I’m with you on the weight and balance thing—lugging a gimbal up a 10/12 pitch is just asking for trouble, especially if you’re ducking under trusses or trying to get shots in tight valleys. I’ve found shoulder mounts awkward at first, but after a few jobs, muscle memory kicks in and it’s way less hassle. Gimbals are nice for walkthroughs or wide open spaces, but on a roof, I’d rather have something that won’t tip me over if I lose my footing. Dropped both before... only the gimbal needed a trip to the repair shop.
- Totally get what you mean about the gimbal on a steep roof. That’s a lot of extra weight and not much room for error.
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— same here, dropped my cheap shoulder rig once, just a scratch. Gimbal? Bent motor, $80 fix.“only the gimbal needed a trip to the repair shop.”
- Shoulder mounts aren’t perfect, but after a few tries, they’re way more forgiving if you slip or need to set down fast.
- For tight spots or uneven ground, I’d rather risk a scuffed rig than a busted stabilizer. Plus, less to worry about if you’re on a budget.
- Gimbals are cool for smooth shots, but roofs are unpredictable... sometimes simple is just safer (and cheaper).
Is it weird that I actually prefer the gimbal, even on tricky spots like a roof? I get that it’s heavier and more fragile, but I’ve found the footage is just way more usable, especially if you’re trying to show details for insurance or repairs. I dropped mine once (not from the roof, thank goodness), and yeah, it cost a bit to fix, but the shoulder rig just never gave me the same stability. Maybe I’m just clumsy, but my shots always came out a little shaky with the manual setup, even after a lot of practice.
I do wonder, though—does anyone else find the shoulder mount actually harder to balance on uneven ground? I feel like I’m always fighting to keep the horizon straight. Maybe it’s just me, or maybe my roof’s pitch is steeper than average (it’s a 12/12, so pretty steep). I get the budget thing, but if you’re only filming once or twice a year, is the risk of breaking the gimbal really that much higher than just dealing with shaky footage? Just curious how others weigh that tradeoff.
I get why you like the gimbal, especially for insurance stuff where clarity matters, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with a shoulder mount on steep roofs. My old gimbal freaked out in cold weather and chewed through batteries way too fast, which was a pain mid-inspection. The shoulder rig took some getting used to, but once I figured out my stance (and stopped overthinking it), the footage evened out. Plus, I don’t stress as much about dropping it—those things are tough. For me, the peace of mind outweighs the occasional wobble. Maybe it’s just what you get used to?
I hear you on the cold weather gimbal issues. Mine locked up once in January—just froze mid-pan and wouldn’t reset until I got back in the truck. Not fun when you’re halfway across a steep roof and the wind’s picking up. I’ve tried both setups, and honestly, I keep going back to the shoulder mount for most jobs. It’s not as smooth as a gimbal, but it’s way less fussy. I dropped mine off a porch roof last fall (don’t ask), and it barely got a scratch. Can’t say the same for my old gimbal, which cracked after a short fall.
The only time I really miss the gimbal is when I’m shooting for a picky adjuster who wants everything super crisp. Otherwise, I’d rather have something that works every time, even if the footage isn’t perfect. Maybe it’s just about what you trust more when you’re up there. For me, less tech means less to worry about when I’m already trying not to slide off a 10/12 pitch.