Thoughts on Wimberly Sidekick vs the full monty Wimberly Gimbal II?
So I'm putting together a birding system - got my lens picked out (Nikon 300 F4 + 1.7 teleconverter), and I got my tripod picked out (Gitzo 3530LS). I THOUGHT I had my head picked out - the Wimberly Gimbal Type II - until I started reading up on the Sidekick and the convenience factor of being able to swap out the Sidekick for when I want to shoot more traditional landscape shots (sun sets, etc...).
The problem is that, I really don't anticipate swapping out "systems" all that much. At least, I don't "anticipate" that need - I could be totally wrong and find otherwise. But I'm leaning toward the Gimbal Type II as I anticipate that when I go out on the morning for bird shots, my "mindset" is on bird shots, my kit will reflect that, and I will want the outfit that's maximally set up to that end.
I know there is no "right" or "wrong" answer here, but I'd like to get feedback maybe from folks that have experience using both systems?
Thanks!
Brian
Weight is really not that big a factor
Again, being new to birding I don't really have much experience to fall back on. However, I don't anticipate "weight" to be much of a determining factor in my decision. That's mainly because I don't anticipate doing a lot of hiking with this set up. I'm thinking I'll be driving to the parks in my area and walking a few hundred hards to where I'll plant myself; maybe reposition a bit over the hours, but no serious hiking.
I'm thinking the weight delta isn't all that much anyway - maybe a pound at most either way? That's comparing the BH 55 + Sidekick vs the full Wimberly. Doesn't seem that much of a difference for me to get concerned over - but again, being a newbie maybe I'm severly understimating this weight issue.
As Garry said, the determing factor here is how much I'll be using the BH 55 without the Sidekick. I can't be for sure, but I suspect not that much. And indeed, I suspected that a full Wimberly on a relatively light lens like the 300 F4 may be overkill. But I guess I'd rather err on the side of too much stability vs not enough.
Still have not made a decision - I may end up calling the folks over at Really Right Stuff and talking it over with them; I hear they can be very informative.
Thanks for the feedback folks - not an easy decision for me to make, but at least there probably isn't a "wrong" decision here; it's likely a win-win either way! :-)
Brian
Did a bit more research - I think I really need to call Wimberly
Thanks for all this great feedback folks! On the Wimberly site, they say that using the Sidekick with a smallish lens like the 300 F4 may be hard to balance with a "pro" body, i.e. D300s with vertical grip. I'll need to ask them about this when I phone them. Garry Gibson - did you have any issues balancing your 300 F4 on the Sidekick?
Brian