Comment by John Stuart on May 24, 2012 at 3:25am

The thing with expense when it comes to aerial video by UAV is that there is a tension between cost and expendability. Like it or not this technology is still quite risky (as with all aviation) so you can't compare the cost & performance of a hand-held camera to one that is dangling from a multicopter. The first cam I put on my hexa was a keychain cam, and I worked up from there. I still haven't put an SLR on any multirotor of mine, I'm still getting there.

I won't be a first adopter of something that costs this much, not when you can achieve 90% or better of its performance using an $800 gimbal and post-production stabilization.

Developer Comment by John Arne Birkeland on May 24, 2012 at 6:48am

John Stuart: I agree to a certain degree. DJI is strategically pricing their products for high end applications. If you overlook the crazy camera angles possible by the Z15, a much cheaper system should perform just as well stability wise. But post stabilization will never give the same quality as a proper stabilized camera. Post is mostly used to fix small movements that the rig was unable to correct for.

Comment by Ellison Chan on May 24, 2012 at 6:54am

I think part of the expensive of thi gimbal is its use of stepper motors instead of servos like other cheaper ones.  This means much more accuracy, and less vibrations.  The next step up in smoothness are gimbals that use steppers, and belts, in which case it's a flying robotic arm.  But then we're talking beaucoup bucks.

Comment by Yusuf Pirgali on May 24, 2012 at 8:35am

It looks really cool, and give me insperation to make one too, if you have access to a CNC machine, i am sure you can make it for a lot less.

Developer Comment by John Arne Birkeland on May 24, 2012 at 8:50am

The CineStar gimbal has a very simple design using carbon tubes and pipe clamps. Then you gear down some good digital servos using belts to get nice and smooth movements.

Turns out it is very strong and lightweight, and has been proven to work very, very well.

https://vimeo.com/42457611

Same direction I am going in my next DIY build. Keeping it simple without sacrificing performance.

Comment by Emin Bu on May 24, 2012 at 11:55am

DJI for 3500$ for 300gr. camera....pfff!..better wait for this http://www.photohigher.co.nz/products/camera-gimbals-and-kits/hero-...

Developer Comment by John Arne Birkeland on May 24, 2012 at 1:15pm

Since we are posting gimbal porn, this one is meant for R/C helicopters but the vibration dampening system is just ooohh..

http://www.cnchelicopter.com/servlet/the-2020/professional-camera-m...

Comment by Todd Hill on May 24, 2012 at 8:31pm

it was a matter of time before someone popped some steppers on a gimbal.  I think piezo motors are where its at though.  If only a serial interface to drive them from;)

Comment by Owen Booth on May 24, 2012 at 10:58pm

Wow, impressive kit. What model Sony camera is that? I can't make out the model numbers on the video...

Comment by Cristian Carlsson on May 26, 2012 at 3:43am

The DIYdrones community should develop something similar for a tenth the price..

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