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)
Important Information for Non-Wimberley Clamp Compatibility

Note: Most Bogen/Manfrotto ball heads are not compatible. Bogen-Manfrotto ball head details
Arca Swiss Z1 Warning Update
Arca Swiss Z1 UPDATE June 3, 2008
Arca Swiss Statement June 20, 2008

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

4- Lever-Clamp Warning!
We recommend using a twist-knob quick-release clamp with the Sidekick. 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 secure connection.

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.

All Makes
300 2.8 lenses ---------------------------------------------- Compatible***
Collared lenses smaller than a 300 f/2.8------------- See “Smaller Lenses” above

Canon
400 2.8 ---------------- Requires AP-900**
400 2.8 IS ------------ Rqrs. AP-602* (or AP-902**)
400 4.0 DO ---------- Compatible***
500 4.0 IS ------------ Compatible***
500 4.5 ---------------- Compatible***
600 4.0 ---------------- Requires AP-900**
600 4.0 IS ------------ Rqrs. AP-602* (or AP-902**)
800 5.6 MF ----------- AP-902**

Sigma
120-300 2.8 --------- Compatible***
300-800 5.6 --------- Requires AP-900**
500 4.5 NON-HSM --- Requires AP-900**
500 4.5 HSM --------- Requires AP-900**
800 5.6 HSM --------- Requires AP-900**

Key

* ------ AP-452, AP-553, AP-652, &AP-602
These are low-profile lens replacement feet that allow specific large lenses to work with the Sidekick.

** ----- AP-900, AP-901, AP-902, & AP-903
These spacer plates attach to the bottom of the Sidekick, offsetting it to accommodate larger lenses. You still need to have an appropriate quick-release plate for your lens.

*** --- Compatible using standard Arca-Swiss style lens plate.
See our lens plates page for a list of suggested Wimberley lens plates for common lenses. Arca-Swiss style plates from other manufactures will fit in the Sidekick's quick-release clamp, but in some cases are not long enough to balance the lens properly.

AP-452 ($79.00)  

AP-553 ($79.00)  

AP-652 ($79.00)  

AP-602 ($79.00)  

These are low-profile lens replacement feet that allow specific large lenses to work with the Sidekick. Click here for details

AP-900 ($50.00)  

AP-901 ($65.00)  

AP-902 ($80.00)  

AP-903 ($95.00)  

These adapters attach to the bottom of the Sidekick, offsetting it to accommodate larger lenses.