p.1 #1 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
Hi - I am going to get a new Gimbal head. I have a WH-200 that I am going to leave in an area I travel (by plane) to frequently to avoid the hassle of one more bulky item. I have used the Wimberly for several years now and it has performed well. But since I have the chance to check out the competition, I am curious if anyone has compared what seem to be the three "best" gimbals out there: WH-200, RRS PG-02 and Pro Media Katana? I have found various threads that focus on price, size, etc (or are very dated)....but I'm interested in the best performer overall AND if there are any discernible differences outside of the specs? I obviously have some pro's and con's I can see from the specs directly, but was hoping someone had used more than one of them.
p.1 #3 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
I’ve owned the PG-02 and the WH-200. I prefer the WH-200 with an RRS cradle clamp. While the manufacturing on the PG-02 is tremendous, I found it “stuck out” too far off the tripod and felt awkward. I can’t speak to the Katana Jr but would trust Steve’s judgment on it.
p.1 #5 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
No consideration for a 4th Gen Mongoose head? I have owned Wimberley Ver 1 and 2 gimbal heads and switched to the Mongoose to save weight. All perform about equally, the Wimberley gen 2 head kinda lost the ability to set variable drag on the rotation, a feature I find useful.
p.1 #6 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
Best if cost was no object would be the Zenelli Cabonzx head but it sells for $1,480 and although it is very light it provides no more functionality than my Custom Brackets CB head, which includes a lever lock to keep the lens from crashing down when only the camera is removed (as when adding or removing a teleconverter).
I wanted a gimbal that I would use for both still and video and bought the Gitzo fluid dampened gimbal head as its design seems superior to the one from RRS that looks like it was hastily put together by a committee from spare parts.
I now find myself using the Gitzo head in the USA and the Custom Brackets CB when traveling by air as it comes apart without tools so as to take up less space in my backpack.
p.1 #7 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
I remember when he showed that at Photo Plus back about 3 years ago. nicely designed and manufactured but hopelessly overpriced
I will bypass your "opinion" of the RRS unit as I chuckle about your view which truly lacks perspective. it works on equipment you don't use and very well.
Custom Brackets equipment is adequate but I will quote you as to its origins as it fits here too due to its close built type.
i'll still stick the simplicity of the Katana Jr for the equipment I use.
p.1 #8 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
+1 for the Katana Jr. I prefer the side clamp version without the cradle. Extremely light, strong, and functional. PMG gear also has excellent modularity. For example, on the left side of the head there is a 1/4”-20 socket encircled with anti-rotational pin sockets for mounting accessories. This assembly is connected to and moves in tandem with the tilt axis. I mount a Rode VideoMic Pro + onto a PMG cold shoe there and it’s perfect.
p.1 #9 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
I just picked up the Katana Jr. (Bought here actually from the buy sell board, never used) Very pleased with it. I put the RRS cradle on it, as I prefer the quick release lever. I also put the RRS dovetail on the bottom of the gimbal. Love the weight and it pairs beautifully with the new 400mm f2.8 Mk III. Ultimately I prefer my RRS video head but this makes a nice light travel kit. Highly recommended
p.1 #10 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
Thanks for showing, I didn't know RRS making this round cradle and plate.
I want this too
Btw the Katana jr. is very nice and light.
Never failed in extreme conditions , it might be a little bit more rigid and I think the creep when locking down the head could have be done better but it's the same concept it shares with the full Katana. (which I still use but only from hides when I don't hike, 90-95% of the times the jr. is my weapon of choice)
p.1 #11 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
RRS has been making that setup for years. I had it on the leveling base I had purchased on the B&S. removed it and sold it off. found it, in my use, not all that useful.
p.1 #13 · Gimbal: WH-200, RRS PG-02 or Pro Media Katana
To me the best gimbal heads are the Wimberley, the Custom Brackets, and the Gitzo gimbal head. Another gimbal I would not buy but is the lightest around is the Zenelli Carbonzx that sells for $1,234.
The Custom Brackets head can be taken apart without tools and makes it the most compact for travel. It also has a pivoting arm to keep the lens from crashing down when the camera has been removed to put on or take off a teleconverter, which does happen. It is the gimbal head I use when flying with the 600mm lens.
The Gitzo gimbal head is dampened and this makes it great to use for still photography with super telephoto lenses and also makes it great for video shooting. I bought it for video and intended to use the Custom Brackets gimbal for my still shooting but now find myself using the Gitzo gimbal head for both still and video when stateside.
I have only looked at the RRS gimbal heads but they do not look like a clean design but rather something from someone who knows CAD and CAM but who is not a photographer. They may be manufactured in Utah by the underpaid minions of Joseph Johnson Sr., but his claim that he was doing it for the benefit of his old employees in California is laughable. I prefer to give my dollars to more scrupulous employers.
