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Is this the best and most affordable gimbal on the market.

At under $600 and with a payload of up to 2.5kg this is the best 3-axis gimbal on the market in 2017/2018. We even mounted a Black Magic 4K Production camera to it.

Shooting a stable image is easier than ever thanks to the introduction of affordable stabilizers. With the launch of our Film Riot competition, the kind people over at Gudsen sent us our own version of the 3-axis gimbal prize.

If you're using a smaller camera, such as the a6300 or the blackmagic pocket, stabilizers from Neewer and Koolertron are great options. You can pick one up for as little as £60, but there are limits to what this type of stabilizer can achieve. If you want better shots, you need a 3-axis gimbal.

First on most people's wish lists would be the DJI Ronin kit. It's a huge improvement over steadicam, and it looks amazing, but the price is eye-watering. So how do you get paralleled performance on a budget?

I'd recommend Gudsen. I took the MOZA Air out for a spin with a friend who is used to the DJI Ronin, and we were both amazed at how well the AIR performed.

Weighing in at just 1.1kg, the AIR is only a quarter of the weight of the Ronin (4.2kg). This meant we could hold the gimbal up for longer with very little strain.

Light doesn't mean flimsy. With a solid build quality and a maximum weight capacity of 2.5kgs, the AIR can support all mirrorless cameras and DSLR's, but also a full cinema camera. We tried it with a Blackmagic Production Camera 4k with a Canon 50mm 1.8f lens, and the AIR remained smooth and stable throughout.

Set-up is a breeze. No more messing about with weights and a drop time test! You just balance the camera on the base plate and make small tweaks until it's straight. Simple.

Once the gimbal is balanced, it has three modes which can be cycled through with a button press:

  • Yaw - keeps the camera stable and follows your movements smoothly from side to side

  • Yaw/Tilt - keeps the camera stable and follows your movements smoothly from side to side and up and down

  • Full Lock Mode - locks any directional tilting or yawing to keep your camera at a fixed angle.

The AIR also has ¼ inch screw thread under the main handle which allows you to lock the Gimbal down to a slider, tripod, or even a jib if you're feeling adventurous.

MOZA provide an app that lets you tune and calibrate, as well as giving you access to more options like advanced motion timelapse. You can see how to set up a motion timelapse with a MOZA gimbal here.

The AIR boasts up to 8 hours of battery life and the batteries are removable, which is great for long shoots if you're looking to carry spares!

So why should you get one?

  • The MOZA AIR provides a huge upgrade over a steadicam without breaking the bank.

  • Mimic motion control lets you control the movement of the camera remotely. You tilt your hand and the gyroscopes in the controller allow your gimbal to mimic the movement. Whilst someone else concentrates on manning the stabilizer you can concentrate on perfecting camera movement.

  • Dual handlebars let you transform your single grip into a sturdier and more comfortable dual handle, which helps distribute the weight tension allowing for smoother shots and better control. You can even attach the MOZA thumb controller to the dual handlebars.

Gudsen are onto a winner here, and at 10% off right now the MOZA AIR + Thumb controller is going for just $719. Or you can buy the MOZA AIR on its own for only $599. I've used a lot of gimbals but this one really impressed me. Well done Gudsen!

Don't forget, Gudsen also do smaller gimbals for action cameras like the GoPro, and for smartphones. If you're after something for your RED, FS7 or other bigger form factor camera then you can always opt for the MOZA Pro. I hope to get my hands on that soon and give you detailed breakdown of how it performs with a high end cinema camera.

For more information check out Gudsen's Facebook page or website.