BWG-Pro Gimbal Head Video Review

Posted on 14. May, 2009 by Paul Burwell in Equipment, Everything, Reviews, Techniques, Video Reviews

If you are using a large telephoto lens like a 200-400mm F4, a 300mm F2.8, a 500mm F4, a 600mm F4, a 300-800mm F5.6 or a 800mm F5.6, you need a really good tripod head. And in my opinion, you are foolish to consider anything other than a Gimbal head on a sturdy tripod. Gimbal heads work great for these large lenses because of the way they balance the weight of the equipment while offering fingertip control.

I first purchased a Black Widow Heavy Duty Gimbal Head from Jobu-Design in 2005. I purchased it to work in conjunction with my Canon 500mm F4L IS lens. It has always worked well for me and I was happy with its performance. If I had a couple of minor concerns about my first generation version of the head, they would relate to the screw for tightening the Arca-Swiss style quick release plate and I always felt that the tension controls for the vertical and horizontal panning could be a bit more refined.

A couple of weeks ago I received Jobu-Design’s latest pro gimbal head, the BWG-Pro. BWG is an acronym for the Black Widow Gimbal name. My first impression on opening the box was WOW! This is an amazing piece of professionally engineered hardware. Not that the previous version wasn’t, but this is just a great step forward. The workmanship on the one-piece cast arm is really impressive.

BWG-Pro Gimbal Head

Please check out the following video for a video review of the BWG-Pro head. Overall, and not surprisingly, I loved it. All of the knobs are now large and covered in a high-quality rubber. The head is more than a match for my 500mm lens with a 1.4x, 2.0x (or a combination thereof) teleconverters. I love how the tension knobs allow me to precisely control the feel of the lens as I pan it to follow a moving target. If someone wants to send me the new 800mm F5.6L IS lens to give it a try on the head, I’ll be more than happy to give it a whirl!

The best known gimbal head in this class is Wimberley’s Head II. I have used it along with the first generation of the Wimberley Head and their Side-Kick model. In my opinion, the BWG-Pro has greater rigidity (important with the large lenses) than the Wimberley Head II. Where the Wimberley Head II weighs in a 1.4kg (3.15 lbs), the Jobu-Design BWG-Pro is a slightly more substantial at 1.6kg (3.5 lbs). I can say, without hesitation that for me, the Jobu-Design’s BWG-Pro head is the leader of the pack for making sharp images with large telephoto lenses.

The large telephoto lenses cost many thousands of dollars and if you have one, or plan on acquiring one, I wholeheartedly recommend spending the $699 Canadian dollars ($599 US Dollars) to help you make sharp images with your lenses. The Jobu-Design gimbal heads are available through many fine retailers including B&H and Adorama.

5 WildShots out of 5.

Take a look at the following video review of the BWG-Pro. If you have trouble viewing the video, try this link.

After you’ve viewed the video, please let me know your thoughts or post any questions you might have about the head. I’m happy to answer them for you.

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Tags: black, BWG, BWG-Pro, gimbal, head, jobu-design, tripod, widow

21 Responses to “BWG-Pro Gimbal Head Video Review”

Jim

14. May, 2009

How is this different than the Wimberly head? It looks exactly the same.

Reply to this comment
- Paul Burwell
  
  14. May, 2009
  
  Jim,
  
  All Gimbal heads are going to look somewhat similar just because of the science involved.
  
  In my opinion the BWG-PRO is a much better engineered piece. It is much more rigid, providing a more stable platform for images and the knobs are a lot easier to operate wearing gloves or bare-handed.
  
  Reply to this comment
Jerry Milam

15. May, 2009

Hello Paul,

I enjoyed your video review of the Jobu BWG-Pro.

I am considering the BWG-Pro or the Wimberley. I was not aware of the Jobu line until I came across your web site.

I have a few questions if you have the time to respond.

(a) Do you feel that the BWG-Pro is as well built, or better built than the latest offering from Wimberley?

(b) When comparing the two, are there any performance differences worth nothing, outside of the locking feature on the BWG-Pro?

(c) Can the BWG-Pro be used to mount a Camera Body with a short or wide angle lens?

I appreciate your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Reply to this comment
- Paul Burwell
  
  15. May, 2009
  
  Jerry,
  
  Thanks for the questions. Do you mind if I post them and my responses to the blog? Others most likely have the same questions.
  
  a) In my opinion, the BWG-Pro is better built then the Wimberley Head II.
  b) I find the BWG-Pro a bit easier to work with in terms of adjust the vertical and horizontal panning tension.
  c) Mounting a camera body directly on a gimbal head is tricky because the lens plate on the body as the body facing away from the vertical arm. So, you need to get the tripod level to take a level image and you can’t easily adjust the vertical angle of the shot. This is true regardless of the gimbal head. Naturescapes.net sells an adapter from Visual Echoes for $125.00 that makes it easier to mount a body to a gimbal head.
  
  I hope that answers your questions. Let me know if there is anything else I can clarify for you.
  
  Reply to this comment
Stephen Cumming

21. Sep, 2009

I own a BWG-Pro and am very pleased with it’s qyuality, design, value and country of origin.

One word of caution: first time out I wrapped my left hand around the vertical post , then (stupidly) panned the camera down, badly pinching my fingers. Now I keep the post on my right side. Your video shows the proper technique: left hand on top of lens, right hand on the shutter.

