Benro GH3 £339, $425
www.benro.com
Gimbal heads don’t tend to stray from a fairly standard design, but the GH3 stands out by being fully collapsible, with the main gimbal arm split into two pieces for more compact storage. It’s a neat trick, although it doesn’t make that much difference in the real world. But at least rigidity isn’t compromised, as the GH3 will stay strong under a hefty 25 kilograms of kit. Compactness doesn’t equal lightness though, as at 1.8 kilograms, this is one of the heavier options here.
As with most gimbal heads, the GH3 incorporates an Arca-Swiss quick-release mounting plate and there’s lots of vertical adjustment. Large, grippy locking knobs are easy to use when wearing gloves and lock solidly, while also undoing without introducing any play into the pan or tilt joints.