Gimbals Are Awesome (And Why You Should Use Them) - Cinematography

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Looking back over my hard drives, I realised that over the last 5 or 6 years, I've used gimbals a hell of a lot in my work! So I decided to make a video on why gimbals are such amazing tools and just a few of the ways that you can use them in your cinematography.
Nowadays it's so easy to shoot professional footage on the go using 3 - axis gimbals - whereas in the past you'd need to be setting up dolly tracks or hiring steadycam operators. Not to mention the newer, smaller, pistol grip gimbals, that you can mount to anything and use pretty much anywhere.
I'm still amazed at the quality of shots you can get using these tools and I think in today's run-and-gun world of video, they're pretty much an essential purchase if you're looking at getting smooth, professional looking footage on the fly.
Gimbals used in video:
DJI Ronin (original)
DJI Ronin-S
Cameras used in video:
Blackmagic Cinema Camera 2.5k
Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera

[@AshtonMason]

I humbly agree with the main point here: gimbals are awesome because they let you shoot amazing cinematic moving camera shots, even on a low budget. My problem though is that I feel people don't need convincing to buy and use gimbals: if anything they need reminding that it's often best to keep your gear simple, and focus on the actual shooting. I think though it's partly a question of audience. There's no question that in the right hands they're incredibly useful. But for beginners who are learning filmmaking, I think tech like gimbals can be a real distraction. It's learning to ninja-walk before you've learned to walk, if you'll excuse the pun. Myself, I rushed out and bought a gimbal because I gathered from youtube that it was the cure to my shakey handheld footage. For a while everything I shot was shot on the gimbal. Much of it was silky smooth, but it didn't make me a better filmmaker. In fact, for a while it made me much worse, because instead of focusing on the camera and the image it was seeing, I was controlling a gimbal. Later, I learned the value of less technical ways to avoid camera shake: a balanced rig, weighty gear with plenty of inertia, good support points, braced hold, planned camera movement, and practice. Throw in a bit of software stabilization in post, and I can shoot most shots handheld with perfectly smooth results. I'm far happier shooting that way and feel I can focus on shooting rather than setting up, balancing and then holding a gimbal. Now I've come full circle and, having come to hate my gimbal, I have to force myself to use it. There are camera movements that are hard to shoot smoothly handheld, even with practice - walking shots, dollies, and so on - and for those, I think gimbals are very useful. But for me, they remain a trick piece of kit I'll pull out when the need arises, rather than something I'll shoot with all the time.

[@nicshanon]

when you said "sitting in a canoe with a cinema camera" I almost spit out my coffee

[@Star_gazer_4568]

Your videos motivate me to shoot more..thanks💓💓

[@Nicolasestarriaga]

Not only an amazing and useful content, but also an emotional journey... The footage, the grading, the music you choose. It motivates me to create!

[@aristomenis_k]

Absolutely stunning work! Your grading is incredible and I'm amazed by the quality of image you got out of the original cinema camera and the micro one. Seeing that, I'm sure your tutorial is worth the money!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! They're still amazing cameras all these years later!

[@nullrox]

Great piece man. I find that a lot of beginner gimbal operators throw literally every shot onto a gimbal without any thought and it always comes out looking amateurish to me. Hopefully, people will slow down and start to think about the kind of shots they want to get

[@bedenegative6450]

Totally blown away by your videos Rob. I only started really making stuff this year and it's really nice to see how you work with light and to see your perspective on stuff

[@obscurity_films]

Totally agree, especially with the point of focusing on intentional movement and composition, and not drawing attention to how you shot it. One thing I've found to be very helpful with my Zhiyun Weebill-S is getting the monopod attachment. This allows me to use the gimbal as a tripod much more often (although I've found it's not quite tall enough to be eye-level for most guys). It also lets me set the gimbal down more often for a quick rest or can also be used to get bigger crane shots.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Unintentional gimbal movement and no thought to composition is something you see a lot of and I think it can put some people off of using gimbals, which sucks a bit because you can use them for so much! Yeah that's the sort of thing that is just so useful to have and you can get things like those little crane shots so easily with a set up like that, like 10 years ago that would require so much more effort, time and money! As well as just doubling up as a tripod like you mentioned!

[@nullrox]

Man you should def check out the "arri minity" rigs people are building. Cheapest "crane" setup ever

[@markshirley01]

Is the monopod for the Weebill S a specific accessory or are you attaching any monopod.

