Review on Annsm Heavy-Duty Aluminum Alloy Panoramic Tripod Gimbal Head for DSLR Cameras with Telephoto Lenses – 360 Degree Movable Arca-Swiss STD 1/4” Quick Release Plate – Max Load Capacity of 40 lbs / 18 Kgs by Lisa Turner

I would give 5 stars except the first day I went camping with it the spirit level showed up and was never found again. So I bought a spare (12x7mm) and taped it to the back with thin double sided tape. However, this is too high and the surface of the spirit level was scratched because it was no longer recessed. A 12x6mm level should work, but it's not clear if the one sold by Revain is "high sensitivity" like the ones they sell 12x7. I ended up gluing an o-ring around the plane to create a recess and protect my face (see 1st photo). So to use the spirit level you need to remove the camera and lens, remove the arca clip and place the clip on top. Reason for panning I suppose as I did in the 1st photo. The same goes for other gimbal heads that Revain sells, but it's inconvenient and time-consuming to use. So I bought a larger spirit level (50 x 9mm which was actually 18mm high) and attached it directly to the bottom of the pan as in the 2nd photo. You can do this with thick double-sided foam tape so the level is 1/8 inch above the base to remove the screw head sticking out from the center of the base. Instead I drilled a hole in the bottom of the base. Spirit level to get clearance then used thin double sided tape. Anyway, at least on my camera + lens, the spirit level doesn't get in the way of the lens even when it's as up or down as it can tilt. Now that when I do that move the tripod, everything is aligned quickly and easily. In addition, the head performed well in the field and was a pleasure to use. Images from my equivalent 900mm telephoto lens were sharp. I haven't had the lube viscosity issues that others have complained about with other brands of gimbals, although I haven't tried this head in extreme cold. UPDATE after 9 months of use. Unlike others, I have no issues with pan axis play. The solution with double-sided tape on the new spirit level didn't hold up. ng, and lost the level. So I bought another level and attached it with three small self tapping screws that went into the blind holes I had drilled in the top of the base. That works great. Since it's winter now, I've seen it work in extreme cold (10 degrees Fahrenheit). Yes, the thick fat it's filled with adds more than desirable resistance in very cold weather. Even when the temperature is comfortable, grease tends to ooze out of the pivot bearing and is a sticky mess that needs to be cleaned up after each use. So I decided to disassemble the pivot bearing to add a grease seal. It is easy to disassemble, you only need a metric allen key. I scraped, wiped and washed the grease (but left it on the thrust roller bearing) and reassembled it without changing the grease (and scrapped the idea of adding a seal). Now, with the bearing surfaces aluminum-on-aluminum, with no lube slick in between, leaning friction was difficult to adjust, and when the knob was turned it quickly went from loose to locked. The friction was also uneven at different tilt positions for a given grip position. So I added a pliable washer that I cut from rubberized fabric between the mating pieces. Now the handle gives me a range of friction as I tighten it and the friction is the same at all angles. i'm happy again Yes, it's a little quirk-fix-shop project, but if you're forthcoming, you'll get a stabilizer you'll be very happy with, at a fraction of the cost of the alternatives.