Follow up review. This has got to be one of my most reached to tripods that comes out with me onto location, I have the TR344 for when I need something lightweight. This tripod is a beast and so sturdy even when you have it at the maximum height, I've done 5 minute plus long exposures in windy conditions and it was still tack sharp. I use the levelling bowl paired with the BH1 ball head most of the time, I never have to weigh it down for my long exposures, I just put the tripod down on the ground and it stands up to the elements, using the spikes helps you anchor into the ground.

4 years on and nothing has broken on this, I have put it though a lot and it has battle scars on it from use yet it still keeps going. I do regular cleaning and once a year I give the tripod a full service to keep the tripod functioning.

I have people ask me why I have such a tall tripod and I say it is great for working on uneven ground or on a slop, great as well when you want to shoot from high up. I have considered buying the centre column for more height.

If you look after this I can see you getting easily 20 years out of it, PMG will also look after you if you'll need anything.

I've owned my BH1 head for almost 4 years now and it is a beast, I like how just a slight turn backs it off fully so great for quick changes to your composition. It is fully mechanical as well with no grease inside so it won't freeze up on you. With lightweight camera setups it has doesn't really move when backed off but be careful to make sure it is clamped down before you move your tripod, I had my camera drop forward in the early days of using this head, it isn't a fault but just something you need to get used to. With heavier cameras it works a real treat with a little bit of friction to give you that secure feeling I hate it when a ball head goes really loose on you when you back off that knob. I don't have the side bubble level on mine but I am seriously considering getting another BH1 head just so I can have that, I would still use my current one on my other tripod (TR344) but this mainly stays on my TR424L when I need a very stable base for my setup.

I love the freedom the head gives you, if you need to look straight down quickly you can and if you back off both knobs you can move the head at full range and only limited by the tripod legs

I've been using PMG for 4 years now and I really like to use their gear and this new head that hasn't been out for long is more you conventional style head but it still works mechanically without grease so means it won't lock up on you in extreme weather conditions, I put it in my freezer over night at -22 degrees celsius and it still functioned as normally when taken straight out.

Works just fine with a big camera setup on it as well, once you lock everything down it is very stable! If you need something really strong I recommend you look at the BH1 ball head as that is a tank

I recently got the leveling ball for my tripod. Prior to receiving it, I would have to achieve level by lowering a leg or two, in increments, which is not ideal. Now, all I have to do is get close to level with the legs and finish off with the leveling ball. What a time saver! This device is a life saver when trying to achieve level with the Katana Jr. The Jr. has a nice big leveling bubble that is easy to look down on so the leveling ball is a cinch to adjust with. No more wonky horizons when panning. The picture of the eagle that is attached was taken with the Katana Jr. And the leveling ball. I snapped off 10-15 frames before the eagle disappeared and I think at least 3/4 were sharp. I owe a lot to the Katana Jr. and now, also, to the leveling ball.
Thanks for another great product ProMediaGear.
P. S. I have reviewed a number of ProMediaGear products but ProMediaGear does not sponsor me nor have they provided any demo units. I purchased and own the PMG gear I have. All opinions are mine, accurate and honest. So far, every product I have purchased from PMG has met or exceeded my expectations for quality and performance.

Matt

Cheap rarely matches best quality, and those plugs are quite expensive, but they are worth every bit invested. I bought two of them, and coupled with dedicated ProMediaGear L Bracket and a Blackrapid Double slim shoulder strap I can carry two DSLR with ease and with great comfort. great product, and made to last.

I bought this bracket as a replacement to the universal base I hade before, which, no matter how tight I tried to secure to D3s' body, did not prevent the camera to slide, even with normal zoom attached. What I wanted was a solid grip, the ability to switch from panorama to portrait maintaining the ball head levelled, and a better portability, by attaching the camera to a Blackrapid double strip with a SS2P2 Retrofit Quick Release Plug Adapter for Camera Shoulder Straps.
while the base (PBND5) did just require to align the mounting screw to firmly secure the camera, preventing ANY movement, the vertical unit needed a small adjustment to fit perfectly to the camera; not that as is comes from the box the bracket doesn't work, but the gap between the vertical plate and the camera (less than half an inch) was something I did want. Honestly, it did take half an hour, some patience and a Dremel to rework the upper indentation to make space for the camera's eyelet. I am more than happy, and I recommend this bracket for D3s owners, some of them will maybe decide to keep it as it comes (after all, it works just fine), while others may want to rework the vertical plate to make it perfectly suited for the camera, eliminating event the slightest movement, for the best results.

The quality of the dovetail plate is obvious right from the beginning. This helped me balance a large spotting scope on my tripod without needing a gimbal head (saving up for one of those in the future). The ability to mount cameras or accessories at both ends of the 8" plate is also a great feature that I expect to use in the future.

Sold my Wimberley for the Katana Jr. By far the best gimbal on the market..its light, looks awesome and has the smoothest bearings there is...absolutely zero regrets.
Pairs perfectly with my Promediagear TR423 tripod and the Promediagear 75mm bowl for leveling my gimbal.

