head and replace it with a gimbal head. It will have a standard 3/8 screw that all manufacturers of tripods use, so any gimbal head or other head will fit. Thanks for watching.
Fourth most important thing in wildlife photography is knowing some good locations and time of day... wait, I think this comes right behind fast focusing camera and lens....
You can indeed, although you might find it better using the gimbal with a monopod for video. I recently published a follow up to this video on using a gimbal with a monopod and includes a section on video. th-cam.com/video/_LQJVUAX4BE/w-d-xo.html
Hi. The Benro GH2 was consistently rated as the top gimbal head for a long time. My Kenro GH2 is the same model, just branded differently. Here in the UK it is about the same price as the Sirui, cheaper than the Gitzo, and much cheaper than the Wimberley. Benro has since replaced it with the GH5, which is £100 more expensive than the GH2 - but it is stronger, lighter and holds 7kg more weight. Any of these gimbal heads will easily hold much more than a heavy camera body with 600mm prime. So the Benros are much better value value for money. The Wimberley holds about 4 times more weight than anyone with even the heaviest set up will ever need.
Sorry for the late reply. I use mine with a monopod on some occasions. I lock off the rotation on the gimbal because you can just rotate the monopod instead. It's more stable the hand held, but not as stable as a tripod - so a decent compromise.
Sorry- one more question. I have a 150-600 lens that I most often use. How do I balance properly given that I'm never completely sure what focal length I'll be shooting at? Thanks again!
If your lens extends when you zoom, it will change the balance because you're moving the centre of gravity each time you change the focal length. If you normally shoot at say 500mm, lock the zoom at 500mm and use it like a prime - you will be able to balance it perfectly that way. If you don’t want to lock it, balance your gimbal for 600mm. It will only stay still when you let go of the camera if you’re at 600mm. But at least it won’t tip forwards if you’re at any other length. That will mean you can avoid smashing your lens into the tripod.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Sigma 150-160. This is the answer I was looking for. I feel it is worth my time to try to lock the lens at 400, etc to see how that works for me.
I recently bought a new tripod, and I want to remove my gimbal head (benro gh-2) from my old tripod on the new tripod. Can I remove the gimbal head or is it impossible ? Is there a trick somewhere ?
It should come off. Make sure you’ve got the knobs locked so that the gimbal head isn’t panning as you’re trying to unscrew it. Hold the tripod still and turn the whole gimbal head anti-clockwise and it should come right off.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Thx Scott, you are amazing. It certainly works. Your video is full of good advice or remarks that show your great experience. Thank you very much ;)
Hi Vincent. Most tripods have detachable heads and you can attach any other head using the standard 3/8" screw. Most of these will come with a ball head as standard which you can remove to attach the gimbal head. If you have a tripod with a fixed head you might not be able to mount a gimbal head. I've just viewed one of your videos and seen your Torjim tripod. It looks like this has a fixed head. Your Gorillapod has a detachable head - but it probably won't be strong enough to hold a gimbal head.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide okay thanks, so I’m looking for a carbon fiber tripod and put a gimbal head on it, what tripod would you recommend? (About €100 to €300)
Some good brands to consider, which you should be able to get something in that price range are Manfrotto, Kenro/Benro and Gitzo. Vanguard and Wimberley might be fine too but I’ve never used anything of theirs. 3 Legged Thing is also great, but they tend to be more expensive. When you research it, check out the maximum recommended weight in the tripod’s specs and compare that with what you want to mount on it. Also think about the height. You probably want to maximum height of the tripod to be at your chest height, at least - bearing in mind that once you’ve put the head on it, it will be a bit higher than the maximum tripod height.
Hi Phyllis. Your gimbal head should just screw on to the top of your tripod, unless you have a tripod with a fixed head that can't be removed. If you describe the problem you're having I will try to help if I can.
I've never heard and seen anyone explain and demonstrate so well. Thank you for breaking it down into sections. A novel idea that works happily for people like me who can get overwhelmed with tech info even though I'm a seasoned photographer. A piece of equipment I've never used and the worst is to try to figure it out on the fly in the field. Guaranteed disaster. Thank you. You're a great presenter.
That’s very kind, thank you. I’m glad you found it useful.
When I first used my gimbal, it was self taught and DIY. Thank you for your video and I have learned a lot and corrected a few mistakes. Thanks again.
