Many student filmmakers are afraid of using a stabilizer, mainly because (1) they never know the existence of a handheld stabilizer; (2) they don't know how to use it. In this video, I walk through the setup of two popular stabilizers: Moza Air 2 (electronic) and Flycam Redking (mechanical).
The mechanical stabilizer is heavier than the electronic one, but it has several advantages. First, it does not need a battery and will always work as long as the camera operator has enough strength. Second, it can balance a very heavy camera setup. In the video, I easily mount a Rode mic on top of a camera, and the Flycam Redking can still perfectly balance it. It is not possible to do this on Moza Air 2. The Flycam Redking can support up to 15.4lb payload, meaning most cinema cameras are supported. The Moza Air 2 does not fit a larger camera including BMPCC 6K, RED, or ARRI Alexa Mini. Moreover, the build quality of this mechanical stabilizer is sturdy, and it can last for 10 years without any problems, while the electronic gimbals can misfunction and require repair from time to time.
The motorized gimbal has the advantage of more shooting modes. For instance, the inception mode in Moza Air 2 can create a very creative look of the camera rotating around and push-in/out. It is impossible to use the mechanical stabilizer to do the same. Second, the electronic gimbal is much lighter-weight and tends to become even lighter (the new release DJI RS3 mini is very light-weight). You are less likely to feel tired with the electronic gimbal. Make sure you have multiple batteries if you want to use an electronic gimbal for real production. They claim that the battery lasts for 13 hours, but it depends on the battery's condition, the weather, and so many things.
