Best Gimbals For Sony A7s III

The Alpha series mirrorless lineup is the brainchild of Sony which has taken the photography industry by storm.

From exceptionally high-quality output in 4k resolution to impeccable high dynamic range results, these mirrorless cameras have never disappointed their fans across the globe.

While I have had plenty of experience with multiple mirrorless cameras from Sony’s Catalog, the Sony A7S III has made a separate space in my heart for a multitude of reasons. 

And it’s no doubt that it has created quite a sensation and has become eye candy for both casual and professional photographers due to its top-tier performance while recording videos.

Luckily for you, I have put together a list to assist you in your filmmaking adventures, so take a look at the best gimbals for sony a7s and get one for yourself.

The List of 7 Best Gimbals for Sony A7s iII

Here’s the list I’ve put together for you. Let’s take a look.

1. ZHIYUN Weebill 2

• 360 degree Pan
• 340-degree Roll & Tilt
• Bluetooth 5.0 Support
• 3.3 KG Payload Capacity
• 9 hours battery runtime

Starting review with the most robust, snappy, and super stable gimbal that is known as Zhiyun Weebill 2 has tons of features that I will be explaining down below.

Flawless Ergonomics

Ergonomics and overall gripping play a major role when it comes to using a gimbal on a daily basis.

If you are feeling uncomfortable even after using it for an hour, it’s pretty much useless because gimbals are designed to be used for at least half a day as you would be most probably covering events like wedding ceremonies, etc.

However, in our case, while using the Zhiyun Weebil 2 you won’t be dealing with any sort of gripping issues due to the fact that the manufacturer has integrated super soft silicon gripping all around the infrastructure.The best part is both the underslung and the primary grip have this special coating, so no matter which angle you are shooting at, your wrist or palm won’t get tired or feel irritated. 

Integrated LCD Screen 

Another amazing aspect about this gimbal is that it also boasts a 2.88 inches LCD screen which not only allows you to monitor your battery or your camera settings but you can also tweak them on the go, due to the fact that it supports touch input.

You don’t need to install special software or use your smartphone to fiddle around with the gimbal or camera settings, this nifty color screen lets you configure all settings like changing advanced features or toggling through multiple modes, you can do it with ease.

Payload Specifications

When it comes to weight management, stability, and payload capacity, this gimbal is an absolute beast as it can hold up to 7.3 pounds like a champ, all credit due to the Ultra robust Infineon chip with dynamic stabilization that ensures smoothness and stability even through the roughest terrain.

Strength

• Very Stable
• Premium Build Quality
• Good For both Low & High Angled Shots
• Ideal for Videographers
• Superior Payload Capacity

Weakness

• Isn’t budget friendly

2.  DJI RS 3 Pro – Best Gimbal for Sony A7siii

• Bluetooth 5.0
• 1.8 Inch OLED Screen
• Lidar Focusing
• 10 lbs Payload Capacity
• Axis Lock System

The DJI RS 3 is considered a “top dog” in the field of filmmaking because it packs a serious punch and has mind-blowing focusing capabilities.

Payload Capacity & Weight Dimensions

When I tested the limits of this gimbal, I was astonished beyond belief, and trust me there is no exaggeration in my words because once you take a look at its payload threshold, you would be captivated too.

In other words, working with bulkier or heavier rigs is never an issue as it can hold up weights to 10 pounds without breaking a sweat. I even tried hooking up a couple of telephoto lenses with Sony A7s III and the stability was compromised.

As a side note, While this review is solely oriented toward mirrorless Sony A7s III, I believe this gimbal would go just fine even if you try to pair it up with bulkier camera rigs due to its lofty payload limit.

Swift User Interface

If you are a rookie photographer or a videographer that is looking to buy a gimbal or simply looking for an upgrade, you will find abundant convenience here as not only does this gimbal have a 1.8-inch OLED touch screen but it also offers neat quick shortcuts in the form of physical buttons.

Both the touchscreen and physical buttons allow you to tweak the axis of the gimbal, however, the OLED screen also offers advanced options such as setting the speed and even timer settings in case you are running solo.

Battery life

As for its battery runtime, the RS 3 Pro will not disappoint you as I tested it out in my lab and attained roughly 11 hours of battery life before it gave up on me.

I believe such sort of battery runtime is quite sufficient even for a professional studio-grade consumer.

However, the only caveat here in this otherwise perfect gimbal is that, while it surely has an amazing performance in terms of Lidar Focusing, the Lidar module certainly drains the battery life quite drastically, so you need to be mindful of that in case you are working with all the modules that come with the RS 3 Pro.