Thank you Sir! While that specific model is no longer available, per your link, your vid was very helpful in demonstrating what to look for and set up gimble heads. Very well done!!
Thanks. Glad it was helpful. And thanks for letting me know the gimbal head isn't available. There is an updated model here: amzn.to/3J02E3X Thanks for watching.
Great demonstration, just bought a Gimbal & I knew it had to be level but only when my wife asked what the side arm is for that I just thought it was to achieve a higher or lower swing motion, nothing about setting the Gimbal up in the instructions & then found your brilliant demonstration ~ thank you so much for taking the time to explain setting this piece of equipment up, my camera now stays exactly in position when I take my hands away from it.
Hi Peter. Glad it was useful. I've never bought a gimbal that had an adequate set of instructions included, so hopefully this video will help a few people. Thanks for watching.
Hi, thank you very much for this clear and concise video. 2 years after its release, you just helped a guy who just bought his first gimbal.
On to the outside to grab some pics, now !
Glad I could help and I hope you get some great picture with it. Thanks for watching.
Timing and space of the concluding five burst shot really great. Kudos!
Thanks you.
I'm a latecomer here, but geez this video is really informative and helpful. I recently received a gimbal as a gift and you've corrected a few of my mistakes. Thank you! Great work!
Thanks. Good luck with the gimbal - hoping you get some great shots with it. Thanks for watching.
I appreciate that you included the vertical adjustment in your tutorial. I had only just figured that on my own, but most videos don’t even mention it. Props and Kudos!
Cheers, and thanks for watching.
Great demo. Getting a gimbal head this weekend. Didn’t even think about what your video demonstrated. Great video cheers.
Happy to help. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the video ! Straight to the point, nice! 👍🏽👏🏼 Loved your Swallow image and how you stitched those squirrel shots together, wow !!!
Thanks for watching, Bob.
You are one of my best teachers in nature photography - thank's a lot for sharing your experience!
Wow, thank you. I'm so happy to hear that and glad I can be of help. Thanks for watching.
I didn't know how this thing worked...Thanks for the demo!
Great video, thanks king. I adore that burst shot of the squirrel!
Thanks for watching.
Your video convinced me to purchase a gimbal, what a good move that was. Thanks
Hi Dean. Good stuff, they're so useful. You'll never look back. Thanks for watching.
Excellent explanation. I really need a gimbal but have not managed to decide on which to spend money on so far.
Thanks, I'm glad it was useful. There are lots of gimbal head options out there. There more expensive they are the lighter they tend to be, but also the smoother they will move. However, I would say, just avoid the really cheap ones. You have to be able to trust your gimbal to hold your camera and lens, so make sure whatever you get is reliable and won't drop your camera.
I appreciate your explanation on the gimbal setup. It was to the point. Thanks.
Thank you
Fantastic shot of the Grey Squirrel there mate, really impressive..,👍
Thanks Jonty, much appreciated.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Is it possible to use a zoom lens on gimbal heads? or would the zoom throw the gimball off balance too much?
Excellent video thank you, I also have the electronic shutter/timer release, for my Nikon D7000, that I have used for bird shots, but that was without a gimble, which I am about to order. I will also get the battery grip for it as well.
Hi Royce. You'll find a gimble head really useful. Thanks for watching.
Thank you for taking the time to explain this. I see most Gimbal VTs are on the newer styles so I was glad to find yours on the same Type I bought last year but have hardly used. Hoping I will get to use it with more confidence now.
Glad it was helpful! I'm sure you'll find a lot of uses for it with practice.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Well, I have a sigma 150-600mm Telephoto Lens, Bazooka! that requires a Gimbal as I find it too heavy for me to hand hold! Thank you again.
Hi Mike. I've heard good things about the Sigma, but never used one. One thing I do know about it, though, is that it extends as you zoom - just be aware that that will affect the balance on the gimbal. As you extend the lens you will move the centre of gravity and the lens will dip forwards on the gimbal. If you're shooting at a particular focal length, you can lock the zoom at that focal length so that it doesn't change size and balance your gimbal for that length. If you're always changing the focal length you can balance it for the average (375mm) but just be aware that if you're out at 600mm it will dip forwards and if you're in at 150mm it will dip backwards.
Good one, simple, to the point and practical points captured
Thanks Bhaskarjyoti, much appreciated.
