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The Sidekick® - Compatibility


The Sidekick
"I simply add the Sidekick to my ballhead and immediately have a gimbal-type head that has smooth movements in every direction..."  -George Lepp
 

SK-100 The Sidekick ($250.00)  

 

IMPORTANT: See our Compatibility section to ensure your equipment will work with the Sidekick.




Ball Head Prerequisites Ballhead Recommendations

1- Your ball head must be able to hold the weight of your lens without creeping or slipping.

2- Your ball head must have an Arca-Swiss style quick-release clamp (e.g. Arca-Swiss, Kirk, Really Right Stuff, Markins, Acratech, Foba, Studioball)
Bogen-Manfrotto ball heads are generally NOT compatible

3- Your ball head must have a panning base with a separate knob that can be locked independently of the ball and socket joint.

Important Compatibility Warnings

If your ball head has a lever-activated clamp (such as those made by Really Right Stuff), you must add the AK-100 Adapter Plate to the Sidekick to ensure a safe connection. If you have a Markins quick release lever clamp, click here.

Arca-Swiss Z-1 ball head owners: Click here

Lens Prerequisites

1- Your lens must have a rotation collar.

2- Your lens must have an Arca-Swiss style quick-release plate or a Lens Replacement Foot with an integrated Arca-Swiss style dovetail.

 
 

Lens Compatibility Guide

The Sidekick is ideally suited for lenses similar in size to a 300 f/2.8 or 500 f/4.

Smaller Lenses: Many of our customers use smaller collared lenses on the Sidekick; however, when used in conjunction with a large, heavy camera body (e.g. a pro body with vertical grip), these lenses can be difficult to balance properly. Generally, 400 f/5.6 and 300 f/4 fixed or zoom lenses with medium-weight camera bodies work well. Heavier camera bodies on theses lenses can be problematic (even more so on 70-200 f/2.8 and smaller lenses).

Larger Lenses (600 f/4 & 400 f/2.8): The Sidekick will safely carry the weight of a very big lens provided it is mated with a ball head that will hold the weight of the lens. However, in some cases it is necessary to replace the foot of the lens with a low-profile Lens Replacement Foot, or add special spacers to the Sidekick to make the lens dimensionally compatible with the Sidekick. Use the guide below to determine if your lens has special requirements.

(Click Here if you already have a non-Wimberley lens plate or replacement foot.)

In the chart below, please reference the right-hand column for Sidekick Lens Plate recommendations.

All Makes
300 2.8 lenses ---------------------------------------------- Compatible using the recommended Arca-Swiss style lens plate.
Collared lenses smaller than a 300 f/2.8------------- See "Smaller Lenses" above

 

Lens Plate Recommendations

For more information about this chart, click here.

CANON LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
28-300 IS P-20 P-20
35-350 P-20 P-20
65 2.8 1-5x macro (w/ collar "B") P-20 P-20
70-200 2.8 P-20 P-20
70-200 4.0 P-10 P-10
70-300 4.0-5.6 L IS (w/ collar "C") P-20 P-20
80-200 2.8 P-20 P-20
100 macro w/ collar P-20 P-20
100-400 P-20 P-20
180 macro P-20 P-20
200 1.8 P-20 P-20
200 2.0 P-20 P-20
200 2.8 II w/ collar P-20 P-20
300 4.0 P-10 P-10
300 4.0 IS P-20 P-20
300 2.8 P-20 P-20
300 2.8 IS (ver. I & II) P-30 P-30
400 5.6 P-20 P-20
400 4.0 DO P-20 P-20
400 2.8 non-IS P-50 P-50 + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
400 2.8 IS (ver. I & II) (P-50 + BS-100**) or (AP-602) AP-602
500 4.5 P-40 P-40
500 4.0 IS (ver. I & II) P-40 + BS-100** P-40 + BS-100**
600 4.0 non-IS P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100** + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
600 4.0 IS (ver. I & II) (P-50 + BS-100**) or (AP-602) AP-602
600 4.5 P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100**
800 5.6 MF P-50 + BS-100** Not Compatible with Sidekick or Sidemount WH
800 5.6 IS P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100**

 

LEICA
LENSES
(APO-TELYT-R Modular System)

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
280-560 P-40 + BS-100** P-40 + BS-100**
400-800 P-40 + BS-100** P-40 + BS-100**

 

NIKON LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
50-300 4.5 Ai-S P-20 P-20
70-180 micro P-10 P-10
70-200 2.8 VR (I & II) P-20 + SW-100* P-20 + SW-100*
80-200 2.8 P-10 P-10
80-200 2.8 AF-S P-10 P-10
80-400 VR P-10 P-10
200 2.0 VR (I & II) P-20 (Interferes w/ hood reversal) P-20 (Interferes w/ hood reversal)
200 4.0 micro P-10 + SW-100* P-10 + SW-100*
200-400 MF P-40 P-40
200-400 VR (I & II) AP-554 AP-554
300 4.0 P-10 P-10
300 2.8 MF P-20 P-20
300 2.8 AF P-20 P-20
300 2.8 AF-I P-20 P-20
300 2.8 AF-S P-30 P-30
300 2.8 VR (I & II) P-30 P-30
400 3.5 MF P-30 P-30
400 2.8 MF P-50 P-50
400 2.8 AI-S P-50 P-50 + AP-903*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
400 2.8 AF-I P-50 P-50 + AP-903*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
400 2.8 AF-S I AP-452 (Mandatory for use w/ WH-200) AP-452
400 2.8 AF-S II AP-452 (Mandatory for use w/ WH-200) AP-452
400 2.8 VR (I & II) AP-452 (Mandatory for use w/ WH-200) AP-452
500 4.0 MF P-30 P-30
500 4.0 AF-I P-40 P-40 + AP-902*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
500 4.0 AF-S I AP-554 AP-554
500 4.0 AF-S II AP-554 AP-554
500 4.0 VR (I & II) AP-554 AP-554
600 4.0 MF P-50 P-50 + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
600 4.0 AF-I P-50 P-50 + AP-902*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
600 4.0 AF-S I AP-652 AP-652 + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
600 4.0 AF-S II AP-452 (Mandatory for use w/ WH-200) AP-452
600 4.0 VR (I & II) AP-452 (Mandatory for use w/ WH-200) AP-452
600 5.6 MF P-30 P-30
800 5.6 MF P-50 P-50 + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)

