PDN has named the Induro Gimbal GHB2 the Tripod Head of the Year. Their story leads off with “If you like shooting wildlife but feel constrained by traditional tripod heads, discover Induro’s latest line of gimbals and liberate yourself.”
You can read PDN's review from earlier this year after the break. Thanks, PDN!
Induro GHB2 Gimbal Head
April 07, 2010
By Dan Havlik
If you've never tried a gimbal head with a tripod when photographing wildlife, you really must give it a shot. The freedom of movement a gimbal offers can be pretty exhilarating stuff. Even the most fluid of ball heads can't compare.
I had just such a revelation recently while using Induro's new GHB2 Gimbal head with an Induro carbon fiber tripod to photograph red-tailed hawks along the Hudson River. As the hawks soared and swooped over the Hudson, I was able to track them easily with the Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 VR II lens I was also testing thanks to the free-flowing Induro gimbal mount.
Gimbal heads are, of course, nothing new. A Virginia-based company called Wimberly has been making them since the early Nineties and, truth be told, the Induro device I tried out bore a striking resemblance to those models. But no matter. When it ain't broke, don't fix it, I suppose.
What also hasn't changed much with these latest gimbals from Induro is the high price. The GHB2, which is the top of the line of three new gimbal heads from Induro, sells for $489 which is more than double what most high-end ball heads cost. Like I said, however, the difference between a ball head and a gimbal is like night and day.
The concept of a gimbal—which is a pivoted support system that allows an object to float "weightlessly" around a single axis—goes back to the 200s BC when Greek inventor Philo of Byzantium tried to created a no-drip ink pot. The 300mm f/2.8 VR II and Nikon D3s I attached to the head weighed quite a bit more than Philo's ink pot but the GHB2 had no trouble suspending it. According to Induro, the head should be able to easily balance a 500mm or 600mm lens as well.
Assembly of the GHB2—which came in a box in two pieces—was relatively simple and I was able quickly to put it together and mount it on the Induro tripod. Keep in mind though, when fully assembled this head is big and weighs a couple of pounds.
I couldn't quite squeeze it into my photo backpack which was already bulked up with D3s/300mm combo so instead just left it on the lightweight tripod and carried the whole apparatus under my arm. If I got attacked on my way to the park, I would at least have a pretty intimidating cudgel.
Build quality of the head was solid and it ships with an Arca-Swiss Quick Release plate which makes loading the lens/camera onto the mount a snap. Once I reached a spot along the Hudson to shoot, I set up everything in a few minutes.
The head is designed to position your gear at its center of gravity and allow it to float freely so you can steadily tilt it up, down, left and right without needing to be locked in place. The only (unfortunate) metaphor I could think of is as I pointed my honking 300mm at the birds and fired away, was that it reminded me of a gun turret on a battleship.
The GHB2 is adjusted via oversized lock knobs which are easy to operate even with the bulky winter gloves I had on. The height adjustable platform features a calibrated scale if you really want to get a precise angle of control. I didn't care so much about that since I was having such a fun time "floating" the 300mm and photographing the birds as they rode the thermals above the deep gorge of the Hudson.
Along with nature photography, the Induro GHB2's tracking abilities would be great for shooting sports. The only catch is the large tripod and gimbal assembly would probably get you bumped along a crowded sideline.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you like shooting wildlife but feel constrained by traditional tripod heads, discover Induro's latest line of gimbals and liberate yourself. Though the top-of-the-line GHB2 head is big, bulky and a bit pricey, the freedom of movement it allows when attached to even the longest telephotos in your gearbox will help you track birds, athletes, and other fast-moving subjects with ease.
You can learn more about the Induro GHB2 in the store here: Induro GHB2
Juan Pons of DPExperience , Scott Elowitz of LensCoat products and I arranged the shoot of this rare monster lens. It's been the most popular post on our blog, and we thought we would repost it so new readers could check it out.
Air travel is more difficult than ever before; it seems carry-on policy, size and weight restrictions, and additional fees imposed change daily. We need to save every ounce of weight and space possible while trying to safely transport our gear to and from location. To this end I had been placing my long lens hoods within my checked luggage, and although I stood them on end, all the hoods exhibit stress fractures from baggage handling.
Enter the Aqua Tech SoftHood solution; lightweight, collapsible and damage resistant it has proved a superior alternative to traveling with the manufacturers' round hard hood. The SoftHood conveniently lies flat for easy packing. Attaching the hood is quick and easy via compression straps with a “hook and loop” flap to the lens, a rubber channel firmly seats the hood preventing movement after attachment; the stiff batten-like ribbing within the fabric makes the hood strong and ridged enough to stand on end when in use.
