a tip, if you are getting a very long telephoto, think about adding a pan bar, like video heads use, but like putting your camera in a cage, which has the rosettes on it, as a majority of the weight of the lens is far off the axis of the gimble, and having the extra mechanical advantage helps smooth out the movements, also allowing you to view with the lcd, and move the gimble too, from a prone shooting position, giving fingertip control. If you want gimble practice, and have no wildlife, try plane spotting, they use long lens and gimbles too, and there is a 'hide' and one plane every 30 minutes or so, so a good practice session is assured.
That's a good idea, I have a smallrig cage for when I am doing video bits elsewhere so will look into a pan handle attachment for it 👍 also good idea with the planes for practicing 👊
@@JoHeard I said about the pan bar, as I am investing in a tripod and video head with one for my Large format camera setup, its a monorail, so having this 'fluid head' and its pan bar and counter-balance means I have great control of it, esp. when levelling it, so not even a heavy tele lens with long extension can tire my arms out! or since the tilt and pan are separate axis when you 'let go' the tension it doesn't just flop anywhere, it sags in a controlled manner, and you have ample mechanical advantage with the handle.
It really did help me out, I also want to try a fluid head to see if that could be a better setup for me, the physical weight of this one is a bit more that I expected, but it means it's proper solid 👍
Hello Jo! Thanks for the great video. It was nice to see another photographer get frustrated and stressed over the same issues and time constraints. In my experience a gimbal head will improve photography by a great bit and video by a little bit. When I started using a fluid head and set up correctly it makes all pan and tilts super smooth! You should try one someday. You will love it! Again thanks!
Thank you 😊 I do want to try out a fluid head as well as a monopod setup up to see which one works best. I do like the gimbal head, but it is incredibly heavy so, while I see myself using it in hides/on short walks I don't think I will be taking it too far.
@@JoHeard I love monopods for still images. They work great on birds in flight with a simple pan tilt head. Look forward to your video review of this equipment in the future. Your videos are relaxed and enjoyable to watch!
I felt for you Jo when you were feeling so frustrated and stressed. Great job regrouping and getting back out there ❤ subbed and can’t wait to get to watch your adventures
Just a little tip, when you set up a Gimbal the foot plate often isn't balanced when you have it at the bottom, by moving it up you should find the perfect spot, which means that the lens won't rock back and forth just stays at the angle you want it at, without having to hold it there! There are videos on balancing your Gimbal!
Great video! Your detailed review and field test really highlight its strengths and practical use. Looking forward to seeing more of your work with this equipment!
Re the stiffness on the gimbal head, I believe many people take them apart and replace the grease with a thinner version to alleviate this. TH-cam videos show how they do it. Thanks for sharing
Great video Jo, the stiffness in panning is a known issue a lot of people have overcame this by stripping the gimbal & replacing the super thick grease with a lighter grease, after reading hundreds of reviews I gave up on the idea of the K&F gimbal & bought a Brenro one which is a bit heavier but lovely & smooth
Fair play to you and other wildlife photographers with having the patience to sit in one spot for so long ! Something I will just have to learn or lay off the caffeine , I just gotta keep moving! I bought a gimbal for Bird photography, great bit of kit but unfortunately as im always on the move lugging it around was a pain so in the cupboard with all the other unused gear it went. I now use a mono pod and set up a regular tripod mount so it work vertically and the mono rotates for panning, much lighter and works a dream. Any tips on working on my patience 😂😂
The monopod sounds like a good shout, I reckon for locations where you don't have to walk far, then the gimbal head is a good one to bring, but lugging it for miles wouldn't do your back any good! I generally listen to podcasts when I am out photographing, so you could try that 👍
I enjoyed your video. I just returned home from a 2-day attempt for some wildlife photography. I saw absolutely nothing, not even birds. 😂Still, it was a great outing. Really interested in the gimbal. I've been using a fluid head because of the size and weight, but I think the gimbal may be a big help. Thanks for sharing.
You may find it easier to carry your poles by tying them together with a short bungy cord or just some webbing (or making a sleeve for them, which you can also make a strap for). Though I use the 3d ponchos a fair bit and find them less bulky and they pack down well into a cammo dry bag. For sitting, I tend to use a yoga mat (a nicely padded/thick one). It gives the option for laying down flat and avoiding the poop, or using rolled up to support my back when sitting. It's lighter and more versatile than a sitting seat, at least for me and my fat bottom :).
