MoVI Carbon with built-in GH5s and Fujinon 20–120mm Pros: Lightweight at just 13lbs(!), 70+mph operation, excellent controller, 20A power integrates perfectly with ULTRA, it’s beautifulĬons: Too expensive for most, requires extensive PID tuning knowledge. The G1 also carries a much higher price tag than most are used to. Tuning of the G1 is not a simple “autotune” button, and therefore requires a higher level of skill to balance and tune correctly. The Operator Control Unit is very robust, and offers all the features required by a single operator. As the only 3-axis unit made by Shotover it has big shoes to fill, but through the use of very sophisticated sensor fusion and proprietary control algorithms, the G1 provides impressive stability even at long focal lengths and higher speeds. Because of its design and construction for aerial use, it is incredibly lightweight (13lbs!) and therefore we love it. Shotover offers the gimbal component separately as the G1 for ground-based applications like ULTRA and the Flowcine Blackarm. The G1 was developed by Shotover to complement the U1 (“U” standing for Unmanned) which was a gimbal/multirotor combo (UAS).

Pros: Massive motors for superb stabilization at high speed, almost no camera package too large, 360º Roll with Blackjack, MoVI Controller is amazing, good battery life, robust construction, simple to use, competitively priced for its capability.Ĭons: No handheld, big, heavy. The XL does, however, weigh-in at a stout 34lbs with batteries, so we’re constantly looking at ways to help this heavyweight shed extra poundage (see our QR Eliminator). The MoVI Controller needs to be mentioned, which is even more empowering to use with a big zoom. As you use more exotic systems, the simplicity of the XL should not be overlooked. It is essentially a massive MoVI Pro with its familiar construction, balancing and tuning. The XL is built for the largest cameras and lenses at very high speeds, even exceeding what ULTRA is built to handle. It has deservedly become an industry workhorse for larger camera packages because of its performance and relatively low price point when compared to other large/premium stabilized heads (scroll down). When we started development on ULTRA, I had my eyes squarely set on the XL. Pros: Affordable, high torque motors built for 75+mph, not 5.8lbs but still lightweight, slipring for SDI and remote power, compact size makes for low aerodynamic drag with ULTRA, geared adjustments for fine tune balance, extendable roll arms for longer builds, TB50 batteries are generally very good.Ĭons: The R2 controller leaves much to be desired, DJI customer support is spotty, no 360º roll, payload size is limited. Its robust peripherals do result in more weight, and therefore requires a vest/body support for long takes while handheld. This drastically reduces roll drift, and improves stabilization performance at high speed. The R2 has motors right-sized for high speed work, and uses GPS in its sensor fusion to account for linear accelerations experienced during cornering, braking, etc. If you’ve had an ULTRA demo with me, you’ve heard me say “ The worst thing DJI did was call it a Ronin.” For the price, it is an amazing value, and a fierce competitor for small/medium-sized camera builds. The Ronin 2 was introduced in 2017, and is a far cry from the Ronin 1. Without further a do, let’s get into the fantastic heads we regularly recommend to our customers (in no order), and what makes them great! So it’s important to understand your market, and what’s desired. By controlling your cost into a fully-functioning system (add vehicle, stabilized head, etc.) you have more control over your competitive rates. Affordability: ULTRA is a competitive investment into your arsenal of gear.While many shoots don’t require high speeds, you don’t want to introduce a choke point. High-speed performance: ULTRA was built to perform at racetrack speeds.Simply put: lighter head = more room for camera/lenses. Low weight: ULTRA has a payload rating of 55lbs/25kg, which is plenty of mass for big camera builds provided your stabilized head and vibration mount haven’t consumed that capacity.Failure to completely understand these wonderful tools is guaranteed to leave you frustrated. Understanding which head is best for your budget, skill level, and project is critical. At MotoCrane we are regularly asked, “Which head do you recommend for ULTRA?” After helping our customers quantify their needs, we share our experiences from lab testing and on set. Stabilized heads and brushless gimbals are magical devices that have created new possibilities for cinematographers.

Movi pro weight