New Wimberley head

[JDArt]

Version II of the Wimberley head is out:

http://www.tripodhead.com/products/wimberley-main.cfm

Design Improvements for Version II

The Wimberley Head Version II offers the same stiffness, capacity, and fluid movement of the old version in a more compact and lightweight package (it is one pound lighter and about two inches shorter). The head’s redesigned panning base has zero play, and the pan locking knob has been moved to the side of the head, thus allowing the user to easily operate both knobs with the same hand. New lobed “soft-touch” knobs provide a more comfortable grip and perform better when using gloves.

In addition to the above improvements, Wimberley has examined all aspects of the head, tightening tolerances, improving friction materials and so forth. Our goal has been to make this head functionally and aesthetically better in every way than the old version and competing products.

[Nikonfreak]

Are you thinking of getting one of these?

I tried out one of the old versions with limited success. I kept trying to catch birds in flight with it and had trouble panning smoothly ... lots of blurry shots for me on those, but for other animal shots in the field with long lenses it was fantastic. I never did pick one up.

Has anyone else used these and liked them? Opinions?

Julio

[JDArt]

I have two wimberley heads and will likely sell one just because I no longer need both. The new one seems an advance in that it's not as heavy, which is important when carrying the kind of gear you'll be using with it.

On panning: I find the heads to be the best going. I've had no trouble panning. There are tension knobs that you can adjust to taste.

[RobAmy]

Originally Posted by JDArt

I have two wimberley heads and will likely sell one just because I no longer need both. The new one seems an advance in that it's not as heavy, which is important when carrying the kind of gear you'll be using with it.

On panning: I find the heads to be the best going. I've had no trouble panning. There are tension knobs that you can adjust to taste.

Jay have you tried a new model yet. I have the wimberly and its awesome, I do not know if the money is worth the 1 lb it will save. Any thoughts

[JDArt]

I can't imagine life without the wimberley. I have not tried the new model, no, and cannot justify selling my current one to get the new one.

[RobAmy]

Originally Posted by JDArt

I can't imagine life without the wimberley. I have not tried the new model, no, and cannot justify selling my current one to get the new one.

I can't imagine life without the wimberley sounds like your going to break out into a country song here. I agree on both accounts

[JDArt]

LOL. It's just this: how else do you steer a 600mm lens?

[JKSeidel]

I just got a Wimberley Sidekick today!!! Wooooooooo!!!! As soon as the box arrived, I was off. Neighbors screaming out their windows about the dense trail of packing peanuts I left behind as I ripped open the box on the way to my car. Too bad .... No Sidekick for them! Let them eat styrofoam, those filthy heathens. All I can say is .... I LOVE it. Steady as a rock on my RRS BH-55 and Gitzo 1325 with a Canon 20D and 100-400mm IS USM L.

Did I mention that I am pretty excited about the whole thing?

[RobAmy]

Originally Posted by JKSeidel

I just got a Wimberley Sidekick today!!! Wooooooooo!!!! As soon as the box arrived, I was off. Neighbors screaming out their windows about the dense trail of packing peanuts I left behind as I ripped open the box on the way to my car. Too bad .... No Sidekick for them! Let them eat styrofoam, those filthy heathens. All I can say is .... I LOVE it. Steady as a rock on my RRS BH-55 and Gitzo 1325 with a Canon 20D and 100-400mm IS USM L.

Did I mention that I am pretty excited about the whole thing?*

Congrats on the new gear, once you go wimberly, there is no going back

[JKSeidel]

Originally Posted by RobAmy

Congrats on the new gear, once you go wimberly, there is no going back

I was leaning towards the Mongoose originally, but the $100 price difference and slightly greater ease of use of the Wimberley swayed me the other way. The Sidekick's decoupling (destabilization due to center of gravity not being over the center of the ballhead) is a bit greater than the Mongoose's, but everyone I talked to said that factor was insignificant as long as the Wimberley was used within its intended specs.