 

MINOLTA

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
70-200 2.8 P-10 + SW-100* P-10 + SW-100*
80-200 2.8 P-10 P-10
300 2.8 P-20 P-20
400 4.5 P-10 P-10
600 4.0 P-50 + two BS-100** P-50 + two BS-100**

 

OLYMPUS
(ZUIKO DIGITAL LENSES)

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
35-100 2.0 P-20 P-20
50-200 P-20 P-20
90-250 2.8 P-40 P-40
150 2.0 P-10 P-10
300 2.8 P-30 P-30

 

PENTAX
LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
60-250 4.0 ED(IF) P-20 P-20
250-600 5.6 ED(IF) P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100**
300 2.8 MF SMCP-A P-20 P-20
300 2.8 AF SMCP-FA P-30 P-30
400 2.8 ED(IF) P-30 P-30
400 4.0 SMC M*67 P-40 P-40
500 4.5 MF SMCP P-40 + BS-100** P-40 + BS-100**
600 4.0 AF SMCP-FA P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100**
800 6.7 IF SMCP-67 P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100**
1200 8.0 MF SMCP-A P-50 + BS-100** + SW-100* P-50 + BS-100** + SW-100*

 

SONY
LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
70-400 P-20 + BS-100** + SW-100* P-20 + BS-100** + SW-100*
300 2.8 P-30 P-30

 

SIGMA
LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
Any lens with a TS-41 Collar & foot P-40 P-40
50-500 P-40 P-40
70-200 2.8 P-10 P-10
80-200 2.8 P-10 P-10
80-400 4.5 P-40 P-40
100-300 4.0 P-10 P-10
120-300 2.8 P-20 P-20
120-400 HSM P-30 P-30
135-400 5.6 P-10 P-10
150 2.8 Macro P-20 P-20
150-500 P-50 P-50
170-500 5.0 P-10 P-10
180 macro P-10 P-10
300 4.0 P-10 P-10
300 2.8 P-20 P-20
300-800 5.6 P-50 + BS-100** P-50 + BS-100** + AP-900*** (not compatible w/ Sidemount WH)
400 5.6 P-10 P-10
500 4.5 NON-HSM P-30 + BS-100** P-30 + BS-100** + AP-900*** (not compatible w/ Sidemount WH)
500 4.5 HSM P-50 P-50 + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)
800 5.6 HSM P-50 P-50 + AP-900*** (not compatible with Sidemount WH)

 

TAMROM
LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
70-200 2.8 P-20 P-20
70-210 2.8 w/ collar P-10 P-10
180 macro 2.8 P-10 P-10
200-400 5.6 P-10 P-10
200-500 5.6-6.3 P-10 P-10
300 2.8 P-20 P-20

 

TOKINA
LENSES

Plate Recommendations for:
- WIMBERLEY HEAD (WH-200)
- Non-Gimbal Heads (Ball Heads, etc.)

Plate Recommendations for:
- SIDEKICK (SK-100)
- Sidemount Wimberley (WH-200-S)
80-200 2.8 P-10 P-10
100-400 4.0 P-10 P-10
300 4.0 P-10 P-10
300 2.8 P-20 P-20
400 5.6 P-10 P-10

 

About this Guide

The charts above list the lens plate and additional hardware (if necessary) that we recommend for some of the most common collared lenses. If your lens is not on the list, please contact us and we will be happy to help you find the proper plate.

We try to suggest a plate that will work for all scenarios, but this is not always possible. The balance point of the lens/camera combination is effected by the weight of the camera body and other accessories attached to the lens and each set up is different.

The plates that we recommend should be long enough to: 1.) properly balance the lens when using our gimbal heads, and 2.) allow room to attach a flash bracket to the plate. In some cases, this means that the plate is significantly longer than the foot of the lens.

NOTE: Other manufacturer's plates may not be long enough or dimensionally compatible in order to properly balance your setup. Check the length of the recommeded plate in our charts for comparison. If your particular setup does not balance properly using our suggested plate, please contact us right away so that we can help you find a more suitable plate.

Key

*------------------SW-100 Extra Screw ($1.00)
Wimberley lens plates attach with 1/4"-20 screws specially machined to fit the center slots in the plates. If your lens requires more screws than are included, you may purchase extras. Click here for the number of screws included with each plate. (Note: not compatible with the P-5 Camera Body Plate.)


**-----------------BS-100 Brass Reducer Bushing ($3.00)
Lens feet with 3/8" mounting holes require insertion of a 3/8" to 1/4" reducer bushing in order to fasten our plates to these holes. Some lens plates include one complimentary bushing.


***---------------Sidekick Shifter & Spacers
Some larger lenses require the Sidekick to be shifted further out from the ball head in order to move the lens closer to the center of gravity. Your lens may require the use of a shifter to balance it perfectly on the Sidekick.

AP-900 ($50) Sidekick Shifter Block = 0.75" offset
AP-901 ($65) Sidekick Shifter + one (1/4") spacer plate = 1.0" offset
AP-902 ($80) Sidekick Shifter + two spacer plates = 1.25" offset
AP-903 ($95) Sidekick Shifter + three spacer plates = 1.50" offset

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