Strength

• Exceptionally Stable Even While Running
• Amazing Payload Capacity
• Amazing Gripping

Weakness

• Considerate Battery drain while using Lidar Focusing

3. FeiyuTech SCORP-C

• Aluminum Body Type
• 2500mah Battery
• Type C charging Port
• 5.5 lbs Payload limit

The FeiyuTech Scorp C was a midrange, lightweight, super stable gimbal that went easy on the bank. Although discontinued and largely unavailable now from retailers, it can likely still be found used online. A good alternative is the aformentioned DJI RS 3 Pro.

Independent Axis Lock

I cannot emphasize how consumer friendly this gimbal is and the learning curve regarding this gimbal is little to none.

For instance, balancing for this gimbal can be done in a matter of seconds because each motor has independent locking features allowing you to lock one axis at a time.

In other words, not only can you do the job swiftly but you will also be able to do it pretty accurately as fine-tuning manually won’t be an issue.

Payload Specifications

Using the Sony A7S III with a prime or a telephoto lens doesn’t seem to compromise the stability that the Scorp C provides, as it has a payload limit of 5.5 lbs. 

Furthermore, I even tried recording videos while using different modes this gimbal has to offer such as panoramic mode, space mode, and FPV while running and moving too quickly and my results were smooth like a hot knife going through butter.

The best part is that it even comes with Arca Swiss Quick release plates, so you can easily pop in and pop out your camera for handheld mode.

Battery runtime

You may think after performing such heavy-duty operations, this gimbal must be a slouch when it comes to battery runtime, but in reality, it’s the opposite of that, matter of fact it has a runtime of 12 hours provided from its 2500mah battery and can be topped up in less than 2 hours through USB type C.

My only concern is that having built-in batteries means that if you run out of batteries during a shoot, you will not be able to swap them out for backup ones.

You can also read my dedicated guide about the Top List of Best Sony A7iii Gimbals.

Strength

• Includes Arca Swiss Quick Release Plate
• Has a Mini Tripod
• Supports Fast Charging
• Solid Build Quality

Weakness

• Non-Swappable Batteries

4.Zhiyun Crane 2S

• Dual Quick Release Plate support
• Carbon Fiber Design
• 12-hour battery runtime
• 3kg Payload Capacity
• Powered by the 9th Intune Algorithm

The Zhiyun Crane 2 S is a classic Gimbal with some cool features such as cutting-edge stabilization algorithms and a carbon fiber overall infrastructure.

Enhanced Gripping & Overall Design Quality

In order for you to determine how well-made its design is, I would start the review with its exterior quality. 

For starters, the handle of this gimbal is made from premium quality carbon fiber which means you get to have amazing gripping as well as less strain on your wrist after holding it for longer periods of time.

As an added bonus, the deployable tripod feature of the handle also has silicon grips to enhance stability and comfort whether you are holding it in your hand or placing it on a surface.

Payload Workhorse

When it comes to performance, this gimbal can perform some seriously heavy-duty lifting with ease.

You can literally load up camera rigs up to 7 pounds and it won’t flinch at all, matter of fact all of its three axes would have ample stability no matter how fast you are moving.

All thanks to the 9th Gen Instune algorithm which ensures your camera remains fixated with buttery smooth stability even if you are working with telephoto lenses.

Speaking of using telephoto lenses, the cage and the arms of the gimbal also have pretty generous space in between them, in case you want to fit in extra modules or any other accessory with your Sony A7s III, you can easily do it without feeling space restricted.

Dual Plate Quick Release System

The strongest selling point about this gimbal is that it offers not one but two quick-release systems that allow you to perform horizontal and vertical photoshoots without buying an extra aftermarket bracket.

Simply rotate the arms of the gimbal and mount your camera onto the quick-release plate of the tilt motor and you are all set for some sweet vertical mode photo session, it’s just that easy.

Strength

• Made from Carbon Fiber Material
• Includes Axis Locking system
• Allows Vertical Shooting

Weakness

• Steep Learning Curve

5. DJI Ronin-S

• Bluetooth 4.0
• 4 lbs Net weight
• 8 lbs Payload Specs

Versatile, fluid, and convenient, the DJI Ronin S sets a great example for other competitors when it comes to performance while keeping the form factor small and compact. Overall availability new has changed but you can still find these used.

Payload Capacity

When I unboxed this bad boy, giving it a first glance, it felt very flimsy and I thought to myself that the payload specifications advertised by the manufacturer may just be a marketing gimmick. 

However, when I loaded up my Mirrorless Sony A7s III with a bulkier telephoto lens, the DJI Ronin S held up weight like a pro.

However, if you do want to get it in technical terms, it has the capacity of holding weight up to 8 pounds or 3.6 KG.

