Dietmar Nill Tripod Head

[Morgo]

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have experience with the above head?

[K10D]

Never heard of it till I Googled it now. It looks like a much better made and expensive version of a Manfroto 393. Any particular reason you want a cradle type gimbal?

Best regards

[Dug]

Had not heard of it either, but that's not saying much since I'm not likely to be in the market for a gimbal head.
Always curious about gadget though, so this was the best I could find in the way of first hand experience on a forum.


Quote:
"I've been using a Dietmar Nill gimbal head for quite a few years. It's a superbly engineered head in cast aluminium. The large rotating boss at the base is absolutely free of any play whatsoever - silky smooth and easily locked at the flick of a lever. The large knobs on either side are easy to adjust even wearing gloves and just a slight turn applies either a complete lock or just the right amount of torque depending on which knob you adjust.

A lot of thought has obviously gone into the design, but unfortunately the ship has been spoiled for a ha'porth of tar at the last hurdle. The sliding clamp with actually holds the lens plate is poor by any standards. The problem is that the moving part of the clamp isn't captive and if you undo the clamp too far it actually comes off, unlike many of the clamps on the market. No big deal except that the two springs pop out of the body of the clamp and scrambling around on the floor looking for them is no fun at all.

Also the ends of the springs just locate in very shallow depressions in the moving part of the clamp and they're very prone to becoming unseated and getting squashed and deformed as you tighten the clamp - a very poor arrangement compared to many clamps available on the market.

Fortunately my engineer son has modified the clamp by shortening the springs and fitting two long pins on the moving part of the clamp, so even when the moving part is completely removed the springs still stay within the main body of the clamp.

I'm very happy with this head and have no doubt it will last a lifetime, but it's expensive by any standards and the clamp is simply not good enough on a head costing this much money. Mine is now the head it should be, but as it comes I'd be loathe to recommend it against many excellent alternatives."

If you can work out how to translate this page it might be of help to you.
http://www.digitalkamera.de/Meldung/Fuenf_Spitzen-Kardankoepfe_fuer_Telefotografie_im_Test/5747.aspx

For an alternative to the Wimberley WH-200 gimbal head II check out the Sirui PH-20 http://mainlinephoto.com.au/sirui-ph-20-professional-carbon-fibre-gimbal-head-temporarily-out-of-stock/ (price Australian)
I bought my Sirui ball head and tripod from Mainline and had it posted to me. Good service, great products.

B&H review https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKtdN-jM9X0

[Morgo]

Thanks for the replies.

It was something that caught my interest mostly for the ability to mount two setups on the one head.

http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp4/brycemorgan452/Other/erez_zpsamkcja49.jpg (http://s392.photobucket.com/user/brycemorgan452/media/Other/erez_zpsamkcja49.jpg.html)

Could be interesting when using my Canon 200-400 to have the 70-200 sitting above or latter on when I get a 600 f4 to have that and the 200-400 sitting above.
Something I might play with.
I already have the Wimberley WH-200 II in the mean time.

[Cage]

My post (now superfluous) crossed in cyberspace with yours.