Nest NT-530H MK II £300, $467

www.nest-style.com

Pros: Top quality; easy to use; wide lens compatibility Cons: Expensive compared to equally well-made heads We say: Aside from the cost, this is a great gimbal Tripods are often made from carbon fibre, so why not gimbal heads? This is the material of choice for the NT-530H MK II, which has a load-carrying capacity of 25 kilograms. At 1.16 kilograms it’s not substantially lighter than similarly-sized aluminium options, but this is still one of the lightest gimbals you can buy.

Lightweight doesn’t mean no-frills, though, as there’s good vertical adjustment and a long Arca-Swiss lens plate is included, giving plenty of balancing adjustment. However, while the tilting rotation is smooth and precise, some bearing slack is apparent when loosening the panning clamp. The clamps themselves are wrapped in fairly smooth, leather-like material that isn’t grippy enough for easy adjustment in the wet or cold.

Balancing act

Adjusting your camera and lens’s position on the mounting plate enables you to balance heavy kit combinations for maximum stability

Ups and downs

Lock stock

The larger the locking knobs, the easier they are to use when it’s cold and wet

Not all gimbal heads allow vertical adjustment, as it’s not essential to overall performance – though it is what will give you the perfect ‘weightless’ feel

Ten layers of carbon fibre are used in the Nest head’s construction

This is a great all-rounder, not too large but very adjustable