Wimberley Head&Flash Bracket

Wimberley WH-200 Head

Wimberley WH-200 Tripod Head With the release of the new Wimberley Ver II WH-200 (pictured here), I’ve gone to using the Wimberley for ALL my telephoto work. The text that follows while written in regards to the original Wimberley, you use both the original and Ver II identically.

I finally received the new Wimberley WH-200, the new version of the famous Wimberley head. Dang, darn sweet!

The loss of one pound is killer! It’s slightly smaller size and less weight is a huge improvement in these days of more and more painful air travel. The Arca Swiss clamp is now built into the unit rather than a bolt on extra as before. The Pan knob is now to the side and is easier to use (don’t get your fingers pinched) and the tilt knob is now rubberized.

The Wimberley has the same action feel and reliability we’ve all come to expect from the head. Nothing was sacrificed in the slimming down of the head. I’m not real keen on the new finish, shows dirt and scuffs in a heartbeat. Our Wimberley Head Cover fits the new model and is needed even more than ever if you want to keep you head looking new.

With the smaller size and lighter weight, I think the Arca Swiss B2 which I still used for the 200-400VR will be retired. That extra pound can make a big difference depending on where you’re traveling but with the B2 weighing more than the new Wimberley, the Wimberley wins hands down.

Be sure to check out the chart for lens compatibility because some of the longer lenses need the special Wimberley plate to work with the head. You will also need the new Flash Arm, F-9 as the old flash no longer works.

This is a MUST have!

top of page

Shooting with the Wimberley

When you head out into the field to shoot, there is one final adjustment you need to make for the Wimberley to work effectively. First, you need to make sure you buy the Wimberley Arca-Swiss style clamp for the platform, which accepts the Really Right Stuff plates. (Don't cheap out, buy the thing!) When you attach the lens to the Wimberley, you need to slide the lens' plate into the clamp, but you must "balance" out the unit prior to completely locking down the plate in the clamp. Balancing is accomplished by sliding the lens (with body attached) either forwards or backwards in the clamp until, with the tilt axis control loose, the lens/body assembly neither tips forwards or backwards. Make sure the platform is set to the right place on the upright arm before balancing. This procedure only takes a second, but is what makes the Wimberley so darn cool!

This balancing point is a very fine line! Every time you change the lens, add or subtract a teleconverter or extension tube, the balance has to be readjusted. It only takes seconds to accomplish by loosening the tightening knob on the quick release clamp, sliding the lens assembly forwards or backwards, retightening then continuing. But this is essential and a major part of the correct operation of the gimbal-type design of the Wimberley. Next, you need to set the tension of the tilt and pan. Personal taste, physical ability and the equipment in use select this. I personally like my adjustments on the tighter side of loose. I like having to "push" my lens when panning rather than the lens rotating freely on its own. Same with the tilt motion, I like a slight stiffness to the operation. You should play with your own settings prior to going in the field by shooting a moving subject in your backyard like your dog (or kid) running to determine the correct tension for you. Although it's nice to use the D1 for instant results, always shoot film when setting this in the beginning to confirm that you're capturing sharp images with the settings you like. There is no way to "lock in" your settings; you'll have to learn to set them by feel each and every time you use the Wimberley.

Some folks make setting up the tripod with the Wimberley attached into a big deal. You'll find how to level the tripod collar/head mentioned in the instructions that come with the Wimberley as well as in other literature. The purpose of leveling is to make panning easier, more productive, etc. Now I've never bothered to level my tripod for panning as I just use the leveling feature of the lens and a grid screen in the camera. Long lenses have a tripod collar in which they can rotate. This permits the photographer to easily turn the camera and adjust the horizon while shooting. Using this feature and a grid screen in the camera as a reference makes correcting for any horizon problems quick and simple. I should mention that once I set up the camera I do look through it and view the horizon to see if I am off a whole lot. I do this at the same time as I check out backgrounds and other photographic compositional considerations for the image before the action begins.

A side note on set up with the Nikon 600f4 AF-S: because of the position of the lens tripod collar leg in relation to the shade and the configuration of the Wimberley head, you must reverse the lens shade and attach it to the lens for use prior to attaching the lens to the head. This is backwards from what I have done for decades so I'm still getting use to doing this. If I don't do this, then I can't attach the lens until I do, which just slows down my getting out and shooting. Once all of this is accomplished, you can shoot to your hearts' content. One other thing you might want to take into consideration and practice prior to taking your new Wimberley into the field is carrying the thing. I found using my standard technique of putting the tripod over my left shoulder took a slight adjustment with the Wimberley compared to the method I carried the B2. Due to the bulk of the Wimberley, if it smacks you on the side of the head, it will hurt; use some care and forethought!

Wimberley Accessories

Flash is an essential tool to the wildlife photographer. I don't know about all of you, but if something is a pain to do, it really puts the mental skids to my doing them. Screwing around with a flash bracket in the past has been a royal pain. Wimberley thankfully has brought us into the 21st century! Their Wimberley Head Flash Bracket is so simple it's beautiful!

Requiring no tools, no screws to attach it, the Wimberley Head Flash Bracket has a clamp that simply slides over the top of the upright arm and tightens into place with a single thumbnut! It is killer! I love it because of its ease of attachment and because it is so small and compact that it packs flat, requiring little space to carry (almost makes up for the bulk of the Wimberley). The Wimberley Head Flash Bracket holds the foot of the SC-17 perfectly; it holds the Really Right Stuff Extension Bar and Multi Flash Bar perfectly as well. All of this and I've still not mentioned the best aspect of the Wimberley Head Flash Bracket.

Because the Wimberley Head Flash Bracket attaches to the upright arm of the Wimberley wherever you aim your lens, up or down, left or right, the flash will always be perfectly aimed for you! If you use the flash bracket with the RRS Extension Bar you need to adjust the flash bracket to align the flash (this is simply done by loosening a knob). The flash bracket has two small setscrews, one on either side of the main bar. You just remove the one screw in the front, and then you can adjust the bracket so the flash hits the subject.

The Wimberley Head Flash Bracket is so cool, easy on and off, small and light, compact when not in use, it's the only flash arm on the market like it. It makes setting up telephoto flash no longer a hand-to- hand combat proposition!

Wimberley makes other accessories you might want to check out as well. In fact, you might want to check out the entire line for yourself and add a few new pieces to your camera bag. I know that now that I have the Wimberley (which is built like a tank) I can stop thinking about tripod heads and get on with photography. It feels really good to have finally found my head!

And you can order the Wimberley Head and Flash Bracket direct from us!

top of page

Wimberley Head & Flash Bracket

Wimberley WH-200 Head

Shooting with the Wimberley

Wimberley Accessories