I went out again with the poles tied up, sooooo much easier 😂 also a bigger bag helped to contain everything better. I ended up with a ground seat which I have tested and think it'll work fine, I find it hard lugging everything around as it is so I think a yoga mat would be too much, but that's for the tips 👍
It's a great value gimbal head but quite heavy (as you said) and I found that in hot weather mine leaks a sticky grease from the top hinge. Only thing I found to clean it off was WD-40!
Yeah. Thought it was you. Learned a lot from your leather videos. Thanks for those. Like you I do both. Photography is much healthier I feel, but there is satisfaction in both creating a nice wallet and capturing a stunning shot.
Hey Jo, love your persistence, I have a gimbal similar to yours which love, it made life soooo much easier. I do also have a fluid head for my 600mm, but its really heavy and not really practical as a walkaround. What I'm thinking of doing is the pan handle is removable on the fluid head, so I'm going to try attach it to the gimbal for those video pan-tilt shots. As you have discovered (and same for me) it's not always smooth, I'll try a handle to see if that improves the pan and tilt motion. 🤠😎
Great video Jo. A gimbal will definitely be a help to you in getting sharper images as it did for me. If it’s Gigrin you’re going to for the kites you may find it difficult with a gimbal tracking them as there are so many and they come down at speed so hand help might be best in some instances. Hope you have a great trip there and best of luck. 👍
Yes it's Gigrin I am planning on heading to 👍 tha ms for the heads up, I think I will take it so I can do a comparison as that might be interesting to see 👍
In my opinion there will never be a tripod head to solve all issues, just as there will never be a tripod or monopod to solve all issues. I'm currently running with a serious Manfrotto tripod, and a iFootage monopod (with a ball at the bottom and some coot-like feet to stabilize it somewhat). Neither is perfect nor covers all situations, but together I have a solid base with them. When it comes to heads, I have a ball-in-ball kind of head to give me maximum flexibility, but I also have a heavy duty Manfrotto videohead for the heavy (read long) lenses. Same as with the tripod/monopod - neither is perfect, but I have the flexibility to select the best possible setup for most given situations. (I also have the not so fun option to always carry everything with me to have the most options at hand when out and about, or to leave one part at home. Experience have told me that the ONE part of a set that you leave at home is the one that would most suit the situation you are about to encounter...). Afterwards you will always know what you should have brought instead of what you actually did bring.
I think everything in photography is a compromise 😂 versatility of a zoom Vs sharpness and faster aperture of a prime or megapixels Vs FPS are just two examples. I think I will give this a go for a while, and then when I can try a fluid head and a monopod setup to see if they work better for me.
Thank you 😊 I am investing in the 200-600 sony lens soon so that will help me out. If I could afford to, I'd get the a6700 as a second camera but I wouldn't get rid of the A7iv.
I think you would be far better using your lens mount on your shoulder strap clip rather than using your camera which is supporting the whole weight of your lens swinging around, as that will damage your cameras lens mount👌
The 70-200 with the TC doesn't weigh too much so I think it's fine on the camera mount, but I will not be using that clip when I get the 200-600 for that reason 👍
@@JoHeard its not just the weight Jo, the way it wobbles about when your walking is increasing the stress on a mount thats not designed to support a lens in that manner, why do you think the lens has the tripod mount fitted. If Nikon didn’t think it was needed they wouldn’t have supplied it, but its your money! I was just trying to prevent you falling into the problems that others have done🤦🏻♂️
@@JoHeardthe centre line of the lens should be at the pivot point knob, adjust using the gimbal foot adjustment. Yours is set too low. K&F are not the quality they used to be, there is slop in the bearings compared to Wimberley, Jobu or Sirui gimbal heads
sitting for 4-5 hours in one spot for a single image isn't unusual for me, it's not about the image, more about the time away from the stresses of life.
