Gear review -- Lensmaster RH-2 Gimbal

Long lenses (anything above 400mm and 3 kilos weight) are best managed when they are set up properly on a tripod with a Gimbal Head mounted on it.

Yes. I know there are ball-heads that have been lately developed that are pretty good. And I also know that many of the newer version of lenses (both Canon and Nikon -- specifically the FL line of lenses) are light enough to be handheld.

BUT (and that's a big, very valid BUT) ball-heads won't give you perfect results in all conditions. And even with the newer lenses...hand-holding will lead to fatigue after some time. Besides, its almost impossible to properly compose your bird photographs when you are more "bothered" about holding up the lens...so again, we come back to the same point -- a sturdy tripod + a dependable gimbal head.

Gimbal heads at their very simplest are made of two L shaped hunks of metal (or carbon fibre) fixed to each other.

The Gimbal is fixed onto the tripod by means of a thread arrangement at the end of the horizontal arm of the lower L.

Another (slightly smaller) L shaped hunk of metal (or carbon fibre) is fixed at the other (vertical) end of the lower L.

This L has a Arca-Swiss quick release arrangement...and your long lens fits into this by means of a lens plate (that you fix onto your lens's foot.)

There are two soft twist knobs on the Gimbal head...tightening and loosening them gives you various degrees of "tension"for horizontal and vertical movement of the lens.

For instance, when you completely tighten the lower soft twist knob, the lower L arm of the Gimbal is now totally locked into place. This means you can't swivel the lens horizontally at all. Similarly when you completely tighten the upper twist knob, again the upper L arm of the Gimbal is now totally locked into place. So immaterial of an angle of 45% or 60% or even 90% you have a lens that is positioned rock steady!

As you can visualize, nothing beats the versatility of mounting a long lens on a Gimbal head. Especially when it comes to Birds in Flight...and when it comes to tracking flying waterbirds. In fact, if you want to get "set up" for a day of photography, there is no other way that is as "professional".

I use a Lensmaster RH-2 Gimbal head.




And, I must say I am very very happy with its performance so far.

I would definitely recommend the Lensmaster RH-2 to you if you are looking for a simple, no frills and solidly built Gimbal head.

Another very good Gimbal head is the  Nest Gimbal head.

(No, I haven't used it yet.)

Naturally (of course) there are plenty of other Gimbals out there as well...Wimberly, Jobu Design, Really Right Stuff, etc, etc...and its all a question of how much you are willing to "blow".

Personally speaking, I am very very happy with the Lensmaster RH-2 and I think it does a great job! 

A word of caution here though. While not very heavy -- and averaging around 1.5 kilos, Gimbal heads end up adding to your total laden weight. And there will be terrain in which you simply can't move with a lens mounted onto a Gimbal and tripod...where you have no option but to handhold it (or shoulder hoist it) and move on...

As such, I would say, do spend some time out in the field handholding your lens. It will come in "handy" for you down to line, Gimbal head or no Gimbal head!       

       

Gear review -- Dimbu lens bean bag

A peculiar thing about professional bird (and wildlife) photography is that your quest for getting equipped with the right gear doesn't stop with getting the right lens and camera...but extends a long way further...you will need a variety of bags, you will need lens coats, you will need tripods (and monopods) and gimbal heads and so on...

Like with choosing the lens and camera, there are no easy acquisitions to be made here either; there are no short cuts. Choosing the wrong supplementary gear can be as disruptive / disappointing -- from the perspective of getting professional quality photographs -- as in the case of your primary gear, your lens and camera.

While a very basic and simple thing...a lens bean bag is a must to have for every wildlife photographer. After using one for almost 2 years now...I simply can't imagine being out without it, at least when it comes to taking eye level shots...and when it comes to photographing birds and wildlife from a car.

My bean bag travels with me all the time. In fact, during the last year or so, when I have been on umpteen trips, tracking raptors...I have even used the bean bag on car (and jeep) bonnets and car roofs. Many a time, when the raptor swoops down on you and gives you a flypast...this "setting" can give you tack-sharp images...something that you may not get even with the best Gimbal and Tripod arrangement.

Apart from being totally indispensable for photographing birds and other wildlife from a car and for ground level shots...a properly designed lens bean is a great help in numerous other situations...you can rest your long lens on it (if you are not using a tripod and hand-holding the lens) while on a hike / trek on uneven ground and be secure that it won't roll off, while you are panting and gathering your breath; you can use it on the parapets that line ghat roads...and you can even drape it onto a tree branch (if you are lucky enough to find one where you need it).

I speak out of experience, I have done all of the above!    

I use a Dimbu lens bag that I ordered from Toehold.

(There are other bean bags that you can buy as well...go here for the Nature Lounge bean bag, and do take a look at this as well :-) )

I have used rice and wheat as a filler for my bean bag. Typically it takes upto 3 kilos of either rice of wheat to fill up the Dimbu till it is fluffed up nicely.

I normally source the rice (and wheat) locally...so that I don't have to contend with 3 more kilos of weight while catching and changing trains.

Do get a lens bean bag.

You will curse the 3 kilos that it adds to your laden weight to begin with (assuming that you do birding on trails / out in the open), but when you will get used to it pretty fast, and soon have no problems with it sitting on your shoulder like a quiet, well-behaved monkey.

Any comments? Questions?

Fire away... the Birdman will try his utmost to help!