By Laurie Excell

When the folks at Really Right Stuff (www.reallyrightstuff.com) put their mind to a new product, they don’t just do it halfway. And their new PG-02 Full Gimbal Head (US$800) is no exception! I decided to order one for myself after seeing it in use on a field trip to Florida.

After getting over the sticker shock, I got down to the business of serious testing (before taking the head to Alaska to photograph brown bears with my 600mm lens). It took me all of a couple of seconds to become familiar with the dials, knobs, and markings, and to set the head to balance perfectly with my camera lens and body combination. Now, to put it to the test.

I headed to a local park to try it out and was immediately pleased with the perfectly smooth movements. It allowed me to pan my subjects with no catches or grabs—sweet! My hand na -- —and I found that I was able to make adjustments without taking my eye from the viewfinder, which can cost crucial seconds when photographing action of any kind.

Speaking of adjustments, the head is also designed to aid in multi-image panoramas with all the movement, control, and markings for quick-and-easy setup.
Beyond the well-designed movements and controls, the head is also a fine piece of craftsmanship -- something that Really Right Stuff is known for. If you click the "Add to Cart" button, I know you’ll be completely satisfied with your new PG-02 Full Gimbal Head.

Rating: 8 out of 10
(This review is brought to you courtesy of "Layers Magazine": http://layersmagazine.com/ .)