Long Lens Head

[Kerro]

Not sure if this the right forum moderators.
I am thinking of buying a new Long Lens Head for the Canon 400mm lens.
The one in question is the Acratech Long Lens Head. Would like to hear
from anyone as to wether its worth the dollars or not, or if its any good or not.
I feel a Gimbal head would be not what I am looking for.
link is http://acratech.net/product.php?productid=10

[Kym]

Moved to a better forum and bumped

[Big Pix]

I use the Acratech Long Lens Head with Sigma 50-500 and 300 2.8. I find both of these lens a lot more stable than using a ball head. Not as bulky as a gimbal head, and you will also need the leveling base, camera and lens plates, a must have......

[mal from cessnock]

Kerro - I don't think you can go past the Wimberley Head 2. They appear to have had a recent price drop. A year ago I bought mine for $995 - they are now $595 grrrr. These are possibly the best of the best.

[BUGSnBIRDS]

Yep, once my pennies are banked for a long lens I'll be getting a special head - ones to consider are wimberly II, Mongoose or even sidekick depending on what length lens you have. You will need the respective plates as well and a sturdy tripod if you haven't already got this. I have done some homework on this as I needed an approximate budget to be working on for my piggybank savings.

[Kerro]

Thanks BigPix, Mal and Bugs. The lenses I will be using on this will be the Canon 400mm and the Sigma 120-300mm, both
pretty weighty, although I can handhold the Sigma. I will Google the other options mentioned and see how they measure up.

Thanks again.

[mikspics]

Using a 600 f/4 no is (heavy) and also a 300 2.8 is both with
tc's most of the time it's a wimberley head II on a gitzo.
your 400 would be ideal on the gimbal you can push it
around with your nose if so desired

[mal from cessnock]

Yeah the wimberley is so easy to use - I reckon it's a fun bit of kit.

[Kerro]

Mik and Mal - sounds like the Wimberley is the answer to my issue then as long as I can
get about 150 degree of movement, in all directions, quickly when birding. Especially with the 2x TC as I get
great reach.