For a Nikon D300S and Sigma 180 macro, I found this rig to be insufficiently sturdy and went with the Manfrotto 055XB. Heavy yes but I stop so often to take pictures that it is not really noticeable.
I use the Manfrotto 3275 Gear head (replaced by 410jr). Tripod and head weigh 126 oz (7 lbs 14 oz) or 3.6 kg.
While the light Manfrotto ball heads lack stiffness and security, I found the 498 to be both sturdy and secure. There is a safety catch on the release lever so that it takes 2 hands to remove the camera. Though, this is a heavy head, it compares favorably against heads costing twice as much.
Sometime in the next few months, I hope to have the opportunity to do some wildlife photography with a Sigma 50-500 on my D300S. I will bring both the gear and ball head for some parallel testing. My GUESS is that I’ll be sticking with the gear head for landscape work and the ball head for wildlife. Yes a gimbal head would be nice but any under about $600 seem to not work that well.
Started out doing photography at the age of 6 using an uncle's old 1940 kodak brownie box camera. At 15 years of age, I decided to buy my very own 1975 Praktica SLR camera. I now shoot with a Nikon D850. I do unpaid TFP and commercial paid work.