Why would youn use a Manfrotto 393 over a Benro GH2 Gimbal Head

[russellsnr]

Hi, Just wonder please what is the main difference between using a Manfrotto 393 type head and a (for example) Benro GH2 Head?
Many Thanks. Russ.

[William W]

Why would youn (sic) use a Manfrotto 393 over a Benro GH2 Gimbal Head . . .

If I wanted to use a Gimbal head, I would NOT choose the Manfrotto between those two.

Hi, Just wonder please what is the main difference between using a Manfrotto 393 type head and a (for example) Benro GH2 Head?

There are three I would consider relevant to my uses:

> Payload - the Benro holds 6lbs more
> Scales - (Vertical and Panoramic Scales) - the Benro has, the Manfrotto has not
> Construction to easily / quickly remove large lens - the Manfrotto is a "U" shape construction which requires the lens to be lifted out, the Benro is an "L" shape which means the lens is moved sideways out of the quick release.

There may be other considerations of quality and finish, for example quality and ease of locking devices.

I have used neither.

For the genre of Photography that I do, (did) I'd typically use a Monopod for any lens at FL = 400mm or longer, and I tend to think that Gimbals are just about "useless" for mostly all genres, that is if one masters the uses of a Monopod: that said I don't photograph birds in flight - so I am ignorant and make no comment on that use, if it is a use.

WW

[Manfred M]

The only people that I know who use gimbal heads are bird photographers that use them for birds in flight work with extremely long and fast (and heavy) lenses (600mm - 800mm range). The two that I know both highly recommend the Wimberley WH-200.

[russellsnr]

The only people that I know who use gimbal heads are bird photographers that use them for birds in flight work with extremely long and fast (and heavy) lenses (600mm - 800mm range). The two that I know both highly recommend the Wimberley WH-200.

Hi, Thankyou for the reply but at £679.95 that WH-600 is way out of my price range. Russ.

[george013]

The only people that I know who use gimbal heads are bird photographers that use them for birds in flight work with extremely long and fast (and heavy) lenses (600mm - 800mm range). The two that I know both highly recommend the Wimberley WH-200.

You can use them on any non static subject.

George

[Manfred M]

Hi, Thankyou for the reply but at £679.95 that WH-600 is way out of my price range. Russ.

The comment I got from one of the users is that gimbals are a lot like tripod. Buy a cheap one and you will curse it every time you use it and you end up buying the expensive one eventually.

As an aside, why are you looking at a gimbal head versus one of the more common supports?

[William W]

The only people that I know who use gimbal heads are bird photographers that use them for birds in flight work with extremely long and fast (and heavy) lenses (600mm - 800mm range). The two that I know both highly recommend the Wimberley WH-200.

That is my experience also, hence my alluding to that genre.

I can't comment for sure on the Wimberley, but I do think most of the Bird Photograhers I know do use a Wimberley, but no idea what model.

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You can use them on any non static subject.

Yes, you can, but the question remains: “why would you?” (pls. see my comment about using a Monopod).

***

. . . As an aside, why are you looking at a gimbal head versus one of the more common supports?

I don’t reckon that as ‘an aside’ – I think that is THE primary question for Russ to consider.

WW

[russellsnr]

The comment I got from one of the users is that gimbals are a lot like tripod. Buy a cheap one and you will curse it every time you use it and you end up buying the expensive one eventually.

As an aside, why are you looking at a gimbal head versus one of the more common supports?

Hi, I am to be honest fed up trudging around this island at the crack of dawn or at sunset looking for something differant to photograph, not likeing to be indoors all the time I thought I may give the bird photography a try so I purchased a Sigma 150-500mm lens and it is a bit of a brute to hand hold all day. I tried the the ball head option (I have a few) but no good as they don't tilt far enough back so shots missed, looking at the cheaper options on the likes of E...y I don't no I would trust a heavy lens to them as I stated above at £600+ for a starter gimbal it is way out of my reach at this time so I was looking at a MOVA gimbal or one of these Manfrotto 393 options. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Movo-GH700-.../dp/B00GK4IYP8 OR https://www.amazon.co.uk/Manfrotto-3...=Manfrotto+393 Again thankyou for the replies. Russ.

