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A few years ago, you would have to dig real deep into your pockets to own a good gimbal. Today, however, even some of the very best DSRL gimbals don’t hit the thousand dollar mark. In fact, you can get a decent one for as little as $200. Also, nowadays you can even save money while buying the latest tech gadgets. It’s insane how many choices do we have to get all the tech we need.
One of the main reasons for buying gimbals is the need to get smooth and stable shots without breaking too much of a sweat. Gimbals are widely used in the filmmaking industry and also by travellers to capture silky smooth footage of their adventures. DSLR Gimbals are in sundry shapes and offer different options to capture the best shots.
Nevertheless, not everyone who owns a gimbal gets the desired results. No matter if you are using a handheld GoPro stabilizer or a camera gimbal, a few tips, therefore, will go a long way in helping you get the best out of one of the trendiest tools.
Whenever you are in need of Free Movement
Before the arrival of gimbals, many camera people were doing alright with Steadicams as far as movement was concerned. Gimbals made everything much better. If you are, therefore, thinking about portability and flexibility, you would not be too far away if you have them in your mind. They are not only lightweight but also compact enough to allow easy movement as well as operation with the best possible results.
Ensure Proper Balancing
Many people overlook the need for correct balancing of their gimbals, which often results in irretrievably poor results. Additionally, camera operators who use an improperly balanced gimbal usually find themselves with drained batteries and an overworked motor. Therefore, ensure proper balancing before you go after the shots.
Watch your Vertical Movement
By using gimbals, you will be able to easily control panning, rolling, and tilting. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about the control of vertical movement through the gimbal. It may take a little time to master it if you are a first-timer but you will—in the end—have to ensure that you don’t come up with unsteady shots, especially while shooting and at the same time jumping or simply walking.
It’s Alright to Invert the Gimbal
Most people are comfortable holding their gimbal on the chest or waist level with the handles above the gimbal. This position is preferred because it not only seems to be the most natural owing to the design of the gimbal, but it seems to relieve the strain on the operator’s body too. If you don’t want your shots to be commonplace, however, take advantage of the capability of your gimbal to get great shots while inverted.
Don’t Neglect your Story
Not many people will tell you this, but gimbals can craftily lead you away from the path of the work of your dreams. Most people realize when it is too late that they have been too mesmerized by the great shots to remember that they had set out to tell a defined story in the first place. Use your gimbal for the great shots, but don’t forget the great story behind it all.
Plan your Shots
Operating a gimbal seems easy and fun when you see it done by another person. Wait till you have one under your control. While it is no Herculean task, it is still something. Therefore, have a good plan of your shots to avoid overworking yourself unnecessarily. In addition, leave it if you really don’t need to use it.
Go for More Options
How spell-binding your shots will be is determined by not only the availability of the options that come with the gimbal but also your ability to exploit them fully to your advantage. Keep in mind that some gimbals have different modes of operation together with different shooting positions which eventually determine how easily and effectively you modify your shots. The best gimbals have as many options as can be available, thereby giving the camera operator more freedom and room for creativity.
Last Thoughts
More often than not, you will need a lot of time, effort, and a number of tools for movement of the camera to set a good shot. Luckily, gimbals allow you to achieve an excellent shot without the need for other tools while clocking the same time. This, however, does not mean that you can now do away with the rest of the shooting gear. Remember that even the best gimbals have their own limitations, and cannot in any way entirely replace jibs, dollies, sliders, and many other tools used in filmmaking.