Katana Jr. I use it with the 600 f4. The big katana is overkill for most lenses under 10#. I had the big Katana when I was shooting Nikon and the 12# 600f4. I switched to the junior when I switched to Sony. I had the WH200 prior to trying PMG and the katana is so much smoother in every way.
As ps09 states above, the Katana Jr is a much better gimbal than the Wimberley. I also owned a WH200 before switching to the PMG. I've never had any issues shooting in winter weather as cold as -23F/-40F wind-chill.
ps09 wrote:
Katana Jr. I use it with the 600 f4. The big katana is overkill for most lenses under 10#. I had the big Katana when I was shooting Nikon and the 12# 600f4. I switched to the junior when I switched to Sony. I had the WH200 prior to trying PMG and the katana is so much smoother in every way.
I got to know the guys at promedia after using their gear for years. I would never buy promediagear products from anyone other than them directly. The big box stores demand discounts from their vendors and control the pricing the vendor can charge. Just like Amazon. Buy direct from the source whenever you can at the same price and keep the big boxes from wetting their beak. Call PMG and ask to speak to Tom. He is an owner and he will talk you through everything you need, including their replacement foot for that 2-6. Nicest guy you'll ever speak to.
Lost out on the only RRS Gimbal today on ebay, so the Katana seems to be the one to get
ps09 wrote:
I got to know the guys at promedia after using their gear for years. I would never buy promediagear products from anyone other than them directly. The big box stores demand discounts from their vendors and control the pricing the vendor can charge. Just like Amazon. Buy direct from the source whenever you can at the same price and keep the big boxes from wetting their beak. Call PMG and ask to speak to Tom. He is an owner and he will talk you through everything you need, including their replacement foot for that 2-6. Nicest guy you'll ever speak to....Show more →
Hi Dustin,
I have also dealt directly with Tom some years back soon after Promediagear started making product. Great to work with.
But, before making your purchase, at least look at this video about the Fotopro e-6h by Joe Brady, who has the lowest price available for the unit and where I purchased my copy:
ps09 wrote:
I got to know the guys at promedia after using their gear for years. I would never buy promediagear products from anyone other than them directly. The big box stores demand discounts from their vendors and control the pricing the vendor can charge. Just like Amazon. Buy direct from the source whenever you can at the same price and keep the big boxes from wetting their beak. Call PMG and ask to speak to Tom. He is an owner and he will talk you through everything you need, including their replacement foot for that 2-6. Nicest guy you'll ever speak to....Show more →
I LITERALLY just submitted my order from B&H just now. Dang. B&H has their black friday pricing right now that ends tonight. Stoked to try this out though!
Dustin Gent wrote:
I LITERALLY just submitted my order from B&H just now. Dang. B&H has their black friday pricing right now that ends tonight. Stoked to try this out though!
Hi Dustin,
If you still decide to get the Promediagear GKJr. Katana Pro, it is the same price from Promediagear with their 15% discount right now reducing from $649.95 to $552.46.
I'm going to say absolutely not necessary, but really nice to have. There are times where I want to just relax while waiting with camera and lens at the ready. It's another tool in the toolbox. I often shoot my 200-600 handheld, and have done so for several hours without issue. But if I had my gimbal available I'd choose to use it every time. I'm just as fast on a gimbal, and often get sharper photos. Panning with a good gimbal is also a great experience, YMMV
molson wrote:
I'm not sure how necessary a gimbal really is - I shoot my 200-600 hand-held 90% of the time. It's not like it's a heavy lens...
Maxxus46 wrote:
I'm going to say absolutely not necessary, but really nice to have. There are times where I want to just relax while waiting with camera and lens at the ready. It's another tool in the toolbox. I often shoot my 200-600 handheld, and have done so for several hours without issue. But if I had my gimbal available I'd choose to use it every time. I'm just as fast on a gimbal, and often get sharper photos. Panning with a good gimbal is also a great experience, YMMV
Usually, by the time I get my tripod set up, swap the normal head for a gimbal head, and get the camera attached and ready to shoot, the birds are long gone. I guess if you were set up in a blind and/or waiting for the birds to come to one spot, it would be a different story...
I often carry my Tripod and Gimbal head with lense mounted and locked over my shoulder ready to go... The carbon fiber tripod and promedia gimble are light enough that it's a non issue for me
molson wrote:
Usually, by the time I get my tripod set up, swap the normal head for a gimbal head, and get the camera attached and ready to shoot, the birds are long gone. I guess if you were set up in a blind and/or waiting for the birds to come to one spot, it would be a different story...
The tomahawk with a monopod has been great for shooting run and gun this fall with the a1 and Sony 600f4.
If their products aren’t great enough, the fact that it is designed and made in the USA by US citizens should seal the deal. To truly support them, buy it through their website instead of giving the big boxes a big cut.
