Best Gimbal for Vlogging in 2021 [Including Smartphones]

A camera, mic, and a tripod are the three things that you need the most for vlogging. After all, your success depends on the quality of the content that you share with your viewers.

But if you want to kick your video quality up a notch, then you will need some extra vlogging equipment. One thing that every vlogger dreads is shaky footage when they are traveling or walking on uneven roads.

Most famous vloggers have extremely stable footage because they use an item called a gimbal. They are equipped with motors and sensors that stabilize your footage automatically. If you want to improve your video quality, then the first piece of equipment that you should buy is a gimbal for vlogging.

Today we will recommend some of the best gimbals for vlogging that you can buy on the internet.

What to Look for in a Gimbal for Vlogging

Gimbals are amazing tools, and a good quality gimbal can do more than just stabilize your videos. But buying a good gimbal is expensive as well. So, before you buy one, you should do some research.

Here are the things that you should look for in a gimbal.

Is It Compatible?

The first thing that you need to consider is its compatibility. You need to think about what type of camera you are going to use to record videos for vlogging as there are dedicated gimbals for different recording devices.

Then you need to think about size and fitting. For example, if you plan on using your DSLR for recording, then you need to find a gimbal where you will be able to mount your camera. Similarly, you will need to buy a completely different gimbal if you plan on recording videos with your smartphone.

Take a detailed look at the specifications or ask the seller if it fits your device. Only then should you buy it.

How Heavy is Your Recording Device?

The next thing that you need to consider is the maximum weight your gimbal can handle. This should be taken seriously as equipping a camera that is heavier than the gimbal’s max weight tolerance can seriously affect its functionalities.

If you plan on using lightweight devices like a smartphone or mirrorless cameras, then you can go for lightweight gimbals with a lower max payload.

But if you are buying gimbals for heavier devices like DSLRs, then make sure that the max payload of the gimbal matches or is greater than the weight of your camera.

Portability

Since you will be traveling, you should select the gimbal, which can handle the weight of your camera and is also portable. When you are going somewhere, you should use an ultralight gimbal for backpack vlogging.

Most modern gimbals can fold to a great extent. Look for the size after folding in the specifications before buying one.

How Fast can It Smoothen Your Footage?

After mounting, a gimbal needs to be synced with the camera so that it can smoothen the footage. When buying a gimbal, make sure that it can balance your videos quickly so that you can save a lot of time after mounting the camera.

You should buy gimbals that can automatically sync with your camera as soon as possible. You can look at customer reviews to confirm that you are getting what you are paying for.

How Long Can It Work on a Battery?

The latest gimbals come with improved batteries that can last for hours on a full charge. But you should consider taking a look at the gimbal’s battery life.

If you are recording in areas where you have good access to power, you don’t have to worry about battery life. But if you plan on going in limited areas where energy supply is limited, you may want to get a gimbal with high battery life.

Best Gimbal for Vlogging – DSLR or Mirrorless

Here are some of our favorite gimbals for DSLRs with a high weight rating.

DJI RSC 2 – Best Mirrorless Gimbal for Vlogging

If you are looking for gimbals for mirrorless cameras, then this is the best one available in the market. It is extremely lightweight but can compete with its bigger rivals. Its smart foldable design allows you to fold it to 6.9 inches only, making it super portable and one of the best gimbals for travel vloggers. Its max payload capacity is a bit low at 6.6 lbs.

Another thing that makes RSC 2 amazing is its battery life. The internal battery is charged using a USB Type-C cable and can provide 14 hours of battery on a full charge.

If you are new to gimbals, you may have a hard time setting up your RSC 2, but there are ample guides to help you.

Its performance is amazing and can smoothen out footage even at jogging speed. You can use its vortex mode for spinning shots.

Overall, the portability, folding design, and amazing performance make DJI RSC 2 our best pick for mirrorless cameras.

DJI Ronin M – Best Vlogging Gimbal for DSLR (Weight)

This is one of the best gimbals you can get at affordable prices. It is made of a simple design but is very easy to set up. Its latest version comes with carbon and magnesium frames that allow you to attach a payload of 11 lbs. – making it the best vlogging gimbal for heavy DSLRs. Meanwhile, the gimbal itself is only 5 lbs., making it extremely easy to carry around in your backpack.

It can run for six hours on a battery. You get a 2.4 GHz remote controller with a gimbal so that you can operate it conveniently from a distance. There are three different modes, which you can change without adjusting the settings or using another operator remote.

In addition to its 3-axis movements, DJI Ronin M comes with the SmoothTrack feature that will help you take the best cinematic shots. The motors are completely silent and will only make some noise if the camera isn’t balanced properly. It will take less than 5 minutes to deliver you the smooth footage you desire.