Over the past few months I have traveled the globe using Aqua Tech SoftHood sizes for both 300/500, and 400/600 mm lenses. In short, traveling with the SoftHood use greatly reduces my equipment anxiety, and although some may consider the hood a luxury item, I find them well worth the additional piece of mind.Highly Recommended!
See you in the field or at the computer,
Chas
Read about Chas and his killer "Shoot The Light" workshops here.
I was recently given the opportunity test and review the Jobu BWG-Pro gimbal head. Outdoor Photo Gear arranged to have Jobu Design send a BWG-Pro my way so that I could test it out, write a review for OPG and provide feedback to Jobu Design. All-in-all, I was very impressed with the BWG-Pro’s design, construction and operation.
Background
I am a Juneau, Alaska based photographer who shoots everything from still life to landscapes to wildlife. I use Canon DSLRs and own a host of lenses, including a Canon 500mm f/4 IS. To date, when using my 500mm, I’ve been using a Wimberley Sidekick mounted on a ballhead (currently the RRS BH-55) all atop an old but sturdy Gitzo 1345. I should note that until spending time with the BWG-Pro, I hadn’t really tested any other full gimbal head to any great degree. I had always felt the ballhead/Sidekick combination was adequate for my needs and hadn’t been convinced otherwise when given the occasional opportunity to briefly borrow or try full gimbal heads. My tests of the BWG-Pro were my first chance to really put a full gimbal head through its paces and get comfortable with the "full gimbal way of life".
I should also note that, despite my best intentions and efforts, the weather and wildlife in southeast Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon were less than cooperative during the time I had the BWG-Pro. The early fall rains had begun and the salmon runs were in their lull between their regular summer runs and their late fall runs. The sated bears and eagles apparently decided to use the ugly weather and lack of food to rest up before the next and last influx of salmon before winter. So, sadly, most of my testing of the BWG-Pro was not done in the heat of the wildlife photo moment but in more controlled settings. The upside to this was that I was able to really give the BWG-Pro an unhurried, extensive examination.
Product Description
The Jobu Design BWG-Pro is the largest gimbal head that offered by Jobu Design, and I think it is the beefiest on the market. Weighing in at 3.5 pounds, its main arm is constructed from cast, heat treated, oversized stock. The BWG-Pro has full ball bearing support in its tilt-axis and its horizontal mount swing arm has spring loaded movement. It also uses soft-touch rubberized knobs and a unique low-profile lockout switch that locks tilt movement for travel. It comes standard with a 2.5 inch, knobbed, Arca-Swiss compatible quick release plate (longer plates are available) and is offered in two paint schemes, field green and matte black. It is recommended for use with lenses from 70-200mm F2.8 and up.
Construction, Fit and Finish
That the BWG-Pro is the largest and heaviest gimbal head offered by Jobu Design comes as no surprise, as it is built very, very well. With large, oversized main and swing arms, adjustable base plate, large, rubberized knobs and paired, instead of single, hex bolts, the BWG-Pro is obviously intended to securely handle very large and heavy lenses with ease. Although the BWG-Pro is fairly large and heavy, it is only .3 pounds heavier than my standard BH-55 plus Sidekick set-up. In use, while hiking, I never noticed that extra .3 pounds. The fit of the BWG-Pro is quality. The BWG-pro is solid, with no loose joints, rattling, loose knobs, etc.
The unit I tested was painted an appropriate field green. The paint job was quite nice and seemed durable but I was pretty gentle with the unit so I really can’t attest to its long term durability.
Operation
In use, the BWG-Pro mounted with my 500mm f/4 IS and Canon 1D2n, performed very well and made me a full gimbal head convert. Now I sheepishly understand what I’ve been missing! The movements of the BWG-Pro were silky smooth, and the unit was rock solid when clamped down, even at odd angles. I appreciated the positive, large, rubberized knobs. Not only did the knobs do a nice job of securing the arms, they were comfortable and easy to operate, even while wearing gloves. The unit was fairly easy to set-up, and once you have the adjustable height base plate set appropriately for your lens/camera combination, you’re good to go with a nearly “weightless” long lens experience.
The inclusion of the lockout switch is a nice touch. It locks the tilt arm in its neutral, vertical position so that when you move the tripod your lens and camera don’t freely tilt. This makes carrying and transporting your gear much easier and more pleasant than would otherwise be the case.
