
- 3.4kg(7.5lbs) Load Capacity
- Max. Runtime: 20 hours
- Transformable, undefined creativity

- 4.5kg(10lbs) Load Capacity
- Max. Runtime: 12 hours
- Automated Axis Locks
Last updated on March 10th, 2023 at 07:54 pm
In old times filmmakers used to operate huge bulky cranes and needed a big crew for smooth camera movements and cinematic shots. But independent filmmakers who need to shoot films on a budget can’t hire such crew or use big cranes; it becomes really difficult to spend a huge amount of money on expensive gear that is not portable or even handy. With the new technological innovations, gimbals appeared and took filmmaking to a new level because when it comes to cinematography or filmmaking, the camera movements speak and matter a lot in creating emotion and flow in storytelling.
The right camera movements will help gain viewers’ attention, involving your audience in your story and creating an impact. Trust me, I know how difficult it is to find the right gimbal, but don’t worry; we have sorted it out for you. So, let’s get started right away with the best DSLR gimbals for your work that will fulfil your requirement according to today’s needs and demands. And those who don’t want to get into any complexities can simply pick one from our top 3 picks. Also, those buying a gimbal for the first time should check out the buyer’s guide in the end.
DSLR Gimbals In This Guide
Mirrorless, DSLR, Or Cinema Camera Gimbal Reviews
1. DJI RS 3 Pro DSLR and Cinema Camera Gimbal Stabilizer
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We all know DJI makes the best gimbals but to cut it short; DJI RS 3 Pro is a gimbal to put bigger cameras on it or ones with bigger lenses. It has a much wider design than the previous versions of the DJI RS 2 or DJI RS 2 Pro. It has a maximum payload capacity of 4.5kg or 10 lbs. Another improvement from the previous versions is the DJI’s built-in LCD has been upgraded to a 1.8-inch OLED which is 28% bigger in size and is a full-coloured touchscreen.
Another great feature that DJI RS 3 Pro comes equipped with is the Active Track Pro. It is quite handy if you are a single-camera operator and would like to shoot your own videos while moving around in your space without bringing a second camera operator.
Another thing that was lacking in the past was that you had to manually lock all the axis, but with this upgrade, you can automatically lock your axis, giving you an option either to lock it in one side or face it straight forward. So, now your camera won’t wiggle & dangle where it wants to as it was quite a headache to look after when travelling.
DJI RS 3 Pro can handle different cinema camera setups, like the C70, FS6, BlackMagic 6K Pro, Red Comodo and an 8lbs Red V Raptor. This is enabled due to its larger extension arms and wider design. Before this, you had to spend quite some grands to achieve this setup; we’re talking about $6000-8000 dollars, but now, with just around $1000, you can meet your need, and it doesn’t disappoint.
DJI is the leading brand when it comes to the camera world, whether it be drones, gimbals, or pocket cameras like DJI Osmo 4. Its stabilization is the best in its class. In RS 3 Pro, they introduced the SuperSmooth mode that further enhances stabilization by 20% by increasing motor torque and delivering stable footage in any scenario you can imagine.
Another thing to mention is the DJI’s new Pro-Grade Focusing or LiDAR Assistance that, can make your manual focus lenses to focus automatically when paired with DJI LiDAR Assistance. Though this technology is quiet, we tested it out a bit. But it only works perfectly in static conditions when you are sitting in a room, and there’s a fixed focal length, but for outdoors, much improvement is needed.
So, if you are planning to buy DJI RS 3 Pro, you can effortlessly unleash the full potential of your cinematography skills. You’ll be able to capture stunning low-angle shots, run and shoot with ease, and smoothly switch between high and low positions for dynamic footage. Overall, it’s a great upgrade to shoot full-scale cinematic footage with it and a gimbal you can rely on in any given scenario.
2. MOZA AirCross 3 Transformable Gimbal Stabilizer
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Moza AirCross 3 is a small, compact, transformable DSLR gimbal that is storage-friendly and ideal for filmmakers on the go. What we mean by transformable is that you can reshape the gimbal accordingly or however you are comfortable holding your camera for long hours. It is built to shoot continuously without getting tired, and the battery will last for around 18 hours depending; on whether the gimbal is connected to your camera, Bluetooth and the mode you are using! Also, this is one of the longest running times that we’ve got on gimbals as it’s a built-in 3500mah battery with fast charging available. You can charge Moza AirCross 3 to full capacity with the help of fast charging in 2 hours.
