Gimbals/gyro stabilizers - recommendations & experiences....

[trackdemon]

Afternoon all,

I have a fairly specific need for a stabilizer, primarily for shooting car to car moving shots at the slowest possible shutter speed. Ideally I'm looking for something relatively small, perhaps that can be held like a trigger whilst I use live view in camera. Wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience, or could recommend some setups that might fit the bill in terms of lightness, portability & effectiveness.

This looks like a front runner so far:

http://www.jobo.com/video-stative/gyropod-md-1?ecm...

cheers,
Steve

[GetCarter]

trackdemon said:

Afternoon all,

I have a fairly specific need for a stabilizer, primarily for shooting car to car moving shots at the slowest possible shutter speed. Ideally I'm looking for something relatively small, perhaps that can be held like a trigger whilst I use live view in camera. Wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience, or could recommend some setups that might fit the bill in terms of lightness, portability & effectiveness.

This looks like a front runner so far:

http://www.jobo.com/video-stative/gyropod-md-1?ecm...

cheers,
Steve

I have one of these - works well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEdvgS6TKUA

£350 on Amazon

2 of mine... fixed on car:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd58rFnEv9s

walking next to pup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XFD0e2XLRo

[trackdemon]

That does look nice and stable! Alas it seems to be for gopro only - I want to mount a DSLR

[GetCarter]

trackdemon said:

That does look nice and stable! Alas it seems to be for gopro only - I want to mount a DSLR

Ah... my bad.

[tr7ster]

I'd suggest that a DSLR is getting towards the heavy side for a pistol-grip style stabilizer, although of course it'll depend what body/lens combo you're intending to use. There are plenty around for the larger mirrorless or smaller DSLR though, and while I haven't used these myself I know someone who uses a Zhiyun-Tech Crane with a GH4 and really likes it. It's good for up to 1.8kg seemingly.

[trackdemon]

tr7ster said:

I'd suggest that a DSLR is getting towards the heavy side for a pistol-grip style stabilizer, although of course it'll depend what body/lens combo you're intending to use. There are plenty around for the larger mirrorless or smaller DSLR though, and while I haven't used these myself I know someone who uses a Zhiyun-Tech Crane with a GH4 and really likes it. It's good for up to 1.8kg seemingly.

I think I'd be on the limit of what's possible, shooting Nikon D4 with 16-35VR or 24-70. More investigation required I think!

[rottie102]

I had one for a 5d mk iv with 16-35 f/4 L.
I returned it. It worked well when it did but:
A) it's a PITA to balance it on the gimbal and you have to do it everytime anything changes
B) it's very heavy to walk around with a setup of this sort handheld

[Tuna]

trackdemon said:

I think I'd be on the limit of what's possible, shooting Nikon D4 with 16-35VR or 24-70. More investigation required I think!

Maybe starting with the kit and trying to get something to make it work is going to be the wrong way round?

I'm not sure a gimbal is the most effective way to handle vibration - you could possibly get as good results from a pistol grip that allows you to physically balance the camera if you're hand-holding, as it's rotational vibration that causes blur, and that's reduced by having the camera center of gravity over the support point.

[leggly]

Surely a Dji osmo would be the cheapest way forward? You could try mine if you like.

[kman]

If you're shooting stills, I don't think a gimbal helps much tbh they are much more designed for video and work well to smoothen out motions such as tilts and rolls coming through your hands. Unless its a 5 axis gimbal of course - the kind of stuff thats on Russian arms, or the FlowCine product that utilises the Ronin 2 - https://www.facebook.com/MOTIONCTRL/?fref=nf

If its tracking stills, then look at gyroscopic stabilisers that spin magnets. They're not easy to use but do allow you much slower shutter speeds.

[trackdemon]

leggly said:

Surely a Dji osmo would be the cheapest way forward? You could try mine if you like.

Very kind offer, but I need to be using a DSLR for ultimate quality. Just looking to extend the shutter speed I can get away with on my D4/16-35VR

[trackdemon]

kman said:

If you're shooting stills, I don't think a gimbal helps much tbh they are much more designed for video and work well to smoothen out motions such as tilts and rolls coming through your hands. Unless its a 5 axis gimbal of course - the kind of stuff thats on Russian arms, or the FlowCine product that utilises the Ronin 2 - https://www.facebook.com/MOTIONCTRL/?fref=nf

If its tracking stills, then look at gyroscopic stabilisers that spin magnets. They're not easy to use but do allow you much slower shutter speeds.

No stills as I use tripods or the D4 can safely shoot beyond ISO3200, it's purely and only to extend shutter speeds for car to car tracking shots. I'll continue my research!

[GetCarter]

tr7ster said:

I'd suggest that a DSLR is getting towards the heavy side for a pistol-grip style stabilizer, although of course it'll depend what body/lens combo you're intending to use. There are plenty around for the larger mirrorless or smaller DSLR though, and while I haven't used these myself I know someone who uses a Zhiyun-Tech Crane with a GH4 and really likes it. It's good for up to 1.8kg seemingly.

I tried one of these on my Sony A7 and it was pants...

Sent it back the next day.

..If you are looking to gimbal a D4 you are looking at serious money to get good results.

Took this at the weekend. It's the way to go!

[trackdemon]

That's the kind of setup I'd been thinking Steve; expensive, yes, but awesome results and I won't need to buy another. It's an investment in business.

[Tuna]

This is what I was thinking of: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00O5ZSAC6?tag=t9r-p-2... - Under 200 quid and probably closer to what you need in motorsports?

[GetCarter]

trackdemon said:

That's the kind of setup I'd been thinking Steve; expensive, yes, but awesome results and I won't need to buy another. It's an investment in business.

Then you should start here:

http://www.wexphotographic.com/dji-ronin-mx-3-axis...

[trackdemon]

GetCarter said:

trackdemon said:

That's the kind of setup I'd been thinking Steve; expensive, yes, but awesome results and I won't need to buy another. It's an investment in business.

Then you should start here:

http://www.wexphotographic.com/dji-ronin-mx-3-axis...

Or maybe here....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DJI-Ronin-M-Lightweight-...

[GetCarter]

...held out of a moving car window?

Good luck with that.

(Use a GoPro, like most do!)

[trackdemon]

GetCarter said:

...held out of a moving car window?

Good luck with that.

(Use a GoPro, like most do!)

Nope, I'd typically be strapped into the back of an SUV - no way that's being held outside!!

Gopro doesn't offer anything like the quality required for commercial stuff, or indeed magazine spreads. Needs DSLR so I can have Lee grads and quality RAW files.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Just get a Cineflex and be done with it!