Custom Brackets CB Gimbal Tripod Head
UPC's:
MPN's:
Overall an excellent big lens gimbal head
The favorite aspect of this gimbal for me is the safety lever that can be rotated so as to keep the lens from crashing down when removing the camera for any reason. The Zenelli Carbon ZX is the only other gimbal to have this feature at it sells for $1480. My least favorite aspect is the permanently mounted locking pieces that can block access to camera controls and there is no way to remove them even when adjustment is not needed. The lock for t... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Don't waste your time
I'd love to be able to write a positive review...I understand these are state-of-the-art gimbals. However Custom Brackets have not been able to fill my order placed through B&H over two months back, and with an important shoot in Alaska and the Arctic imminent I had to cancel. Two months? It appears the folks in Cleveland, Ohio had other priorities... Sadly now I'm not likely to ever know if these gimbals live up to their reputation...no fault of B&H though.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Best gimbal you can buy
It is rock solid with my 600mm f/4 lens that weighs over 11 pounds. This gimbal has a number of unique features. First is that you can adjust the height of the pivoting base to provide more elevation if needed. The base threads onto the tripod and has a large disc with lobes so it is easy to hand tighten the base without need for using set screws. There is an adjustment to set the amount of drag on the pan rotation that I find helpful. All the pi... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Exceptionally smooth operation
I tried the Benro GH2 head prior to this but found the tilt motion to be jerky. Maybe I was unlucky with the particular unit I received. So I returned it to B&H (thanks guys!) and ordered the CB head instead. The roller bearing construction ensures a smooth operating gimbal. I'm delighted with the change. I use it with my Nikon D800 and the Sigma 150-600mm sport lens. This combination is too heavy for me to use hand held at 600mm but the CB gimba... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
minor design flaw
When tilting down, the Arm Lock Knob sometimes bumps into the rubber Setup Lever Knob, stopping the down tilt at less than 45 degrees. Custom Brackets does not respond to my email about this, they don't care. It's over priced, considering their support.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Custom Brackets CB Gimbal. Review Update.
I have had some time now to do some experimenting with different tripod, leveling plate, & Gimbal head set-ups. This Custom Brackets CB Gimbal head has turned out to be a really excellent Gimbal head! Everything I said about it in my previous review: still holds true. It is one of the smoothest & most fluid Gimbals on the market! My finial setup for it is on a Gitzo Systematic Series 5 Ocean carbon fiber tripod, with a Linhof leveling plate/head,... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
you get what you pay for
I bought this Gimbal head after reading through tons of reviews and weighing cost to reward for me personally. The second I unpacked the box I could tell I got what I paid big bucks for..Are there just as good for less cost? Maybe but I seriously doubt it. I use it in combo with my new Sigma 150-600 sport zoom(Which I give a 5 star GET IT RATING!!) and it is a great match. Keep in mind you need to spend extra for the moutning plate for your size ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Works great
I previously used a friend's gimbal head, and it was a good idea, but poorly executed; it wobbled a bit too much. This bracket suffers no such problems. Breaks down for easier transport. What seems tight and sticky when it is being moved by itself becomes perfectly smooth when it is loaded with the weight of a lens. I like the friction knobs for controlling resistance to motion. Put it where you want, and it stays there. Taking a bit of time to g... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Excellent Gimbal Head
Outstanding in design and manufacture. Exceptionally smooth operation. Modular design makes for compact storage.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
NICE!
I wanted a bracket to use for a 95mm birding scope, scope with digiscoping camera, and telephoto camera lenses. The CB Gimbal fits the bill perfectly. With my pan/tilt head, the equipment was often unbalanced, and there was a lot of play getting subjects centered. With the CB Gimbal, I just move the equipment to the desired view and turn it loose. Everything stays in place. The bracket is a clever design with three Arca type clamps that allow ver... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great product
The Custom Brackets CB Gimbal Tripod Head is extremely well made makes the Nikkor 500mm/4 much easier to use.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Custom Brackets CB Gimbal head.