Sling Mode for Ultra-low positioning shots that gives you one of the best shots, where your camera hangs just slightly above the ground to creatively capture cinematic movements. So, this mode is best for low shots.
You can also transform your camera into a classic gimbal configuration, as many filmmakers prefer a one-handed design. Also, this configuration is tried and tested by the filmmaking world. But for people who shoot for long hours, it becomes really difficult to hold your camera in this classic configuration Moza offers Dual Handle Mode with the tripod stand. Allowing you to capture cinematic moments with greater control and precision.
Apart from that, you have 4 Flow modes to shoot and follow your subjects using the Deep Red Algorithm, giving you higher levels of stability and control over your shots. Moza AirCross 3 Inception Mode, FPV Mode, and Sports Mode 2.0 are the ones to try out in your next cinematic footage. Also, in Sports mode, you have total control over the movement as it has 5 adjustable speed control.
Another feature to get Moza AirCrosss 3 is its dual-layer quick-release plate that enables you to shoot in Vertical Mode, which is ideal for capturing videos for social media in the vertical format or 9:16 aspect ratio. So you don’t need to edit or buy any accessories for it. Also, another feature to highlight about the AirCross 3 is its Moza Intelligent Brick, which packs huge computing power and a 1MP camera that allows you to track and follow movements and subjects. This Moza Intelligent Brick lets you start and stop recording using hand gestures.
So, overall we will highly recommend it to a professional filmmaker. Even if you are just starting and want that extra punch of buttery smooth cinematic footage, you should highly consider this one. Also, the fun fact is that it’s just under $500.
MOZA AirCross 3 – For People Looking for Storage Friendly, Easy for Pack and Go gimbal that will fit anywhere.
3. Zhiyun Crane 3S Professional 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer Kit
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The uniquely designed Crane 3S Pro by Zhiyun has become the talk of the town in less time; Crane 3S Pro has enabled this beast with features like 360 barrel roll, sports mode, etc., that were missing in Crane 2. You will have full control over gimbal movements with this one, and it’s much more responsive. Recording smooth cinematic shots has become much easier with this revolutionary designed Crane 3S for extraordinary responsiveness.
Built quality & performance
Just like other Zhiyun products, the built quality of Crane 3S Pro is also much more solid and premium. Crane 3S is a remarkably built gimbal with innovative stabilizing technology; its design differs from the gimbals we’ve ever seen in the market. Crane 3S Pro weighs around 2kg and can carry a load up to a max limit of 6.5kg or 14.3lbs. It’s huge as with such load capacity, one can remarkably play with their heavy lenses and cameras like Canon: 1D X Mark II or other big gear and accessories.
Dealing with a heavy load is not an issue when using Crane 3S Pro. You will get a runtime of 12 Hours with Zhiyun’s 3 x 2600mAh Lithium-Ion batteries which are included in the package. With such heavy load capacity, 12hr battery runtime is a good deal. Zhiyun has made the balancing process easy by providing a great locking mechanism on each axis that keeps the camera safe from swinging here and there all over the place.
Features
Zhiyun has featured this gimbal with Aviation grade powerful motors that deliver 150% speed improvement while responding and a 100% increase in motor torque. It has two handles; one is a standard straight-up handle, and the other is an underslung grip to take better low-angle shots.
The newly designed ergonomic structure in Crane 3S Pro has made us record low-angle shots much more easily in Sling Mode. One can easily get their camera close to the ground level, shoot smooth follow/tracking footage, and move the camera from down to up position in a super smooth way. Also, because of its unique design, your arms don’t get tired while recording low-angle shots. Modes like Pan Follow, tilt, POV, 360 rolls, etc., are all available on Crane 3, and yes, sports mode (Go mode) for quick and responsive movements is also available.
