camera cage

Camera Cage vs Gimbal: Key Differences and Uses

Is a Camera Cage Better Than a Gimbal?

Cage grips can be a good solution for stabilizing a camera, since they distribute the weight evenly. However, they need to be manually operated.

In contrast, gimbals use motors and sensors to control the movement.

With the right software, a gimbal can track a moving object and automatically reposition itself to avoid motion blur.

Here are a few benefits of cage grips:

1). Camera Mounting Options:

First, camera cages provide more mounting options than Gimbals.

Unless you’re planning to use a Gimbal or other gimbal for stabilization, you’ll quickly run out of cold shoe mounts. Additionally, cages provide dozens of mounting options.

This gives you greater flexibility and control of your camera. The best camera cages are flexible enough to grow with you and adapt to your needs as they are customizable.

2). Change the Angles of Shots:

cages allow you to change the angle of your shots. If you shoot a lot of action and want to get multiple shots of an action scene, a cage can help you achieve this.

Handheld shots are particularly good for story development and emotional development.

Furthermore, a handheld POV shot can place viewers in a character’s shoes. Ultimately, the type of shot will be up to you and your project.

When Not To Use a Gimbal

For people who need a sturdy camera rig, a gimbal is not the best choice. A sturdy camera cage is more suitable for heavier cameras, and a gimbal is more sensitive to smaller jolts.

But it won’t eliminate all the shaking.

It’s a heavy piece of equipment, so it’s not a good choice for beginners.

Advantages of the Gimbal

1). Stabilizes the camera in three axes:

A gimbal has a variety of advantages. The main benefit is that it stabilizes the camera in three axes, giving you the freedom to shoot in unleveled environments and for action-style movies.

Besides stabilization, a gimbal has an important feature – vertical balance. Its weight payload will determine how well the gimbal will work.

A camera cage should be slightly bottom-heavy and have a swivel.

The ultraCage Black is a camera cage with four points of contact that offers superior support. Its universal design fits almost all common video DSLR cameras and has multiple mounting points.

The ultraCage’s top mount is the perfect place for a remote focus motor or controller.

It can be expanded into a shoulder or handheld rig and a tripod. It also comes with a universal shoe clamp to use with accessories.

2). Easy Camera ‘Tilt’ Without Human Error:

Some Gimbal rigs are designed for heavy equipment. They allow the camera to pan or tilt without any human error and are much smoother in their footage.

However, they do cost more than cages or tripods. And since they’re designed for single-user use, you’ll likely have to pay a higher price for a gimbal.

It will be well worth your money, though.

Comparing Different Models of Gimbals and Camera Cages

Let’s take a look at Moza gimbal, FeiyuTech G6 Max, Varizoom, and the Ikan STR-CINE-C200-RIG.

Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but we’ll also compare them to find out which one is best for your needs.

Moza gimbal

You may be wondering what the difference is between a camera cage and a gimbal. While both systems are capable of supporting a wide range of cameras, each one has its unique benefits and drawbacks.

Note: The best gimbals are designed to offer the ultimate in stability.

The Weebill Lab is a relatively new gimbal on the market. It was designed to help amateur videographers shoot high-quality videos, while still keeping their camera in place.

The Weebill Lab has a smaller battery than the Moza Air 2, making it easier to use. The Zhiyun Weebill Lab also boasts excellent image stabilization and a high load capacity.

A camera cage is a versatile accessory, but not a necessary part of the photography process. You can mount a camera in a cage, but a Moza gimbal will make it much easier to stabilize your camera.

Unlike a camera cage, which is rigid, a gimbal has more versatility. If you’re shooting video with a tripod, you can easily attach a camera cage to stabilize your camera.

A camera cage is a simple and affordable alternative to a gimbal. Its ergonomic U-shape distributes weight evenly. However, it is important to remember that a gimbal requires you to manually control its movements.

The Moza has motors and sensors that make it a smart tool for videography. It also uses software to create motion patterns and track moving objects.

FeiyuTech G6 Max

Despite its name, the FeiyuTech G6 Max camera carrier is an upgrade over its predecessor. It incorporates Bluetooth and advanced adaptation technology to automatically adapt to the camera’s unique dimensions.

Like its predecessor, the G6 Max is capable of supporting up to 2.65 pounds of payload, which should be sufficient for most point and shoot cameras.

The cage is equipped with three-axis rotation and shutter-control functions, and also includes a dedicated Magic Focus ring.

