Could a GoPro benefit from a gimbal?
Most would say, “why use a gimbal.. the latest GoPros have brilliant built in stabilisation”.
And my answer would be, “Yes I agree, but a gimbal gives you access to shots you can’t otherwise get. And a lot more besides”.
Not to mention that ergonomically, the GoPro shape is awful to manipulate in difficult places and at awkward angles.
To test my theory, I added a GoPro Hero 10 Black to a Zhiyun Crane M2-S and did a quick trip out of the back door and into the garden. The gimbal and drone had previously been balanced (this is mandatory to make everything work properly and should be double checked prior to every shoot). Zhiyun state that the GoPro and this particular model of theirs are eminently suited (as are other cameras such as the Fujifilm X-S10, models from Sony and Panasonic. See the complete list here). Most smartphones are too, and a special adaptor is included with the gimbal for this purpose.
The M2-S, similar to most gimbals, allows various modes of motion. For the GoPro test I kept it at PF, or “Pan Follow” which basically means as you pan the gimbal left and right, the camera will smoothly follow.
Other modes include Lock (where all 3 axes are locked), FF (where all 3 axes are unlocked), POV (wherever you point the camera will follow) and Vortex (circular / rotate).
For freeform movement, the joystick on the gimbal also allows you to control the horizontal and vertical motions of the camera at will.
Used appropriately, all these give you a fluidity of motion and stability in ways that the inner workings of the GoPro just cannot match.
The extra party trick though is the ZYCami app for smartphones which lets you control all these things remotely. Although you cannot do it with a GoPro (yet!), with an appropriate camera mounted you can also control recording on/off, zoom, aperture and focus.
If you are a vlogger then this could be extremely important as by using the joystick control offered by the smartphone, you can make the camera swing from being a selfie shot to perhaps zoom in on an object, rotate the camera around the room, zoom focus from one object to another and so on.
I have decided to setup one GoPro with a MediaMod on the Crane M2-S for my studio. If I then connect the MediaMod via HDMI to my Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro, I can switch between cameras and screen shots at will and use the extra features of the gimbal for a multitude of ideas.
But harking back to the Crane M2-S and the GoPro in other areas, the marriage of camera and gimbal opens up a whole new world of shooting subjects at work and play. And one extra benefit, especially with the Crane M2-S is the built in LED light.
GoPros are known for not being brilliant with low light, so the 1000 lumens LED certainly aids in that area. It also comes with a number of magnetic coloured gels allowing you to set the mood.
Additionally, a ¼ thread on the side of the M2-S allows you to add perhaps an external microphone or monitor and the USB-C port on the main shaft of the gimbal will also accept a lead from a Powerbank so you can keep shooting while charging.
At AUD$379 or so, I think the Crane M2-S is a worthwhile accessory to add to the GoPro camera case (yes, its compact too). And if you have a selection of cameras, the fact it also works with other models and smartphones makes it versatile across the board.
Footnote: Whilst I was writing this article, a lady contacted me via a Facebook Group regarding shooting from a wheelchair. In thinking of it, a gimbal makes a fantastic option for this, especially when paired with the smartphone for extra control. Mounting the gimbal to the wheelchair would not be that tricky for any moderate handyman – I am sure the 1/4″ thread on the side could be utilised for this.