Only improvement I’d make is to have a bigger release on the swing lock: it’s too hard to grab in the cold with gloves on. (Welcome to the North.)

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Andy Darby

28. Sep, 2009

Hi there. Would this work for video? I am looking for this in order to quickly secure a level platform for panning with video. The head then needs to be a fluid head for smootheness of the pan. So once the video camera is mounted and the gimble aquires the fix level platform – I lock down and then pan using the fluid head. The alternative is time consuming adjustment and re-adjustment of legs to aquire a level platform..

Reply to this comment
- Paul Burwell
  
  28. Sep, 2009
  
  Andy,
  
  It could work for video but the head isn’t a fluid head.
  
  Reply to this comment
Srinivasen

19. Dec, 2009

Excellent review about this BWG Pro Gimbal Head. Very informative for the people intent to buy gimball heads.

Srini

Reply to this comment
John Feikema

27. Dec, 2009

Paul,

Excellent review. I just purchased the BWG HDII. I love it. I am now in the market for a flash bracket. I have looked at the Kirk, The WImberley and the Jobu. Have you looked that these and (if so) which do you prefer?

If you use the Jobu, can in mount on the bottom of the arca plate?

Reply to this comment
- Paul Burwell
  
  27. Dec, 2009
  
  John,
  
  Glad you enjoyed the review.
  
  I currently own the Wimberley flash bracket, but if I were buying one today, I’d probably buy the Jobu Design full flash bracket because it is a bit lighter and cheaper and would work just great for my applications.
  
  Reply to this comment
Al

20. Feb, 2010

I purchased the BWG Pro when I got my 500 f4 back in December ’09 and will echo the reviewer here that it’s one fine piece. I use mine with the 7″ JoBu lens plate for extra capacity to balance the lens since I often mount the flash, flash bracket and Better Beamer. I only wish they had the black version when I got mine. I physically compared it to the new Wimberly (fellow photographer uses the Wimberly) and it’s definitely beefier and just as fluid…so fluid that I have to tighten down on the knob to slow it down, and as one person said, maybe overkill (build wise…never). I particularly like the locking mechanism. I also have the JoBu Jr. for my 400 5.6 and smaller lens, which also works great.

Btw, I have and use the JoBu flash bracket. It fits perfectly in the Arca Swiss plate and cost only about $115.

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Rickie

06. Mar, 2010

Hi Paul,

Enjoy you video. Thanks for showing that. I have recently acquired a copy of 500mm and a “JOBU BWG HD2″ Gimbal head and I love it. My question will be is the Jobu design work exactly like Winberly? I have never use a Wimberly before.
Someone told me if you leave the camera and lens on a tilt position it will not move but stay on that position on a Wimberly. I can only do that with tightening the tilting knob on the Jobu to the extend that the gimbal will give me the movement and still maintain the stiffness and maintain the lens position when my hands are off the camera totally. Does it work the same way on Wimberly and had to tighten tilting knob a bit?

Reply to this comment
- Paul Burwell
  
  06. Mar, 2010
  
  Rickie,
  
  Thanks for the compliment.
  
  The Wimberley head works exactly the same way as the Jobu. You need to tighten it down to prevent the lens/camera from returning to center.
  
  Reply to this comment
Gary T

15. Sep, 2010

Hi Paul,
I am looking to buy a new Gimbal head, and looking at your recommendation i will probably choose a Jobu over a Wimberley, also because of the cost!!! But, could you tell me if there is much difference between the Pro and the HD2 versions, and the differences if there are any? I use a Canon 500mm f4, and do not want to spend this sort of money and find it will not work with these gimbals!
Thanks
Gary

Reply to this comment
- Paul Burwell
  
  17. Sep, 2010
  
  Gary,
  
  The BWG-HD2 would be more than suitable for the 7D with a 500mm and an extender. The BWG-PRO can handle the pro bodies with the 600mm (plus extenders).
  
  Either would work for you, but if you’re travelling, the BWG-HD2 is lighter and all you need for your current gear.
  
  You’ll be happy with whichever you choose.
  
  Please let me know if there are other questions I can address for you.
  
  Reply to this comment
Jim

16. Oct, 2010

Hi Paul, excellent review–told me exactly what I needed to know about the product. I enjoy seeing your work in Outdoor Photography Canada.

Regards, Jim.

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karl egressy

12. Dec, 2010

Hi Paul,

I have been shooting with a Canon 500 f4.0 L IS and a Canon 300 f.2 L IS and Canon 1D MarkIV, mostly birds.
I used a Manfrotto Ballhed for a while and then about 3 1/2 years ago I switched to a Wimberley Version II gimbal head. The head worked excellent for about three years and after this time it stared clogging up. I ended up taking it apart and cleaned the bearings and replaced the old grease with very fine, high viscosity good quality grease. It worked fine again.
However, after that experience, I decided to switch to the BWD-Pro gimbal head as it employs ball bearings in both axes and they don’t require maintenance and they are fully sealed against moisture, dust and all airborne contamination.
Time will tell if I made the right decision.
Your experience with the Jobu head is encouraging.

Best Regards:
Karl

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Al

18. Dec, 2010

Regarding your review of the BWG-Pro. You state ” You need to tighten it down to prevent the lens/camera from returning to center.”
If the foot is moved up to balance the lens properly to it’s center of gravity, it will stay in ANY position you put it. The lens, if balanced properly, should NOT return to center when the tension is released.
Otherwise I agree with your review.

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