I think I still need to learn patience 😂 also I had a time limit as I had to go to the dentist (very glamorous 😂) I think with my new seat I got, I should also be more comfortable which is something I have struggled with a fair bit
Little toy? Lol, just what we need hiking up a mountain along with a 600mm lens and all your other gear. I wish you luck with Kentfaith Panoramic Gimbal Tripod Head. Realistically, the size, weight, and setup time... it's not for me.
Yeah it's not for everyone, and if I had to do a long hike, I'd probably just go handheld instead, but for locations where there isn't much walking it will definitely come on handy 👍
Check out the Kentfaith Gimbal Head here: is.gd/l3qlRy
You can also save 17% on ALL products with the code: joheard 👍
Lovely video Jo really enjoyed it hope that you have a nice time using it on your wildlife trips
@@johnchecketts1732 thank you 😊
a tip, if you are getting a very long telephoto, think about adding a pan bar, like video heads use, but like putting your camera in a cage, which has the rosettes on it, as a majority of the weight of the lens is far off the axis of the gimble, and having the extra mechanical advantage helps smooth out the movements, also allowing you to view with the lcd, and move the gimble too, from a prone shooting position, giving fingertip control.
If you want gimble practice, and have no wildlife, try plane spotting, they use long lens and gimbles too, and there is a 'hide' and one plane every 30 minutes or so, so a good practice session is assured.
That's a good idea, I have a smallrig cage for when I am doing video bits elsewhere so will look into a pan handle attachment for it 👍 also good idea with the planes for practicing 👊
@@JoHeard I said about the pan bar, as I am investing in a tripod and video head with one for my Large format camera setup, its a monorail, so having this 'fluid head' and its pan bar and counter-balance means I have great control of it, esp. when levelling it, so not even a heavy tele lens with long extension can tire my arms out! or since the tilt and pan are separate axis when you 'let go' the tension it doesn't just flop anywhere, it sags in a controlled manner, and you have ample mechanical advantage with the handle.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the Gimbal Tripod Head, maybe I should try one of those for filming too 😉👍
It really did help me out, I also want to try a fluid head to see if that could be a better setup for me, the physical weight of this one is a bit more that I expected, but it means it's proper solid 👍
A Gimbal Head is a must have for bird photography with longer lenses I think.
Definitely going to come in handy when I get the 200-600 👍
Hello Jo! Thanks for the great video. It was nice to see another photographer get frustrated and stressed over the same issues and time constraints.
In my experience a gimbal head will improve photography by a great bit and video by a little bit. When I started using a fluid head and set up correctly it makes all pan and tilts super smooth! You should try one someday. You will love it! Again thanks!
Thank you 😊 I do want to try out a fluid head as well as a monopod setup up to see which one works best. I do like the gimbal head, but it is incredibly heavy so, while I see myself using it in hides/on short walks I don't think I will be taking it too far.
@@JoHeard I love monopods for still images. They work great on birds in flight with a simple pan tilt head. Look forward to your video review of this equipment in the future. Your videos are relaxed and enjoyable to watch!
I felt for you Jo when you were feeling so frustrated and stressed. Great job regrouping and getting back out there ❤ subbed and can’t wait to get to watch your adventures
Thank you ❤️
Just a little tip, when you set up a Gimbal the foot plate often isn't balanced when you have it at the bottom, by moving it up you should find the perfect spot, which means that the lens won't rock back and forth just stays at the angle you want it at, without having to hold it there! There are videos on balancing your Gimbal!
Heya, I have learnt how to properly balance the gimbal now 🤣 I had a few comments about it and found a video to follow 👍
@JoHeard Definately helps me, but I mainly shoot stills with occasional video footage! Hope you find it beneficial!
I took it to Tatton park to photograph and film the deer and it was awesome! 😎 🦌 📸
I used to love going there when I was growing up, lived in Bury but an Aunt lived at Altrincham, later moved to Lincs so not so close anymore!
Excellent footage of wild rabbit. Interesting gimbal head too. A big LIKE for the video. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice day.
Thank you 😊
Great video! Your detailed review and field test really highlight its strengths and practical use. Looking forward to seeing more of your work with this equipment!