Dedicated buttons are also placed on the gimbal to change modes. Crane 3S Pro is also featured dual servo support for zooming and focusing simultaneously from the handwheel. With the ZY play app, one can control the bulk of camera options from smartphones. Zhiyun has also provided the facility of 1080p wireless transmission through which you can use devices like tablets and phones as monitors in real time.
Bottom Line
It’s a powerful machine full of intelligent options like motion sensor remote control via smartphone, object tracking, 360 camera roll, Go mode, time-lapse and motion lapse, etc. If your work demands something pro to be at the next level in filmmaking, then Crane 3S Pro is the right choice for you to carry on with your professional camera gear. Zhiyun has delivered an all-in-one package in the form of a new Crane 3S Pro Kit for professional filmmakers. Whether it’s footage smoothness, load capacity, battery time, or advanced features, this gimbal is well-equipped at all these levels. I can recommend this without hesitation, as even a person who has used it once will like how it works.
4. DJI Ronin-S Camera Stabilizer
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The all-in-one 3-axis gimbal is designed for any kind of professional film work. It can carry up to 3.6kg load, and it’s a great piece of work by DJI. Regarding camera gear, DJI is ruling the market because of their reliable quality products. Ronin S has the ability to produce super smooth cinematic movements for your film or B-roll.
Built quality & performance:
DJI has constructed Ronin S mostly with metal; it weighs around 4.1 lbs. / 1.86 kg, a little more than the Crane 2, but the performance you’re going to have on Ronin S is remarkable. As the weight limit is up to 3.6 kg, you can use it with heavy cameras like Canon 1dx Mark ii, C300, C200, etc. and other accessories without any issues. When Ronin S is properly balanced, it will give you 12 hours of battery timing. When it comes to video stabilization, it will handle camera jerks amazingly. Just mount your camera and balance it manually, and then the autotune stability technology for gimbal calibration will tune it further. The footage you will get from this beast is super stable.
Features:
DJI has enhanced Ronin S with a Focus wheel for pulling focus, a joystick and a trigger button so that one can change modes quickly while shooting different actions just by playing with the trigger. One thing that was found missing in gimbals was sports mode for quick movements that you need when your subject is involved in super-fast movements, and you have to follow at the same time, but most gimbals are not responsive enough in such situations. All thanks to DJI, they’ve solved this issue and provided Ronin S with sports mode for quick response capability so one can change their gimbal movements in seconds.
Another thing which I’ve noticed while using it is that the camera screen is not covered with the gimbal. Sometimes it gets annoying when one can’t see the camera screen properly while recording with a gimbal, but DJI has designed this gimbal so that the camera screen will be visible at all times. So, the gimbal will not block the camera’s visual, and one does not have to spend extra dollars on another screen for a better viewing angle.
Bottom Line
Whether built quality or performance, Ronin S is an all-in-one gimbal for getting creamy smooth footage out from your camera; it is quite responsive and can change movements quickly without camera shakes. I’ve compared it with Crane 2, and in my experience, footage from Ronin S is more stable. While going from high to low angle or following your subject from low angle/underslung mode, a few gimbals give little jerks, but on Ronin S, I’ve not had any issue like that. This goes without saying that the main thing is to balance your camera properly first. Once your camera is mounted and balanced properly, you’re good to go, and you’ll get very smooth, cinematic footage using Ronin S.
In my opinion, Ronin S is the right choice for all kinds of work, yes, it’s a little heavy, but the quality you’ll get is outstanding.
5. FeiyuTech SCORP-C Camera Stabilizer Gimbal
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FeiyuTech Scorp-C, as the name suggests, has a scorpion-like design, which comes in handy while handling the gimbal and getting those smooth and dynamic shots. The grip handles fit ideally in your hands due to their smooth rounded ergonomics. Overall, it’s a beast; it’s tiny, compact for DSLR gimbals, and just under 300 hundred dollars.
Let’s talk about some of the features of Scorp-C that made us mention it in our guide for Best DSLR Gimbals; with a 2500mah efficient battery, you can shoot continuously without any interruption or worrying about charging the gimbal for around 12-13 hours. Also, it comes with fast charging enabling you to get 30min of run time with only 5min of charge.