Good video. I haven't used my Lens Master gimbal since moving back to Olympus, well OMD-S now, as I own 2 OM1 bodies. This video has actually inspired me to use it again when using my portable hide on a farm I have access to. I use a Vanguard carbon fibre tripod, so it's a very lightweight rig to carry about.
Thanks for watching. Sounds like you've got a great set up there. I hope you get some lovely shots with it.
I literally just got into the hobby of photography but would love to have one like this to be able to take good pictures of some birds around my town
Excellent. It's a very addictive hobby, and everyone has to start somewhere. So stick with what you've got, keep practicing and build over time. Have fun.
Thanks, I just bought the Benro GH2. Viewing your video gives me the right set-up.
Excellent. Glad you found the video useful and I hope you're enjoying using your new gimbal.
Thank you for the great explanation of the setup for Gimbal head. Very useful in my decision of what to purchase.
You're welcome. I hope you're having success with your gimbal.
You share so nice !
I’m pleased you like it. Thanks for watching.
Thank you, this was quite helpful
Thanks for watching.
Hello from France. Wonderful explantations and photos . Thanks a lot.
Thank for watching.
Thanks Scot! Set up my MOVO $100 dollar Amazon buy. Hopefully good enough for my amateur backyard birding. I'm sure this is a gateway to a new part of this hobby.
Good stuff. I hope you're getting some good results.
Very nicely summarised Scott! Great pieces of info in there!👍👍👍
Thank you
You have some very good content. I'm very impressed with your knowledge and presentation. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hi Seth. Much appreciated, thanks for watching.
Excellent thank you. I've been looking for a video to help me set up my new gimbal and this one has done the trick. Thank you
Hi Claire. Thank you. I hope you're getting on well with your new gimbal.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Yes, thank you. It's really brilliant. 👍👍
A great explanation
Thanks for watching.
Super helpful video thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for all the good tips!
You're welcome. Thank you for watching.
Put a bit of locktite on the tread for your feet and it will stop them coming loose
Great Explanation!!!!
Thanks for watching.
A good quality camera strap😃
You're right, that's definitely got to be on the list of most important things. Thanks for watching.
Wonderful upload Really Cool Video keep it up!! Amazing stuff
Thanks for watching
Great instructional!!!!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.
Excellent video, thanks for sharing. Greetings
Thanks for watching.
Excellent. That helps a lot.
Thanks for watching.
Hey great video, thank you. For those of us with a telescoping zoom wherein the point of balance changes with different zooms/lens lengths, Isa gimbal a waste of money?
Hey Scott. Great video. What do I do if my lens doesn’t have a ring mount. I have the RF 100-400 with no ring mount. So I mounted the quick release plate to my camera body but the plate doesn’t move back far enough to balance the camera so it always tilts forward on my gimbal head. Thanks.
Thanks. Just got one and looking forward to giving it a try.
Good stuff. I hope you're enjoying using it.
Thank you, very useful.
Thanks for watching.
Thank you so much for this!
Hi Scott, I wish I’d found you earlier m8, great video, simply explained I’ve just ordered the very same gimble tell me I have a tripod but the legs extend to a very thin end I primarily use my D500 with my 200 x 500 5.6, I was wondering if I could use this with a good monopod ?, I do a lot of rough ground walking with the camera and do worry about having to keep adjusting the legs of the tripod every time I stop to use it on the go,
Thanks and sorry for the late reply. I use mine with a monopod on some occasions. I lock off the rotation on the gimbal because you can just rotate the monopod instead. It's more stable the hand held, but not as stable as a tripod - so a decent compromise.
Super video & Scott was really helpful with the little details that make ALL the difference 👍🏻👍🏻
Glad it was helpful! I'll check out your channel.
What a great video, thanks! 👍
My pleasure! Glad you liked it.
I have the same gimbal, but with only one locking screw on the quick release, the camera quickly comes loose and turns. This has become a major issue and despite tightening it with a screwdriver, I find it unusable.
I had a similar problem. My lens foot has two screw holes, both different sizes. So what I had to do, and what you can see on my lens foot in this video, is get a new quick release plate such as this: amzn.to/3ENuS1g and get some screws such as this: amzn.to/3tOSnkd so that I could attach the lens foot at two points. If yours is the same problem as mine, this might help.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Thanks, I will consider a second screw.
