Uniqball two years later

I would assume that by now several people have amassed a good deal of experience with the Uniqball.  How have you found it to work as a replacement for a gimbal head and ball head?  Theory sound good but you seem to hear little about it any more.

I use the Uniqball since a good 6 months. To start with I was a bit sceptical and could not see it replacing my gimbal but instead haven't touched the gimbal head for a long time. I like the fact it is compact and I use it with the bridge. This allows me to use one camera with for example a 500mm and a camera with a 150-600 zoom simultaneously. Great for hide work and it offers a great deal of flexibility. So all in all I am very pleased.
Rene de Heer

Ever since getting the new Nikon 500 f/4E, FL, ED, VR lens, a year ago, I have been using the Uniqball head with the Feisol 3442-CT tripod. Love it and the combo worked out perfectly on my recent trip to Costa Rica.

Picked one up just after they were released and use nothing else now for my wildlife stuff. Sold all my gimbal heads and levelling bases. Very happy with the Uniqball.

rene wrote:I use the Uniqball since a good 6 months. To start with I was a bit sceptical and could not see it replacing my gimbal but instead haven't touched the gimbal head for a long time. I like the fact it is compact and I use it with the bridge. This allows me to use one camera with for example a 500mm and  a camera with a 150-600 zoom simultaneously. Great for hide work and it offers a great deal of flexibility. So all in all I am very pleased.
Rene de Heer

Hi Rene,

Do you have a photo showing this simultaneous set-up?  I've wanted something like that when working in a blind/hide and there are subjects close & far.

Thanks,

Jim

I bought a Uniqball but returned it because of the framing shift when tightening it down. This was when they first came out. Is this still an issue?

Thanks for starting this thread and posts - I was not aware of this system - keen to give it a try.

hullyjr wrote:

rene wrote:I use the Uniqball since a good 6 months. To start with I was a bit sceptical and could not see it replacing my gimbal but instead haven't touched the gimbal head for a long time. I like the fact it is compact and I use it with the bridge. This allows me to use one camera with for example a 500mm and  a camera with a 150-600 zoom simultaneously. Great for hide work and it offers a great deal of flexibility. So all in all I am very pleased.
Rene de Heer

Hi Rene,

Do you have a photo showing this simultaneous set-up?  I've wanted something like that when working in a blind/hide and there are subjects close & far.

Thanks,

Jim

Hi see below link to the set-up. If any questions: let me know
Rene

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=58599D70

Impressive rig, René.

Thanks it works really well from a stationary position only! It is great to quickly move from a fixed focal lens to a zoom when working from a hide.
Rene

rene wrote:

hullyjr wrote:

rene wrote:I use the Uniqball since a good 6 months. To start with I was a bit sceptical and could not see it replacing my gimbal but instead haven't touched the gimbal head for a long time. I like the fact it is compact and I use it with the bridge. This allows me to use one camera with for example a 500mm and  a camera with a 150-600 zoom simultaneously. Great for hide work and it offers a great deal of flexibility. So all in all I am very pleased.
Rene de Heer

Hi Rene,

Do you have a photo showing this simultaneous set-up?  I've wanted something like that when working in a blind/hide and there are subjects close & far.

Thanks,

Jim

Hi see below link to the set-up. If any questions: let me know
Rene

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=58599D70

Thanks for the image, just how balanced is that rig?  You can adjust the horizontal bar to compensate for differences in the weight of the two camera set-ups?

Thanks,

Jim

You can only move the bar horizontally but i have it always centered in the middle so to speak. I find it pretty balanced but with 2 lenses and 2 heavy lenses fitted on the rig it is a bit heavy to move around. For me the flexibility wins.
Rene

I find my UB very felxible but not a complete replacement for a gimbal, it is great for travelling where I no longer need to take a gimbal and a ball head, but it cannot do every thing it is supposed to be perfectly. For instance it does not self right itself like a fluid head or a gimbal (when correctly balanced), it is prone to flop if you let go of the camera/lens too far in any direction... it can be tightened but this makes it harder to use. It can be a ball head too of course but I use the levelling ball part as a ball head, not the swivel part as it only moves in one direction.

However I do love the compactness, and that wins for me.

Thank you for your comments. Its very helpful. Has anyone used uniqball's panning device?

Check the Classified form for a used one.

I bought one about 9 months ago after advice from flygirl on this forum concerning reducing weight. I could not be happier - it helps me reduce my weight and load as well as being excellent for my hide sessions.

whitehead wrote:I bought one about 9 months ago after advice from flygirl on this forum concerning reducing weight. I could not be happier - it helps me reduce my weight and load as well as being excellent for my hide sessions.

Thanks for the comments.  It is helping me feel more confident about depending on this head for an upcoming trip.

So I'm thinking that if weight is not an object a dedicated gimbal is still preferable?

Steve Fines wrote:So I'm thinking that if weight is not an object a dedicated gimbal is still preferable?

Personally I prefer the Uniqball over a gimbal.

Andy Trowbridge wrote:

Steve Fines wrote:So I'm thinking that if weight is not an object a dedicated gimbal is still preferable?

Personally I prefer the Uniqball over a gimbal.

Could I ask why? It seems that for long lenses, ignoring the weight/size as an issue, a Wimberly can do everything a UB can, but doesn't have the risk of flopping.