[@obscurity_films]

@@markshirley01 I'm specifically using the Zhiyun one. It has foldable/lockable feet so it can be used as a tripod (I wouldn't walk away from it though, can very easily can topple over). Also, have the quick release attachment so I can add/remove it fast.

[@goingfurther8092]

This has become my favorite channel

[@maximumpleasuregaming]

Awesome video dude. Your work is exceptional

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you mate :D

[@eifionjones8513]

Nice work dude. Enjoyed spotting shots of portway/suspension bridge, cheddar reservoir and various Weston spots :) your gimbal work is nice because it’s intentional and controlled. I generally prefer the flow of a Steadicam for following shots but you’re using a gimbal more like a mobile track and dolly which is cool. When people do unintentional coverage using a gimbal it looks awful IMHO. You bring solid composition to your gimbal work but I think too often I see people allowing gimbals to distract them from drilling down on their composition and framing. Keep up the great work mate👍

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much :) I flutter between liking the steadycam look and gimbal/dolly look more, but I think really it's down to what fits the story/feel of the work. If I was good at operating/able to afford a good steadycam I think I'd shoot with it a lot though - absolutely adore Emmanuel Lubezki's steadycam work, extremely inspiring stuff! Totally agree with the fact that you often see videos just shot with a gimbal without any thought about how it's being used, or the other multitude of aspects that go into to making up a shot!

[@husainfoolath4287]

Love it!!

[@jdvideography41]

I absolutely love all of your videos. Always great information, thank you, Rob.

[@darkknightwithanidea1845]

As always, great content, no BS & honest intel for the constantly growing film maker. This is really a great channel & I recommend it to the film makers of tomorrow. 🎥👍🏻👍🏻💪🏼

[@zgrabitrenutak4828]

Your videos are fuckin' amazing. Interesting, dreamy and full od examples and advices. Good job 🤜🤛

[@shotbydorian]

Hey! Love your videos and your style in general. Could you PLEASE make a colorgrading video / how you properyly expose your footage. I never know how to get my footage looking as good as yours!!!!!!! Im not the only one thinking it lol you're amazing

[@SereneBobcat]

Great channel man, awesome content.

[@benyaminkhodabandeh]

man, you're the most amazing person i even seen ❤ I love what ever you doing! Thanks for informations 💎

[@movieretreat]

You rock dude! Thanks for your efforts!

[@HaydnRushworth-Filmmaker]

Hey Rob, great work. You're right about the gentle, subtle movement. Looks like you're based in Weston-super-mare (or somewhere nearby). I'm based in Penarth, directly across the Bristol channel with the opposite view of Steep Holm and Flat Holm. I just subscribed this evening after watching your terrific cove lighting tutorial. Really, really great training mate, keep it up :-)

[@lisavanggg]

Your channel is amazing! Definitely purchasing a gimbal soon now.

[@claytonsstorm9925]

great work Rob! I like your flow and how to create the chilled tutorials, Only thing I would recommend on your videos is to be a bit more aware of your audio ( voice over) Every time youraudio track starts we can hear a huge spike of noise. easy fix as you know already 4 sure. Just fade in and out always, its boring but... every detail is crucial! good luck!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks for the feedback, I believe the issue has been fixed now for subsequent videos! :) thank you!

[@Makta972]

Nice vid. Personnaly I love the steadycam look better.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you :) I've always jumped between which look I like better, but I think at the end of the day it's whatever works best for the story/feel of the shot. If I was any good with a steadycam/could afford a decent one I'd use it a lot more haha! :)

[@SomaliReact]

Amazing!!!! What are the shots that you have used with the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera? Thanks.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you so much! 0:07 - 0:17, 0:42 - 0:52, 0:56 - 1:02, 1:14 - 1:19, 1:40 - 1:45, 2:24 - 4:19, 5:30 - 5:45, 6:29 - 6:33, 6:39 - 6:52, 6:57 - 7:10, 7:30 - 7:43, 7:50 - 8:05 :D :D

[@SomaliReact]

@@RobEllisCinematographer Thanks, bro! much appreciated! Any lenses suggestion for the bmmcc? PS: The old guy driving the truck looks a lot like Bret ''Hitman'' Hart! hahaha!

[@martinmac6563]

this video was so beautiful i can't believe it was just about gimbals. Amazing movement, lighting, cinematography and movement. Crazy to think this guy gets more out of 2.5k than i get out of 6. 😂 After watching this i feel so inadequate 😂😂😂😂😂

[@markshirley01]

Great advice - thanks again Rob. Ive so far avoided buying a gimbal because Ive got so used to working hand held or using monopods shoulder rigs or tripods. I feel a bit lazy and a bit guilty - I need to push myself into buying one.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Definitely good to push out of your comfort zone! Gimbals are great tools :)

[@James_m7]

Amazing work!! Do you only shoot with one lens for all your work?