Nice info
Having difficulty using Oben gimbal head. Using 28-300 sigma first. I have a sigma 600, but I’m finding the tripod shoe that screws into canon80d is turning. I’ve tightened it quite a lot but it’s not balancing well. Using one finger to move camera is not the case.had it zoomed out to 300 & if I hadn’t tightened it would have dropped & bottom of lens would hit. I wanted this to work be4 I put on 160-600.
Does the 28-300mm have a foot? If you're trying to balance it by mounting the camera body to the gimbal instead of the lens' foot, you'll find it difficult. It should be much easier with your 150-600mm. The other thing to note is that your 150-600mm lens extends when you zoom. Each time you zoom in and out it will change the balance because you're moving the centre of gravity for the lens. If you normally shoot at say 500mm, lock the zoom at 500mm and use it like a prime - you will be able to balance it perfectly that way.
Nicely done.
Thank you
good
Wonderful..thank you! Can I ask you a question...do you know where you can get the foot ring that sits in the quick release plate..nikkon wants 500.00 for it ....kind of outrageous
Hi Michelle. It depends what lens it is for. There are some companies that make third party lens feet/rings. Wimberley and Really Right Stuff both spring to mind but there will be others. I would recommend talking to your local camera shop and they will give you some advice about your specific lens. There may be quite cheap ones you can find online that are made in china. But I would avoid them or you might risk the safety of your camera and lens.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide ok thank you..its for the contemporary lense 150 to 600 niikon ..the sport lense comes with the longer version but not mine ...I will check those out ..much appreciated
Incredibly helpful. Thank you! I just bought the Benro GH2 and can’t wait to try it out! Question: Instructions say NEVER to keep camera attached to tripod/gimbal while moving to a new location, yet I see people doing the opposite all the time. What are your thoughts? Seems like such a pain to connect, disconnect, reconnect each time, but then I don’t want to drop my equipment either...
Sorry for the late reply. I'm sure they say that to protect themselves in case you drop your camera and blame the tripod manufacturer. I move around with mine attached to the tripod all the time. But I always keep my hand around the camera strap just to be a bit more careful.
Another challenge I am facing is the annoying noise the lens produced at auto focus while videoing wildlife. At this moment, I have to switch to manual focus..
3rd most important piece is easily a laptop + software for photo editing
I enjoyed the video. I often see the gimbal used on both the right side and left side of the camera. In your video, I see you use it on the right as you use your left hand as a counter balance. Is this simply a personal preference?
Hi Tarik. Thanks for watching. To some extent it is a personal preference. But there’s also a practical matter. The len’s control buttons are always in the left side. So if you mount the gimbal to the left of the lens it can get in the way if you need to adjust anything whilst using it.
Great video
Great video. Any thoughts/ comment on using a monopod with a gimbal if you’re travelling light across countryside?
Sorry for the late reply. I use mine with a monopod on some occasions. I lock off the rotation on the gimbal because you can just rotate the monopod instead. It's more stable the hand held, but not as stable as a tripod - so a decent compromise.
Great job ‘ by the time u have all this done your subject is in the next county ‘ the best of kit to improve your photography is a good paid of strong arms ‘ pan left right up down in an instant
While I am usually on the move as well when photographing birds and other wildlife, there are occasions where I was wishing I had a Gimbal on my tripod. For example, there is a dam near where I live where there is a lot of Bald Eagle activity. Standing there for hours trying to keep a heavy lens at the ready is unrealistic. It was a day like that that prompted me to buy a Gimbal, and I'm glad for such an easy to follow video to learn how to set it up.
Very nice job. Thank you. I am needing a “fix” for a camera shaking/vibrating on a tripod in a church setting with a lot of bass. Will this gimbal work or is there another solution you would suggest?
In your example outside with wildlife I suppose I’d ask if you had an earthquake while videoing, would your filming shake or would the gimbal absorb the vibration? Thank you again.
Hi. Thanks for watching. If the vibration is coming through the floor, no tripod set up will stop it. It can be reduced a little if you have a camera and lens which both have stabilisation. The best thing I can think of is to use a "body worn camera stabiliser" - which is something often used my film makers, or handheld stabiliser gimbal. An example of this is the "Hague HDMC HD Motion Cam Camera Steadicam". But I have no experience of any of these products, so I can't tell you if they are any good.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide thx!
