Nothing ruins video quality worse than extremely shaky footage. To combat this, you will need a proper electronic gimbal for your DSLR.
These devices can make your video shots extremely stable and butter smooth. But finding the right one can be a bit difficult. Luckily, we have compiled this list of what we believe are the four best out there.
Let’s take a look at what makes a great gimbal, and help you make a decision on which one is for you right now!
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Who Should Get This
If you make video content such as vlogs or amateur short films, buying one of these rigs will take your video quality to the next level. It will remove the handshake and jerky movements from your videos, giving them a much more professional look.
These are also great for people such as wedding videographers. If you are taking videos professionally and want the best possible quality, a good gimbal is a must. It will allow you to give your clients the crisp video they are paying you for.
Best Gimbal for DSLR: Our Picks
Here is a list of our top recommendations, along with a quick review of each option so you understand its pros and cons.
1. DJI Ronin-S Essentials Kit 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer
DJI is not only the king of the drone world, but they make the most amazing gimbals on the market as well. The Ronin-S is a more affordable option, though still quite expensive.
This gimbal can hold weights up to almost 8 pounds, giving you a ton of freedom as to what camera and lens combination you use.
This handheld gimbal is great in every way. DJI has some sort of magic they use to make your footage look extremely smooth, almost like you are floating.
This is why many in the film industry rely on their gimbals to get the best shot possible. Now you can have that same effect on a much smaller budget, thanks to the Ronin-S.
2. Zhiyun Crane V2 Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Zhiyun has really made a name for itself in the gimbal market in recent years with its Crane line of camera gimbals.
Version 2 of this popular gimbal keeps much of the same from the first version while making improvements to almost every flaw of the previous generation.
The Zhiyun Crane V2 is one of the most affordable electronic gimbals on the market, but you wouldn’t know it by the amazing footage you can get from this piece of kit.
You can get cinema-like quality from this small and light gimbal for your next video project, and it is extremely easy to use.
3. FeiyuTech AK2000 Camera Stabilizer Gimbal
FeiyuTech may not be a name that you have ever heard of, but the AK2000 gimbal they offer should be talked about more.
This thing is an absolutely awesome piece of hardware. It can give you footage that looks every bit as good as its more expensive competitors.
This gimbal can hold a camera that weighs over 6 pounds, meaning no matter what camera you use, you shouldn’t have an issue.
The “magic ring” on the side is a multi-functional tool that can be set to zoom, focus, and give the full control over all three axis. This sets the AK2000 apart from many of the other gimbals, and gives you more control over your footage.
4. DJI Ronin-M 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Stepping it up a notch from the Ronin-S, we have the DJI Ronin-M. This is the king of gimbals for your personal and professional content creation.
This massive gimbal is what you want if you are trying to make your videos as close to their Hollywood counterparts as possible.
The dual handle grips ensure you have full control over the rig at all times, and the weight and balance ensure you can carry it around without too many awkward moments. There are few gimbals on the market that will get you better footage than the Ronin-M.
Best Gimbal for DSLR: What to Consider
Size of your Camera
Not all gimbals can hold massive DSLR cameras. You want to make sure the camera you use plus the lens is within the gimbals weight limit. If not, it will not perform optimally, and could actually not work at all.
Battery Life
You want to make sure the gimbal you buy has a good battery life, allowing you a full day of shooting super smooth video. If your batteries run out, it could mean ending the entire day of shooting or going handheld, which neither are great options.
Warranty
As with any electronic, we strongly suggest you make sure the products you are purchasing have a decent warranty. This will cover you in case of any problems with the product, and with a more expensive purchase, can save you a ton of money.
Additional Tips & Resources
To ensure your gimbal doesn’t inadvertently go dead, it is a good idea to buy a battery bank to have a way to charge it on the go.
Most of these devices are equipped with a USB port for charging, so making use of that you will be able to plug in the battery bank for a boost in your daily recording times.
These rigs are generally rated to work on moving vehicles as well, up to a certain speed. If you plan on doing that, you want to make sure you purchase a camera cleaning kit.
Bugs and debris are sure to make their way onto your camera, so safely cleaning them off should be a priority.
Conclusion
Never have ugly, shaky video again by grabbing yourself one of these awesome gimbals. They are all great choices, spanning from affordable to extremely expensive. The higher up the rungs you go, the more features you will get, but any of them are perfectly capable of giving you great results.
Have you ever used a gimbal for your videos? If so, did you find it worthwhile? Let us know in the comments below!