A few key features that set it apart are the modes and magic wheel. Magic wheels allow you to have smooth movements, as there are times joystick limits your creativity in terms of the movement you want. So, it comes in handy as the Magic Wheel allows you to accurately control your camera’s rotation, tilt, pan, and roll axis with precise and calculated movements.
Apart from that, SCORP-C comes out with 6 different shooting modes:
- Flash
- Space (3-Axis Follow)
- 3-Axis Fast Follow
- Vertical Shooting Mode
- Panoramic Photography
- Time-lapse Photography
FeiyuTech also has a mobile app to control your gimbal remotely, or you can handle or move the gimbal, and someone else can control the camera movement through the app via Bluetooth. Another cool thing about it is the AB trajectory memory buttons that can help you in complicated shots where you can set a particular trajectory, and it’ll move smoothly to that point.
FeiyuTech Scorp-C is especially for hobbyists, people who don’t want to invest that much in a gimbal and use it from time to time for their filmmaking or travel videos so that it will give you that extra smooth buttery footage and cinematics. So it’s a total package with the features of a PRO Gimbal under a budget with no limits to your creativity.
6. DJI Ronin-SC DSLR Camera Stabilizer
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DJI’s smallest, lightest, and most intelligent single-handed 3-axis gimbal is now in the market for filmmaking enthusiasts, content creators, and vloggers who love to use mirrorless or light-weighing cameras for their work. DJI has made this gimbal, especially for those who don’t want to get tired from holding heavyweight gimbals. Instead, they can just buy the lightest ultra-portable Ronin SC for their mirrorless cameras.
Built quality & performance
The newly launched Ronin SC is mostly constructed with aluminium and steel and weighs only 2.43 lbs. / 1.1 kg. It’s almost half of the weight of the Ronin S and design-wise also the same as Ronin S but smaller in size. DJI hasn’t made any compromise on its performance at any level. The gimbal works absolutely fine with mirrorless cameras and gives smooth footage. Carrying Ronin SC anywhere with you is much easier because of its compact size and lighter weight. It can carry weight up to a max limit of 4.85 lbs. / 2.2 kg. Load capacity is lesser than Ronin S; that’s the reason DJI has announced this version for the owners of mirrorless or small cameras that are lighter in weight.
DJI has enabled Ronin SC with a 2450 mAh battery capacity, providing a continuous runtime of about 11hrs. I think such battery timing with an ultra-portable gimbal is worth every penny. Balancing your gimbal has also become much easier, thanks to the well-constructed switch locks on each pan and tilt and roll axis on this gimbal that will let you balance your camera quickly and simply. After that, you just have to autotune your gimbal.
Features
So here is a selling point for this new gimbal, DJI has enabled Ronin SC with features like Active Track 3.0, which was only available in DJI drones and Osmo cameras, in which you let your camera track and follow your subject. Now, with Ronin SC, you just have to lock your target, and your camera will track your subject smoothly and keep it in the frame without any jerks, shakes, or other issues.
Ronin SC users have to connect their phone with the DJI app and just mount their phone on the camera’s hot shoe, and they’re good to go. Another interesting feature that DJI has provided in it is Force Mobile. This function will let you change gimbal movements by moving your smartphone in the desired direction from a max distance of 82 feet away. I believe these features really make Ronin SC stand out from the rest.
DJI has amazingly constructed this machine in a great value product, and the price tag is also nice. All the other features, like focus pulling, joystick, pan, tilt, 360 barrel roll or sports mode for extra responsive movements, are also available in this new version. Also, you can control your camera and shoot photos at specific intervals by using the DJI Ronin app on your smartphone. Time-lapse/Motion lapse can be created easily with this new toy.
Bottom Line
Gimbals are now a basic need of every filmmaker, and we need to travel a lot to record stuff for our YouTube channels, for short films or documentary projects and a portable gimbal with such advanced features is the thing which every content creator wishes for. It’s lighter in weight and can hold mirrorless cameras for long shifts.
One main issue faced by most of the gimbal users was weight, and believe me, I know the pain of holding a heavy gimbal for long hours constantly and that too with the stress of getting the perfect shots, but DJI has really come to the rescue. In my opinion, one should give this new version by DJI a go; it’s more worth the money you’re investing and a reliable item for your camera gear.