Hi, Scott! Great video- I just received the Gimbal I purchased and this helped me set it up so easily. I do have a question. Why is it necessary (or, is it necessary) to use the quick release plate? I only use my tripod occasionally, since I more often than not am on the move when birding, so I use a cross-body strap which won't attach with the quick release plate on. I'd use the same strap just getting to a location where I would then be setting up my tripod. Seems like it'll be a pain to put it on and off when I want to use the Gimbal, since the foot of the lens collar has the same channels (seems you could attach it directly without the use of the quick release plate- does that make sense?). Thanks!
Hi Kathi. Glad you liked the video. That’s a tricky question. I have my strap attached to the lugs on the lens leaving me free to attach the quick release plate to the foot. I’m guessing you’ve either got a Tamron or Sigma lens as they’re the only 150-600mm lenses I can think of. I believe neither of these lenses have lugs. So you need a different solution, which I’ve been trying to think about. The only thing I can come up with is to buy a new foot. Get one that has at least two screw holes, preferably three. You could then attach your strap to one hole and a quick release plate to the other two.
camera, lens, tripod, gimbal, imagination......actuality getting out and taking pictures.....
Absolutely. Nothing better than getting out there and trying to find some shots.
Hi I got a Benro GH2 gimbal and a benro rhino tripod and when I attach the gimbal to the tripod there isn’t really any locking mechanism to secure the connection between the two , so if I apply a bit of tension on the gimbal it quickly unscrews from the tripod , is this supposed to happen ?
Hi Rafaela. No, if definitely shouldn't do that. There should be a screw the joins the two. Did the tripod come with a ball head? If so, the screw may still be in the bottom of the ball head when you remove it. You can use the same screw to attached the gimbal head.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Hi thanks for replying , yeah the tripod came with a ballhead and I detached it to install the gimbal head , the tripods centre column has a screw where you mount the gimbal head and then I turn the gimbal head until it’s attached to the tripod the thing is if I apply pressure in the opposite direction it will unscrew and I can’t find a way to lock it
@@rafaelafernandes863 That’s shouldn’t happen. There should be enough tension that it doesn’t move easily. Can you unwind the screw in the centre column a bit so that there’s more of it sticking out? Approximately half the screw should be inside the centre column and half sticking out to attach the gimbal head to.
Any tips on how to not throw your back out of whack when the bird flies up up and up, so you're bent over trying to look through the viewfinder to focus? I always see videos where the photographer is shooting with the lens level and then they show how the lens can shoot up, but they aren't showing how they look through the viewfinder.
Thanks for the question. I don’t tend take photos when the bird is that high up for lots of reasons, but mainly because a bird set against nothing but sky looks quite boring. In fact, the video after the next one covers exactly this topic. If you do want to photograph birds that high in the sky though, it’s best to set your tripod higher than your head so you can tilt the camera up and still see through the viewfinder or go handheld.
Hi Scott. Please can you advise me on the model number of your tripod. As my friend is looking to purchase one to match his Kenro Ghc1. Many Thanks.
Hi John. The one I used in this video was the Kenro Heavy Duty Carbon Fibre Tripod (KENTR501C).
Cheers Scott. Much appreciated
I notice that your lens foot is attached to the long platform piece by two bolts; my set up only seems to have one. One of the two holes on the lens foot is not being used so I have to tighten the one bolt quite a lot to ensure a good connection. Am I missing something? I have the same tripod and gimbal as you and my lens is a Nikkor 500mm f5.6.
Sorry for the late reply. Mine only had one bolt too. I bought a pack of bolts from Amazon for a few pounds - and now I've got some spares too in case one gets lost.
Do gimbals fit on any tripod ?
Hi Rafaela. It should fit on any tripod with a removable head. a few tripods have fixed heads, but most of them allow you to unscrew the head and replace it with a gimbal head. It will have a standard 3/8 screw that all manufacturers of tripods use, so any gimbal head or other head will fit. Thanks for watching.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide thank youuu
Fourth most important thing in wildlife photography is knowing some good locations and time of day... wait, I think this comes right behind fast focusing camera and lens....
Can i buy this? Otherwise it's not a piece of kit and you're just being snarky
nice, can you use it also for video?
