What is a Gimbal?

A gimbal is a type of tripod head that perfectly balances the weight of the camera so that you can effortlessly move it horizontally and vertically. Gimbal heads carry the load for you, making them great for heavy setups and massive telephoto lenses, with some models supporting over 30 lbs. of gear. You’ll find both photography gimbal heads and video gimbal heads on the market.

What is the best gimbal head for photography?

Gimbal heads for photography are manually operated. These accessories don’t feature electronic parts, and they’re designed to be balanced and mounted onto a static tripod. The purpose of the gimbal head is to hold the camera at a specific angle to give all of your shots the same steady appearance. This means, if you want to make huge adjustments to the tripod’s orientation, you might have to adjust the gimbal’s balance as well.

Gimbal heads are a lifesaver for wildlife photographers and birdwatchers who have to stay still and concealed to snap photos of animals undisturbed in their natural habitat. Gimbals are also commonly used in sporting events when photographers need to capture action shots–often from a hundred yards away.

A perfectly balanced gimbal will let you swing the camera in any direction with just the push of a finger. This tripod head provides both flexibility and stability minus the heavy load. Although gimbal heads are often used in photography, they can be used for videography as well.

Movo GH800 Carbon Fiber Professional Gimbal Tripod Head - - 1

Why use a gimbal head for video?

When used to take videos or make films, this accessory is very convenient as it can bear the load of heavy, professional camera equipment. While gimbal heads are often used in wildlife photography, they are also used for nature documentaries to capture smooth shots of wild animals in their natural habitat.

Filmmakers use motorized gimbals like theMovo MGB-5 to stabilize the camera as it moves. The long cable and remote-controlled joystick help to create fluid panning, tilting and rotating shots from a distance.

You’ll also notice sports videographers using gimbal heads to help support the heavy weight of large television-grade cameras while moving quickly and fluidly enough to capture action shots.