http://www.lensmaster.co.uk/
Every now and again when you have been struggling for years with what is available, you come across a piece of equipment that completely changes the way you work and makes life so much easier.
The other month I wanted a Gimbal for our camera set-up similar to above, DSLR and long heavy lens.
For anyone who does not know what gimbals are, it is a piece of equipment that has been in maritime use for decades, it was possibly first introduced for the ships compass to keep it level in all weather, and is now available and invaluable for the wildlife photographer.
Ease of use and setup.
My son and I have two hobbies one is wildlife photography, so where better to set-up and do our first test than our own small nature reserve, the back garden, never underestimate what wonderful animals visit the standard plain garden.
Attaching the gimbal to the Giottos tripod, MTL9271B too minutes, and the supplied plate takes no time at all to balance. The set-up used is a Canon EOS60D with battery pack and Sigmas 120-400mm lens.
After a short time (in a hide not shown) a number of shots were taken and two of them are here.
It can NOT be understated what the immediate benefits of a gimbal are, if you have ever sat with a DSLR and zoom lens with battery pack AND Metz 45CL4 flash waiting for a photograph and then had to hold it eye-level for up to five minutes and swing 90 degrees to take different photographs you will understand what I mean, this gimbal is smooooth, fast and so easy to use I wish we had bought one years ago.
Both taken within seconds of each other on opposite trees
What of the Astronomer ?
For many years when travelling to star parties, club meetings, holidays abroad, as astronomers we have either had to lug an AltAz head mount perhaps a William Optics EZTouch or similar at £300 plus without the tripod mount itself perhaps £100 more, and, they are HEAVY to say the very least. Or we have been forced to use a lightweight camera tripod, inadequate at best.
Well now a solution has arrived, and the very best thing of all it is designed and built in ENGLAND.
The LensMaster gimbal.
For £137.95, you receive a British designed and built Gimbal head, and a Giottos MH621 Quick release plate adaptor, making a very nice piece of kit. It can also be purchased for £117.95 without a mounting plate. All inclusive of recorded delivery.
So having seen the item on the website it was requested.
Within 24 hours it had arrived, recorded delivery well wrapped and in a strong box.
The first thing to note is the solidity and build quality of the mount, whilst it is not BMW standard engineering it is very well manufactured and finished, Jaguar perhaps.
The mounting plate is simplicity itself to fit and takes just ten seconds with the supplied key, in fact it did arrive already fitted.
Also you will see in the photograph below the mount, unlike some comes apart with ease and is therefore washable, a very good idea if you use it by the sea with the salt air or it becomes dirty, and you will also note the inclusion of quality roller bearings and teflon pads.
As with many heads this one comes with a 3/8th screw fitting, unfortunately as most of the mounts I have used are fitted with 1/4” fitting I have had to order an adaptor before I am able to use it, this will take a few days to arrive, then I will be able to review the head with both refractor and PST scopes.
Astronomical and Solar use.
As I have stated when out or travelling we need a simple, stable and good set-up, here I have shown an 80mm APO and a PST on the mount, it copes very well with my heavy 8mm LVW and 2” eyepieces, and as for the PST, superb.
The unit has been mounted on a very sturdy, Giottos MTL9271B tripod.
In my opinion the travelling astronomer, let alone the photographer who will undoubtedly mount his DSLR and long lens (I have tested it with a Canon EOS 60 D and Sigma 120-400 lens with no problem) will find this gimbal by LensMaster an invaluable addition to their tools.
Perhaps more important to most is the after sales service, second to none, same day, and often same hour response, and I have had all questions answerd with no delay at all.
