Gimbal and fluid heads are available for tripods and monopods and can significantly impact the quality of your photography. What are the differences between a gimbal head and a fluid head, and when would you choose one over the other?
Gimbal heads are designed to provide support, balance, and smooth movement for large-lens photography, typically used in wildlife, sport, and similar photography genres. Fluid heads support smaller cameras and lenses, providing smooth pan and tilt operations and movement-dampening functions.
Monopods and tripod heads are accessories that many photographers find indispensable for improving their work. Each head is designed with certain purposes in mind and to solve particular photography problems. This makes it crucial to use the right head for the right purpose to get the best photographic results!
Gimbal Head Vs. Fluid Head – Purpose
To differentiate the purpose of a gimble and a fluid head, we need to be clear about the definition of each of these heads.
There is a difference between a gimbal head for photography and a video gimbal head. Video gimbal heads are electronically controlled devices that keep the video camera still and focused no matter how the tripod is moved.
The electronics in the video gimbal head react to sensors that detect the camera’s movement and the tripod and compensate by keeping the video camera stable and oriented straight and level.
A photographic gimbal head is a little different. It is a manually operated device with no electronic sensor or motors to control stability.
This brings us to the differences in purpose between a fluid head and a photography gimbal head.
Purpose of the Gimbal Head?
Gimbal heads for photography are intended to help support large, heavy lenses and cameras and allow the photographer to move the larger equipment quickly and smoothly without the weight of the gear limiting the position adjustment.
The photography gimbal head is designed to provide extra muscle for supporting the heavy equipment for long photographic sessions, where it would not be possible for the photographer to keep the equipment at the ready, waiting for the moment when the shutter release is pressed.
Heavy equipment creates tired arm and shoulder muscles, which can induce shaking from tired muscles while the photographer waits for the prime shot. The gimbal head takes the camera’s weight and lens, taking the strain off the photographer’s muscles.
The mechanism of the gimbal head also allows the photographer to pan or move the heavy gear smoothly and without effort while tracking the subject.
The mountings on the gimbal head are generally intended to connect to the foot of
Purpose of the Fluid Head?
The purpose of the fluid head is a little different compared to the gimbal head. The fluid head is intended for smaller photographic gear and supports the camera rather than a large lens.
The mounting on the fluid head connects to a connection plate mounted to the camera’s base. The purpose of the fluid head is to provide smooth panning and tilting of the camera, eliminating vibrations from the camera itself or the photographer’s movements as the camera position is adjusted for the shot or tracking the subject.
Fluid heads can be used with cameras as well as smaller video cameras and provide smooth movement for both these types of equipment, rather than only large camera lenses.
Gimbal Vs. Fluid Head – Mechanism
The purpose of a gimbal is to carry the weight of the gear and balance the equipment to reduce the weight the photographer must lift.
While a gimbal does provide some panning and tilt ability, it is generally intended for a fairly static type of photography, where relatively small movements of the camera and lens are needed.
Where larger adjustments are needed, the gimbal head must be re-balanced to counter the weight of the gear.
The mechanism inside a gimbal is generally a series of rings that work on horizontal and vertical axes linked with pivots and bearings to create smooth movement.
A fluid head uses fluid to dampen camera movement and shake, producing an extremely smooth camera movement in the tilt or panning axis.
The fluid head has nested cylinders in the mechanism with a viscous fluid, often oil, between the cylinders to lubricate the movement of the cylinders in relation to each other and dampen movement from the camera.
Most fluid heads can lock the camera in place on either axis if you want to maintain the orientation on one axis while maneuvering the camera on the other axis.
Gimbal Vs. Fluid Head – Type of Photography
The gimbal and fluid heads are not made with a specific photography type in mind but with different gear in mind.
By association, they have come to be used for certain types of photography due to the gear used for these types of shooting.
Gimbal heads are often favored for wildlife, sports photography, airshows, motorsports, and similar forms of photography where large lenses are typically used.
Fluid heads can also be used for these forms of photography and any other form where smaller cameras and lenses are used.
Fluid heads are considered an upgrade, or an improvement on the standard pan and tilt heads, providing enhanced stability and smoothness of movement compared to these heads.
Gimbal Vs. Fluid Head – Cost
Gimbal heads range in price from low-end models at about $60 to expensive options at $600 or more. However, the lenses you will be supporting with this gear are expensive, so it does not pay to skimp on the cost of the gimbal and put a high-value lens at risk.
I recommend buying the best gimbal your budget allows and sticking with known brands with good reputations, such as the Benro GH2N gimbal head.
Fluid heads, in contrast, start at a little under $50 and can range all the way to a little under $200. This makes the fluid head considerably more affordable than a gimbal head.
As with any camera gear, the better the quality you purchase, the better your photography experience will be. I recommend the Manfrotto MVH500AH and the Benro S4 Pro as great options.
Given the cost differences between these heads, selecting the head type that best suits the form of photography you do the most is important.
A fluid head is an upgrade on the standard pan and tilt heads and will improve your photography, but in my opinion, a gimbal head is a must-have for working with large lenses.
Conclusion
Gimbal and fluid heads operate similarly but are designed for different photographic purposes. The fluid head has a more general and widely used application, while the gimbal head is more of a specific use accessory for your tripod or monopod.
A fluid head is also a more budget-friendly purchase than a gimbal, making them more common in a photographer’s gear bag than a gimbal head.