I do have some minor suggestions for Jobu. First, I’d like the option of a lever operated quick release clamp. While I understand that a knob operated clamp is more secure, I find that lever operated clamps are much more convenient, especially in cold weather when fiddling with a small knob means taking off your warm gloves. I also felt that while the adjustable height base plate is a nice, even necessary, feature and is very secure once clamped down, that it was a bit difficult to adjust if it was bearing any weight. I'd also like to see the tension knob placed on the side of the main arm, where the lockout switch is currently located, a location to which my hand would naturally move while shooting. I understand however that there are probably design/engineering considerations in the choice of the switch and knob positions. Of course, none of these quips rise to the level of deal breakers for me – the BWG-Pro is a quality piece of gear to be sure.
I also loaned the BWG-Pro to my friend and professional nature photographer, John Hyde and asked that he review it as well. I asked that he use his 600mm f/4 lens, which is both longer and heavier than my 500mm. He provided the following input:
“If you need a solid support for photographing subjects in motion with long, heavy lens the BWG-Pro is a must have.
Once you get the balance right for the lens being used it is always ready to go at a moment’s notice. Unlike a ball head which must be tightened down if you wish to back away from the camera and tripod, or move to a new location, this gimbal head can save precious seconds because it is always ready to go.
I used this in combination with my 600 F4 and two different pro bodies and it performed very well. Smooth panning operation even when set fairly tight, so tracking subjects is a breeze.
The trick to getting the best performance from this (and any gimbal head) is having the tension on the head adjusted for the lens and the tripod height adjusted correctly for height of the photographer. Once this is achieved both horizontal and vertical panning are optimized. If you are using a lens that can rotate within its collar, then that will make panning and tracking even easier. The height of the base can also be adjusted vertically as well.
Initially I had some concern that the base release was a bit small but the double tapped design held firm.
The bulk and weight of this head are more than a ball head but well worth it in terms of performance. It is essential for long lens use in my opinion.
And when you consider the price tag of those long telephoto lenses the cost of this head isn’t too bad. Especially when you consider the enhanced performance and ability to capture those photos that otherwise would have gotten away!”
Conclusion
After having spent time with my Canon 1D2n and 500mm f/4 IS clamped happily, securely and weightlessly on the Jobu BWG-Pro, I’m now convinced that, if at all possible, every nature photographer using big glass should at least try the Jobu BWG-Pro. My minor suggestions aside, I can’t see how one would improve on the construction and performance of the Jobu BWG-Pro. For me, now that I’ve tested one, it occupies quite a high place on my Spring 2010 photography gear shopping list.
You can find more information on the BWG-Pro in the Store.
Think back to when you were a kid, heading to school in the snow or rain.
Your mom dressed you up to look like that poor little kid in Christmas Story, including horrendous, floppy black galoshes. You just knew that the other kids would make fun of your big floppy rubber boots.
Things have changed dramatically today. Galoshes, renamed overshoes, have gone hi-tech. Gone are the slippery soles, the big ugly buckles and the floppy rubber. Modern material, grippy soles and a tight fit take their place. New overshoes fit like shoes, are easy to walk in, and most importantly, keep your feet warm and dry.
The best overshoes we’ve seen are made by NEOS, a company that makes both consumer and industrial footwear. Their “uppers” are made from waterproofed Denier nylon (think high-end backpacks) and their soles are lugged just like your favorite hiking boot. They are pretty snazzy-looking too!
NEOS come in insulated and non-insulated styles. The non-insulated overshoes at 20º of warmth to your feet and the insulated styles add 40º. The NEOS Navigator even has a 5” gaiter you can extend out of top of the boot for deep snow.
These new NEOS overshoes are high-tech and dare we say, even fashionable. You won’t have the big kids teasing you anymore with these.
You can check out the NEOS overshoe line in the Store here: NEOS
I recently had to opportunity to test and review the Mongoose M 3.5b Gimbal Tripod Head for super telephoto lenses. The first thing I have to say is that I am very impressed with this compact and lightweight gimbal head. Very lightweight and packs easily.
Craftsmanship is superb, and you can tell the folks at 4th Generation Designs really paid close attention to detail.
Check out this short video review. You can see all of the wonderful 4th Generation Designs line in the OPG Store here.
Make sure and visit the entertaining and informative site and blog by Rick Sammon and Juan Pons, the Digital Photo Experience.
I feel like a gunslinger. Draw, pardner! Only instead of a six-shooter, I have my spanking new Canon 7D by my hip. Up comes the camera, fast and ready to shoot.
For events, parties or photo walks, the Black Rapid camera straps give you instant access to your camera, and keep weight strain off of your neck. Black Rapid straps are worn across your body like a sling, and attach to your camera via the tripod socket.
