Why buy a gimbal?

Family video - old problems

You've probably noticed that the analog image leaves much to be desired in terms of sharpness or realistic color rendition. However, the most striking aspect of these video souvenirs is the incredibly intense shaking of the image. The reasons for this are quite obvious - technology, compared to today, was quite archaic. In addition, the mere fact of buying a camera used to be something unusual and amateur operators didn't know too much about how to use it. Let's also not forget that until a few years ago there was no price shelf with equipment for semi-professionals, only a choice between cameras dedicated to the home user or filming specialists was available.

Nowadays, thanks to the development of technology and the increasing popularity of amateur recording whether for home archives or to upload recordings to the web, we have much more advanced devices. Video recording itself is already possible even with digital cameras or smartphones, and the quality of this footage is downright incredible. So how do we capture important family moments so that our kids can comfortably view them in a few years from now?

Let's not hide the fact that family recordings are always characterized by one thing - spontaneity of behavior, which adds to their charm, but can also cause us trouble, especially in the case of filming small children, who are everywhere, running around the recorder, not easily tamed, or in the case of family, active outdoor recreation, where it is simply difficult for us to record on the move.

Gimbal - the solution to recording problems

An interesting answer to problems of this type may be the purchase of a gimbal. However, for many people it is still a mystery device. So what is a gimbal? Well, to put it simply it is a device that allows us to stabilize our camera,smartphone or camcorder while recording. The gimbal is most often equipped with a three-axis stabilization system and a connector to connect recording equipment. Often on the handle you will also find special function buttons responsible for controlling additional settings of the camera without having to detach it from the gimbal. Many of these types of devices, in addition to stabilization, offer us a number of additional functions, such as the ability to track a specific object or make an impressive timelapse, which will certainly be the highlight of the recording of a family outing or trip.

Which gimbal to choose for your phone?

Many of you reading this article are probably now wondering how to actually buy such a gimbal, what to pay attention to so as not to throw money down the drain. Of course, we are already rushing to your aid and advice.

FeiyuTech Vimble 2 handheld gimbal

The device is designed for users who require good quality at an affordable price. It should especially appeal to smartphone users, because in addition to having all the functions of a gimbal, in addition, thanks to its extendable design, it can also serve as a selfie stick! However, this is not the most interesting - for the device the manufacturer has created dedicated software with interesting capabilities - thanks to the Vicool application we can take advantage of such functions as: tracking a face or a specific object, quickly taking pictures with a Bluetooth shutter and recording time-lapse videos, which, thanks to the capabilities of our smartphone, we will be able to post on social media in a flash. What also characterizes the Vimble 2 is the comfort of use and secure grip. The handle of the gimbal is made of a material that does not "sweat", so it is always stable in the hand.

DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Gimbal

Again, this is a device for those making recordings with mobile devices. DJI Osmo Mobile 2 is designed to film objects in motion. Also, its additional features point to this, as it has the ability to do so-called motionlapse or timelapse while moving with the device, resulting in extremely smooth cinematic effects. The Osmo Mobile 2's focus on dynamics is also evident in the fact that this gimbal has a slider that allows you to zoom in on a particular part of the image. A type of such approximation is called dolly zoom by professionals and until recently was only possible with professional filming equipment. Just by these mentioned features, one can conclude that Osmo Mobile 2 will be ideal for family outings and active recreation. But that's not the end of the advantages it boasts - the device also has a battery sufficient for 15 hours of operation! So you don't have to worry about looking for an additional power source.

Which gimbal to choose for your camera?

FeiyuTech A1000 Gimbal

In the case of this equipment, we can confidently speak of complete professionalism. It is especially recommended for those who have their first experience with using a gimbal behind them. Unlike the two previously described devices, the Feiyu-Tech A1000 is designed to be connected to a camera or camcorder too. What also characterizes this device is its modularity, so it is possible to attach additional accessories to improve recording. The Feiyu-Tech A1000 also accommodates loads of 1 kg, so it will also be compatible with heavier cameras. In addition, it uses special chips equipped with an algorithm that automatically detects the weight of the device and adjusts the movements of the gimbal arm under this specific load.

FeiyuTech A2000 Dual Gimbal

This is an extension of the gimbal concept we mentioned above. It retains all the strengths of its predecessor and adds a few improvements. Of course, the most conspicuous one is the additional handle, which allows you to hold the gimbal more securely and improves the stabilization of the whole thing. With an additional handle, it is also possible to develop the operation of the algorithms, which allows the device to be calibrated with almost any camera and camcorder, and the whole process is done automatically, with no user intervention required. What's more, the manufacturer has increased the lifting capacity to 2 kg, which allows you to hook up professional DSLR cameras with bright glass and zooms.

DJI Ronin S Gimbal

DJI Ronin S is already a truly top-of-the-line piece of equipment. It is designed to work with SLR and high-end cameras. What sets this gimbal apart from the competition is its versatile design, as it is designed to provide image stabilization and focus capture in all conditions. Like the other equipment described here, the Ronin S has a stable image tracking function. However, the manufacturer allows us to manually adjust many of the settings as we see fit-we can program sequences and create custom presets that allow us to play complex camera movements with a single click. Thanks to its nifty design, we can even afford to mount lighting, a wireless video transmitter or a special microphone to it. Impressively, the Ronin S is capable of lifting as much as 3.6 kg, and its center of gravity has been moved above the roll axis, so we can use the preview screen at all times. In addition, in sports mode, Ronin S reduces the response time to keep up with the dynamics of the captured image. The shortest way to sum it up is to say: equipment definitely for demanding enthusiasts of filming in difficult conditions.

As you can see, the gimbal can prove to be a savior when it comes to capturing family moments, especially if we are fans of active outdoor recreation or want to capture footage with busy children. In this article, of course, we have introduced you to only a small slice of the huge market for gimbals. Over time, you will probably figure out for yourself which of a number of features are most useful to you, and you will be able to determine what your requirements are for buying the next device of this type.