Thank you @@kentfaithwendyzeng 😊
Re the stiffness on the gimbal head, I believe many people take them apart and replace the grease with a thinner version to alleviate this. TH-cam videos show how they do it. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for letting me know, I shall have a look around and see what I can find 👍
Excellent video 👏Gimbal heads are a great edition for wildlife photography 👍
It made things sooooo much easier! Very pleased with it and looking forward to getting back out with it 👍
Sweet bit of kit there Jo! I have recently started using a fluid head and I really like it. Thanks for sharing your experience with this gimbal head.
Ooo nice! I think a fluid head would be just as good, and would like to try one at some point 👍
Great video Jo, the stiffness in panning is a known issue a lot of people have overcame this by stripping the gimbal & replacing the super thick grease with a lighter grease, after reading hundreds of reviews I gave up on the idea of the K&F gimbal & bought a Brenro one which is a bit heavier but lovely & smooth
Nice, I will have a look into that 👍
Fair play to you and other wildlife photographers with having the patience to sit in one spot for so long ! Something I will just have to learn or lay off the caffeine , I just gotta keep moving! I bought a gimbal for Bird photography, great bit of kit but unfortunately as im always on the move lugging it around was a pain so in the cupboard with all the other unused gear it went. I now use a mono pod and set up a regular tripod mount so it work vertically and the mono rotates for panning, much lighter and works a dream. Any tips on working on my patience 😂😂
The monopod sounds like a good shout, I reckon for locations where you don't have to walk far, then the gimbal head is a good one to bring, but lugging it for miles wouldn't do your back any good! I generally listen to podcasts when I am out photographing, so you could try that 👍
@@JoHeard great idea !
I enjoyed your video. I just returned home from a 2-day attempt for some wildlife photography. I saw absolutely nothing, not even birds. 😂Still, it was a great outing. Really interested in the gimbal. I've been using a fluid head because of the size and weight, but I think the gimbal may be a big help. Thanks for sharing.
Oh no! Usually you can at least count on a bird or two to show up, glad you still enjoyed it.
You may find it easier to carry your poles by tying them together with a short bungy cord or just some webbing (or making a sleeve for them, which you can also make a strap for). Though I use the 3d ponchos a fair bit and find them less bulky and they pack down well into a cammo dry bag. For sitting, I tend to use a yoga mat (a nicely padded/thick one). It gives the option for laying down flat and avoiding the poop, or using rolled up to support my back when sitting. It's lighter and more versatile than a sitting seat, at least for me and my fat bottom :).
I went out again with the poles tied up, sooooo much easier 😂 also a bigger bag helped to contain everything better. I ended up with a ground seat which I have tested and think it'll work fine, I find it hard lugging everything around as it is so I think a yoga mat would be too much, but that's for the tips 👍
As long as you can get this into position it definitely improves the stability and framing of shots with a large lens, awesome Jo 👍
Thank you, the 200-600 is going to be my next investment and the gimbal will be a godsend to use with it 👍
@@JoHeard It works very well with the 200-600mm enjoy
It's a great value gimbal head but quite heavy (as you said) and I found that in hot weather mine leaks a sticky grease from the top hinge. Only thing I found to clean it off was WD-40!
That's good to know and I shall keep an eye on that 👍
Hi Jo. Are you the same Jo Heard who used to run JH Leather. You look similar. Looks like you have a new hobby. Good luck.
Haha yes it's me 😁 still doing the leather but haven't posted a video in a while as I've been a bit burnt out from the leather videos
Yeah. Thought it was you. Learned a lot from your leather videos. Thanks for those. Like you I do both. Photography is much healthier I feel, but there is satisfaction in both creating a nice wallet and capturing a stunning shot.
Hey Jo, love your persistence, I have a gimbal similar to yours which love, it made life soooo much easier. I do also have a fluid head for my 600mm, but its really heavy and not really practical as a walkaround. What I'm thinking of doing is the pan handle is removable on the fluid head, so I'm going to try attach it to the gimbal for those video pan-tilt shots. As you have discovered (and same for me) it's not always smooth, I'll try a handle to see if that improves the pan and tilt motion. 🤠😎
Ooo that's a good idea, let me know how you get on. The gimbal head made things so much easier, especially when the 200-600 is on my hands 👍
Great video Jo. A gimbal will definitely be a help to you in getting sharper images as it did for me. If it’s Gigrin you’re going to for the kites you may find it difficult with a gimbal tracking them as there are so many and they come down at speed so hand help might be best in some instances. Hope you have a great trip there and best of luck. 👍
Yes it's Gigrin I am planning on heading to 👍 tha ms for the heads up, I think I will take it so I can do a comparison as that might be interesting to see 👍
@@JoHeardit’s just fantastic Jo you won’t believe your eyes when you see the amount of birds at feeding time. Enjoy. 👍
I can't wait 👍
Jo try a jobu gimbal head they are very smooth another good video 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you 😊
Do you have a link for the tripod used with this gimbal?