Sound unique? It is. The Black Rapids are comfortable and adjustable, and will have you saying “why didn’t I think of that!” With the camera at your hip or behind your back, you can maneuver easily through a crowd, carry a tripod or other gear, or simply have both hands free. When you’re ready to take the shot, the camera quickly glides up the strap into shooting position.
The Black Rapids are made of ripstop nylon and have nice mesh cushioned shoulder pads with various pockets. The straps come in two models with different sized pads and pockets. A double model is available for a camera at each hip. You can also get extra camera attachments to change gear quickly. Black Rapid has also come out with new "MODS" such as extra pouches.
The Black Rapids just may become the strap of choice for mobile photographers.
You can get more information and purchase the Black Rapids in the OPG store.
Here is a quick video I shot with Rick recently on the Black Rapid camera straps.
juan Pons is a big fan of the Think Tank Photo brand of camera bags. Take a look at his video review of Think Tank's StreetWalker line of photo backpacks. You'll find it informative.
You can check out the entire Think Tank Photo line of bags in our store.
I’ve been using flash modifiers literally since I was a teenager. I’ve made my own and bought just about every conceivable retail modifier made – but as of this year, I’ve dumped almost everything but my HonL stuff. Here’s why…
The HonL system starts with a brilliant device known as the HonLPhoto Speed Strap. This strap is the base of the HonL system and all their other accessories attach to it. Instead of having to attach rubber bands, tape or adhere sticky velcro tape to your flash, you simply use a Speed Strap. This means you can use the strap on any flash you own. You don’t have to buy additional velcro tape and adhere it to each flash.
The system looks like it was designed by a photographer and it was. David Honl certainly knows that controlling light is important.
One other thought – you’ve read the word system twice already. That’s not by accident. This isn’t just a ramshackle group of accessories you can use on your flash. This is indeed a system. Everything is designed to work within a system format and it makes the gear more valuable.
There are snoots, gobos and grids that can work together to everything from diffuse, direct and pump out the light from any traditional camera-mounted flash. There are even gel kits available.
The products are very well made and look like they will stand up to lots of abuse.
I tested the HonL system recently while leading the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop. I found the system extremely flexible, yet very portable. I opened up the 8″ speed snoot and used it as a giant bounce card on the back of the flash. It worked well on the portrait above, especially when combined with some fill.
Upon working with the system for a while I was really shocked to see you could combine parts (two gobo bounce cards) to create barn door effects and the grid spot look coming from my SB-900 after I added the HonL Speed Grids was amazing. I’ve never seen any other light modifier that can do this.
For less than $175 you can buy just about everything HonL makes and consider yourself covered for 95% of the situations you might encounter using portable flash.
At the end of the day I cannot say enough good things about David Honl’s products. They are portable, light weight, easy to pack, effective, easy to use and affordable. Highly recommended.
For more information, check out HonL products at the OPG Store: link
If you’ve watched my online conversation carefully, you know I am a big fan of Think Tank Photo bags. They are designed by photographers for photographers. I’ve been using a Think Tank Airport Addicted as my main bag for years.
But for situations that don’t quite require such a big bag, there’s now an option. The Think Tank Airport Takeoff is a slightly smaller bag than the Airport Addicted.
Dimensions -
Internal Dimensions: 13″W x 18.4″H x 5.25-6.75″D (33 x 47 x 13 cm)
External Dimensions: 14″W x 21″h x 8″D (35.5 x 53 x 22 cm)
Weight: 8.6 – 10.3 (3.9 – 4.7 kg) depending on accessories used
At $299, it’s not inexpensive, but it’s a very well-made bag that hits a home run for those who need to bring less than their full kit on the next job. I decided to try it out on my trip to Photoshop World.
This bag has a couple of interesting features. It has straps in a hidden compartment that turn it into a backpack. I know this feature will be very important to some photographers. For me, if there’s a way to roll the bag – and in this case there is – I won’t ever put it on my aging back. So, while I am sure this would make some people ill – I simply cut those straps away to make myself another compartment on the back of the bag :)
Also – the Takeoff features a laptop compartment on the outside of the bag. Think Tank says it is designed to hold their own 15″ laptop sleeve. I was able to put my 17″ MacBookPro (inside an Enduro sleeve) in the compartment with no problem. This is great. Being able to securely transport my laptop PLUS enough gear to shoot multimedia is just what I’ve been looking for.
I have the usual opening praise for this bag. It’s very well designed and built. The zippers are top notch as are the materials. The bag is insanely configurable and for me, it’s the perfect choice when I need to bring my 17-inch MacBookPro along with some basic photo gear. In my case, I am able to take MORE Than basic gear. The photo above shows all the items that I fit into the bag for my trip TO Vegas.
