I totally get the hassle with gimbals in tight spaces.
That’s been my experience too, especially when you’re working around cabinets or appliances. For my last DIY project, I grabbed a budget shoulder rig off Amazon. Not fancy, but it did the trick. If you’re on a tight budget, here’s what worked for me:Switched to a shoulder mount—way less hassle, and I could squeeze into corners without worrying about knocking stuff over.
1. Go for a lightweight shoulder mount—less arm fatigue.
2. Use a wide lens to hide minor shakes.
3. Set your camera to a higher frame rate if possible; helps smooth out movement.
Honestly, unless you’re shooting pro-level video, most folks won’t notice small jitters. Gimbals are great outside or in big rooms, but for home renos? Shoulder mount all the way.
Shoulder mounts definitely feel less clunky in tight spots, but I’m always a bit skeptical about how steady they really are. Like, I’ve tried both, and sometimes my footage still ends up with a bit of a wobble, especially if I’m moving around a lot or crouching. Anyone ever try rigging up extra weights or counterbalances to make shoulder mounts smoother? Or is that just overcomplicating things for home projects? I keep thinking about just bracing myself against a wall half the time...
Shoulder mounts definitely feel less clunky in tight spots, but I’m always a bit skeptical about how steady they really are.
I hear you on the shoulder mount wobble—I've had the same issue, especially when crouching or sidestepping. Adding counterweights does help a little, but honestly, for quick home projects, it can start to feel like you're building a science experiment rather than just shooting some footage. I tried tossing a small sandbag on the back of my rig once, but it just made things heavier without really solving the bounce when I moved fast.
Bracing against a wall actually works surprisingly well for static shots, but once you need to pan or track something, it gets awkward fast. Have you noticed if certain lenses or camera weights make the wobble worse? I feel like my lighter mirrorless setup actually shakes more than my old, heavier camcorder did. Wondering if anyone else has found a sweet spot with camera weight vs. stability, or if it's just a matter of technique...