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Best Gimbal for Canon M50 [2023 Review]

In: 
Published: 24/04/2023

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Although the Canon M50 features 5-axis digital image stabilization, it might not remove the camera shakes altogether. With the best gimbal for Canon M50, you can improve the performance of this camera, allowing you to take smooth videos and long-exposure photos.

My Top Canon M50 Gimbal Recommendations

The best gimbal for Canon M50 should have a maximum payload that can hold the Canon M50 and a telephoto lens. The following gimbals are equipped with electronic features that allow you to operate the camera remotely.

Best Overall Gimbal for Canon M50
Brand:
DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal
Best Canon M50 Gimbal With Active Track
Brand:
DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer
Best Lightweight Gimbal for Canon M50
Brand:
Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal
Color:
Black
Color:
Black
Color:
White, Black
Item Weight:
3.3 Pounds
Item Weight:
2.43 Pounds
Item Weight:
1.21 Pounds
4.5
4.4
4.2
Best Overall Gimbal for Canon M50
Brand:
DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal
Color:
Black
Item Weight:
3.3 Pounds
4.5
Best Canon M50 Gimbal With Active Track
Brand:
DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer
Color:
Black
Item Weight:
2.43 Pounds
4.4
Best Lightweight Gimbal for Canon M50
Brand:
Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal
Color:
White, Black
Item Weight:
1.21 Pounds
4.2

Best Overall Gimbal for Canon M50: DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal

DJI RS 3, 3-Axis Gimbal

The DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal features a dual-layer mounting plate with a fine-tuning knob that you can use to quickly gain stability and start shooting, ensuring you don't miss out on the moments if you are recording videos.

Considering that you can control the Canon M50 wirelessly using your smartphone, you can also link this gimbal and the camera using the Ronin app for enhanced controls.

Using button control might be slower and tiresome, especially when you are shooting for an extended time. Unlike the DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer, this gimbal simplifies the process thanks to the OLED touchscreen that allows you to adjust parameters faster and more conveniently.

For more aesthetically pleasing real estate videos, you might need to zoom in and out of the property from a distance using a telephoto zoom lens, which tends to be heavier than normal prime lenses.

This gimbal has a payload of up to 6.6 pounds, making it ideal for use with heavier telephoto zoom lenses. Although this gimbal comes with a 3-axis locking mechanism like the Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal, it is not firm enough, which makes the battery grip lose and have some play.

DJI RS 3, 3-Axis Gimbal
4.6
Pros:
  • Since it is a 3-axis gimbal, it reduces the camera shake more effectively compared to a 2-axis gimbal
  • The battery lasts for up to 12 hours when fully charged
Cons:
  • This gimbal is the heaviest on my list, weighing 3.3 pounds, which makes it unsuitable for an extended time of use
  • This gimbal does not feature the LiDAR focus system, which minimizes the chances of taking sharp photos of moving subjects
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Best Canon M50 Gimbal With Active Track: DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer

DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer

If you are looking for a gimbal you can use for hours on a single full charge, the DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer might be a good choice. Unlike the Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal, this gimbal comes with a battery capacity of 2450 mAh, which lasts up to 11 hours when it is fully charged.

This gives you the flexibility to use the camera until its battery dies. Like the Feiyu Scorp-C Gimbal, this gimbal comes with a 3-axis locking mechanism for locking the motors, preventing the gimbal from flopping around when you are carrying it around.

Although the gimbal is equipped with the Active Track feature that helps you to follow and track subjects, you need to pair the camera and the gimbal using the Ronin App on your smartphone.

This gimbal comes with a payload of 4.4 pounds, which gives you an allowance to use heavier lenses with the Canon M50.

Typically, the weight of a Canon M50 is about 0.86 pounds, and you can mount lenses of up to 3.5 pounds when using this gimbal. However, this gimbal tends to be unstable as you approach its maximum payload.

DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer
4.4
Pros:
  • This gimbal is slip-resistance, minimizing the risks of falls even when you are taking photos while walking
  • The DJI Ronin App allows you to operate the gimbal even with older devices and operating systems such as Android 5.0 and iOS 9.0
Cons:
  • The built-in battery is fixed, and you might have challenges changing it in case its life deteriorates
  • Setting up this gimbal might take time, especially if you are new to gimbals
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Best Lightweight Gimbal for Canon M50: Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal

Zhiyun Crane M2S Handheld Stabilizer

The CZhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal is a 3-axis handheld stabilizer that comes with a built-in fill light which might help you shoot in dim environments, unlike the DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal. However, if you are using the fill light, the power requirement of the light can drain the battery in about 4.5 hours.

