Gimbal Tripod Head

In this article I am going to look at the Gimbal Tripod Head, and how to use a gimbal tripod head for photography. I will also look at those gimbal heads which work perfectly with my camera hide plate.

What is a Gimbal?

Before we get into it, let’s take a look at what I think is one of the weirdest looking tripod heads.

In simple terms a gimbal is a type of tripod head that perfectly balances the weight of the camera and long lens so that you can effortlessly move it horizontally and vertically. Gimbals are designed to distribute and support the load for you, making them great for heavy setups and long telephoto lenses, with some models supporting over 30 lbs.

Here is a BEIKE version attached to my camera hide plate. The head attaches directly to the camera hide plate via a standard bolt, the head of which is locked into place under the plate allowing you to tighten the gimbal down onto the hide plate itself.

A carbon fibre version costs between £190 and £350.

How to use a Gimbal Tripod Head

Using a gimbal tripod head is fairly easy. If you are using it for wildlife photography you would normally have both the horizontal and vertical screws unlocked. Doing this allows you to move the camera through the vertical and horizontal planes whilst tracking birds on the wing, for example. The beauty below was captured using a gimbal on a full size tripod.

If I am photographing long exposure images or even static products I will use my camera hide plate together with a gimbal head, because it is far simpler than using a tripod set very low. This is especially true if I am working in a confined space.

I use a gimbal for my wildlife because I find it allows me to adjust the composition very easily for static subjects but also lets me track moving subjects with ease.

gimbal tripod head on a full size tripod

If you shoot from free or paid hides then it might be worth taking a look at my Camera Hide Plate which has been designed specifically for use in photography hides. It can quite happily take a heavy DSLR and long lens.