Personal View site logo
3-axis stabilizers ala FreeFly MOVi or ZenMuse - DIY and commercial
  • 458 Replies sorted by
  • Oh, and I may end up using all the motors,sensors, controllers etc and put them on a gimbal frame I found on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=261237447324&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

    Makes for a more easily configurable gimbal, plus bonus points for looking better. Still less than $500 for entire setup!

  • I recently bought this gimbal (from the guy who made the video. If you click his profile you can find a couple more videos too):

    I paid less than $400 for a 3-axis brushless motor gimbal, and unlike the video, he did provide a couple of different handles. I have yet to fully set it up for my final configuration, but the initial testing with the Nex-5n and kit-lens was very promising (he actually has this configuration himself so it was pre-adjusted for this). The Gimbal can hold 750g, which means I can use my "final" configuration which is a Panasonic GH3 with an Olympus 9-18 lens.

    Initial reaction:

    Pluses
    -Super cheap for a 3-way brushless gimbal (this point should really be counted 5 or 10 times in the pro section...)
    -Seems to work really well though I have done extremely limited testing so far (maybe 10 minutes total).
    -Very good support - I had a few questions and each time he responded within hours
    -Holds a bigger camera than other cheap ones
    -gimbal + camera weight can be lifted by a DJI 550 (Have not purchased one yet though)
    -whisper quiet (when balanced properly)
    -By adding a RC transmitter/receiver, you can manually control the motors as well (for panning etc)

    Things to consider/limitations/minuses
    -Still, some weight limitation, obviously don't expect a 5D mk3 with heavy glass to work.
    -It does not have the finish of a much more expensive Gimbal. Exposed wiring, circuit boards, motors etc
    -Pretty picky about balancing the setup in all 3 dimensions. I think this is an inherent issue in all smaller gimbals(or maybe all gimbals?). The gimbal itself is very light weight and susceptible to changes in configuration. As an example, since the 5n kit lens is not very wide, I swapped it out with the 16mm and the accompanying wide-adapter. This is a tad heavier than the kit-lens and it was clearly off balance. Which leads me to the last point:
    -While there are ways to adjust this, he drilled extra holes on some of the arms, etc, it basically means you may ned to get the screw-driver out to adjust, or maybe in extreme cases, drill extra holes.

    Don't get me wrong, the pluses outweigh the limitations by FAR - and I am VERY happy with the purchase. I will be making some cheap changes to the design on my copy (arm that holds the camera) to make it easier to adjust for different configurations - probably spending no more than $30 or so. I think once I have that in place this will be an incredible powerful tool at a very cheap price (Cheaper than many "manual" stabilizers!)

  • So just to add some software cost $ 2800 for the flycam, or I am mistaken.

  • Here's a couple using the Movi clone frame you can buy from aliexpress. The last one with the android tilt/pan is pretty impressive.

    I wouldn't be surprised if Freefly get all their Cinestar and Movi frames made in China as the seller on Aliexpress also sells Cinestar frames and spare parts. If you compare the Movi frame they displayed at NAB to the Aliexpress one, they are identical apart from the motor mounts because Freefly's motors are alot bigger. Freefly probably wind their own motors and use their own controllers though which is the hardest part.

  • Hi another one with servo but soon with brushless ,it's working nice on 5D with servomotors anyway From 1001copters (http://www.1001copters.com/fr/stabilisateur-cinestar/161-stabilisateur-steadstar.html )

  • Heavyweight

  • And here's another one for the GoPro for $200 called the eSteady. Go to 3:10 for the details.

    http://tomparker.co/projects/#/esteady-1/

    https://www.youtube.com/user/MotorReflex?feature=watch

  • has the kenyon been mention in this topic? i Just seen something about it working well with the BMCC where as some of the others can't quite handle the weight of it?

  • Dont think this one has been posted yet. This is the guy who actually came up with the Alexmos controller.

  • And here's another one from Poland.

    http://www.monkey-gimbal.com/

    The guy seems to have some experience with heli mounts.

    http://en.vr360.pl/

  • This looks quite promising, a 3 axis version being worked on soon

    $200 to make the 2 axis one himself http://tomparker.co/projects/#/esteady-1/

  • @Vitaly There's a thread started by the creator of that controller on the rcgroup forum http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1872199 From the looks of it, he's provided the firmware and software as open source. There's also a few other 2 axis controllers out there with the supporting software. To control the third axis you have to use two of them.

  • That besteady price is misleading, I thought the 600 was for a handheld brushless gimbal, but it's actually just the handle and parts to make it handheld. It's 2k plus if u want a working unit

  • BeSteady prices announced, ranging from $650 to $3k

    (as for now it won't be compatible with the BMCC/4k, 4.4 lbs (2 kg) max load)

    http://nofilmschool.com/2013/06/affordable-gyrostabilizer-besteady-one-prices/

  • Its looking more and more promising each day. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/PRE-ORDER-free-shippingby-DHL-Fedex-Brushless-3-Axis-Camera-Gimbal-handle-gimbal-Stabilized-Mount-for/903692102.html

    Remember that it does not come with controller and software :-) It is more like DIY thing. And I am not fully sure that one you references will do. Or you found someone who already made it working?

  • @Andreask for what it is worth, I think your pricing is just about spot on for a "ready-to-go" unit capable of handling reasonably heavy cameras. People complain about price because they see how cheap the kits are for smaller units, but those are really only able to support the weight of a GoPro/compact cam.

  • @bimdas, thanks for link!! That's what I had said from the start, the prices are just ridiculously over priced. I was hoping that the defy gimbal learn and price it well but $2300 to just carry 2Ibs!! get outa here!! We are getting there, $1500 is more like it though I think they can still shave out some few $$ and still make profit. It's all in the programming, you can get parts for $300.

  • @bimdas that's a sick one! If they make a smaller version for the pocket cinema camera, I will definitely buy it.

  • After checking out rcgroups, it seems brushless gimbals are still in their early days and the parts that make them up are fairly cheap. The movi is ridiculously overpriced which is why we're seeing more reasonably priced alternatives pop up in such a short time. These guys are selling a movi look-a-like frame for $1500 here http://www.brushlessgimbals.com/p/8688103/bg-flex-gimbal---3-axis-brushless-handheld-gimbal-frame.html The brushless motors and controllers only cost a few hundred extra so it will be interesting to see what will be on the market in a year or two.

  • no thats one to avoid, lots of this sort of thing on goodluckbuy,,, boom clamps and bolts make it hard to balance camera, as soon as you do up the bolts the balance will change slightly, real pain to get right and wast of time... I would go with an aluminium gimbal as it will work like a heat sink for the motors and help them stay cool also with carbon by the time you add all the clamps, bolts, washer, its becomes heavier than one made of aluminium.... this is where we need to go with brushless gimbals nice clean lines, compact,

    http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1872299&page=6 (scroll down the page abit)

    they now make a fully adjustable one, this is very much like the one rctimer will be selling but not as good looking........

  • Noob question: what affects the overall balance of the gimbal the most? Gyroscope, CPU speed, firmware, motor...because, I'm being realistic here, none of these stabilization systems are 100% dead on. If they're controlled by gyro, how can that even be an issue?