Wimberley Head™ WH-200-S telephoto tilt head side mount

Wimberley Head WH-200-S telephoto gimbal sidemount for uncompromising telephotography

Imagine your 500mm or 600mm sitting on the tripod as if it were born for it: steady, balanced, instantly ready for the next bird in flight or the player at the far end of the field. That is exactly what the Wimberley Head WH-200-S telephoto gimbal sidemount is made for. It is an especially light and compact alternative to the classic WH-200 without sacrificing its stability and precision.

The WH-200-S is a fully fledged telephoto gimbal head with its own panning axis, optimized for telephotography with long and heavy lenses. It is ideal for focal lengths such as 300 mm f/2.8 and 500 mm f/4, but can also be used with smaller or larger telephoto lenses, up to about 800 mm f/5.6. For 400 mm f/2.8 and 600 mm f/4 we recommend a lowered replacement lens foot to achieve clean balance. With smaller lenses in combination with very heavy camera bodies, balancing can become a bit trickier, while setups such as 400 mm f/5.6 or 300 mm f/4 with a mid-sized camera body work absolutely smoothly.

Made in USA, precision you really notice in everyday use

The Wimberley Head WH-200-S is designed and manufactured in the USA and in practice is just as robust as it looks. The main frame, the panning axis and the tilt axis are identical to the proven WH-200. Only the classic swing arm with integrated clamp has been replaced by a clamp mounted on the side of the tilt axis. This creates a swing arm with a side-mounted lens clamp that gives you very direct, controlled handling.

Weighing only about 1.04 kg, the WH-200-S is around 390 g lighter than the WH-200. The height is about 23.5 cm, the width 20.3 cm and the depth 6.4 cm. The base has a diameter of around 4.9 cm, providing a solid contact area on the tripod. In the hand, the whole unit feels surprisingly compact, yet massive enough that you won’t feel uneasy even in windy conditions or during fast pans.

Manufacture-built, high-quality materials, well thought-out design

The WH-200-S is made from carefully machined aluminum and stainless steel. This combination provides very good rigidity, high load capacity and long service life, even with intensive outdoor use in the field. The surfaces are neatly finished, the edges pleasantly smoothed and the controls clearly defined. Nothing feels flimsy, nothing feels accidental.

The side clamp is firmly anchored to the tilt axis with two screws. This keeps the connection stable, even when you mount heavy telephoto lenses and pan frequently. At the same time, this design enables an interesting option: with an optionally available conversion kit you can turn the sidemount head into a gimbal with a classic swing arm if needed. This gives you flexibility if you want to adapt or expand your gear later without having to buy a completely new tripod head.

Arca compatible, flexible quick-release system for your telephoto routine

The side clamp of the Wimberley Head WH-200-S uses a screw clamp and accepts a 38 mm dovetail profile that is, according to the manufacturer, Arca-style compatible. This means the head fits a wide range of lens plates and rails available on the market and established in the professional sector. For you this means: you can generally continue to use existing Arca compatible plates and rails and mount your telephoto lenses quickly and securely.

The screw clamp allows sensitive tightening and loosening, which is particularly pleasant if you frequently switch between different lenses or regularly rebalance your setup. Mounting the lens on the sidemount head is essentially the same as with the Wimberley Sidekick. Unlike the Sidekick, however, the WH-200-S is not an adapter but a standalone tripod head with its own panning axis. This makes it significantly more versatile and stable in daily use.

Side-mounted lens clamp like on the Wimberley Sidekick

If you know the Wimberley Sidekick, you will feel right at home with the WH-200-S. The side-mounted lens clamp provides a very direct connection between lens and tilt axis. The result is smooth, controlled panning behavior that is enormously helpful especially with moving subjects such as birds, wildlife or athletes.

The tilt axis moves smoothly and evenly, allowing you to guide your camera-lens combination precisely without risking jerky movements in the image. The panning axis allows fluid horizontal pans, which is particularly practical when tracking subjects or creating a series of images across a wider angle of view. The WH-200-S behaves like a classic gimbal head, just in the more compact sidemount variant.

Optimized for long telephoto lenses up to 800 mm f/5.6

The Wimberley Head WH-200-S telephoto gimbal sidemount is specifically designed for use with long telephoto lenses. It is ideal for lenses in the 300 mm f/2.8 and 500 mm f/4.0 range, but can also be used with shorter or longer focal lengths. Up to about 800 mm f/5.6, handling remains well controlled in practice, provided the combination of lens, camera and plate is sensibly balanced.

For 400 mm f/2.8 and 600 mm f/4.0 we recommend using a lowered replacement lens foot. This brings the center of gravity closer to the tilt axis, improving balance and making operation even more pleasant. With smaller lenses combined with very heavy cameras, balancing can be somewhat more demanding because the center of gravity is then less favorable. In many typical setups, such as 400 mm f/5.6 or 300 mm f/4 with a mid-sized camera body, however, the WH-200-S works flawlessly and conveys a very secure feel.

Technical data at a glance: compact, stable, practical

At a weight of about 1.04 kg, the Wimberley Head WH-200-S telephoto gimbal sidemount offers remarkable stability. The height is about 23.5 cm, the width around 20.3 cm and the depth about 6.4 cm. The base diameter is approximately 4.9 cm, providing a solid contact area on common tripods.

The tripod head features a 3/8" UNC female thread at the base, allowing it to be combined with most professional tripods. The material is aluminum and stainless steel, ensuring high rigidity, corrosion resistance and long service life. The design is tailored to telephoto gimbal use, i.e. situations where you work with long focal lengths, track fast movements and still need calm, controllable camera guidance.

Practice-oriented features for telephotography

In daily work with long focal lengths, the theoretical spec sheet matters less than the feel the head gives you. The WH-200-S can be adjusted cleanly, movements are smooth and predictable, and the side-mounted lens clamp provides a direct, stable connection between lens and head. Especially in telephotography, where even small vibrations or jerks become visible, this makes a noticeable difference.

If you work with flash, you can use the optional F-6 flash bracket arm, which is specifically designed for this tripod head. This allows you to position a flash unit sensibly above the lens without having to improvise. The entire system is designed to function reliably even during longer sessions in the field, whether you are photographing birds in flight, wildlife at dawn or fast-paced sports action.