ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro telephoto gimbal head

ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro telephoto gimbal head for long focal lengths

Imagine panning a 600 mm or even an 800 mm f/5.6 telephoto lens as effortlessly as if it were a small reportage zoom. That’s exactly what the ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro telephoto gimbal head is built for. A gimbal head specifically developed for telephoto photography that really comes into its own with medium to heavy photo equipment.

With a maximum load capacity of around 22.6 kg and a weight of only 1.1 kg, this telephoto gimbal head offers a load-to-weight ratio that is extremely comfortable in practice. You can safely handle large super-telephoto lenses up to 800 mm f/5.6 without your tripod head becoming the bottleneck.

Made in the USA, precise workmanship without frills

The ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro is manufactured in the USA and relies on precision CNC-milled components made of aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel. That may sound technical – and it is – but in everyday use it mainly means one thing: high rigidity with low weight. The black-coated parts are robust, resistant, and feel pleasantly high-quality without being flashy.

The base with a diameter of about 6.0 cm and the 3/8" UNC internal thread ensure that the telephoto gimbal head sits cleanly and securely on common tripods. The width of approx. 21.5 cm, a height of around 24.8 cm and a depth of about 7.9 cm result in a very well-balanced format that still fits easily into a camera backpack while remaining extremely stable on the tripod.

Gimbal head with sensitive weight balancing

At its core, the GKJr. Katana Pro is a classic gimbal head, meaning a telephoto head where the lens sits in a gimbal mount. You balance your setup by shifting it vertically and horizontally until the center of gravity is correct. When everything is properly aligned, your telephoto lens will practically stay in any position without you having to constantly tighten the locking knobs.

The axes are equipped with sealed bearings, which makes movement very smooth and even. Thanks to the ball bearings used, the panning and tilting functions operate pleasantly lightly. The panning axis is particularly finely tuned; its lock is completely separate from the axis bearing so you can work precisely without the movement becoming jerky.

360° panning range and 360° tilt range for flexible telephoto work

Both the panning range and the tilt range are 360 degrees. You can rotate freely around the axis and position your camera precisely without hitting mechanical limits. This is especially valuable for wildlife, sports, or shooting from a hide, because you can track subjects quickly without having to reposition the tripod.

The grippy locking knobs are easy to operate even with gloves. This makes the telephoto gimbal head suitable not only for fair-weather days, but also for longer assignments in the cold or in changeable conditions. You could almost say it feels most at home when it’s really being put to the test.

Arca-style compatible quick-release clamp for many systems

The integrated 38 mm dovetail quick-release clamp features a screw clamp and, according to the manufacturer, is Arca-style compatible. This means you can use a wide range of plates and lens feet, including Flexshooter 38 mm dovetail, Jobu dovetail, Really Right Stuff dovetail, Wimberley dovetail, Pro Media Gear dovetail and Kirk dovetail. This universal compatibility makes the GKJr. Katana Pro very flexible, especially if you already use ARCA-based components.

To mount your lens correctly and balance it at the center of gravity, we recommend using the longest possible quick-release plate or a replacement lens foot with a dovetail clamping profile. This lets you move the camera-lens combination precisely forwards and backwards until everything is perfectly balanced.

Optimized for long telephoto lenses up to 800 mm f/5.6

The ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro telephoto gimbal head is designed for lenses up to 800 mm f/5.6. Photographers using long telephoto focal lengths up to 600 mm f/4 or beyond can enjoy very smooth handling for both panning and static shots. Especially at long focal lengths, where every tiny movement becomes visible, this telephoto gimbal head plays to its strengths.

In practice this means: you can track birds in flight, follow athletes at full speed, or precisely target distant subjects in the landscape without the head constantly giving way or stopping abruptly. The combination of gimbal mounting and sensitive bearings ensures a fluid, controlled movement.

Robust materials: aluminum and stainless steel in combination

All main parts of the GKJr. Katana Pro are made from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum, complemented by stainless-steel components at critical points. This material combination is deliberately chosen to achieve an optimal balance of stiffness, weight, and durability. The black-finished surface is not only visually discreet but also protects against scratches and corrosion.

Precise manufacturing results in a very play-free construction that does not flex even at the maximum load of 22.6 kg. This is especially important when you are working with heavy super-telephoto lenses, teleconverters, and robust camera bodies and still expect reliable stability.

Easy mounting thanks to 3/8" UNC internal thread

The base of the telephoto gimbal head features a 3/8" UNC internal thread and therefore fits most sturdy photo tripods. With a base diameter of around 6.0 cm, the head sits solidly on the tripod plate and distributes the load evenly. This turns the entire combination of tripod, head, and camera into a robust unit.

In many setups you simply screw the GKJr. Katana Pro onto a solid three-legged tripod, tighten the connection, and you’re ready to go. No complicated fiddling, no exotic adapters needed, as long as your tripod offers a standard 3/8" thread.

Note on use with camera bodies and lenses

If you are using a telephoto lens with a tripod collar, a long quick-release plate or a suitable replacement lens foot with a 38 mm dovetail profile is the best choice to balance the combination at its center of gravity. This way you make optimal use of the telephoto gimbal head’s gimbal mounting.

If, on the other hand, you want to mount a camera body with a camera plate that has a transverse dovetail profile, you will additionally need a nodal point adapter or a right-angle adapter such as the Wimberley module M-8. This allows you to mount the camera securely and at the correct angle on the ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro while still benefiting from the gimbal functionality.

Practice-oriented operation for demanding telephoto photography

In daily use it becomes clear how well thought-out the design of the GKJr. Katana Pro telephoto gimbal head is. The smooth panning axis allows even movements, while the separate lock enables precise fixing of the position. The tilt axis with its own bearing and lock ensures that you can align the camera exactly without the other axis moving unintentionally.

The grippy locking knobs are designed so that they can be grasped intuitively. You don’t have to think long about which knob does what; you can focus on your subject instead. This is a real advantage in spontaneous situations where things have to move quickly.

Key technical data at a glance

The ProMediaGear GKJr. Katana Pro telephoto gimbal head weighs about 1.1 kg, making it very light for its load capacity. With a width of around 21.5 cm, a height of about 24.8 cm and a depth of approx. 7.9 cm, it still fits well into many camera backpacks without forcing you to compromise on stability.

The 360-degree panning range and 360-degree tilt range give you maximum flexibility when tracking subjects. The combination of aluminum and stainless steel, the black-finished surface and the precise bearing of the axes make the GKJr. Katana Pro a durable tool for ambitious telephoto photography.