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On cricket, maths, tripods and nature - part 8 of 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

by Mike McNamee Published 01/12/2009

Flaghead Photographic have announced two new Custom Brackets Gimbal heads. They are the lightest and most affordable Gimbal heads yet and follow Jon Ashton's review a few months ago. We assume that the build quality is the same as it was (it was excellent) but they have managed to pare off a few more ounces which can only be a good thing. The other feature we have come to appreciate is the 'set-up and transport lock' of the Custom Brackets' designs.

There is no doubt that your £5,000+ investment in lenses is most vulnerable as you set the lens onto it or if it slips off as you move along the trail. Most nature photographers move location/position with an ultra-telephoto lens attached to the tripod and with the junction of the lens's barrel and the tripod resting on their shoulder. This demands two things: a well-padded shoulder (see Stealth Gear review) and a certainty that the lens tripod combination is going to stay locked. In our experience the sound of a 10lb ultra-telephoto landing at your feet usually signals the end of the day's shooting!

Moving about with a rig like this, trying to keep quiet and remain hidden is difficult enough without having also to worry if your gear is going to plummet to the ground. For the same reason, captive lens foot-plates are also vital in our opinion.

The Wimberley head has also been lightened and they have moved the knobs so that they are aligned one above the other. This aids fast locking and unlocking but the rotation lock is now sticking out, one more thing to chaff an un-protected shoulder.

Our comments about the need to handle tripods is equally applicable to counter-balanced heads such as the Wimberley and the Custom Bracket Gimbal. Flaghead will be present at the Convention so there is another reason to attend!

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• On cricket, maths, tripods and nature page 2
  
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• On cricket, maths, tripods and nature page 8
  

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