ProMediaGear L-Bracket for Nikon Z6 II/Z7 II with MB-N11 Battery Grip

2022-03-24T13:13:29

Fits well in my tripod, as well as in my hands. It's a little inconvenient to remove due to using an alan-key bolt for securement but I'd prefer that for stability than having it loosen off like a finger-tight type. This does defeat the purpose of the vertical grip to an extent since it takes up another 1/2" of room but that's not really the products fault, just the nature of this accessory.

MAX Y.

2021-10-19T08:46:18

Let us start with the initial communication. After looking at the big 2 NYC camera equipment firms and their out of stock/more on the way condition (as was also the case with the MB-N11 for several weeks) I decided to ask PromediaGear, through their Contact page on their web site, if the PLNMBN11 L-Bracket was, in fact, in stock. I ordered it, from PromediaGear, anyway assuming I?d have to wait just as long as the big 2 in NYC. I received an email notification, after I placed my order, stating that this L-Bracket was in fact in stock and available. It arrived in short order and I attached it to my camera with the MB-N11. Note that I was really impressed with the quality and finish of this L-Bracket. I then, with the 24-70mm kit lens installed, attached a ?Magpul MS4? (rifle strap) to the QD mounting hole and checked the set up. I noticed an off center condition of the L-Bracket to the MB-N11. Tightening the ¼? camera mounting screw did not improve this so I disassembled the set up and saw that it needed some sort of a stud to stop the rotation of the L-Bracket to MB-N11. I also noted that there are two threaded holes on the L-Bracket beneath where the holes in the MB-N11 are located. I had remembered reading something in the product reviews about an anti-rotation stud/pin/dowel (Note! Jargon, phrase and/or semantics should not apply when it is clear as to what the issue/function is and I stated the issue/function when contacting ProMediaGear on both occasions). The correct phrase is ?Anti-Rotation Pin? and this was not pictured in the manual/pamphlet included with the L-Bracket (with a picture of a Nikon D850 on the cover page). So I fired off an email about the missing stud(s) and received a quick reply including a picture pointing two the ?anti-rotation pin? (this was a stud/pin standing proud of the L-Bracket). I said yes that was the ?anti-rotation pin? I sought. I quickly received a small bag of 4 round headed screws, the kind used as the stops on the base of the L-Bracket and most Arca style mounting plates to keep them from sliding of a tripod mount during adjustment (?Safety Stop Screws?). These however were not the Anti-Rotation pin I saw in ProMediaGear?s photograph (which I could no longer find(?)). Assuming ProMediaGear?s engineers are far smarter then I am and they feel that this is the correct approach to the anti-rotation of this L-Bracket on my MB-N11, I installed one and it slightly marred the base of the MB-N11. So I installed two and it was better at anti rotation, not rock solid and left a 1mm+ gap between the MB-N11 and the L-Bracket, hence, not good. So I got on the phone explained the issue and in short order received a small bag with ?(4) A14 Anti-Rotation Pins?. Installed these and the gap was there as well as a loose feel to the set up also realizing that this gap would eventually become a gouge in the bottom of the MB-N11?s holes. At this point I took matters into my own hands and decided to machine my own ?anti-rotation pins?. I could not locate any stainless or nickel steel 3/16? bar stock locally and was forced to purchased plain steel (McMaster-Carr or elsewhere on the internet could be a source of nickel or stainless steel), I felt aluminum was too brittle and brass too soft, possibly bronze(?). After machining I used degreaser to clean the pins and gun blue to slow corrosion then coated them with a dry lubricant for further protection. Machining went as follows: The 3/16? inch bar stock came in 48? lengths so I hack sawed off a 6? piece and, with a 1? HF (Central Machine) belt sander fitted with a 120 grit belt I thinned the 3/16? bar in the middle for both the smaller diameter pin as well as getting close to the #4 bolt size for threading. I found this to be uneven and anything shorter than a 6? piece gets too hot to handle. I chucked this into my small Craftsmen drill press and, with a file, evened it a bit then smoothed it with increasingly finer sand paper until I was close to the #4 bolt size. The sanding left, without any effort on my part, a bevel that nicely fits the countersink on the L-Bracket (at least for the smaller pin; the hole size in the MB-N11 is 0.157? [5/32?] or 3.99mm, thread depth is 4.45mm, slightly less for the pin depth). The larger of the pins was close enough to the 3/16? bar stock and only needed the threaded end brought close to the #4 bolt size for threading. Using a HF 60 piece Tap & Die set I determined that the thread pitch was 4-40 using a ?Safety Stop Screw? as a guide and proceeded to cut the threads for both with a 4-40 die and thread cutting lubricant. After cleaning/degreasing, bluing and protecting I found the results, although not perfect, to be highly satisfying and left a greater feeling of confidence than what I was given by ProMediaGear!

Geeko