I shoot actual property movies. A number of them. Someplace on the order of 3-5 per week, generally a number of on the identical day. Virtually at all times along with photoshoots of the identical property.
I’ve just a few easy necessities of the gimbals I depend on to shoot my movies:
- Stable construct high quality that may deal with the each day rigors of an expert videographer on the transfer
- The flexibility to deal with an honest payload
- Fast and straightforward to setup and stability
- Straightforward to make use of
- Adequate innovation to make upgrading worthwhile
- Most significantly, the footage I get from the system is clean straight out of digital camera
I’m happy to say that aside from just a few minor nits, the Manfrotto MVG 300XM checks almost all of the containers. Other than just a few minor construct/ergonomic nits, the 300XM is one of the best gimbal I’ve ever labored with. Permit me to elaborate.
Professionals
- 3.4 KG / 7.5 lbs load capability
- The marking system permits for fast and environment friendly setup and breakdown
- Contact display screen menu system
- Multi operate management knob has programmable A and B factors to repeat strikes
- Paired distant management works seamlessly
- Stable construct high quality
- Among the smoothest footage I’ve gotten from a gimbal straight out of digital camera
- Non-compulsory equipment praise the system mightily! The Transfer fast launch catcher system and GimBoom are sensible.
Cons
- As strong because the construct high quality is, the arms don’t slide easily and simply when establishing
- Even when balanced, I discover it essential to auto tune the system almost each time I stability or I expertise gimbal shake in sure positions
- Hand grip has a clean floor and isn’t very “grippy” — some sort of textured completed can be most well-liked
- The GimPod legs are sort of flimsy when in comparison with the remainder of the system
Manfrotto MVG300XM — Construct high quality
As a working skilled, I require sturdy merchandise. The very fact of the matter is, I work rather a lot. A traditional day can encompass 3-5 shoots. What this implies is I’m actually racing from job to job.
The true property market in Southwest Florida has been extraordinarily sizzling because the starting of the pandemic. With rising residence values hitting a peak, sellers and traders alike are all making an attempt to money in as we head into the slower summer season season. Enterprise has been brisk, and actuality will get in the way in which. As I’m going from job to job, I don’t at all times have the posh of getting sufficient time to interrupt down and put away my gear neatly. Most of the time, I’m piling gear on high of itself at the back of my automobile to avoid wasting time.
Consequently, my gear will get tossed about over bumps, turns and lane modifications. As a result of my gear will get bumped round a lot, it must be constructed properly to outlive my each day grind. A lot of you’re most likely cringing as you learn that, however it’s my actuality. Nevertheless, I’m happy to say the 300XM isn’t solely strong sufficient to deal with the grind; Manfrotto has engineered an ease of setup and breakdown that truly permits me sufficient time to do it between jobs. I’ll clarify in a bit.
Measurement and weight
The gimbal is sort of fully made out of steel and all in is available in at 4.4 lbs (2kg) with out a digital camera and lens. It’s not gentle, however it isn’t bicep busting both. The digital camera and lens you employ with the system can have a major affect on the general weight.
I’ve been utilizing it with the Sony a7S III (1.35 lb) and the Samyang 14mm f/2.8 (1.47 lb) which suggests all in, I’m proper round 7.5 lbs. With two fingers, the entire combo can get a bit heavy, however it’s not as heavy as a number of of the opponents. Furthermore, many of the opponents aren’t this function wealthy. I discover that general, I can simply handle the dimensions and weight even throughout an extended shoot.
Manfrotto MVG300XM — Ease of setup and ergonomics
As I discussed beforehand, setup is far quicker on the 300XM than on different gimbals I’ve used. Manfrotto has neatly included these sliding crimson “reminiscence” dot markers that permit me to position two of the three arms in the identical spot, assuming I’m utilizing the identical lens/digital camera combo. This cuts setup time considerably.
Now, to be clear it isn’t excellent, however my beginning place is far nearer to balanced with the sliding crimson markers. It’s a pleasant contact and really affords me the posh of breaking down the gimbal so it doesn’t jostle round at the back of my automobile.
On the draw back, the roll arm is a bit sticky and might be troublesome to slip forwards and backwards to stability. Nevertheless, I discovered that give a bit strain towards the again of the gimbal it does transfer a bit extra fluidly. However it’s not intuitively apparent.
Moreover, I discover every time I begin a brand new shoot, the gimbal will vibrate till I run via the “auto tune” operate. Which is fast, however it’s an extra step. As soon as accomplished nonetheless, footage is tremendous clean.