Heya, it's a 3 legged things one that you can get here amzn.to/3KlqV6i 👍
In my opinion there will never be a tripod head to solve all issues, just as there will never be a tripod or monopod to solve all issues. I'm currently running with a serious Manfrotto tripod, and a iFootage monopod (with a ball at the bottom and some coot-like feet to stabilize it somewhat). Neither is perfect nor covers all situations, but together I have a solid base with them. When it comes to heads, I have a ball-in-ball kind of head to give me maximum flexibility, but I also have a heavy duty Manfrotto videohead for the heavy (read long) lenses. Same as with the tripod/monopod - neither is perfect, but I have the flexibility to select the best possible setup for most given situations. (I also have the not so fun option to always carry everything with me to have the most options at hand when out and about, or to leave one part at home. Experience have told me that the ONE part of a set that you leave at home is the one that would most suit the situation you are about to encounter...). Afterwards you will always know what you should have brought instead of what you actually did bring.
I think everything in photography is a compromise 😂 versatility of a zoom Vs sharpness and faster aperture of a prime or megapixels Vs FPS are just two examples. I think I will give this a go for a while, and then when I can try a fluid head and a monopod setup to see if they work better for me.
@@JoHeard Good and sound approach 👍
First sponsorship, congratulations !
It seems you mostly use the APS-C mode, could you think of trading the A7iv for an A6700 ?
Thank you 😊 I am investing in the 200-600 sony lens soon so that will help me out. If I could afford to, I'd get the a6700 as a second camera but I wouldn't get rid of the A7iv.
what do you mean by hair, and not seeing it, as at 5:17 I see a braid of it between your hoodie and head!!
😂😂
I think you would be far better using your lens mount on your shoulder strap clip rather than using your camera which is supporting the whole weight of your lens swinging around, as that will damage your cameras lens mount👌
The 70-200 with the TC doesn't weigh too much so I think it's fine on the camera mount, but I will not be using that clip when I get the 200-600 for that reason 👍
@@JoHeard its not just the weight Jo, the way it wobbles about when your walking is increasing the stress on a mount thats not designed to support a lens in that manner, why do you think the lens has the tripod mount fitted. If Nikon didn’t think it was needed they wouldn’t have supplied it, but its your money! I was just trying to prevent you falling into the problems that others have done🤦🏻♂️
nice video *SUBBED*
Thank you 😀
You should have calibrated your gimbal head to your camera setup before going out in the field… You do know how to calibrate it?
I have used one once before and didn't release you needed to calibrate it, I shall look into that for next time 🤦🏼♀️👍
@@JoHeardthe centre line of the lens should be at the pivot point knob, adjust using the gimbal foot adjustment. Yours is set too low.
K&F are not the quality they used to be, there is slop in the bearings compared to Wimberley, Jobu or Sirui gimbal heads
Thanks for letting me know 👍
Did you figure it out?
Yes! Watched a Steve Parry video on it and got it sorted 👊
sitting for 4-5 hours in one spot for a single image isn't unusual for me, it's not about the image, more about the time away from the stresses of life.
I think I still need to learn patience 😂 also I had a time limit as I had to go to the dentist (very glamorous 😂) I think with my new seat I got, I should also be more comfortable which is something I have struggled with a fair bit
Little toy? Lol, just what we need hiking up a mountain along with a 600mm lens and all your other gear. I wish you luck with Kentfaith Panoramic Gimbal Tripod Head.
Realistically, the size, weight, and setup time... it's not for me.
Yeah it's not for everyone, and if I had to do a long hike, I'd probably just go handheld instead, but for locations where there isn't much walking it will definitely come on handy 👍