You can indeed, although you might find it better using the gimbal with a monopod for video. I recently published a follow up to this video on using a gimbal with a monopod and includes a section on video. th-cam.com/video/_LQJVUAX4BE/w-d-xo.html
@@WalksOnTheWildSide is a video head also good for wildife?
A video fluid head can be useful under some circumstances - that's also covered in the new video.
Hi Scott,
Will the Benro GH2 do the same thing for much less as the Sirui PH-10, Gitzo fluid gimbal or Wimberley WH-200 II?
Hi. The Benro GH2 was consistently rated as the top gimbal head for a long time. My Kenro GH2 is the same model, just branded differently. Here in the UK it is about the same price as the Sirui, cheaper than the Gitzo, and much cheaper than the Wimberley. Benro has since replaced it with the GH5, which is £100 more expensive than the GH2 - but it is stronger, lighter and holds 7kg more weight. Any of these gimbal heads will easily hold much more than a heavy camera body with 600mm prime. So the Benros are much better value value for money. The Wimberley holds about 4 times more weight than anyone with even the heaviest set up will ever need.
Could you use this with a monopod?
Yes you can, but you lose a lot of the portability that comes with a monopod
Sorry for the late reply. I use mine with a monopod on some occasions. I lock off the rotation on the gimbal because you can just rotate the monopod instead. It's more stable the hand held, but not as stable as a tripod - so a decent compromise.
Sorry- one more question. I have a 150-600 lens that I most often use. How do I balance properly given that I'm never completely sure what focal length I'll be shooting at? Thanks again!
If your lens extends when you zoom, it will change the balance because you're moving the centre of gravity each time you change the focal length. If you normally shoot at say 500mm, lock the zoom at 500mm and use it like a prime - you will be able to balance it perfectly that way. If you don’t want to lock it, balance your gimbal for 600mm. It will only stay still when you let go of the camera if you’re at 600mm. But at least it won’t tip forwards if you’re at any other length. That will mean you can avoid smashing your lens into the tripod.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Sigma 150-160. This is the answer I was looking for. I feel it is worth my time to try to lock the lens at 400, etc to see how that works for me.
I recently bought a new tripod, and I want to remove my gimbal head (benro gh-2) from my old tripod on the new tripod. Can I remove the gimbal head or is it impossible ? Is there a trick somewhere ?
It should come off. Make sure you’ve got the knobs locked so that the gimbal head isn’t panning as you’re trying to unscrew it. Hold the tripod still and turn the whole gimbal head anti-clockwise and it should come right off.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Thx Scott, you are amazing. It certainly works. Your video is full of good advice or remarks that show your great experience. Thank you very much ;)
Thanks, glad to be helpful.
how do I mount the gimbal head on a tripod? Do I need a specific tripod for a gimbalhead?
Hi Vincent. Most tripods have detachable heads and you can attach any other head using the standard 3/8" screw. Most of these will come with a ball head as standard which you can remove to attach the gimbal head. If you have a tripod with a fixed head you might not be able to mount a gimbal head. I've just viewed one of your videos and seen your Torjim tripod. It looks like this has a fixed head. Your Gorillapod has a detachable head - but it probably won't be strong enough to hold a gimbal head.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide okay thanks, so I’m looking for a carbon fiber tripod and put a gimbal head on it, what tripod would you recommend? (About €100 to €300)
Some good brands to consider, which you should be able to get something in that price range are Manfrotto, Kenro/Benro and Gitzo. Vanguard and Wimberley might be fine too but I’ve never used anything of theirs. 3 Legged Thing is also great, but they tend to be more expensive. When you research it, check out the maximum recommended weight in the tripod’s specs and compare that with what you want to mount on it. Also think about the height. You probably want to maximum height of the tripod to be at your chest height, at least - bearing in mind that once you’ve put the head on it, it will be a bit higher than the maximum tripod height.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide Alright thanks for the advice 🙌🏻
👍
What lens is that? It's a monster
Hi Steve. It's a Sony 200-600mm.
I guess I am looking for real basics.
How to remove plate and attach gimbal
but your gimbal was already set up.
Hi Phyllis. Your gimbal head should just screw on to the top of your tripod, unless you have a tripod with a fixed head that can't be removed. If you describe the problem you're having I will try to help if I can.
Are these only available in the UK?
No, but elsewhere they might be called Benro. Same names/model numbers other than that.
@@WalksOnTheWildSide thanks for the quick response