[@haddonhousefilms]

Awesome video .🤘 do you use a monitor with the bmcc on the gimble ? And what about an external battery for the bmcc?

[@sandeepsajeev6048]

Nice one! How are you pulling focus on these shots Rob? Not seeing a FIZ setup on your rig, are you estimating distance?

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thank you! :D keeping the shots controlled, maintaining the same distance from subject, and using aperture effectively to keep things in focus are all things you can do without using any sort of FIZ setup on gimbals :) not advising against them though, quite the opposite, they are on my very long list of things to acquire to make my life slightly easier! Haha!

[@junglisttt]

Great video man! What is the music?

[@lovefirst6157]

I might have to invest in a gimbal later on.way in the future

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Definitely do it! They're wonderful tools!

[@joshsjay]

Hey Rob, love your videos - your channel is criminally undersubscribed. What brand is the larger gimbal you refer to? Looking to get a larger gimbal setup for my BMPCC4K for those buttery smooth shots. Much appreciated!

[@luismaurizzio4236]

Great stuff man! Subbed! How do you pull focus when you operate a big gimbal when using a camera like the bmpcc that doesn't have auto-focus? Do you work with a 1st ac that pulls remotely or you've got a special handle that allows you to control your focus? Thanks a lot =)

[@kypd1997]

Cinematic Lighting in Small Spaces on a Budget - Part 2 brought me here :D I was about to ask, that If 0:42 was shot on a 1080p blackmagic, then I saw the topcomment, and realised all these shots were done with it :D Can you recall, that it was shot with the 2.5k or with the Micro one? And maybe the lens? :D If not, dont mind my question :D Beautiful work tho. I cant justify spending 2-3x more money on a new Sony A7sIII or whatnot, when a good old Blackmagic with 1080 can do this!

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

That was with the Micro and Sigma 18-35 :) thank you so much for clicking through and watching more of my videos, I really appreciate it! :D

[@Lotfai]

You're the best.

[@petrub27]

sure, but do you see how the horizon line slops down? can't beat a dolly

[@MehmetKozal]

Great content dude. May I learn the name of the place at the 5:45 mark. I think I photographed that place before while I was touring with the band in the UK.

[@MehmetKozal]

www.flickr.com/photos/mkozal/15755516126/

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Thanks Mehmet! That's the exact place, yes! :D btw - www.flickr.com/photos/mkozal/48025953851/ - this is beautiful!

[@MehmetKozal]

@@RobEllisCinematographer Thanks so much dude. Damn. You live in a lovely place indeed. Due to we were on the move all the time, I couldn't spend more than an hour mostly around those beautiful places. Maybe one day I visit again to get some footage this time. Thanks a lot.

[@michaellawlervisuals]

Great video really enjoyed it .Whats the music playing in the background?

[@KantSleep]

I have an A7s#. Should I be able to get this quality of footage with my camera? I believe so, but I just want to hear for sure from a pro. Maybe I'm not grading it correctly. I'm learning how to use a gimbal right now and the main thing I'm having trouble with is jerky movement. I'm going to change some settings, when I barely tough the knob, it moves pretty fast. Great footage and advice. Thanks. Just saw that you have a course. I'll be purchasing that today or tomorrow for sure.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

You can get quality footage with any camera, as long as you shoot with purpose (composition, light) and have a good handle on how to work with the camera's file formats - that's not to say some camera sensors don't look different to other camera sensors, because in my opinion they can do (everything in this video was shot with the older Blackmagic cameras and they definitely have a particular look and feel) - but if you know how to get a image you like from one camera, you'll be able to do it on pretty much any camera.

[@KantSleep]

@@RobEllisCinematographer That makes sense. I just need to get better because I have yet to achieve any type of film look like you get. Thank you

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

@@KantSleep it's definitely a process, but the great thing is we have so many resources online to learn about image making now, it makes a lot of things that were probably a little more "insider-knowledge" in the film industry a little more accessible than a few years back!