Just ordered a GT2 Tomahawk from B&H as it is half the weight of a full Gimbal, and does not replace the ball head thanks
Maxxus46 wrote:
I often carry my Tripod and Gimbal head with lense mounted and locked over my shoulder ready to go... The carbon fiber tripod and promedia gimble are light enough that it's a non issue for me
I used to do that, too... until image stabilization was invented.
At Slalom - the tomahawk is best on a monipod as it has vertical swing but not horizontal. However, it has a dovetail on the bottom that allows it to be clamped to an arca swiss compatible ballhead for horizontal if using as a full gimbal is needed.
I have also dealt directly with Tom some years back soon after Promediagear started making product. Great to work with.
But, before making your purchase, at least look at this video about the Fotopro e-6h by Joe Brady, who has the lowest price available for the unit and where I purchased my copy:
AGeoJO wrote:
For fast flying/moving birds you may want to either use a gimbal head and not a ball head, or a monopod with a monopod gimbal head (Wimberley and Leofoto make that) or just hand hold it for a short period.
Wimberley’s gimbal head, among others, is nice but it is fairly big and heavy. I had that when I was shooing DSLR combined with a heavier DSLR lens. I would get the smallest/lightest gimbal head that can support my GM 600mm plus TC. I chose a Jobu Jr about 3 years ago. I am sure there are other comparable ones. Lately, I am relying more and more on monopod plus a monopod gimbal head. You can even mount the monopod gimbal head on your existing ball head and the combo will function as a regular gimbal head although the movement is not as smooth as a full-fledge gimbal head. ...Show more →
Absolutely endorse this. Although I no longer go birding the only time I'd use a tripod was in a hide or location where I'd be in situ for a long time. Otherwise the maneuverability of a monopod trumps a tripod all day every day - and not just for BIFs but for walking around where I'd just heft the whole rig on to a shoulder (with a security strap attached to the lens around my wrist) and off I'd go.
Monopod / gimbal / strap and you're golden.
And a word on hand-holding : not a chance in hell ! When you are on a bird and waiting for a key moment, that may take minutes, you'd soon be trembling like a leaf in the wind! Nobody can hold even a light rig that steady for that amount of time (esp. at dawn/dusk when the birds are most active and light low enough to require lower SS to keep the ISO down).
IndyFab wrote:
Rich, can you use a leveling base with that Fotopro e-6h?
Hi,
Yes you can and quite easily.
Apparently if you are interested in getting a 5 section FotoPro E-6 Eagle Series Carbon Fiber tripod with the leveling base built in and the E=6H Gimbal from Adorama as a Black Friday deal through November 30 for $499 ($700 off):
When I use the the E-6H with my Leofoto ls 284-C tripod I use the Leofoto lb-60n leveling base to which I have a Leofoto 60mm Arca Swiss type QR clamp attached. I have a Hejnar Arca Dovetail Adapter mounted to the bottom of the E-6H allowing rapid movement from tripod to tripod:
I can then move it easily and quickly to my old Gitzo G1257LVL tripod with built in leveling base with a Kirk 60mm Arca Swiss type QR clamp attached to the tripod legs.
Additionally I can move it easily to my RRS TVC-24L with their leveling base with QR clamp.
In all cases, the large level of the E-6H works great with the leveling base and tripod. The head is extremely capable and flexible and can even take the place in many cases of a Ball head with the leveling base. All of my leveling bases only offer 15 degrees of adjustment, but I believe the new RRSSeries 2 leveling bases now offer 20 degrees of adjustment. If you wish to carry the E-6H head attached to the tripod it can be rotated downward to take up less space when you remove the small L bracket. But be careful not to bang and damage the head. I will normally separate the E-6H and carry it separately to protect it and carry it in a Kinesis Gear m330 pouch and carry the tripod in an old Thinktank Bazooka tripod case which is out of production. However, I am not sure, but it might be possible for Thinktank to make one as they asked me in the past if I wanted one. I had suggested that they put the Bazooka back into production.
ps09 wrote:
At Slalom - the tomahawk is best on a monipod as it has vertical swing but not horizontal. However, it has a dovetail on the bottom that allows it to be clamped to an arca swiss compatible ballhead for horizontal if using as a full gimbal is needed.
Yes I have a Monopod, took it out with A7Iv and 100-400GM with X2 and 200-600G with 1.4 and found it coped, not any great pictures but certainly focused correctly, Thinking of taking the 100-400GM as it can focus quite close and gives a bit more choice, want see it with staked Tc's if the fog/ mist clears, and 800g less.
That Fotopro is a fine looking piece of equipment and I would have an interest if not already using the Katana Jr Pro, side mount with a Kirk replacement foot. I use it on a Feisol Tourmanment lightweight tripod. This is my rig for mobility and higher shutter speed. At 69 yoa in January also, I need lightweight. I have heavier tripods for landscapes, etc. Many times, however, I'm using my monopod with a Kirk tilt head if mobile. Depends on the situation.
ready to go... The carbon fiber tripod and promedia gimble are light enough that it's a non issue for me