Ten things not to do with your gimbal

A gimbal is a handy tool which can add so much to your filmmaking. But, there are also some things that you shouldn’t do with it once you start using it for filming. In this video, Alex of We Talk UAV talks about ten things you should never do with your gimbal if you really want to make the best of it.

Alex demonstrates his points on a Moza AIR 2 gimbal. However, they’re applicable no matter which model you use.

1. Not stabilizing your arms

When you shoot with a gimbal, watch your step as you walk and stabilize your arms. If you bounce up and down when you walk, your arms will move too much up and down and the footage won’t be as smooth as it should be.

2. Overdoing the gimbal movements

When you first get a gimbal, it’s easy to get carried away. You wanna try everything. But, remember to keep it simple, shoot slow, controlled and smooth movements, and don’t get too fancy just because you can.

3. Putting too much weight

Remember to check the capacity of your gimbal and don’t exceed it. Everything counts: the weight of your camera, the lens, the microphone, and so on. So keep it in mind and count everything in.

4. Forgetting spare batteries

Always bring a second battery set, you never know when they will run out and I’m sure you want to spare yourself that trouble.

5. Don’t spend the whole budget on the gimbal

This point is connected to the previous one. When you’re buying a gimbal, keep in mind that you will need extras, and batteries will definitely be among them. So, don’t spend your entire budget on the gimbal alone.

6. Not choosing the right gimbal for your needs

Choose your gimbal wisely, because it should suit the purpose you’re buying it for. Some gimbals are good for vlogging, some for filmmaking; some are better for running and walking, and some for slow movements and shooting b-roll. So, read the reviews and recommendations before making the decision.

7. Not checking the compatibility with your camera

This one kinda falls under the previous one. Your camera doesn’t need to be compatible with the gimbal for you to use it. However, if they are compatible, you’ll be able to change the camera settings through the gimbal, which could be quite handy.

8. Not customizing the gimbal

It’s possible to customize the settings and the parameters of the gimbal for a reason. You can adjust the speed and the power of motors, and some other functions, and it makes a difference depending on your shooting style. So, don’t skip it.

9. Not calibrating when you change lenses

Every lens has a different weight, so remember to calibrate the gimbal every time you change lenses on your camera.

10. Being impatient

Don’t be impatient when setting up your gimbal. Always spend some time setting it up before you start shooting. This way, you can be sure that you won’t miss important shots and that you’ll truly get the best of your shoot, and of your gimbal.

[10 THINGS NOT TO DO WITH YOUR GIMBAL | We Talk UAV; image credits: Ramiz Dedaković on Unsplash]

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