Durable gimbal tripod heads.
Gimbal tripod heads help balance camera weight to move it easily in any direction both horizontally and vertically. The gimbal tripod head is commonly used in aviation and wildlife photography and is a helpful device for those, who shoot with long telephoto lenses.
You need the gimbal tripod head for supporting heavy devices like telephoto lenses. Unlike a ball head that requires to lock any pan or tilt knobs, with a gimbal you can take your hands off it and the camera is ready to go.
Type: Mini | Head Type: Ball | Max Height: 9.5 inches | Weight Capacity: 50 lbs
⊕ Rich compatibility
⊕ Great design
⊕ Small-sized
⊕ Fast attachment/release
⊖ Sticky movements
Benro GH2 is the best gimbal tripod head for those, who are looking for seamless control and solidity while using zoom lenses. This is the main feature that differentiates the gimbal head from the ball one. If you place your lens on GH-2, it will set flat, while GH-1 offers an upright position. One more advantage is compatibility. The model works with the international-style QR plates such as the Arca Swiss and the Benro PL Series.
Type: Video / Photo | Head Type: Pan & Tilt | Max Height: 8.7 inches | Weight Capacity: 30 lbs
⊕ Solid construction
⊕ Accurate positioning
⊕ Fast release plate
⊕ Soft
⊖ Sticky grease
Neewer 10086839 is a gimbal tripod head with an adjustable horizontal lens platform. Thus, a tripod head can balance lenses and cameras of any size and weight. It comes with a calibrated scale for lenses continual positioning. A big handle with Bubble Level is easy-to-control. There are numbered scales along the panning platform that let you repeat the setup for different lens and camera systems with ease. The panning platform and vertical arm can rotate 360 degrees both horizontally and vertically, thus users can take images at any angle. Besides, you can customize the lens platform to adapt it to your camera setup.
Type: Video / Photo | Head Type: Pan & Tilt | Max Height: 9 inches | Weight Capacity: 44 lbs
⊕ Works for sports
⊕ Small-sized
⊕ Great balance
⊕ For wildlife photography
⊖ High-priced
Oben GH-30 Gimbal Head helps users balance and manage big telephoto lenses with ease. It is the most suitable option for shooting sports events and wildlife. The GH-30 handles a payload of up to 44lb and provides flexible movements both horizontally and vertically. You can shoot fast-moving scenes due to the offered independent pan lock and 360° movement range. Oben GH-30 is a user-friendly model with a solid design. Besides long-lasting construction, you will enjoy its well-placed and easy-to-use knobs.
Type: Video / Photo | Head Type: Ball | Max Height: 11 inches | Weight Capacity: 26.5 lbs
⊕ Durable construction
⊕ Weighs little
⊕ User-friendly
⊕ Portable
⊖ Expensive
Although Jobu Design BWG-J3K is not a budget gimbal head, it’s value for money due to various handy features. Compared to the previous version, this model is more compact and lightweight. Besides, it’s nearly 2.5 cm lower than its foregoer. Along with size, the device is 30 grams lighter due to a hollow aluminum base block. Compared to previous models, BWG-J3K features a 200% increased blocking force. This results in great rigidity, reducing unwilling vibrations.
Type: Video | Head Type: Ball | Max Height: 10 inches | Weight Capacity: 100 lbs
⊕ Rugged
⊕ Small weight
⊕ Suitable for telephoto lenses
⊕ Supports heavyweight gear
⊖ Pricey
Wimberley WH-200 is a gimbal head that rotates the lens around its center of gravity so that users can mount the lenses of various sizes. Due to the solid design, the model is stiff. This compact and lightweight gimbal ensures smooth panning and tilting. WH-200 features an Arca Swiss style clamp that works with various types of lenses. The Wimberley Head Version II goes, basically, with similar features but stands out with even smaller size and weight. To support and balance some type of lenses, you may need to change the foot.
Type: Video / Photo | Head Type: Pan & Tilt | Max Height: 12 inches | Weight Capacity: 26 lbs
⊕ Designed to last
⊕ Easy-to-operate
⊕ Small-sized
⊕ Professional model
⊖ High-priced
Such a gimbal tripod head lets you track fast-moving objects and take images with ease. There are etched, numbered scales which are designed for repeatability needs. Once you have set the desired parameters to balance a lens, you can lock the numbers to adjust the gimbal head faster next time. The GH25 comes with a long plate to help arrange your camera and lens. With its help, you can move the device back and forth. You will see bright red touchpoints for quick navigation in dull lighting. GH25 features a quick-release dovetail system that is compatible with numerous accessories.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Benro GH2
Our Choice |
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Neewer 10086839
Budget |
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Oben GH-30
Best Oben |
CHECK PRICE → |
A gimbal tripod head, unlike other types, helps users move a camera in any direction, balancing its weight. What is more, the well-balanced gimbal lets you manage even the heaviest gear almost effortlessly.
You shouldn’t mess up a gimbal head with a gimbal stabilizer. While the gimbal head is used for still shots, the gimbal stabilizer is aimed at video recording. As a rule, users buy gimbal stabilizers such as the DJI Ronin-S, Gudsen Moza Air, or Zhiyun Crane 2 when they need to move around with a camera.
There is one similar thing between them – a gimbal element that supports the camera during the shooting. But unlike a gimbal head, a stabilizer offers electric motors and is developed for recording handheld video.
Thanks to 3 axes, it stabilizes the tilt, pan, and roll of a camera. Even when you move from side to side, no matter what direction, there is no vibration or shaking in your video. If you film objects that move up and down, you will find the tilt option to be useful, since, it helps your camera to adapt to the object’s movements.
We recommend paying attention to the solid and durable models as low-quality gimbal heads can lead to loosening the clamps locking the pan base and tilt arm faster.
Besides, if you want to take wildlife photos, you need a gimbal with easy-to-access knobs that are not affected by weather conditions.
While looking for good photo gimbal, you may face certain difficulties. Searching for a ‘gimbal’ you are likely to get results for both video and photo gimbals, still, they are not the same. Thus, if you need a gimbal for photography and this is the first time you’re buying the one, be very attentive. Even searching for a ‘gimbal’ on B&H Photo, you will get results of video gimbals as well. We recommend using the word combination ‘tripod gimbal’ to get proper results as video gimbals, unlike photo gimbals, are not used with a tripod.
This article tells you just about photo gimbals that go without electronic elements inside them. Such gimbals are set on a tripod and help you balance a camera there. In case you’ve changed the tripod’s orientation, you can face the problems as photo gimbals are produced to be used statically from the tripod. To make things right, you need to re-balance your gimbal as well.
A gimbal head is a type of a tripod head that helps you balance a camera and lenses, leading to flexible movements suitable for any shooting style. Due to the smooth movements, photographers can capture fast-moving objects with no efforts.
Though a gimbal is a useful tool, it has particular restrictions. It is a different kind of a support system like a dolly, Steadicam, or tripod that leads to natural and seamless movements.
There are two types of photography gimbals. The first one is designed with motorized elements and keeps a camera still while it's being moved around, the second is a type of a tripod head created for a tripod and it helps users take pictures using telephoto lenses.
As a rule, a ball head isn’t durable. Obviously, it all depends on the head quality you purchase, still, due to the design, a ball head is less sturdy, compared to the pan head that holds the camera on a platform.