This gimbal also supports the POV mode, which provides a 360-degree synchronous turn across the gimbal axis. When shooting in a place with a lot of movement, you can use the POV mode, as it will maintain the position of the camera for enhanced focus.

Typically, the Canon M50 is an interchangeable lens camera that allows you to mount different lenses to suit specific shooting conditions.

Like the Feiyu Scorp-C Gimbal, this gimbal makes your work easier as it is capable of tilting back and forth without changing its position, even when you interchange lenses of different weights.

However, the Bluetooth connection supports the Zhiyun App only, which might limit you from connecting to the Canon M50 app. As a result, you might only use the cable control to start or stop the recording.

Zhiyun Crane M2S Handheld Stabilizer
4.2
Pros:
  • It’s the most lightweight gimbal on my list, and you can hold it for longer without exhaustion
  • The mobile app allows you to remotely control the gimbal settings
Cons:
  • It has the smallest maximum payload on my list, making it unsuitable when pairing the camera with zoom lenses
  • Unlike the other gimbals on my list, this gimbal has a short battery life of 7 hours
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Best Canon M50 Gimbal for Panorama Shots: Feiyu Scorp-C Gimbal

FeiyuTech SCORP-C Gimbal

If you are looking for a gimbal that can help you take panorama shots, the Feiyu Scorp-C Gimbal might be an ideal choice. This gimbal comes with A and B buttons on the right side that you can use for automatic trajectory, ideal for time-lapse shots and panorama images.

This gimbal saves you the hassle of turning the camera to portrait mode, as you only need to double-press the gimbal's portrait button. It automatically turns the camera into portrait mode.

Although this gimbal does not come with a touchscreen display for adjusting the settings like the DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal, it is compatible with a smartphone through the Feiyu SCORP application, which allows you to adjust and control the gimbal remotely.

Shooting for long hours might make your hands sweat, resulting in slipping. Like the DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer, this gimbal is designed to be grip ergonomic with sufficient friction and minimal vibrations, enhancing comfort even when photographing for longer hours.

However, the space left between the handle and the immediate gimbal frame is small and might not suit you if you have longer fingers.

FeiyuTech SCORP-C Gimbal
4.3
Pros:
  • It comes with a magic wheel that allows you to reposition the camera smoothly across all the three axis
  • Comes with a 3-axis lock that firmly stabilizes the gimbal when mounting the camera and when storing the gimbal in the backpack
Cons:
  • This gimbal is not splash resistance, and you might damage the motor axis when using it in harsh weather conditions
  • The gimbal does not have a touchscreen control display for more convenient controls
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Features to Consider in the Best Gimbal for Canon M50

Gimbals are made by different manufacturers, which makes them have varying maximum payloads and performance. The best way to identify a quality gimbal is to consider your photography style and then check the features below to ensure it meets your needs.

GimbalsMaximum Payload (Pounds)Touchscreen Display?Weight (Pounds)
DJI Ronin SC6.83No2.43
Zhiyun Crane M2S26.4No1.21
DJI RS 36.6Yes3.3
Feiyu Scorp-C5.51No2.65

Connectivity

Most modern gimbals allow you to control the camera either wired or wirelessly. The wired connectivity is a physical cable that you connect to the camera, while the wireless connectivity is when you link the camera and the gimbal via Bluetooth or WiFi network.

Gimbals with Bluetooth and WiFi connection are more versatile, as most come with a smartphone application that allows you to pair the camera and the gimbal.

The Canon M50 supports wireless connections, which makes it easier to pair with gimbals such as the Feiyu Scorp-C Gimbal.

A top view of a black gimbal placed on a brown wooden floor

Payload

The payload in gimbals refers to the manufacturer's specified load that a gimbal axis can support and maintain the right balance. Mounting a camera gear lighter than the specified payload on your gimbal makes the setup more stable, with minimal risks of damaging the gimbal.

