Head to Head
Stabilized heads and brushless gimbals are magical devices that have created new possibilities for cinematographers. At MotoCrane we are regularly asked, “Which head do you recommend for ULTRA?” After helping our customers quantify their needs, we share our experiences from lab testing and on set. Understanding which head is best for your budget, skill level, and project is critical. Failure to completely understand these wonderful tools is guaranteed to leave you frustrated. The 3 factors we look for in a head are:
- Low weight: ULTRA has a payload rating of 55lbs/25kg, which is plenty of mass for big camera builds provided your stabilized head and vibration mount haven’t consumed that capacity. Simply put: lighter head = more room for camera/lenses.
- High-speed performance: ULTRA was built to perform at racetrack speeds. While many shoots don’t require high speeds, you don’t want to introduce a choke point.
- Affordability: ULTRA is a competitive investment into your arsenal of gear. By controlling your cost into a fully-functioning system (add vehicle, stabilized head, etc.) you have more control over your competitive rates. So it’s important to understand your market, and what’s desired.
Without further a do, let’s get into the fantastic heads we regularly recommend to our customers (in no order), and what makes them great!
MoVI Pro
The MoVI Pro was introduced in 2016, and benefits from the wealth of knowledge from the guys at Freefly systems, who invented the brushless gimbal as we know it. It is exceptionally lightweight, making it unmatched for handheld work, and with the recent release of the Blackjack 2.0 Firmware, has become a contender for higher speed work. Freefly has a philosophy that Lighter is Better, and the MoVI Pro delivers on that promise.
Pros: Affordable, unbelievably light (5.8lbs), integrated FI+Z on tilt stage, MoVI Controller is amazing, Great versatility for handheld + aerial applications, 360º Roll with Blackjack, pairs well with RED Epic/Arri Mini + primes/compact zooms, Freefly Customer Support!
Cons: Payloads are limited, TB50 battery adapters are a must, no slip ring for remote power, max wind speed ~60mph, light weight comes at the expense of peripherals like slip ring for remote power and video, geared balancing adjustments, etc.
Ronin 2
The Ronin 2 was introduced in 2017, and is a far cry from the Ronin 1. If you’ve had an ULTRA demo with me, you’ve heard me say “The worst thing DJI did was call it a Ronin.” For the price, it is an amazing value, and a fierce competitor for small/medium-sized camera builds. The R2 has motors right-sized for high speed work, and uses GPS in its sensor fusion to account for linear accelerations experienced during cornering, braking, etc. This drastically reduces roll drift, and improves stabilization performance at high speed. Its robust peripherals do result in more weight, and therefore requires a vest/body support for long takes while handheld.
Pros: Affordable, high torque motors built for 75+mph, not 5.8lbs but still lightweight, slipring for SDI and remote power, compact size makes for low aerodynamic drag with ULTRA, geared adjustments for fine tune balance, extendable roll arms for longer builds, TB50 batteries are generally very good.
Cons: The R2 controller leaves much to be desired, DJI customer support is spotty, no 360º roll, payload size is limited.
MoVI XL
When we started development on ULTRA, I had my eyes squarely set on the XL. It has deservedly become an industry workhorse for larger camera packages because of its performance and relatively low price point when compared to other large/premium stabilized heads (scroll down). The XL is built for the largest cameras and lenses at very high speeds, even exceeding what ULTRA is built to handle. It is essentially a massive MoVI Pro with its familiar construction, balancing and tuning. As you use more exotic systems, the simplicity of the XL should not be overlooked. The MoVI Controller needs to be mentioned, which is even more empowering to use with a big zoom. The XL does, however, weigh-in at a stout 34lbs with batteries, so we’re constantly looking at ways to help this heavyweight shed extra poundage (see our QR Eliminator).
Pros: Massive motors for superb stabilization at high speed, almost no camera package too large, 360º Roll with Blackjack, MoVI Controller is amazing, good battery life, robust construction, simple to use, competitively priced for its capability.
Cons: No handheld, big, heavy.
Shotover G1
The G1 was developed by Shotover to complement the U1 (“U” standing for Unmanned) which was a gimbal/multirotor combo (UAS). Shotover offers the gimbal component separately as the G1 for ground-based applications like ULTRA and the Flowcine Blackarm. Because of its design and construction for aerial use, it is incredibly lightweight (13lbs!) and therefore we love it. As the only 3-axis unit made by Shotover it has big shoes to fill, but through the use of very sophisticated sensor fusion and proprietary control algorithms, the G1 provides impressive stability even at long focal lengths and higher speeds. The Operator Control Unit is very robust, and offers all the features required by a single operator. Tuning of the G1 is not a simple “autotune” button, and therefore requires a higher level of skill to balance and tune correctly. The G1 also carries a much higher price tag than most are used to.