Each time I stability a digital camera and lens for the primary time, and generally once I flip the system on and off, it is necessary to “auto tune” to keep away from any undesirable digital camera/gimbal shake in some positions.
Thankfully, auto tuning solely takes just a few seconds and makes a world of distinction.
Ergonomics
The locks that maintain the gimbal arms in place snap into place with authority and ease. The contact display screen interface takes a little bit of getting used to, however general is easy to comply with and use. The multifunction management knob is stellar for repeating strikes. Particularly barrel roll strikes. Typically I like distinctive angles on sure particulars in houses. The barrel roll transfer retains visible curiosity whereas concurrently highlighting a function of the house.
Toggling between the way you need to use the management knob is easy as there’s a button that switches between pan, tilt and roll. Set which you need, and viola, the knob will pan, tilt or roll. To make a repeating transfer, you may press and maintain the A and B button at particular factors after which press A or B to maneuver the gimbal to that desired place.
Within the menu it’s potential to manage the pace during which these strikes can occur. I typically like to maneuver from ceiling to room to indicate off a element and having an automatic option to tilt, pan or roll makes buying the transfer a lot simpler!
Charging takes about 2-1/2 hours and run time is near 10 hours. My experiences validate this declare.
Lastly, you may take the underside of the gimbal off and use it as a distant management. It really works seamlessly and responds as if it’s connected and reacts in actual time. Properly achieved Manfrotto!
Manfrotto MVG300XM — Innovation
Gimbals have been round for awhile, but it by no means ceases to amaze how good a number of the new improvements are. They’re the sort of improvements that make me say “duh! Why didn’t somebody consider this earlier than?”
The crimson dot reminiscence markers are one thing so easy and apparent, I can’t imagine nobody considered them earlier than. Among the new equipment Manfrotto has come out with, just like the Transfer fast launch catcher system, is so easy, but so sensible. The iFootage sea stars had been the primary to come back out with this type of launch system, Zhiyun has one thing related as properly, however Manfrotto has perfected it for my part.
The brand new “GimBoom” telescoping monopod can also be cool and progressive. I take advantage of it to get excessive photographs that simulate a low flying drone and to make a transfer upward or downward in a excessive ceiling room. If there’s one accent that appears to be an after thought, it’s the GimPod legs that screw into the GimBoom and simulate a tripod. I discovered the legs to be flimsy and never constructed to the identical customary as the remainder of the system. They appear to bow when even a slight little bit of strain is utilized. I recognize that Manfrotto has made these an possibility, however they don’t actually go together with the remainder of the system.
Manfrotto MVG300XM — High quality of outcomes
Now, let’s get right down to brass tax. It’s constructed properly, Manfrotto has made some excellent improvements and has made the gimbal simple to make use of. All that’s nice, nonetheless, how are the outcomes?
Primarily based on my experiences, clean like butter! I’ve used near a dozen gimbals over the past 10 years, beginning with the unique DJI Ronin. Every has gotten progressively higher and extra progressive. The place the 300XM actually excels for my part is in ease of arrange and high quality of the footage straight out of digital camera. Clean and managed with little or no bounce from step to step.
The multifunction management knob is a sport changer for me as a result of I can arrange beginning and stopping factors to repeat difficult strikes. Makes getting these troublesome photographs a lot simpler to realize. It’s a pleasant contact that actually separates the 300XM from the competitors.
Manfrotto MVG300XM — A near-perfect system filled with innovation
The gimbal market is affected by choices from the likes of Zyitun, DJI and Feiyu tech. However, in the event you’re a filmmaker on the transfer and also you’re out there for a brand new 3 Axis gimbal on your filmmaking, then the brand new 300XM from Manfrotto is definitely worthy of your consideration. Full with simply sufficient innovation and new options — particularly the multifunction management knob with customizable set factors, paired distant and ease of setup/stability — that every one collectively make it really feel like a real improve.
The addition of the GimBoom, GimPod and the Transfer fast launch catchers make all the package deal a seamless filmmaking system that’s a pleasure to make use of however most significantly give me the standard of outcomes that I want in my skilled workflow. It’s a whole system that every one in is about one of the best gimbal system I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with!
Manfrotto MVG300XM Gimbal
Manfrotto Axis Modular Gimbal MVG300XM is a skilled 3-Axis Stabilized Handheld Modular Gimbal. The deal with might be simply indifferent for use as a distant management and permits the gimbal for use together with many several types of help. Designed for CSC and DSLR cameras, it might help as much as 3.4 kg / 7.495 lbs and is ideal for videographers searching for versatility and modularity.