[@SEVENTYTHREEAD]

Hi Rob, how do you pull focus whilst the camera is on a gimbal with moving subjects ? I use a lumix s5 and as you know the autofocus isn’t reliable. I see you are using black magic so assume you either have a focus system on the gimbal or just keep the focal distance or just having a deeper depth of field? Love your videos.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Both maintaining focal distance between subject and camera and a deeper depth of field, depending on the situation. When I made this video, that was how I got around my limitations - however I do own one of those fancy Zhiyun Crane 3's now, which came with a follow focus. That sort of thing wasn't really easily affordable or accessible when I shot a lot of this, the technology and price for things of this nature changes very fast! Thank you so much! :)

[@SEVENTYTHREEAD]

Thanks Rob for the reply. I gotta admit I’ve never really got on with gimbals and the s5 is so stable. However, your video has inspired me to try again. I have a weebil s. Think I might need to be a little more subtle with the movement so it doesn’t freak out though! Cheers

[@schoeferfilm]

So true Rob 👍🏻😉 i use the Crane 2 😀 our both channels have definitely too less subscribers 😂 i subbed to your channel 💪🏼 FILMMAKING IS MY PASSION too 🎬 best cinematic greetings from germany

[@jonathannewman4899]

Which nd filter would you recommend? If there is just one to get. Im in the market for one.

[@Nickyjoe95]

What filter do you use on your 16-35?

[@birthright94]

what music did u use in this video as a background?? amazing composition

[@alvaromedinadop]

Hi Rob. I really love your job, great cinematography and color grading. I bought the Ronin-S recently and I have used it with the microcinema and Sigma 18-35mm in a couple of shoots, but I find that it´s really hard to work with this combination because of the weight of the Sigma. I saw that you have wide and tight shots with the gimbal and the bmmcc in the same sequences, do you change the lens or do you use a zoom lens? I was thinking to buy the lumix 12-35mm 2.8, but I don´t want to lose the s35 perspective that I get with the metabones speedbooster...can you tell me which lens do you use mostly with the gimbal? Thank you so much.

[@professionalpotato4764]

I left my gimbals and tripods in Japan where I was working before Covid19 hit and now I can't return for a while. I used to do travel videos for my company so I didn't/couldn't use artificial lighting. But now I'm trying to diversify into products and portraiture. Do you think I should invest in another gimbal and maybe 1 light? Or all-in my current savings into a good lighting setup for products/portraiture? I'm dead broke and don't have any clients now though, pretty much shooting commercials and photos for free to go knocking on doors for jobs.

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

If you're thinking towards products and portraiture I think a good lighting setup would be a good move! :)

[@camilalp3356]

your tutorial for colour grading can be useful if I use Premiere Pro?

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

The tutorial uses Davinci Resolve, so it wouldn't quite translate!

[@dylanradtke]

My DJI Ronin SC still isn't good enough. Maybe because my camera (sony a6400) has no IBIS and my lens has no stabilization either. Ugh

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

There is no IBIS or lens stabilization on any of these shots! I have a video coming to moviola.com at some point in the near future explaining the best practises for utilizing a gimbal for the steadiest shots :)

[@dylanradtke]

@@RobEllisCinematographer that blows my mind and shows I'm clearly doing something wrong lol

[@otabwill709]

This should be titled “Ode to gimbals”, and could totally use a dramatic voice actor lol

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Hahaha love it!

[@meyerdigitalfilm]

safe my words...gimbals will be replaced by gyro stabilisation in the next 2-3 years...

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

If they can make it work without having to use a higher shutter speed then I'm on board! But I don't know the technical details or if that's possible!

[@silverdarter]

Awesome video!

[@silverdarter]

Great video Rob! I was just looking at the Zhiyun Crane 3s actually and it seems as though they are unusable underslung with heavier cameras unless you have the pro version. A lot of vexed people at the mo who say its completely misleading as it shakes like mad underslung and Zhiyun know about it. You've probably seen already! Ooh and who's that at 7:30 ;)

[@RobEllisCinematographer]

Haha to be honest I just don't think the ergonomics of that sort of gimbal work well with bigger cameras, it's absolutely crazy that it has that payload but I was a bit dubious of how it performs with those weightier setups, you're holding all that weight in such a strange way! I think the classic two handled styled gimbals work a bit better as the handles are generally detachable and more separate from the motors themselves - can't claim to be an expert haha but I've heard multiple times that the further away your hands/grip are from the camera, the more stable it's going to be! And I'm not sure but I spotted his arm at 1:37 too! ;)

[@silverdarter]

@@RobEllisCinematographer Interesting thank you! Was thinking about selling my Ronin-M but not so sure now! Just tend to be using the S all the time and never reaching for the M these days! Oh my, two cameos!