7. Zhiyun Weebill S Compact Gimbal Stabilizer
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If you’re new to gimbals and need something compact and small that can be easily balanced and is ready to use in no time, then Zhiyun Weebill S – 3 axis gimbal is the right choice for your DSLR and mirrorless cameras. A solid machine that you can balance in a maximum of 2 minutes. Awesome… Isn’t it!! Once you get a hold of its balance and assembly settings, it becomes super easy to use for your daily work. This thing can carry up to 4kg load and gives smooth cinematic footage but keep one thing in your mind; it requires practice. One must invest time in learning gimbal movement techniques to operate your body properly, and arm movement also needs to be in a flow and harmony.
Built Quality & Performance
Zhiyun Weebill S is constructed with a solid, premium-looking body that feels like a gun; it’s mostly made up of aluminium with black finishing, and for balancing, one needs to put this gimbal on a plane surface so that while your gimbal is off you can balance your camera on it correctly. It’s got Manfrotto’s standard quick-release plate on top, so you just have to mount your camera on it, and after balancing it correctly, you’re ready to go.
If you have a mirrorless camera like Sony a6300 or a6500, you will get outstanding battery performance. You’ll get slightly less battery timing if your camera body and lens are heavier. It’s because gimbal motors need more power to maintain balance if the weight is heavy; anyways, one doesn’t need to worry about the battery backup while shooting with Zhiyun Weebill S. With a 2600mAh battery capacity, you can use your gimbal to shoot up to 14hr.
Features
The best thing about Weebill S is its compact as a piece of A4 Paper due to its minimal and unique design. Also, it comes equipped with follow focus controller wheel; one doesn’t have to grab or touch their camera to focus as the follow focus wheel gets the job done for you. You just have to connect your camera to the gimbal using the USB cables included in your package… Easy right!! One can always keep the subject focused while performing an action with Weebill S. Zhiyun has equipped Weebill S with a joystick for smooth pan and tilt options;Weebill S is enabled with 360° pan, 320° tilt, and 360° roll adjustment.
One thing I found missing in this gimbal is the extra quick response for movements, Zhiyun has not enabled this gimbal to follow quick movements, but overall it’s a piece of good equipment to carry on that you can travel with anywhere around the globe.
Bottom Line
The Zhiyun Weebill S is ideal if you need a strong and reliable video stabilizer for your travels to handle lightweight mirrorless and dslr camera setups. In my personal experience, after using it 3 to 4 times, one can easily understand its modes and properly control it to get super smooth footage without any jerks. It’s easy to carry and is not that heavy. Weebill S is also one of the lightest gimbal that you can find; weighs around only 926 grams. So if you work 5 to 6 hours a day with a gimbal, then this thing is perfect for you as compared to DJI Ronin S, which is heavier than Weebill S.
If weight and traveling with larger setups is not an issue for you and you also need something solid with advanced technology that can hold heavy cameras and lenses, then you should go for Pro models mentioned above like the DJI RS3 Pro or Zhiyun Crane 3S Pro. Apart from that Weebill S is not going to disappoint you for sure, and once you start using Zhiyun’s Weebill S, it will become an evergreen buddy for your camera gear.
8. DJI Ronin-M Gimbal Stabilizer
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It’s not wrong to say that Ronin M is DJI’s most professional video stabilizer for DSLR filmmaking in terms of design, shape, durability, and performance. Forget about camera shakes when working with Ronin M. This thing requires time to learn about its balancing, functions and other operations. For complete newbies, I suggest you go for Ronin S or Zhiyun’s Crane 3.
Built quality & performance:
DJI has built its frame mostly from magnesium and carbon fibre, which feels strong and durable. With handlebars, it weighs around 2.3 kg, almost half of the weight of the original Ronin gimbal, and it can lift weight up to 3.6 kg. It’s easy to take Ronin M with you while travelling because it’s more compact and lighter as compared to the Ronin model.
DJI has designed this gimbal in such a way that it gives reliability and extra smoothness while shooting. Handling the gimbal with dual arms gives versatile options for camera movements, and yes, with dual handle grip, our hands also become less shaky when performing an action. Ronin M is powered by a 3400mAh battery which gives a runtime of 6hr. In my experience, its battery performance is much more impressive and lasts more while shooting. I never ran out of battery… Ever.