The G6 Max comes with excellent build quality. Unlike the G6 Plus, the Feiyutech is designed to offer a professional-level of image stabilization even when shooting on the go. However, the manufacturer has stayed true to its main goal of providing a travel gimbal with an affordable price.

For this reason, it is worth considering a Feiyutech G6 Max camera cage if you’re in the market for a new cage.

The FeiyuTech G6 Max camera carrier offers an advanced gimbal system, which is ideal for videography. Its sensors are excellent and offer the fastest detection of movement. The camera cage’s gimbal can be set to pan, tilt, and lock, as well as follow and manual modes.

Moreover, the Feiyutech G6 Max is equipped with vortex mode, which causes the camera to roll horizontally while capturing subjects. This feature is surprisingly popular among the community.

One of the biggest benefits of the FeiyuTech G6 Max camera housing is its battery. The battery of this cage is rechargeable within three hours.

With a rechargeable battery, you can enjoy uninterrupted shooting for a long time. This feature makes the FeiyuTech G6 Max camera cage an excellent choice for travel vloggers. You can also charge other devices while in use by plugging the camera into a USB port.

Varizoom

If you’re in the market for a new stabilizer, you may be wondering what to pick from the wide variety offered by Varizoom.

The FlowPod camera stabilizer, for example, offers a unique take on the camera cage. It provides a gimbal and mounts on a vest or arm, and can be bought individually or as a kit.

Alternatively, you can opt for the three-point shooter Stealthy, which acts as a monopod and is waterproof.

There’s even a StealthyPRO model, which features an improved six-bearing gimbal.

Camera Cage vs Gimbal: How You Operate The Camera

Another difference between a camera cage and a gimbal is the way of operating the camera. A gimbal can help you balance the camera without losing control, but it can be difficult to pull focus.

A gimbal must be able to balance the camera front to back and side to side without dropping it.

This can be a significant disadvantage, especially if you have a shallow depth of field. To counteract this problem, a handheld gimbal is a good choice.

Ikan STR-CINE-C200-RIG

The Ikan STR-CINE-C 200 RIG is a great cage designed specifically for the Canon C200 and C200B cine cameras. Unlike their smaller counterparts, the C200 and C200B are not intended to be held by the hand. That is why an appropriate camera cage is essential for using these cameras.

They can also be mounted on a tripod, and all cages have an ArcaSwiss style plate. Some models also come with a quick release for easy mounting.

Stratus Shoulder Rig System: The Stratus Shoulder Rig Kit comes with two side plates that mount to both sides of the camera.

These plates feature 1/4-20 screw threads and ARRI location pin mounts, allowing the user to easily attach monitor holders and magic arms.

These side plates also have standard ARRI rosettes and allow for the use of the official Canon C200 handgrip.

Zhiyun Crane 2S

There are pros and cons for both a camera cage and a gimbal. A camera cage can be an excellent alternative if you need to shoot videos or take photos from an elevated position.

The pros of camera cages include better stabilization, lower camera body weight, and a smaller footprint. On the other hand, a gimbal can be a lot of trouble to use.

The Crane 2S comes with a 0.96-inch OLED screen that lets you easily switch between shooting modes. There are six shooting modes: standard, creative/effects, panorama, timelapse, motionlapse, and long exposure timelapse.

Each of these modes has its own features, and all of them are useful for specific purposes. A camera cage is better for videography, especially if you plan to edit your footage in post-production.

While the Crane 2S is a better option than a gimbal, there are other factors that make it worthwhile to purchase one.

The Crane 2S is easier to use and set up, and is more powerful than the original Crane.

However, if you have a Crane 2, it can still serve as a backup. In addition, the Crane 2S allows you to use a second camera without swapping plates.

The Crane 2 has a slightly higher maximum load capacity than the Weebill Labs.

The Crane 2 weighs seven pounds, whereas the Weebill weighs 6.6 pounds.

While the Weebill weighs more than a gimbal, it still offers a better value for money. The Weebill Lab is also lighter, cheaper, and smaller than the Zhiyun Crane 2S.

Camera Cage vs Gimbal: Summary

A gimbal can increase the size of a camera by doubling its battery life. This means you can film longer without worrying about running out of power.

It can also be portable and reverse-charge as a battery power bank, making it the perfect accessory for travel.

It’s easier to pack and unpack than a Gimbal. Just make sure to use the appropriate battery!