GEAR
BALANCING ACTS STABILISER 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES Third-generation motorised gimbals aren’t just about keeping your camera level – we size up the steadiest systems in the business I t wasn’t long ago that a modestly priced, three-axis WORDS ADAM DUCKWORTH
motorised gimbal was a dream come true for many independent filmmakers. Freeing yourself from a slider or jib and getting unique, otherwise impossible moving shots was big news, even if the kit was tricky to balance. The idea of fully controlling a camera from the gimbal’s commands, rigging up an external monitor without any major fuss, and turning your manual focus lens into a radar-guided AF version was still a pipe dream. As for transmitting a video signal for literal miles and controlling the gimbal at the same time from the same unit – or using a phone as a motion-control device – this was the stuff of fiction. A gimbal with a built-in, adjustable LED and mic? You’re having a laugh, mate. There have been huge strides in tech and materials, with loads of cool innovations in stabilisation. From burly and expensive, needing two hands to manhandle, they’re much lighter and can be operated single-handed, if you so wish. Along came touchscreens, apps, powerful motors in ever-decreasing sizes, plus the explosion of wireless. The latest gimbals do more than ever before – at affordable prices for such professional kit. It’s been a bumper month: DJI unveiled RS 3 and RS 3 Pro gimbals, a new wireless transmitter and super-bright receiver/controller. Zhiyun launched the Weebill 3. And we got hold of the lot on real-world commercial shoots. We also examine options from rivals such as Manfrotto, to take a good look at what’s going on in this booming sector.
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