Nikon 200-400 and Sidekick

I just got a Nikon 200-400 VR lens and wish to get a Sidekick to use with it on upcoming trips with a D300 and D700. I will be using a RRS BH-55 ballhead, probably with a lever release clamp. Can anyone comment on using the Wimberley AP-553 replacement foot with this lens, along with the AK-100 adapter. Or, the Wimberley AP-902 + P-40 with the Nikon foot, or some other option that you have found works best?
Thanks.

All you need is the RRS foot replacement for the 200mm-400mm and you're in business! One piece with the dovetail machined in. Check it out at: http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/items.a ... =0&Tp=&Bc=

Another vote for the RRS replacement foot for the 200-400VR.

I use the 4th Generation Foot on my 200-400VR and 600VR. They are now available in the NSN store so that makes it easy. I think they make a great product and nice and easy to hold them with the holes in the foot, allows a couple fingers to slip in.

http://www.naturescapes.net/store/produ ... =90&page=1

I would strongly recommend the 4th generation foot. I am a huge RRS fan and supporter but for replacement feet, 4th gen are better IMHO. I have them on every collared lens I own, even the 70-200VR

That's what I love about NSN! Soooo much valuable information in these forums! Thanks George and E.J. for the info on the 4th Generation company. Honestly, prior to your posts, I didn't even know they existed!

I would strongly recommend that you get the AK 100 adapter for the Sidekick. Wimberley states that it is wise to use this with the RRS lever clamp release ballheads.

http://www.tripodhead.com/products/side ... sories.cfm

I use one with my Sidekick and the BH-40 RRS/lever clamp and it provides a very secure fit.

Jim

As Jim said, the AK-100 provides a very secure fit. When my wife bought her BH-55 with quick release clamp we found that it was not possible to close the release clamp. We checked with my BH-55 and it had the same problem. However, my older Sidekick worked fine on both ballheads. Must be something with the tolerance during the manufacturing of the sidekick.

I've used the Wimberley AP-553 and generally it is fine. The main problem with it is that the the foot is very close to lens; the consequence of this is that you cannot use the foot as a handle for carrying the lens around. Of course, if you are always using it with a tripod then no problem, but there are times when I need to handhold the 200-400 (eg. on a ship, some flight shots, etc) where I really missed being able to hold the lens from the foot when not shooting. So, in the end I got the RRS foot (this was back in 2004-2005), which I have no complaints. My wife also has one for hers.

Dave

BTW if you are looking for the foot from the NSN store shoot me an email. We have had problems getting stuff from 4GD lately but they are actually on the way to our warehouse so we can put your name on one and ship it for free.

Thanks for all the helpful info. I, too, was unaware that 4th Generation made a replacement foot for this lens. It sounds like both that one and the RRS will allow you to get your fingers around the lens which would be quite helpful. I guess the Wimberley replacement may be designed shallower to allow the lens center of gravity to remain over that of the ballhead when using the Sidekick. Using a RRS or 4th Gen foot may require the use of spacer plates to center the lens over the Sidekick, which seems even more cumbersome. Likewise, the 4th Gen foot probably is designed to keep the center of gravity over the base of their Mongoose 3.5. From what I can tell, all 3 of these would allow me to use Wimberley flash brackets which I like.

In looking at the designs, I can see how the full WH-200 allows for raising and lowering the lens to keep the center of gravity where you want it, regardless of the foot size.

Looks like I may need to rethink things. It seemed to me that changing back and forth from a BH-55 to a Wimberley for scenery and wildlife would be a nuisance, hence the interest in the Sidekick.

I have 4th Generation Designs replacement feet on all of my larger lenses, and I have been extremely happy!!