Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick™ (ball head extension)

Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick™, ball head extension for precise telephoto photography

Sometimes only a single component is missing for your existing tripod setup to suddenly feel like a completely different system. That is exactly what the Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick™ does: it transforms your sturdy ball head with a matching quick-release clamp into a fully fledged telephoto tilt head for long focal lengths, without you having to give up your ball head. You simply insert the Sidekick into the existing quick-release base, tighten the screw clamp, align it, and you can guide your telephoto lenses in a controlled, smooth, and almost weightless way.

The Sidekick is specially designed for telephoto work and allows you to move even heavy super-telephoto lenses up to about 800 mm f/5.6 with ease. The construction is designed so that the axes of rotation run very close to the center of gravity of the entire combination. This allows you to balance your lens precisely and then pan, track, and fine-tune with minimal effort—ideal for birds in flight, wildlife, sports, or dynamic action subjects.

Arca compatible, seamless integration into your quick-release system

The Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick™ is designed for quick-release bases with a 38 mm dovetail profile and is Arca compatible. This means: if your ball head has a 38 mm dovetail compatible quick-release base (for example Arca-style, Kirk, Really Right Stuff, Markins, Acra-Tech, Foba, Studioball and comparable systems), you can use the Sidekick directly. The integrated anodized dovetail plate of the Sidekick features a safety stop screw that prevents accidental slipping out of the quick-release clamp and thus provides additional security, especially when expensive telephoto lenses are involved.

The clamp accepts 38 mm dovetail plates, and the clamping type is a precise screw clamp. This allows you to secure your lenses sensitively without jerky movements or play in the connection. The Sidekick is an ideal match for lenses in the range of 300 mm f/2.8 or 500 mm f/4. Many users also use it successfully with 400 mm f/5.6 and 300 mm f/4 primes as well as corresponding zoom lenses in combination with medium-weight camera bodies.

Made in USA, robust quality for tough everyday photography

The Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick™ is designed and manufactured in the USA and is consistently built for durability and stability. The housing is made of high-quality aluminum, which is not only robust but, despite its solid construction, pleasantly lightweight. With a weight of about 0.59 kg, the Sidekick remains easy to transport and fits easily into a camera bag or backpack without weighing you down unnecessarily.

With a maximum load capacity of around 45 kg, the Sidekick is significantly overdimensioned for typical camera-telephoto combinations. This gives you a strong sense of security when using large lenses such as 600 mm f/4, 400 mm f/2.8 or indeed 800 mm f/5.6, provided your ball head and tripod are correspondingly strong and stable. The Sidekick carries these optics without difficulty as long as the base is solidly designed.

Manufacture-built, thoughtful design down to the last detail

The design of the SK-100 may look simple at first glance, but in detail it is implemented with great care. With a height of about 23.1 cm, a width of around 11.7 cm and a depth of approx. 6.4 cm, the Sidekick is compact enough for use on the go, yet offers sufficient leverage and stability for long telephoto lenses. The surface is anodized, making it resistant to scratches and weather influences.

The built-in dovetail plate with safety stop screw is compatible with Arca-style knob and lever clamps and ensures that your lens combination is guided safely. The friction can be operated with one hand so that you do not have to keep changing your grip when tracking subjects. This enables almost weightless tracking, allowing you to follow your subject smoothly without the framing sagging uncontrollably or stopping abruptly.

Requirements for your ball head so the Sidekick can work optimally

For the Wimberley Sidekick™ to reach its full potential, your ball head should meet a few conditions. First, it must be able to hold the weight of your lens securely without the position changing on its own or the combination twisting. A stable, high-quality ball head is essential here, not optional.

In addition, your ball head needs a 38 mm dovetail compatible quick-release base. This includes, among others, many systems from Kirk, Really Right Stuff, Markins, Acra-Tech, Foba, Studioball and of course Arca-style itself. A panning axis whose friction is controlled via a separate adjustment knob is also important. Only then can you perform controlled horizontal pans while using the ball for vertical alignment.

A note on compatibility: most Bogen/Manfrotto ball heads are not suitable because they do not have the required 38 mm dovetail profile or lack the necessary separation of the panning axis. The Sidekick should also not be used with some models of the Z1, as these tend to slip or come loose under load. It is worth taking a close look at your ball head’s specifications before using the Sidekick.

Suitable lenses, from 300 mm to 800 mm f/5.6

For your lens to be used on the Sidekick, a few points also need to be observed. Your telephoto lens should be equipped with a sturdy tripod collar so that the combination can be supported around its center of gravity. In addition, you need a 38 mm dovetail compatible quick-release plate or a replacement lens foot with an integrated 38 mm dovetail profile. A quick-release plate with a dovetail as long as possible helps you balance the lens exactly at its center of gravity.

The Sidekick is ideal for lenses in the range of a 300 mm f/2.8 or 500 mm f/4. Many users also employ it with smaller telephoto lenses. 400 mm f/5.6 and 300 mm f/4 primes or corresponding zoom lenses generally work very well, especially in combination with medium-weight cameras. With heavier bodies, balancing smaller lenses can become a bit trickier or require additional aids, particularly with combinations such as 70–200 mm f/2.8 and shorter focal lengths.

Large super-telephoto lenses such as 600 mm f/4 and 400 mm f/2.8 can also be used with the Sidekick, provided it is mounted on a sufficiently strong ball head. In some cases it is sensible or even recommended to use a lower-profile lens foot or a special adapter plate to further optimize balance and handling. The Sidekick is designed for lenses up to about 800 mm f/5.6, assuming the rest of your equipment is dimensioned accordingly.

Operation and handling, almost weightless tracking

In practical use, the thoughtful design of the Wimberley SK-100 Sidekick™ really becomes apparent. Once you have mounted your lens with a suitable dovetail plate and balanced it properly, you can change position without any judder. The friction is designed so that you can adjust it comfortably with one hand. You can therefore set the system to move very freely to follow fast action, or a bit tighter if you are working more calmly and only need occasional corrections.

If you do not need the Sidekick, you simply remove it from the ball head. The ball head itself is then available again as normal for lighter lenses or standard zooms. You therefore do not have to carry two different tripod heads with you, but instead extend your existing ball head with a flexible telephoto tilt function that you can activate or deactivate within seconds as needed.

Compact dimensions, high load capacity, ideal for on the go

With its dimensions of about 23.1 cm in height, 11.7 cm in width and 6.4 cm in depth, the Sidekick is surprisingly compact. It does not take up much space in a camera backpack, but can be quickly pulled out when a spontaneous opportunity for wildlife, sports or distant subjects arises. The weight of around 0.59 kg is a good compromise between stability and mobility, so you are not unnecessarily burdened even on longer tours.

The maximum load capacity of about 45 kg shows that the Sidekick is designed for professional telephoto combinations. In practice you will hardly reach this limit with common cameras and super-telephoto lenses, which gives you additional safety reserves. Combined with a stable tripod and a high-quality ball head, you get a system that works reliably even in demanding situations.