FS7: Which brushless gimbals work well with the FS7?

Ben Scott

Ben Scott

Veteran
I'm led to believe that the FS7 (with top handle removed) will work very well with the DJI Ronin if you get the DJI (or 3rd party) arm extensions.

Just wondering about any other success people have had with other systems, from the higher end MOVI and DEFY types to the cheapy Came-TV or now MOZA systems.

Obviously any example footage would be great to see too.
 
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I was asking Letus about the Helix and they have a test unit in Toronto. If I have the time I will try and hook up a test as I would also like to know which gimbals work with the FS7. More so when I'm looking to hire then buying one myself.

In Theory the Big movi and Defy should work but I have not seen it used although if I search back on twitter I think Joe Simon had his FS7 on a gimbal and I think he owns a Movi but again not 100%
 
I imagine even the Helix Jr would be okay with an FS7 and small prime woudln't it? On reduser they're (redusers AND Letus) saying it could handle a stripped down Epic, which is going to be around twice the weight of a stripped down FS7.
 
That is good to know. I keep meaning to strip the camera down and get an actual weight. I don't think I've taken the base plate off since I bought the camera.
 
I think the a Ronin with a Easyrig is the best option, Problem I see with the Helix is it can't be used with an easy rig (I may be wrong but I can't see a top handle), After a few minutes and FS7 would be almost impossible to hold with it.
 
I just asked the Letus chat support how much the standard 3-axis Helix weighs, and they said 6.5lbs. Which is in the middle of the Ronin's 9.26lbs and the Movi M10's 3.4lbs. It kind of looks like weight is one of the major trade-offs with price. $3000 get you a heavy Ronin, $5000 gets you a lighter Helix, and $8000 gets you the lightest with the Movi.

I had the chance to play around with a Ronin the other night, only with a 5D, but it was fun with all the modes (upside down, normal, briefcase). Very versatile and the iPhone app is a really nice way to fine tune the "majestic mode" settings.

I'd like the see an FS7 on a Ronin, though. I don't know if the extension arms (third party, maybe Cinemilled, who is the other company that makes them?) are enough to add the Extension unit... but then the whole rig will get ungodly heavy. Time to hit the gym and get beefed up for a gimbal!
 
As a quick update to this, I've bought a (barely) used Defy G5 kit and will test it over the weekend to see how it does with the FS7.
 
Hey Jason,

I'm afraid I have only just gotten around to sending my G5 to the US to be upgraded specifically for use with the FS7. Might be a while yet before I can use it in anger...
 
What is the weight of FS7? I have poor knowleage about such kind of 4k video camera in large size. But I cam make sure that MOZA Lite does not support it. I visit to their official spec site and found its supported sony camera is only a7S.
 
What's going to be the weight of the 7 when its ready to be mounted? I have a shoot tomorrow with a Ronin and my F55(Thank God I'm not the one that's gonna be flying it) and I've spent the better part of the evening trying to balance out a stripped down 55 on the extended Ronin. It's been a NIGHTMARE. You can't even tighten the handles down enough not to slip/rotate. And we're talking naked 55 and a Canon 16-35. That's it. I feel sorry for the poor b@$$tard that's gonna be flying it.

I've made my mind up, the young guys can have the handheld gimbals.
 
FrameFarmMedia said:
That is good to know. I keep meaning to strip the camera down and get an actual weight. I don't think I've taken the base plate off since I bought the camera.
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I need to do the same thing. I have one of those luggage hanging digital scales and my camera, tricked out with extension back with camera battery, Odyssey 7Q+, Zaxcom audio link, Nikon 25-70, hand grip and shape shoulder mount, comes to basically 20lbs. Down 4 pounds from my f800. Not much really but 4 lbs less and a smaller profile is not awful.
Wish I could strip it down but if you are shooting ProRes, there's no choice. Guess I could strip it down and just record off the Odyssey but then I would need ancillary power, hence one of the reasons for the extension. That and TC in jamming.
Basically that's why I got the S7a. For cramped and tight spaces. No ProRes though.
I guess I could put the Odyssey with a battery on the seat for a car shot...options are few however.
 
I just spent a couple days flying my FS7 on a Letus Helix. Not too bad, I still don't think I have it perfectly tuned, though. It really needs a better way to interface with it, I know they have an iOS app coming out but you need to get your Helix upgraded with a WiFi module.

I'm liking the Helix, I think the design with all the LEMO power taps is great. I power my RedRock Micro wireless focus and the FS7 from the same battery that is powering the Helix. Rather than using their first-party batteries, I 3D printed an adapter plate that let me put a V-Mount plate right on the back of the Helix. I've got some PAG Link batteries that are a great counterbalance for the FS7. Unfortunately the FS7 is still a pretty long camera, so it requires some extra back weight in order to balance, which the PAG Link is great at providing. I still get a bit of wobble sometimes, which I feel like I've seen in a fair amount of Helix footage (which is a little disconcerting) but I've also had it be very stable under the right circumstances. After Skype chatting with Ken from Letus, he showed me some tips for tuning the PID settings and informed me that when you push toward the upper end of the weight capacity, you REALLY need to nail the balance. The motors can't fight imbalances like they can with a small camera.

I like the design of the Helix a lot more than the hanging style gimbals. I'm hoping I can really tune it in (and just get more experience with it) to make it more reliable.
 
My Defy G5 is FINALLY with Defy who are going to fix/mod/uprate it for use with the FS7. It's taken an eternity but hopefully soon I will have it back and can finally test it. Had the bloody thing since January and haven't used it once yet!
 
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