Tripods vs. Gimbals: The Epic Battle of Stability in Videography
Jamie Perez • January 30, 2025
Both tripods and gimbals are excellent stabilization tools for your camera and should be staples for any videographer to keep in their inventory, but how do you decide which to use in each situation? And what are some key differences between tripods and gimbals? It depends on the look you’re going for, how much motion is involved, the time crunch you’re under to get the shots you need to get and mobility, amongst other things.
Both will help you stabilize your camera in different ways. Tripods rely on three legs planted on the ground while gimbals are handheld devices that use motors and sensors to actively counteract wobbly motions, giving you a seamless motion on camera.
Let’s go through some pros and cons of both:
Tripod Pros
- Rock solid when legs are extended and locked in place
- Can hold very heavy camera loads
- Allows very slow, smooth pans and tilts
- Inexpensive models available
- Dolly attachments are available to achieve additional movement while filming
- Good for shooting interviews, time lapses, still shots
Tripod Cons
- Bulky and not easily portable
- Time consuming to set up and adjust
- Can't compensate for wind or vibration
Gimbal Pros
- Compact and highly portable
- Actively stabilizes and smoothens motion
- Allows fluid, sweeping camera moves like pans, tilts and tracking shots
- Allow you to run, walk and follow subjects while maintaining stabilized footage
- Ideal for action shots, travel videos, high-action movements, documentaries and more
Gimbal Cons
- Struggles with heavier camera loads
- Short battery life
- Can drift or have jitter in windy conditions
- More expensive models required for best performance
- Can be frustrating to master the skill of balancing your gimbal and learning how to shoot steady shots in motion
- Can be heavy after shooting for a while and does require some back and arm strength
Conclusion
It truly depends on the situation you’re in to decide which is more feasible for your shoot. Videographers should bring BOTH to their shoots so they’re prepared for any situation.
Most of the time when nonprofit organizations are sharing stories, we are hearing from staff members, the founder and clients. All of these are perfectly fine stories to tell... but what about sharing the donor stories? When a nonprofit has regular donors, there's probably a story behind WHY they believe in your cause so much. There's a heartfelt element to why out of all the nonprofits they could donate to -- why do they choose YOURS to give to time and time again? They most likely relate to your mission. They believe what you believe about a problem that needs to be addressed and they wanted to be part of the solution. Maybe they went through a traumatic situation that your organization is helping people solve. Get to know your donors. Be curious. They're just as much a part of your organization as your staff and clientele. By sharing their stories, they not only feel more involved in an organization they already care so deeply about, but it also could be a great way to attract MORE donors who can relate to their story. Donors give because of stories -- their gifts don't come from coercion; they come from emotion, a desire to connect. It opens up a relationship and this is how wallets open and lives are transformed. People want to know they belong to something and that they're making a difference. It feels good for anyone to know they're needed, wanted and appreciated. Show them the impact of their gift through storytelling. Don't just focus on them when you need something from them. Engage them. Make them part of the organization's journey. To help get you started, here are a couple questions that could ignite some great soundbites when interviewing your donors: What happened in your life that makes you so compelled to support our cause? Why is this need so important to address? With these questions, you're not only asking them to address the need that your organization is addressing, but you're still focusing on THEIR story. By bringing them along this journey and asking these questions, it helps remind them why they give monetary gifts to you. And their story and their reasons could encourage others to do the same. BE CURIOUS. THESE ARE THE TYPES OF STORIES THAT ARE NEVER TOLD BECAUSE WE NEVER ASK . By being curious, sharing THEIR story, you're showing them you not only care about them helping your cause, but you care about them as people. And who doesn't like to share their story with someone who is truly interested?
Owner of Beyond Words Jamie Perez interviews woman on camera in studio setting
We see this time and time again... organizations wanting to tell an emotive story through video and then being disappointed that the final product wasn't as heart-tugging as they'd hoped. This mainly happens for three reasons: 1. Controlling the narrative. There are too many cooks in the kitchen. Organizations want to include everyone in the conversation and then there's too many opinions on what should be included in the video, who should be included, what should be shown, etc. This convolutes the message and becomes a jamboree of information and takes away from the natural flow of what the true story should be. 2. Trying to fit everything into one video. Organizations often don't think about what it truly means to tell a story. It's not talking about all the facts and features of the organizations, the different types of programs, showing the building, etc. We don't need to know everything about you. We KNOW you're doing incredible work, but we can read the facts and figures through the caption or text on your website. What we want to see and feel is the stories and emotions that accompany what you do. Which brings us to the next point... 3. Focusing on the features rather than the people. While it's great to inform people of the logistics of your organization -- those things are often not unique and they don't really retain people's attention. What does accomplish these two things, however, is gripping people by the heartstrings by focusing on one or two people's stories to show the audience the impact you make. It's not about telling me all the generalities of your organization. We really need to hyperfocus on ONE story that embodies the difference you make in people's lives. Remember what a story truly is. It has characters, it follows a journey, it presents a problem, a solution, has layers, and evokes emotion. If your videos are mostly just a summary of what you do as an organization, then you haven't really told a story. You've told me WHAT your organization does. The true heartfelt stories are always found in the WHY.
