Phone Gimbals
Handles with motors that keep the phone steady as you move.
What a phone gimbal does
A phone gimbal is a handle with small motors in it that hold the phone level while your hand moves. Sensors feel each movement and the motors push back the other way, many times a second, so walking, turning and following someone gives smooth video rather than a wobbly one. It is the kit for filming on the move: walking tours, children and pets, property and product videos, weddings and travel films.
The three axes
Most phone gimbals work on three axes: pan, turning left and right; tilt, pointing up and down; and roll, tipping to one side. A motor on each holds the phone steady in that direction. A phone's own stabilisation copes with small shakes on a much smaller scale, and digital smoothing works by cropping in on the picture. A gimbal copes with the big movements of walking and turning, without losing any of the view.
Do you need one?
A gimbal is worth it if you film moving video often and want the steady, gliding look a phone cannot give on its own. If you mostly take still photos or film from one place, a phone tripod does more for less, and someone filming at home usually gets more from a tall tripod and a ring light.
What to look for in a gimbal
- The weight range. Each gimbal states the phone weight it balances. A phone above it, or one in a heavy case or with a clip-on lens, will not balance and the motors will struggle.
- Modes. Most have a mode that follows your turns smoothly and one that locks the phone in one direction while you move. Many work with an app that follows a face.
- The clamp. It has a width range as well as a weight range, so check it against your phone in its case, and that it leaves the buttons and the charging port clear.
- Folding and charging. Many fold small for a bag and charge by cable. Charge it before a day out.
Questions people ask about phone gimbals
Do I need a gimbal if my phone has stabilisation?
Not for everyday clips. A gimbal is for smooth video while walking, running or following someone, which built-in stabilisation cannot fully steady.
How do I balance the phone?
Before switching on, slide the phone in the clamp until it sits level by itself. A balanced phone saves the battery and the motors.
Can a gimbal hold a phone in a case?
Often, if the case is thin and the two together are inside the gimbal's weight range. The guide to tripods, gimbals and selfie sticks has more on filming smoothly.