Flashpoint-Any info?
Hello All,
I have recently begub to see ads for a Flashpoint gimbal head, which seems to position as a lower cost alernative to the Wimberly type head. Other than it seems to be a AdoRama product, anybody familar with these?
It would get most of its use w/a Sigma 50-500. Would also like to know about any flash bracket attachments for them. Would love to have the RRS rig, but $780 is a bit much at the moment.......
Thanks,
Alan Paine
Hi,
I'm in the same boat. I can't dig up any testimonials for the flashpoint. It looks good and the price is right. I've also been tempted by the Wimberly side kick. From what I have read, the consensus seems to be "why risk dumping your camera and long lens onto the parking lot, to save a few hundred dollars?" I have a Canon 40D and 500mm f4. It seem, the only head people are willing to throw over their shoulder (camera and lens mounted) is the full Wimberly. I just ordered one (Wimberley II)
Jim
I can't speak to the quality of the flashpoint. I am, however, a bit perplexed everytime I see the "risk dumping your gear" comments associated with sidemount gimbals. I find mounting and unmounting a side mount to be a non-issue as far as dropping. Unless you're being extremely careless I just don't find it to be a problem. After all, you just loosen the clamp enough to slide it in place... right? There's no reason to let go of the rig before the clamp is tightened... yes? Am I missing something here. Also they use the same clamping system as a bottom mount so I'll be darned if I can see where your rig would be at more risk when being carried over the shoulder. I'd love to see these issues clarified and where my thinking is flawed.Originally Posted by Jim Hayes
As for less expensive options, I have a sidemount style gimbal from an Indian manufacturer called Cine. I think I paid $110 plus shipping and that included a mounting plate for my lens. I'm sure you get what you pay for and there'd noticable improvements with a Wimberly, Mongoose or Jobu. But for the money this thing is pretty darn sweet.
FWIW, I'm using a sidemount style gimbal with a Canon 40D and a Sigma 50-500mm, Jobu flash bracket, 580EX II and Better Beamer.
Bob I also purchased that Indian knockoff, the sidemount is nowhere near as good as even the wimberley sidekick imo, it seemed to work ok for small lenses but forget using a 500L with it, even the smaller sigma 500 did not work well. The biggest issue is the locks could not hold it in place.
Now the full gimbal one is another story it works much better and locks securely, there are two problems 1) weight its nearly 6lbs, 2) smoothness, its not even close to a real wimberley but otherwise it works very well.
As for the wimberley sidekick it works very well,I have used it with my 500 for months now without a problem, it locks down tight. I used it with a 600L + 1D as well and it had zero problems. You need a very strong ballhead though because that is where the problems are from my experience.
one that I want to try is the benro gimbal, its only 1.7lbs which is the same as the mongoose 3.5, I am sure its not as good and it does not have a flash bracket but I already have that which mounts to a lens plate. I have been waiting for the bing cashback to go up to 15 -20 % before I pulled the trigger.
the pic of it and its only 250 USD (ebay) without the plate, anyone here have one of these ? or the induro one which is the same by the look of it
Interesting Jamie. I've had no issues with the locks so far (knocking on wood). Never having used a Winberly I don't have a standard to compare it to.
I didnt have any issues with mine when I was using the 400 5.6 or the 100-400 but once I went to a 500 thats when I started having the problems, the vertical rotation would move all the time when I was carrying it over the shoulder. Other than that it worked fine though.
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