When you exceed the specified payload, the axis motor might strain and result in unstable footage, and the battery might discharge faster than expected. When choosing the best gimbal for Canon M50, you should consider the weight of the M50 and the maximum weight of the lens that you are going to use.

For instance, if you are going to use a zoom lens that weighs about 8 pounds, the Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal might be the ideal choice, as it comes with a payload of 26.4 pounds.

Compatibility

Most gimbals tend to look similar, especially the 3-axis gimbals, making it difficult to determine which unit is compatible with the M50. Apart from the camera mounting compatibility, a gimbal should also be electronically or wirelessly compatible with the Canon M50.

Electronic compatibility allows you to perform tasks such as controlling video recording and shutter releases when taking photos and videos using the gimbal control buttons. This minimizes the chances of interfering with the camera's stability.

Since most gimbals come with a list of camera models that they are compatible with, it is advisable to go for a gimbal with a manufacturer's indication of compatibility with the M50. For instance, the DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer has manufacturer compatibility details that indicate that it can support Canon M50.

Battery Life

With the new technology, most gimbals have electronic features that help to improve the stability of the camera. For instance, the DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer features the Active Track mode that uses the axis motor to move the arms and track the target subject.

A gimbal may also feature functions such as wireless control, which draws power from the gimbal batteries. Therefore, for you to maximize the benefits of these electronic features, you need to go for a gimbal that has a longer battery life.

For instance, the DJI RS 3-Axis Gimbal has a battery life of up to 12 hours, which exceeds the battery life of the Canon M50, which can record videos for around 120 minutes only. However, the battery life depends on the overall settings of the gimbal and whether you have exceeded the payload.

Gimbal Weight

Most outdoor real estate photography involves a lot of movement, which makes handheld shooting the most flexible option. Although most of the gimbals seem to be portable compared to the traditional tripods, they come with varying weights that make some more portable than others.

Therefore, consider going for lightweight gimbals such as the Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal, which weighs 1.2 pounds. However, lightweight gimbals might be less stable compared to heavier gimbals, especially when you mount a camera gear equal to the gimbal's maximum payload.

Axis

A gimbal operates similarly to a tripod, only that a gimbal offers more stability due to the electronic features that prevent abrupt movements, minimizing the blurring effect of your images. The gimbal is designed with pivot points called axis that makes its stability better compared to the tripods.

Although most modern gimbals have electronic features, the number of axes affects the overall operation and performance of the gimbal. Two-axis and three-axis are the most popular versions of the gimbals. The two-axis gimbal is capable of stabilizing the pitch and roll of the camera.

The three-axis gimbal, on the other hand, is designed to stabilize the yaw, pitch, and roll of the camera. The pitch refers to the tilt, the yaw is the pan, and the roll is the rotation. A three-axis gimbal, such as the Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal, offers more stability compared to a two-axis counterpart.

A man in a polo shirt holding a black gimbal with a DSLR camera

Active Tracking

The Canon M50 camera features an automatic tracking feature that enables you to follow and focus on a subject, which enhances the overall sharpness and depth of field control of the images.

However, the tracking feature might not work when using a gimbal that does not support the Active Tracking mode. If you want to enhance the overall focusing performance of the M50, you need to use a gimbal with an Active Track Feature, such as the DJI Ronin SC Stabilizer.

Related Questions

Does a Heavier Load Affect the Battery Performance of a Gimbal?

Yes, a heavier load will reduce the battery performance of your gimbal. A heavier load tends to overwork the motors of the gimbal, which draws more power from the battery to maintain the stability of the camera.

What Is the Difference Between a Gimbal and a Slider?

The main difference between a gimbal and a slider is that a gimbal offers more flexibility and allows you to shoot from any angle. On the other hand, a slider works well when you want to shoot more consistent footage due to its slower and more predictable movements.

Can You Use Camera Accessories When Using a Gimbal?

Although you can use camera accessories, you need to pay attention not to exceed the gimbal's maximum payload. However, you can use a gimbal such as the Zhiyun Crane M2S Gimbal that allows you to add a counterweight to improve stability when using heavier accessories.

Final Thoughts

The best gimbal for Canon M50 comes with a good battery life that allows you to take photos or record videos until the Canon M50 battery dies before the gimbal battery dies. The above gimbals are easier to set up, making them ideal for both novice and professional photographers.

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