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.

Bookmark this article

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

13 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
//REVIEW// BWG-Pro Gimbal Head Video Review - Paul Burwell | Photo News Today

14. May, 2009

[...] Source and Read More: paulburwell.com [...]

Reply to this comment
//REVIEW// BWG-Pro Gimbal Head Video Review - Paul Burwell | Photo News Today

14. May, 2009

[...] Source and Read More: paulburwell.com [...]

Reply to this comment
REVIEW: BWG-Pro Gimbal Head Video Review - Paul Burwell « Out of the Dark Room

14. May, 2009

[...] Read the entire review at: Paul Burwell [...]

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.)

Reply to this comment
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

WildShots