[pendennis]

Having owned a Manfrotto 393, I can say that it is handy for use with long lenses when I have to pan and tilt in a hurry. The down side is the proprietary camera/lens mount. I changed it with an Arca/Swiss adapter, and it's fairly handy.

That stated - It's just not beefy enough to insure that the camera is rock steady under load. It does lock down, but the large gimble just isn't heavy enough to dampen vibration.

About six months after I bought the Manfrotto, I happened to be back at the same dealer. He'd found a brand new-in-box Induro GHB2 in a lot of estate sale equipment. These list for around $450, but this one went to me for $275. It's night and day different from the Manfrotto. The movements are smoother, and it already has the Arca/Swiss mount.

Part of the difference is the compactness of the "L" head type gimbals. They're mostly cast parts, while the Manfrotto consists of at least two stamped parts. The U-in-U configuration just doesn't lock down as well.

Save your money. Go for the Induro/Wimberly types; far and away the best choices.

[Manfred M]

Just as an aside; Induro and Benro are the same company and both these lines are produced in the same factory in China.

[rpcrowe]

I have a Manfroto 493 that I used extensively until I bought my 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II lens. That lens has such good IS that I will mostly use it on moving subjects hand held. For non moving subjects, I will most often use a heavy duty tripod with a heavy duty ball head when I don't hand hold the lens.

As far as locking down the 493... I never lock down a gimbal. I use a well balanced gimbal only when shooting moving subjects and just keep minimal tension on the gimbal.

Manfrotto often shows the 493 mounted upside down to how I use it (and how I have ever seen anyone use it). The Manfrotto illustrations have the camera hanging upside down. Here is the Manfrotto version...



And here is how the great Philippine bird photographer and I mount our cameras/lenses...



The Manfrotto 3421 is the same as the Manfrotto 493... Manfrotto loves to change the designation and description of this rig

BTW: Here is a link to Romy Ocon
http://www.romyocon.net/p/about-phot...is-images.html

Early on, I once asked Manfrotto how to use a flash with the 493. Their reply was that you cannot use a flash with that rig. This is a bunch of crap! A simple flash bracket can be fabricated from some aluminum bar stock as shown in this illustration of a friend's rig. I don't know why Manfrotto doesnt sell a bracket as an accessory. OH yes, they mount the camera upside down



My rig is a bit different and I have been meaning to photograph it. I use a Godox trigger on my camera and a Godox TTL 360 flash on the bracket with a Cheetahstand Colt 45 reflector on the flash...

The only drawback with the 493 is that it is pretty heavy and I needed to switch to an Arca Compatible clamp rather than that piece of Manfrotto junk.

I have also used the 493 quite effectively on a monopod...

[Ken MT]

Have you considered the Lensmaster RH-2 Gimbal. Very well made and costs much less than some of thew other gimbals mentioned.

[russellsnr]

Hi, Yes I have looked at the Lensmaster RH-2 but also at one being sold from Germany Walimex A20 https://www.walimex-webshop.com/en/a...-76616474.html but finding user info on that one difficult but does say uses bearings and not thick gunk!! Russ.

PS. after posting I Sent them an email asking where the A20 is made as a lot of far eastern models are full of thick grease and the reply 'It is made outside EU.' short and sweet answer. Russ.

[odds]

...the reply 'It is made outside EU.'

So are the Promedia Gear gimbals Katana and Katana Junior. Price tags 750USD and 550USD are EU level, though I think they come with ball bearings.

Edit: added a link for good measure: https://www.promediagear.com/Gimbals-Heads_c_56.html
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Odd S.