In case you’re wondering – Bag Contents
* iPhone 3GS
* Alarm Clock
* Photoshop World Paperwork
* AC Power Strip
* Network Cord
* USB Hub
* Flashlight
* Two Microfibre Cloths
* USB Flash Drive
* Rain Cover
* 17″ MacBookPro w/sleeve
* MacBookPro Power Adapter
* USB Card Reader
* Four AA Batteries W/charger
* Business Cards
* Audio Technica Shotgun Mic W/cables, Shock Mount, Windscreen
* Sony Noise Canceling Digital Headphones W/Cables
* Gorilla Pod
* Panasonic GH1 W/14-140 Lens
* Panasonic GH1 Battery Charger
* iPhone Charger
* LensCoat Lenshood
* Altoids
* Singh Ray Varigrad ND FIlter
* Sony PCM-D1 Digital Stereo Field Recorder
* Lite Panels Mini
PLUS – Panasonic LX3 – Not Shown (I used it to take the picture)
Now the astonishing thing is – there was more room available. In fact, I am bringing a camera BACK with me that isn’t here yet and there’s room for that camera w/50mm lens. (More on the new camera later.)
Here's a photo of the bag packed with camera gear:
I can highly recommend the Think Tank Airport Takeoff. Then again, I can highly recommend all the Think Tank products. I’ve never seen them make anything other than very, very high-quality bags. I know from experience that their products stand up to the toughest of travel conditions and their design always favors the photographer.
You can see more information and purchase the Think Tank Airport Takeoff in the store here: link
Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 – All Rights Reserved
If you’ve watched my online conversation carefully, you know I am a big fan of Think Tank Photo bags. They are designed by photographers for photographers. I’ve been using a Think Tank Airport Addicted as my main bag for years.
But for situations that don’t quite require such a big bag, there’s now an option. The Think Tank Airport Takeoff is a slightly smaller bag than the Airport Addicted.
Dimensions -
Internal Dimensions: 13″W x 18.4″H x 5.25-6.75″D (33 x 47 x 13 cm)
External Dimensions: 14″W x 21″h x 8″D (35.5 x 53 x 22 cm)
Weight: 8.6 – 10.3 (3.9 – 4.7 kg) depending on accessories used
At $299, it’s not inexpensive, but it’s a very well-made bag that hits a home run for those who need to bring less than their full kit on the next job. I decided to try it out on my trip to Photoshop World.
This bag has a couple of interesting features. It has straps in a hidden compartment that turn it into a backpack. I know this feature will be very important to some photographers. For me, if there’s a way to roll the bag – and in this case there is – I won’t ever put it on my aging back. So, while I am sure this would make some people ill – I simply cut those straps away to make myself another compartment on the back of the bag :)
Also – the Takeoff features a laptop compartment on the outside of the bag. Think Tank says it is designed to hold their own 15″ laptop sleeve. I was able to put my 17″ MacBookPro (inside an Enduro sleeve) in the compartment with no problem. This is great. Being able to securely transport my laptop PLUS enough gear to shoot multimedia is just what I’ve been looking for.
I have the usual opening praise for this bag. It’s very well designed and built. The zippers are top notch as are the materials. The bag is insanely configurable and for me, it’s the perfect choice when I need to bring my 17-inch MacBookPro along with some basic photo gear. In my case, I am able to take MORE Than basic gear. The photo above shows all the items that I fit into the bag for my trip TO Vegas.
In case you’re wondering – Bag Contents
* iPhone 3GS
* Alarm Clock
* Photoshop World Paperwork
* AC Power Strip
* Network Cord
* USB Hub
* Flashlight
* Two Microfibre Cloths
* USB Flash Drive
* Rain Cover
* 17″ MacBookPro w/sleeve
* MacBookPro Power Adapter
* USB Card Reader
* Four AA Batteries W/charger
* Business Cards
* Audio Technica Shotgun Mic W/cables, Shock Mount, Windscreen
* Sony Noise Canceling Digital Headphones W/Cables
* Gorilla Pod
* Panasonic GH1 W/14-140 Lens
* Panasonic GH1 Battery Charger
* iPhone Charger
* LensCoat Lenshood
* Altoids
* Singh Ray Varigrad ND FIlter
* Sony PCM-D1 Digital Stereo Field Recorder
* Lite Panels Mini
PLUS – Panasonic LX3 – Not Shown (I used it to take the picture)
Now the astonishing thing is – there was more room available. In fact, I am bringing a camera BACK with me that isn’t here yet and there’s room for that camera w/50mm lens. (More on the new camera later.)