Features:
DJI does surprise us with every product they build; the same goes for Ronin M. Features, which I like the most, are smooth track control and remote control for the second operator. Smooth track control allows a single gimbal operator to transform camera movements like tilt and pan into smooth and stable camera angle changes. With this feature, your camera faces the direction you want, no matter how you move. Ronin M always translates those movements into stabilized camera angles, and work becomes easy for a single gimbal operator to frame wide angles or close scenes.
The remote control feature for a second gimbal operator enhances production quality. A second person can now handle pan, tilt and roll camera movements when the first operator is stuck in controlling the gimbal. It enables filmmakers to achieve more complex and creative shots by working together. There come situations where gimbal handling, its movements and changing modes become hard for a single operator; in such a situation, this feature helps a lot to achieve more complex camera movement with perfect framing. Focus can also be controlled wirelessly on set with a DJI Focus controller.
DJI has provided three modes in this machine; Briefcase Shooting mode to hold the gimbal like a briefcase and record smooth footage from your legs level. Underslung Mode is to hold the gimbal at chest level, and Upright mode is to record from or above eye level.
Bottom Line:
It’s a pro machine for filmmakers who are not newbies. I’ve found that balancing this gimbal is a little bit tricky; you need to invest time to balance it properly. So, keep in mind that you’ll need to stay patient if you’re going to get this machine as, at the start, it requires time to understand its functions fully. Nevertheless, after 3 to 4 times of usage, you’ll get to know the process of working with Ronin M.
Quality and performance-wise, it’s a great and premium product to get your hands on, and if you want something that can be handled in a simple way, then go for Ronin S or Crane 3 because DJI’s Ronin M is not something for beginners. But yes, if you can give yourself some time to learn and practice with this machine, then I will recommend you get this premium machine for your filmmaking gear. It’s worth the money.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): About Gimbal Stabilizers For DSLR
Q: Is a gimbal worth it for DSLRs?
A: Yes, absolutely! A gimbal is worth it; imagine you don’t have any motors or rotators in your arms or hands. A gimbal can move in 3-axis where you can Pan, Tilt and Rotate your camera in different axis, so no matter what you do, you are just limited while shooting with your hands.
Also, gimbals are not a new thing; it is tried and tested technology. Even in history, filmmakers needed to rent these kinds of huge gimbals and stabilizers daily, requiring a crew of 10-12 people to operate the whole stabilizing equipment. Then you had to work on the post-editing.
So, if you are a professional doing any kind of filmmaking, we can’t compromise on production value, and we all know stabilization plays a key role. In cinematic shots, your shorts are of no use if it is not stabilized/shaking; even a 1-second jerk can damage the whole shot. So here, gimbals are a necessary gadget for filmmakers to bring a purely cinematic experience to their content.
Q: Which gimbal is best for a beginner?
A: There are four options for you depending on your budget, so if you are just starting your journey as a filmmaker or are a hobbyist, YouTuber, or social media content creator who would like to level up their shooting and cinematography skill. Then these options will best suit you when you don’t want to overcomplicate certain things and want to keep everything simple.
I’d highly recommend you guys go for the DJI Ronin-SC, as it’s a great gimbal with all bezels and whistles. You are just starting out and will surely upgrade in the near future, so it’s better to stay in the ecosystem of DJI, as there are tons of accessories and extensions available for DJI products.
The next one I’d highly recommend is the MOZA AirCross 3; we’ve already mentioned some key points. It’s just that it’s a bit more expensive than the DJI Ronin-SC, and there are reasons for it, as it is equipped with everything you need as a beginner.
Q: What is the difference between a gimbal and a stabilizer?
A: The key difference between a gimbal and a stabilizer is that a gimbal is operated electronically, so you have motors and batteries that power your cinematic experience. While on the other hand, a stabilizer is a mechanical device operated mechanically through stabilization technology.
Both have pros and cons of using them. Still, gimbals are generally used professionally for their ease of use and versatility, and they can change the dynamics of your shooting experience and cinematics.