Let's Talk Gimbals

pdmike

pdmike

Extremely Popular Member
The recent problems I have been having with choppy or jerky videos, have prompted me to consider gimbal operation and the function of the gimbal. I'm very new to all this, so please put up with a really basic question:

I think I have figured out the difference between a 2-axis and a 3-axis gimbal. What I am not sure about is the physical relationship between the gimbal and the camera. Let's say I wanted to change a 2-axis gimbal to a 3-axis gimbal on my Phantom 4. Can I pick up ONLY the gimbal, remove my present gimbal and replace it with the new gimbal, still using the same camera? Or would I have to purchase both a new (3-axis) gimbal and a new camera to go with it?

I suspect they are independent, and I could use my present camera on a new gimbal, but I'm not sure. So that's my question.
 
Phantom 4Specs



Gimbal
Stabilization 3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw)
Controllable Range Pitch: -90° to +30°
Max Controllable Angular Speed Pitch: 90°/s
Angular Control Accuracy ±0.02°
 
Ren is correct: you do have a 3-axis gimbal. What you don't have is manual control of pan.

Hold the quad in your hand (with it turned on) and turn it through the yaw axis. You will see that the gimbal moves slower than the quad. The yaw speed is adjustable in the gimbal settings. The 3rd axis is controlled by the quad to smooth out rapid yaw movement for better cinematic effect.
 
RENOV8R said:
Phantom 4Specs



Gimbal
Stabilization 3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw)
Controllable Range Pitch: -90° to +30°
Max Controllable Angular Speed Pitch: 90°/s
Angular Control Accuracy ±0.02°
Click to expand...
OK - I'm listening. So let's suppose my quad is hovering at 100 feet. I want the camera to begin a slow, 360-degree shot, panning all around the point where the quad is hovering in a stationary position. How do I do that while keeping the quad not only hovering in the same spot, but also pointing straight ahead at all times? In other words, how do I move the camera horizontally without moving the quad itself? Because I haven't been able to figure that one out yet.
 
pdmike said:
OK - I'm listening. So let's suppose my quad is hovering at 100 feet. I want the camera to begin a slow, 360-degree shot, panning all around the point where the quad is hovering in a stationary position. How do I do that while keeping the quad not only hovering in the same spot, but also pointing straight ahead at all times? In other words, how do I move the camera horizontally without moving the quad itself? Because I haven't been able to figure that one out yet.
Click to expand...

You can't. You need to yaw the quad to film that shot. And think about it: if you COULD do it, you would be looking at the quad's landing gear a lot in your video.
 
Rick M said:
Ren is correct: you do have a 3-axis gimbal. What you don't have is manual control of pan.

Hold the quad in your hand (with it turned on) and turn it through the yaw axis. You will see that the gimbal moves slower than the quad. The yaw speed is adjustable in the gimbal settings. The 3rd axis is controlled by the quad to smooth out rapid yaw movement for better cinematic effect.
Click to expand...
OK, I get that. But take a look at my reply post to Renov8r, above. In your example, the gimbal is panning, but only because the quad itself is also panning. If I have a 3-axis gimbal, shouldn't I be able to pan the camera (move it horizontally) while the quad itself remains still?
 
Not with DJI gimbals. I can with my Tarot gimbals though:cool: Thing is though, that's on a frame with retractable landing gear
 
RENOV8R said:
Not with DJI gimbals. I can with my Tarot gimbals though:cool: Thing is though, that's on a frame with retractable landing gear
Click to expand...

And yet I have a 3-axis gimbal? How is that? Let me put it another way. I want to be able to control horizontal movement of the gimbal with the quad standing still. How can I get that done?
 
I believe the higher-end DJI birds (Inspire 2 and Matrice) also have 3-axis control on the gimbals, but not positive.
 
pdmike said:
And yet I have a 3-axis gimbal? How is that? Let me put it another way. I want to be able to control horizontal movement of the gimbal with the quad standing still. How can I get that done?
Click to expand...

Yours is moving in 3 axes. You just can't control its movement manually in the yaw axis.
 
One question I have, How do you control the gimbol's movement while operating the quad from the controller? It would seem impossible unless you have a third control on the controller just for the gimbol.
 
LoneRCRanger said:
One question I have, How do you control the gimbol's movement while operating the quad from the controller? It would seem impossible unless you have a third control on the controller just for the gimbol.
Click to expand...
Yep, on the DJIs there's a dial on the controller you use to control movement of the gimbal.
 
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