MOZA Air 2 – Best Value

If you are looking for a budget gimbal with tons of features, then this is the best available right now. MOZA Air 2 has a max payload capacity of 9.25 lbs. and can easily handle your DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. It provides you with a ton of controls and functions so that you can shoot awesome cinematic shots.

There are tons of customization options for the joystick controls, and there are twelve programmable buttons in this that will synchronize with your camera settings quickly.

There are eight follow modes in this gimbal and it has support for the iFOCUS Lens Control System. There is an OLED display for proper information feedback. It is bright, and you can easily see it outdoors.

The build quality is good and gives a premium feel when holding it. The controls are easy to reach, and you will be able to move the gimbal smoothly. There are four included batteries that can give 16 hours of runtime.

Best Smartphone Gimbal for Vlogging

Here are some of the best gimbals for smartphones

DJI OM 4 – Best Overall

DJI has been one of the biggest gimbal producers in the market, and OM 4 is one of their best products to date. It creates the perfect balance between functionality and weight, and that makes it the best gimbal stabilizer for smartphone vlogging.

It has a magnetic mounting system, making the setup of the gimbal several times easier. The 3-axis stabilization will ensure that you get the best cinematic shots and smooth movement. Once you connect the gimbal with an app, you will get access to an array of functionalities.

The heat management system is excellent and can provide a more polished experience compared to its predecessors. Once fully charged, you can record for approximately 15 hours.

The build quality is excellent, and you will realize that this is a premium gimbal as soon as you hold it. It weighs 390 grams and can hold smartphones with a width between 67 – 84 mm. It is extremely portable as you can shrink it to 163 mm.

Zhiyun Smooth 4 – Best iPhone X Gimbal for Vlogging

We may make fun of Apple for releasing newer iPhones with the exact same features, but one thing that we cannot deny is that they improve their cameras every time. And in fact, a massive number of videos on the internet are shot using iPhone cameras. And this gimbal will boost your iPhone’s performance so that you can make premium quality vlogs.

The 3-axis stabilization will provide you amazing performance at a reasonable price. There is a large wheel that you can use to control focus and zoom. Once you pair the gimbal with the app, you get access to a large number of features like moving time-lapse, perspective-shifting dolly zoom effect, and more.

The gimbal weighs 547g and can hold iPhones of width between 62 to 85 mm. You can record videos for 12 hours once fully charged.

Unfortunately, the Zhiyun Smooth series is not optimized for android phones, so you may face performance issues. But if you are buying a gimbal for your iPhone, then nothing can beat this.

DJI Osmo Mobile 3 – Best Value

DJI Osmo 3 creates a great balance between affordability and features. This folding gimbal is one of the best in terms of portability in that price range.

The gimbal weighs only 405g. The entire body is made of plastic, but you will get the premium feel when holding it. Thanks to the spring-loaded arm, you can unfold and set up your gimbal easily.

It comes with USB Type-C charging and a 2450mAh battery which is pretty good for its price. You can capture professional-level photos without any difficulty. You can set up the camera either using the DJI MIMO app or do it manually.

The number of features it gives in that price range, the premium feel, and the professional level performance makes this gimbal the best in this segment.

Ultralight Gimbal for Backpacking Vlogging

If you are planning on going on a backpacking trip, then you must be focusing on reducing the weight of your backpack as much as you can. Fortunately, there are gimbals that can be as small as a candy bar but can act as a fully functional gimbal and are extremely light. Here is our recommendation for an ultralight gimbal for backpack vlogging.

DJI Osmo Pocket

This is a pocket camera that will provide top-tier video recording and stabilization. These gimbals come with a camera attached to them, so you can call it an all-in-one vlogging kit.

It has a three-axis stabilizer and is extremely compact. The build quality is great, but you need to take good care of it as the mechanism is delicate.

It comes with a long handle, making it perfect for handheld vlogging. It only weighs 2 pounds, so you will feel comfortable holding it.

The best part is its recording quality. The built-in camera comes with a 1/2.3-inch sensor with 80 FOV. The lens also has an F/2.0 aperture. You can record 4K videos at 60 FPS at 100Mbps and also click photos at 12MP. It comes with a one-inch screen as well.

Even though it is small in size, there is no compromise in the number of features. Also, you can even use your smartphone to view the footage on a larger screen. The app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

This may fall a bit on the pricier side, but the number of features on such a lightweight gimbal is amazing.

Wrapping Up

These were all our recommendations for the best gimbals for vlogging. They may be costly but are really convenient tools. If you are planning on improving your video quality, then you should definitely buy a gimbal. We hope that this article has helped you.