I really love the fact that how well it produced results when the Smooth Track feature was enabled as there was no jitter in sight especially while moving on rough, uneven terrain.

Propertarian Ronin App

To achieve the best out of this gimbal, it also comes with its own proprietary app which is extremely polished and well-designed and allows you to control various aspects of your gimbal such as timelapse, motion control, and even enables Smooth tracking capabilities.

The best part is you can also set the speed of the axis and the sensitivities, allowing it to react accordingly to various circumstances.

This not only makes things even more convenient for rookie users but also enhances flexibility as you can tweak features from a distance, remotely.

Trigger-Lock Feature

In order to make your videography session even better than you can expect, the gimbal also offers a trigger which, if you double tap on it lets the camera face frontwards, however, when triple tapped, it automatically changes to selfie mode.

This makes vlogging and content creation so much easier and extremely fun to perform as you no longer have to fiddle with buttons and can control your camera movement seamlessly.

Strength

• Easy to Store
• Can be Balanced Easily
• Very Stable
• Can be Controlled Wirelessly

Weakness

• Tad bit bulky

6. FeiyuTech AK2000S

• 4.85 lb payload Capacity
• Touchscreen Input
• 3 Axis Lock Feature
• 11 hours battery life

If you have previously used the AK2000 standard variant and loved it, you would absolutely cherish the AK2000S as it has seen quite an upgrade in almost all departments. Here is my long-term review of it.

Payload Limit

The gimbal is highly oriented towards portability and ease of use, which means it doesn’t have a payload limit as lofty as the other flagship-level gimbals. 

But fret not, because for a lightweight camera like the Sony A7s III with a prime lens paired on it, it can do more than a sufficient job because its payload limit is 2.2 KG.

Phenomenal User Interface

It’s mind-blowing how at such a price point you are still getting a lovely touch screen integrated into the body of the gimbal which allows you to tweak functionality and control multiple modes of both your camera and this device.

On the flip side, you don’t need to download separate software to enable special functions, as this gimbal has everything you need that is displayed on the LCD touchscreen, presented in a neat menu.

Battery Life

While the gimbal certainly has some shortcomings in payload limit, it easily compensates for it when it comes to battery life. Armed with 14 hours of battery backup, using this gimbal even for a couple of sessions, you would still have some left at your disposal.

And the best part is that since it also supports 18-watt fast charging, you can easily top it up in no time and get back into action.

Strength

• Spectacular battery life
• Very lightweight
• Premium Design
• Has a Nice LCD with Touch Input Support

Weakness

• Average Payload Specs

7. DJI RSC 2

• 4.2 KG Payload Capacity
• Powered by Titan Algorithm
• 1-inch OLED Screen
• Bluetooth 5.0

Lastly, we have the DJI RSC 2 which is extremely portable and smaller than a sheet of A5 Paper.

Bigger Cage & Design

If you are a professional videographer or a product photographer that works with bigger lenses or bulkier rigs, chances are you may be struggling to find a gimbal that may fit your Sony A7s as well as withstand its payload limits.

The Dji RSC 2 easily solves this issue by having payload specifications of 6.6 lbs and with a moveable bracket you can easily adjust your camera from left to right without feeling restricted.

1-inch OLED screen

Furthermore, to monitor your battery status, as well as check the calibration of your axis or simply switch through multiple modes this gimbal has to offer, you can also use the 1-inch color screen integrated into the gimbal.

Keep in mind that the screen lacks touch input and you may have to use the physical scroll feature in order to quickly toggle or configure your operations of the gimbal and the camera.

Manfrotto plus Arca dual-layer Plate

Seamless switching from one position to another has never been so easy and the way DJI RSC 2 does it will surprise you.

As it rocks a Manfrotto plus Arca dual-layer quick-release plate so you can switch from horizontal to vertical mode in a matter of seconds.

Strength

• SuperSmooth Allows Fluid Stability
• Amazing Battery life
• Has Dual Layer Mounting Plates
• Easy to use & Setup

Weakness

• The screen lacks touch input

Bottom Line

The mind of an artist may contain a million ideas, however in order to reproduce or replicate them, it may take a couple of tools so that the world can see the magic.

Henceforth, being a photographer it is necessary that you acquire not just the right skills but also commit to the ideology by investing in the right set of tools that will portray the vision of your mind.

In simpler and less philosophical words, The Sony A7s III is a magnificent camera for both prosumers and hobbyists, however, to get the best image and video result possible, buying a gimbal is very much necessitated. 

So go ahead, and pick any of the above, and I assure you that none of them would disappoint you. As always, thank you for reading this article, have a lovely day.