Pros: Lightweight at just 13lbs(!), 70+mph operation, excellent controller, 20A power integrates perfectly with ULTRA, it’s beautiful
Cons: Too expensive for most, requires extensive PID tuning knowledge.
IA Newton S2
Intuitive Aerial was originally known for their heavy lift drones like the Aerigon. Since their Newton heads have become popular among broadcasters in the EU, they’ve since stopped production on drones, and now focus purely on the Newton product line. The new Newton S2, features a larger pan motor for higher speed operation, and enhanced I/O for . Their Dominion Controller is a nice control desk, with full tuning features and system information.
Pros: Lightweight at just 15lbs, 70+mph operation, excellent controller, 20A power integrates perfectly with ULTRA PSU.
Cons: Too expensive for most, requires PID tuning knowledge.
Arri SRH-3
The new kid on the block is starting to gain attention. Developed by Foma Systems, the SRH-3 (Stabilized Remote Head- 3 axis) is the next product in a series of stabilizers with ring-type construction similar to the Libra head. However, different from the Trinity or Maxima from Foma, the SRH3 is built as true remote head with no intention of being handheld. At release, it had a few firmware issues that have now been addressed. The SRH3 features a high strength-to-weight ratio (3.3:1), great control surface, but is currently the most expensive head suitable for use on ULTRA.
Pros: Lightweight at just 20lbs(!), Built for high-speed with proper motors to suit, I/O for FI+Z , power and video through pan-axis slip ring, robust control desk, <15A power draw integrates perfectly with ULTRA PSU.
Cons: Too expensive for most, requires PID tuning knowledge, requires the heavy Filmstuff AVM (+$2500 USD).
MoVI Carbon
The MoVI Carbon is an amazing 5-axis innovation from Freefly Systems, and requires some education to fully understand/appreciate. If you’re not a nerd like me, just skip this part. Let’s quickly explain 3-axis stabilization- a balanced mass (camera) is stabilized by using an IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope) to sense deflection (shake) while 3 brushless motors make angular corrections on each axis (Pan, Tilt and Roll). But due to physical limitations, brushless motors are not good at stabilizing very acute, high frequency deflections (less than .1º). So as focal length of the lens gets longer and FOV (field-of-view, measured in degrees) gets narrower, sub-pixel stabilization gets more important because even small shakes become more pronounced. You’re literally zooming in on the error. Introduce 4, 5 and 6-axis stabilization. In addition to a brushless motor making “coarse” adjustments, a high-precision actuator (usually a voice-coil) is used to make fine-adjustments (<.1º) in unison. Voice-coil actuators are very precise, but lack torque, so these systems require an aerodynamic shroud that keeps wind from disturbing them.
The MoVI Carbon is essentially a MoVI Pro, with 2 additional axes of high frequency stabilization (Azimuth and Elevation). It is built around a non-interchangeable payload (GH5s + Fujinon 12–120), which Freefly has tested thoroughly for matching RED and Arri color. When looking at the price, you have to remember that it includes the camera, lens and FI+Z. The Carbon is literally a dream come true for Freefly co-founder, Tabb Firchau, as it allows for focal lengths only dreamed of by aerial pilots (240mm).
All this in a package that weighs…drumroll… 19lbs with 2 batteries. 19lbs AUW, ready to fly. It’s insane. The Carbon is the first and only 5-axis gimbal (see GSS, CineFlex, Shotover, Mini-Eclipse) under $100k.
(well under, actually.)
Pros: Impossibly light, more stable than anything on this list, includes everything you need by requirement, can be rented from Freefly.
Cons: Not built for 60mph+, Non-interchangeable payload, cost prohibitive.
Conclusion
All of these heads are well-suited for ULTRA, each with their own limitations. The most common head used by ULTRA customers is the Ronin 2 for its performance, versatility and low-cost. But the R2 is not perfect. The MoVI XL is the 2nd most popular because of its incredible power, simplicity, amazing MoVI Controller, and relatively low price. The other heads listed are great, but likely have limitations (cost) that outweigh their benefits for most of our customers.
Looking for more information?
With so many options, what head do you think is best? Are there options we missed? Are you looking for more information about how to use your stabilized head with ULTRA? Get in touch!