This was a Christmas present to myself: so I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Also; an FLM Leveling base was ordered to use with it temporary on a Gitzo #GT3531 carbon fiber tripod. But the leveling base is still on Backorder! I ordered this Gimbal because I really liked the take-down/take-apart feature of it so that it will easily fit into a regular sized tripod bag with the Gimbal base plate still on it! I also liked the idea of the arm lock... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Awesome Product
Very well made, operates smoothly, assembles and disassembles easily and quickly. Makes shooting long lenses effortless.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Just what I needed
I just started shooting birds in flight. Was having no luck hand held and only minimal success with a ball head. This has been the greatest. As far as build goes, it is awesome and works great. The only other one that I have tried was a friends whimberly head, I found I like the CB better and it is way easier to back.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great product
This is a great product!!! Very smooth motion! I have only had it a short while and wish I would have bought it sooner! Sure there are all sort of knock offs out there. But you get what you pay for and when you start putting your gear on it I don't want to risk my gear to some elcheapo knock off!!! I love how you can set the drag on both horizontal and vertical axis! Made in good old U.S.A. Workmanship is great Very nice finish Easy to install!!!... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Heavy Rig - This is the head for you!
I have had the CB Gimbal Tripod Head for about three years. Prior to that I had tried a couple of others without much satisfaction. Once I put this head on my Tripod I knew I had made the right decision. Currently, I shoot with a Canon 1Dx and a Canon 500mm telephoto with a 1.4 extender. This is a fairly head combination of lens and camera. The CB Gimbal handles the load easily. I love the flexibility of this head. I keep the rig balanced on the ... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Great Accessory for Telephoto Lens
This is an exceptionally useful accessory for heavy telephoto lenses. Easy to mount, adjust and use. Allows precise and smooth movement in 2 planes essential for wildlife photography.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Love this Gimbal Mount
I had purchased two low-cost gimbal heads previously. Not satisfied with either one. I was torn between CB's and Wimberly's head. I decided on CB's and couldn't be happier. Lens does not move as you tighten clamps!!! Couldn't be smoother for panning. Rock solid once you tighten. Ability to balance lens with limited motion (safety feature) is GREAT! Should have bought this mount first. No comparison to cheap knock-off's.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Very pleased
I shoot surf photography and this gimbal head supports my 500mm f4 and 7d just fine. I need to get a carbon tripod though, there is a little torsion flex that is not the gimbals fault. This head has friction knobs that the wimberly does not and I found them useful. Both heads work very well and it a toss up, this head has more adjustments and can be broken down.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Fantastic gimbal
I did a lot of gimbal research. For something this expense, holding something else that is even more expensive (Nikon 400mm f/2.8 VRII), you want to make the right decision. This gimbal is all you can ask for. Being able to break this down into component parts makes this easy to pack and store. I worried about rigidity with all the pieces, but I didn't need to. It is rock solid. Steel ball bearings are incredibly smooth with the lens mounted. Eff... Show More
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I love it
I spend a few weeks going through all the review of the different gimbal and I eventually settled on this model. I'm really happy with it so far and I have no regrets.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Sweet Gimbal!!
Nearly all the versatility of a Really Right Stuff Gimbal at a fraction of the cost. Exactly what I needed for pano and landscapes.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
This gimbal head is first rate.
I use this head to support a 400 f/2.8 nikon lens. It is a heavy lens and requires a solid tripod. This CB Gimbal is everything the other reviewers said it was. I took their word and it is the way to go. You must move slow and set it up properly taking care to tighten all the knobs. If not you can do a lot of damage due to the leverage and weight of the lens. The design and tooling is top grade pro equipment. There are others on the market but I don't see how they could be any better than this.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Now why didn't I think of this
For many years I have enjoyed the benefits of gimbal heads while using my 500mm f4 lens. You really need a gimbal for large flop prone lenses. The CB Gimbal Head exceeds my other gimbals in terms of smoothness but also has the incredibly usefull locking mechanism which makes carrying your equipment worry free. The gimbal can be broken down into 4 flat pieces which easily fit into the side pouch of a long lens bag even leaving room for a large flash! I couldn't be more pleased.
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
