Does your gimbal vibrate, feel unstable, or can’t maintain its position? Well, the problem might be your unbalanced gimbal. In that case, if you want to get rid of that flaw, you should know how to balance a gimbal.

Now, to balance a gimbal, assemble it, mount your camera securely, and adjust the tilt, roll, and pan axes. Most importantly, test the balance until the camera holds steady. 

In addition, I’ll walk you through —

• Why balancing your gimbal is a must for stable, smooth shots.
• Step-by-step instructions to balance the gimbal.
• A quick method specifically for DJI gimbals.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Why Should You Balance Your Gimbal?

After learning to use a gimbal, you might underestimate how important it is to balance your gimbal properly. In fact, I also thought I could get away with skipping this step, but the results proved me wrong. 

So, let me share why this one simple habit can improve your shooting experience.

1. Keep Your Shots Steady and Smooth

When your gimbal is balanced, it removes unwanted wobbles and vibrations. It keeps your camera stable no matter the angle. That way, you get you clean, professional-looking footage every time.

2. Protect Your Gimbal’s Motors

An unbalanced gimbal puts extra pressure on the motors. It forces the motors to work overtime just to keep your camera steady. I’ve seen this drain my battery faster and even cause the motors to overheat during long shoots. 

When your gimbal is balanced, the motors don’t have to fight gravity. So, they last longer, stay cooler, and use less power.

3. Control Movements 

Dynamic camera moves, like panning or tilting, are so much smoother with a balanced gimbal. With an unbalanced gimbal, your shots often drifted or felt jerky. 

So, just take your time to balance properly. And you can easily tilt it up and down, roll it side to side, and pan it left and right.

4. Film for Longer 

An unbalanced gimbal puts extra stress on the equipment and can make you tired more quickly. When a gimbal is balanced, it feels lighter and easier to control.

No matter if you’re filming a short video or working for a long time, balancing my gimbal helps you stay comfortable. Thus, you can film longer without getting tired.

How to Properly Balance A Gimbal to Achieve Stability

No matter, if you’re using a DJI, Moza, or Crane gimbal, the balancing technique remains largely the same. Let me walk you through how to balance a gimbal step by step.

Step 1: Assemble Your Gimbal

The first step is to put the gimbal together. 

• Start by attaching the grip. Make sure it’s tight so it doesn’t wiggle. 
• Then, screw on the tripod stand to give your gimbal a steady base. 
• Unlock the motor locks one at a time. Begin with the tilt motor, move to the roll motor, and finish with the pan motor. 

This way, all three axes can move freely while you balance them.

Step 2: Mount the Camera

Next, secure your camera. 

• First, fix the quick-release plate to your camera, ensuring it’s snug and secure. 
• Then, mount it onto the gimbal’s base plate. 
• Once the camera is on, make sure it’s facing forward and the gimbal’s screen is facing you. 

Double-check that everything is locked in place before moving on.

Step 3: Balance the Tilt Axis

The tilt motor controls the camera’s up-and-down motion. So, unlock it and check what happens! 

• If the camera tilts forward, push it slightly backward on the base plate. 
• If it tilts backward, slide it forward. 

Keep adjusting until the camera stays level when you let go. Once it’s stable, lock the tilt axis. For the next part, tilt the camera upward so it’s at a 90-degree angle. 

Use the adjustment screw to balance it again. You must ensure that it doesn’t move in either direction. 

When it’s stable in this position too, lock it. That’s it—your tilt axis is balanced.

Step 4: Balance the Roll Axis

Now, let’s fix the roll axis. This motor keeps the camera stable from side to side. Unlock it and see if the camera leans to the left or right. 

If it does, adjust the base plate by sliding it slightly to the left or right until the camera stays level. 

Once it’s perfectly centered, lock the roll axis. 

To double-check, tilt the camera slightly in either direction. It should return to its position without wobbling.

Step 5: Balance the Pan Axis

Finally, balance the pan axis. This motor controls the side-to-side rotation. So, unlock it and tilt the gimbal to a 45-degree angle. 

If the gimbal swings one way, adjust the position of the pan axis by moving the base plate forward or backward. 

Keep adjusting until the gimbal holds steady at 45 degrees. Once it does, lock it in place.

Step 6: Test the Overall Balance

Once all three axes are balanced, test your gimbal. Tilt it in different directions—forward, backward, and sideways. Now, the camera should hold its position without tilting or moving on its own. 

If it doesn’t, go back and fine-tune the balance for any axis that feels off. Even if your balance is 80% accurate, the gimbal will work. That said, you should aim for 100% to ensure smooth performance and longer battery life.

How to Balance a DJI Gimbal Like a Pro

Though I’ve made a comprehensive tutorial on how you can balance a DJI gimbal, here’s a quick rundown. Be ready because there will be a lot of unlocking!

• Step 1: Secure the upper quick-release plate to your camera and attach the tripod legs to the gimbal. Ensure that your gimbal is powered off.
• Step 2: Unlock the roll axis, place the gimbal upright on a flat surface, adjust the roll axis to a horizontal position, and then lock it.
• Step 3: Unlock the tilt axis, position it upright, and temporarily lock it to hold the camera in place.
• Step 4: Unlock the lever on the bottom quick-release plate, mount it to the gimbal, secure the camera with the upper quick-release plate, and lock it.
• Step 5: Unlock the tilt axis to allow free movement, adjust the camera’s position forward and backward until it stays upright, and lock the lever.
• Step 6: Loosen the lever on the tilt axis arm and adjust the camera’s vertical position until it holds steady when pointing straight up or down. Now, lock the tilt axis.
• Step 7: Unlock the roll axis, adjust the roll arm left or right until the camera remains stable at any angle, and lock the roll axis.
• Step 8: Unlock the pan axis, tilt the gimbal to a 45-degree angle, adjust the pan axis forward or backward until the camera stays balanced, and lock the pan axis.
• Step 9: Turn on the gimbal and calibrate it to align the motors and sensors. The gimbal is now ready to use. 

Final Words

Balancing a gimbal might seem like a small step, but it makes a huge difference. From smoother shots to longer motor life, the benefits are clear. 

So, take a few extra minutes to balance the tilt, roll, and pan axes to save you from jerky footage and equipment strain. Whether you’re using a DJI or any other gimbal, following the right steps ensures your gear works at its best. 

Now that you know how to balance a gimbal, you’re all set to create more professional and stable videos. Take the time to balance it right!

FAQs

How long does it take to balance a gimbal?

For beginners, balancing a gimbal can take about 20 minutes as they figure out the steps and get used to the equipment. However, with regular practice, balancing becomes much faster. Most experienced users can balance their gimbal in less than 5 minutes.

How can I improve my gimbal balancing skills faster?

You can improve your gimbal balancing skills faster by following a step-by-step process. Balance each axis step by step, making small adjustments. Plus, practice often to build confidence and muscle memory. Watch tutorials for helpful tips, use a lightweight setup, and seek advice from online forums.

Can improper balancing of the roll axis affect the overall performance of the gimbal?

Yes, improper balancing of the roll axis can harm gimbal performance. It can cause shaky footage, drains the battery faster, overheats motors, disrupts smooth motion, and risks long-term damage to components.