Gimbal design tripod head for long camera lenses and scopes. Weight: 2.3lb Content and images originally posted by Andy Bright
Reviews
Andy Bright's review
This is a gimbal type head that works on the principal of balance assisted by nylon friction washers. Similar designs exist from specialised manufacturers, often with specialised price tags! However, this head is far cheaper than the ubiquitous Wimberley and, from my own initial tests as well as reports from other bird photographers, it can genuinely compete. If the Kirk heads are regarded as a poor mans Wimberley, then I dont know what the 393 will be nicknamed!
The build quality of this head is very impressive, the frame seems to be steel and not lightweight alloy. Those using this head with monstrous Sigma 800mm and the even larger 300-800mm lenses seem very confident about its strength and the safety of their lenses.
The 393 attaches to the top of your tripod via the 3/8 inch threaded bolt, or your 1/4 inch in conjunction with a 3/8 adaptor. The 393 is tightened onto the tripod base plate by the large (and easy to grip) knurled rubber knob. The main frame of the 393 will turn freely on your tripod head and the drag is factory set (seemed fine) but can be adjusted by the user if necessary.
A quick release plate is supplied, and this is attached to the tripod mount socket of your lens or scope... it is supplied with 2 3/8 inch bolts and 2 1/4 inch bolts as well as a video securing pin. This quick release plate and its corresponding plate on the head itself, is a sliding design to allow you to set up your equipment for optimum balance.
You can mount your equipment on to the 393 in two ways, either using the 393 as a cradle to support your equipment or, as can be seen in the photos, have your equipment supported from above. I know it looks rather perilous, but its as safe as houses. I will try both methods over time and ascertain which suits my stlye of shooting better. The twin knobs either side of the cradle can be tensioned to suit your equipment or general preferrence.
In use, panning and tilting is super smooth and preferrable to my 501pro fluid head, with one hand on your cameras grip you can manouver to any position. Tracking flying birds is very simple and an area where this type of head excells.
No matter what angle I shoot at, the equipment stays rock solid when you take your hands off the camera. The rewards of this solidity are consistantly sharp images.
Update: I tend to use the 393 with the lens supported from above. There is little benefit in actual use but it is far easier and quicker to attach a big lens with the tripod mount at the top as you are carrying the lens in this position anyway.
The downside is that lenses with very large hoods will struggle to get thru the rectangle of the 393.
More images and review at [b][url=http://www.digiscoped.com/manfrotto701RC2.html]Manfrotto Review[/url][/b]
Pros
- cost
- ease of use
- build quality
Cons
- rubber knob comes off fairly easily
- no provision for flash bracket


