I get where you’re coming from—had a gimbal go wild on a narrow attic walkway once, and it’s not something I want to repeat. Still, I like the look I get from a gimbal for those slow, steady walkthroughs, especially in tight spaces. Ever tried using a shoulder rig in a crawlspace or cramped basement? I always feel like I’m about to knock something over, but maybe I’m just not used to it. Curious if there’s a good middle ground for awkward spots like that...
Shoulder rigs in a crawlspace? That’s a recipe for bruised elbows and a busted lens, at least in my experience. Gimbals can be twitchy, but I’ll take that over trying to wedge a shoulder mount through ductwork any day. Honestly, sometimes I just go handheld and accept a little shake—beats getting stuck or knocking my head on a joist again. There’s no perfect setup for tight spots, but lighter gear seems to save me the most headaches.
- Totally agree about shoulder rigs in tight spaces—tried it once in my crawlspace and got stuck for a good five minutes.
- Gimbals can be fussy, but at least I didn’t bash my camera or my knees.
- Handheld is usually my fallback, even if the footage isn’t perfect.
- Lighter gear just makes everything simpler when you’re crawling under pipes or dodging insulation.
- Sometimes I wish I had longer arms, honestly...
Lighter gear just makes everything simpler when you’re crawling under pipes or dodging insulation.
That’s been my experience too. I tried a shoulder mount once for a basement plumbing video and just kept bumping into stuff—felt like I was wearing football pads. Gimbals are nice, but honestly, I’ve had more luck just holding my phone or a tiny camera. Not perfect, but way less hassle, especially when you’re already squeezed between ductwork and spiderwebs. Sometimes “good enough” is all you need.
I hear you on the “football pads” feeling—tried filming a green roof install in a tight attic crawlspace once, and my shoulder rig kept snagging on every rafter. Ever tried using a chest mount instead? I wonder if that’d be less clunky in cramped spots.