Wimberley Tripod Head II WH-200 Review

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Review

When is the Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS Lens a featherweight? When it is mounted on a Wimberley Tripod Head II! If you are using a very large/heavy lens (300mm f/2.8 or larger), I highly recommend the Wimberley Tripod Head II and a solid tripod.

When properly mounted on the Wimberley Tripod Head II, a heavy lens and camera body become nearly weightless to the photographer. Only two fingers are needed to move a setup such as the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS Lens mounted on a large camera body into position.

Gimbal tripod heads such as the Wimberley Tripod Head II place the weight of the lens/camera setup below their pivot point. Thus, gravity pulls the setup into a level position. On the other hand, gravity attempts to cause the same camera/lens to flop over when mounted on a non-gimbal tripod head.

Yes, many of the best non-gimbal heads (such as the Arca-Swiss Z1 are rated for far more weight than my example lenses above. And they really can support the weight. But, you must fight against gravity when making adjustments. And if you don't get everything tight, the lens can flop over into the tripod - with the potential for costly damage. And hold on tight if you are going to leave the mount loose for panning.

Wimberley Tripod Head II mounted on Wimberley Head II and Gitzo Tripod

The above image shows a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM Lens mounted on a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III camera body - a combination perfectly suited for the Wimberley Tripod Head II they are mounted to.

The Wimberley Sidekick is a less-expensive gimbal head solution that can handle lenses up to including the Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS Lens. The Sidekick is smaller and is more convenient to pack along with your normal ballhead, but the Wimberley Tripod Head II is a nicer solution.

The Wimberley Head has four adjustment knobs. Two of these are used to setup the lens/body combo (they remain tight during use) and two are used for adjustments during use. The pan locking knob controls the panoramic rotation friction. The top/side knob controls the elevation adjustment friction. Another knob allows adjustment of the platform elevation (moves the mounting clamp up/down in relation to the elevation pivot point). The last friction knob is on the integrated industry-standard-sized quick release clamp.

To setup the Wimberley Tripod Head II ... After unscrewing the normal ballhead (if you don't have the luxury of a dedicated tripod), the Wimberley Tripod Head II screws onto the tripod legs in its place. The base/bottom friction control knob must be firmly tightened for this step. With the tripod approximately leveled, the platform elevation knob very tight and the elevation friction knob very slightly loosened, the lens plate on the tripod collar is gently placed into the clamp and adjusted forward/backward until the setup is balanced. The clamp is then tightened. Do not let go of the lens until the clamp is tight and the entire setup is balanced.

Wimberley Gimbal Tripod Head II in use with super telephoto lens

The above picture shows a Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS Lens mounted on the Wimberley Tripod Head II.

During use, the two larger/rubberized knobs controlling panoramic and elevation friction are loosened/tightened as desired. The tripod collar friction knob is used to control camera orientation (the third dimension). Many times all three can remain loose during use (after setup). This allows a subject to be followed - or framed quickly. And the lens stays basically in place when you let go.

Transporting of such a setup typically involves tightening all friction knobs and putting the entire rig over your shoulder.

A camera and lens combination without a tripod ring can be attached to the Wimberley Tripod Head II, but Wimberley Perpendicular Plate is needed to allow the mount to work properly. This is not an elegant solution, but can eliminate the need to carry an extra tripod head.

Real use functionality of the Wimberley Tripod Head II is excellent. Two fingers can easily position a huge lens on your subject - and follow it. I highly recommend the Wimberley Tripod Head II when using a lens the size of a 300mm f/2.8 or larger.

Most of what I've said so far can also be said about the Original Wimberley Head. So why spend the money to upgrade if you already own the original Wimberley Head? Moving you mouse over the image below will show you the visual differences between the two heads ...

My favorite change - and the one most immediately noticeable is the smaller size of the Wimberley Tripod Head II. Compared to the version 1 head, the Wimberley Tripod Head II is ...

1.8"/47mm shorter (9.28" vs. 11.08"/238mm vs. 281" = very nice)
.22"/6mm narrower (9.87" vs. 10.09"/251mm vs. 256mm)
.78"/20mm less in width (3.5" vs. 4.28"/311mm vs. 109mm)

Along with the size difference comes a very nice weight difference - the Wimberley Tripod Head II weighs 1 lb/.44 kg less (3.15 lb vs. 4.15 lb/1.4 kg vs. 1.8 kg).

New lobed soft touch knobs provide a more sure grip - this is especially nice when wearing gloves.

The pan locking knob has been moved to the side - it is much easier access now. No longer must you reach under the lens platform (scraping you knuckles) to adjust rotation friction.

The distance from the mounting surface of the platform to the tilt axis remains adjustable (from 1.1" to 4.8"/28mm to 122mm), but the arca-swiss standard lens clamp is now built into the lens platform.

The Wimberley Tripod Head II's finish is coarse and matte. I'm not sure I like the new finish over the smoother finish on the original head (it shows marks from anything that touches it) but it does not reflect light - and this is an important attribute when photographing wildlife.

Better friction materials and tighter tolerances (no play) make the Wimberley Tripod Head II smoother to operate.

To be honest, I was skeptical that a new version of the Wimberley Head would be worth an upgrade for me. But I am impressed at the changes Wimberley has made. The Wimberley Tripod Head II is a far more elegant solution to the problem solved so well by the original Wimberley Head. I have upgraded my kit with no regrets.