Perfect fit on the BG-R10 grip. There's no way that this plate can twist while mounted.
The PMG plate + PASL3 Bracket Plate Adapter together are much slimmer than the combination of my Spyder plate + Peak Design tripod plate. The Spyder+PD combination was thicker but also not sturdy at all, there are no twist lock pins between them.
I had some concerns that the PMG plate would not fit properly on my Peak Design tripod. On this tripod, not all arca plates fit well. PMG assured me by email that it would fit and they were right.
I also ordered the "SS2P2 Retrofit Quick Release Plug Adapter for Camera Shoulder Straps". If fits really well to the plate and feels very secure. I would like an SSP2 socket on a different position on the PASL3 though, but will explain that in the review for the PASL3.
100% happy! :-)
Ordered from the PMG website and had to pay a substantial amount of import tax (Netherlands). Make sure you take that into account.

I discovered ProMediaGear when I was looking for my new tripod for astrophotography. I compared them to RRS, Gitzo (I already own a much older Gitzo) and several other brands but the PMG seemed to be best for me. Well, I loved it and went on to buy their plates, L-brackets, SS2 clamping system and now their Katana Jr gimbal head. Everything they make is machined to incredible tolerances and the build quality is amazing. Add to this it is all made in the USA and you cannot do better!

I bought the Katana Jr for handling my longer lenses. They say an 800 f5.6 would be better on the full Katana, and they might be right, but I got mine the other day and had to try it out with my Nikon D500 and Sigma 800mm F5.6 and the video shows what I got within 3 minutes of mounting it onto my tripod! This gimbal replaced a markedly cheaper one and the difference is HUGE! I have been using this for a week or so and simply love it! The adjustments are smooth and easy to work with when sighting in the moon and locking it down or leaving it open for panning and tracking moving animals/birds. This gimbal has done everything and more than I could ever want from such a head and I love it!

The best monopod I have ever owned. I have own a handful over the years but never could find one that I really liked there was alway something I didn't like about them. I needed a good monopod that could handle the weight of the big heavy lenses i use (400 2.8, 600F4, 800F5.6) in all weather conditions (-48*/117*)and still be light weight. This monopod can handle it with ease and is lightweight. Being it's so lightweight and compact it super easy to travel with on flights. But yet still strong enough and long enough to handle anything situation I have use it in. Once in the field it adds the stability needed for good steady shooting even extended all the way out its still rigid enough to handle the weight of a 600F4.

We own 3 of these and everyone of them works wonderful never a problem. I have used them in temps from -48 /117* from Alaska to Africa with no problems at all even in the sub zero temps with no freezing up. They are super smooth built super strong but still light weight and holds every lens no matter the size i put on it rock solid (400f2.8, 600F4, 800F5.6)!!! But better yet is the customer service that comes with owning gear from PMG. I had TSA drop one of my Katana Junior Gimbal Head on my way to a 3 week long trip to Teton/Yellowstone and break off a knob. I called PMG and talked to Tom I explained what happened. Tom ask me if i had any tool i told him did not. He said he would have everything i needed to fix it parts and tool overnighted to me and that he would personally drive them over and ship them out to make sure i got them. The next day I had all the parts and the tools to fix my gimbal saving my 3 weeks trip in Yellowstone. Try getting that with a Cheap Chinese company.

Totally recommend this quick release plug adapter. Especially if you're like me and like to show your clients their picture previews on the cameras LCD. It's as simple as a push of a button, release the camera from the shoulder straps and hand over the camera for them to view. Thanks ProMediaGear.
@focus_studio_photography

I was having issues with another head that I was using for pano shots and began looking for a alternative. I have used it with the nodal/slide rail and half ball leveler for pano shots thus far. I have not put any of my big lens on yet to use as gimbal, but I have no concerns cause the build is great. I turned to looking at the Katana Jr. because I have been pleased with the other PMG products that I own. I originally thought about the original Katana but watched a video comparing them and the Jr. seemed a better suited size for my use.

It is very well built and is easy to locate the knobs in the dark to adjust things. I have only had the opportunity to use it once thus far but I am pleased so far. It is not as light and compact as some of the other heads out there but I am good with that, because it seems more durable than the others. While this equipment may be overkill for what I needed and is priced a little higher, but the saying, “you get what you pay for,” holds true here.

I almost lost a camera due to a poor piece of equipment several months back. The equipment broke and luckily I caught it. I don’t see this breaking at all. Maybe If it got ran over by a tank???

Worth the money and great build quality to protect and utilize my cameras.

I always use PMG PX6 plates with the quick connect for their strap adapters and I recently got Sony FE600 lens. From 70-200 on up, I had used the PX6 because it makes a good carry handle as well. It works fine on the Sony FE600 but - the PX6 will not fit attached to the lens in the very nice Sony hard case without doing some mods which I didn't want to do the case. The PX4 works well instead and will also fit attached in the case. The picture I took with my phone shows the fit. The heads of the stop screw do fit snug and will likely make some rub marks over time but that is no concern. Love PMG stuff - have the 424L tripod, full-size Katana, Katana Jr, and both generations of the strap quick connect.