What is the best gimbal for Sony a6400? Continue reading our guide to find out how you can enhance your camera’s performance using some of the best gimbals available on the market.
Released in 2019, the Sony a6400 is a great camera for photography. It offers advanced functions and exceptional performance for all kinds of situations. With features like New BIONZ X image processor, ISO 100-32000, 11fps burst rate, 425 phase and contrast-detection autofocus, and 4K videos at 30fps, it can give more expensive cameras a run for their money. However, it will still not deliver the perfect results without a gimbal stabilizer.
What is a Gimbal Stabilizer?
A gimbal keeps your camera steady by pivoting in one direction thanks to the rings or brackets. Photographers and videographers need to shoot not only steady but sharp and clear handheld footage and images and a gimbal can help them achieve this important goal.
You would mostly mount your camera on a gimbal, usually on its inner-most bracket. The inner bracket maintains its levels while rotating on a single axis with the help of surrounding brackets that rotate around your camera. It seems like your camera is floating in the air when you use the gimbal.
The gimble can also detect your intentional and not-intentional movements. For example, it can detect a wide pan from minor vibrations or inevitable camera shakes while handheld shooting.
There is also a gimbal for any camera you think of. You can even use a gimble such as DJI OSMO Mobile 3 with Smartphones. Similarly, you can choose from hundreds of gimbals designed especially for mirrorless or DSLR cameras. You can even find gimbals for cinematic cameras and action cameras.
In this guide, we would particularly focus on the best gimbals for the Sony Alpha a6400 mirrorless camera. Of course, you can use them with other mirrorless cameras as well.
Best Gimbals for Sony a6400 2022
The following are the best gimbals stabilizers for mirrorless cameras including the Sony a6400 you can buy right now.
| Image | Model Name | Payload | Built-in Screen | Built-in Focus Wheel | Check Price |
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 | DJI RC 2 |
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 | DJI Ronin SC |
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 | DJI RS 2 |
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 | FeiyuTech AK2000C |
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 | Zhiyun Crane 2S |
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 | DJI RS 2 Combo |
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 | Benro Red Dog R1 |
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1. DJI RCS 2-3-Axis Gimbal for Sony a6400: Best Sony Camera Stabilizer
DJI is currently the market leader when it comes to producing high-quality gimbals. One of their most popular gimbals is DJI RC 2. It is compatible with both mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. It has a payload of 3Kg besides offering excellent stabilization for long zooms.
The foldable design and negligible weight make it a breeze to carry the gimble wherever you go. Another nice feature is the 1-inch OLED display that helps you adjust the settings conveniently.
DJI RCS features the innovative Manfrotto + Arca dual-layer camera mounting plate for better stabilization.
The long battery life of 14 hours enables the gimble to stabilize images longer than comparable models.
The gimble also has a more powerful motor than the highly popular DJI Ronin. It offers more controls, modes, and actions such as 360° 3D roll shoot, time-lapse, and panorama. Similarly, it ensures extremely smooth shooting, something not possible with only a camera.
Most gimbals also struggle to transmit the image over a long distance but not this one. It transmits the image over 200 meters without any breakage with the help of an excellent DJI Ronin mobile app.
All in all, DJI RCS 2-3 – Axis gimbal is an established and feature-rich device for a wide range of videographers and vloggers.
2. DJI Ronin SC 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal: Most Popular DJI Gimbal
DJI Ronin SC is perhaps the best gimbal for Sony a6400 and other models. It never ceases to offer incredible stabilization while capturing the movement or shooting a travel vlog.
Weighing only 2.43 pounds, it is a lightweight and compact gimbal yet it can hold your camera up to 3.1kg firmly in all situations and places.
It is considered the best gimbal for motion lapse because of its motion sensors. The sensors enable you to shoot videos with unmatchable smoothness. Similarly, you can get excellent steer shots using the stand that comes with the gimbal.
You can capture beautiful selfies using the camera with this gimbal. Not many gimbals offer such type of functionality.
DJI Ronin gives a perfectly stable shots even in action-packed scenes. It captures sudden and fast flowing motions with ease, especially in the Sport mode that maintains stabilization while improving the sensitivity of each axis.
The gimbal has a quick-mount method to easily mount the camera. Similarly, you can use the DJI Ronin SC app to set up bot the camera and the gimbal. The result will always be the perfect motion or motion lapse shots.
You also get an instruction manual to understand all the buttons and controls.
DJI Ronin SC is not only compatible with the Sony a6400 but many other cameras as well as smartphones. It is a high-performing gimbal with a lot of features for capturing beautiful motion shots.
3. DJI RS 2-3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer: Best DJI Gimbal for Sony a6400
Available for $849, DJI RS 2 is the second most expensive gimbal on our list but fully worth its price.
To begin with, it weighs only 960g but can carry a load of 4.5kg. The lightweight and compact gimbal have a carbon fiber monocoque design compared to the metal arms of DJI Ronin S. Similarly, it has considerably improved on features like mounting price, joystick, grip, and focus wheel.
It also has a larger 1.4-inch full-color LCD touchscreen, allowing you to easily and quickly flick through settings and options.
You can also incorporate the gimbal into more complex and larger control systems or rigs because of the newly added and professional RSA/NATO ports. It also has a cold shoe mount and ¼-inch mounting hold and other common ports.
The battery has an operating time of 12 hours in ideal conditions and it charges back in 1.5 hours. The Ronin app is available for both Android and iOS and can be connected through Bluetooth 5.0 technology.
There are many options for wire connection including Follow Focus motor port, RSS camera control port, and Video transmission/Follow focus motor port. All these ports are USB-C and therefore, enable a fast and efficient connection.
In short, DJI RS 2 is a premium but fully featured and the best gimbal for a6400 and other mirrorless cameras. No other gimbal can come close to it in terms of performance and excellent image stabilization.
4. FeiyuTech AK2000C 3-Axis Camera Stabilizer: Best Portable Gimbal for a6400
FeiyuTech AK2000C is another brilliant gimbal stabilizer for your camera. It is highly compatible with Sony a6400 and all other mirrorless cameras.
The gimbal has a lightweight and compact design besides having a payload capacity of 4.8lbs. It eliminates exhaustion and fatigue by distributing weight precisely.
It has a long battery life of 14 hours, 2 hours longer than most gimbals. Similarly, you can charge the battery in just 30 minutes.
AK2000C easily connects with your phone through WiFi, allowing you to customize the setting and performance on the go.
The Exclusive OLED touchscreen removes the need to use a mobile app or a manual. You can use various options such as setting parameters, applying special effects, and switching modes right from the screen.
The gimbal has a variety of working modes such as time-lapse, inception mode, portrait, vlog, and selfie modes, etc. More importantly, all these modes are accessible from the touchscreen.
The 3-axis motor lock design, magic foldable quick release plate, and aluminum alloy make the gimbal more portable.
The gimbal also supports wireless recording from a distance besides having 4 shot modes.
All in all, the FeiyuTech Ak2000C 3-Axis Camera Stabilizer is a very decent and useful gimbal for Sony a6400. It has all the features and functions to perfectly stabilize your camera for long periods.
5. Zhiyun Crane 2S 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer: Best Affordable Gimbal for a6400
Zhiyun Crane 2S 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer is an affordable but highly useful gimbal for your camera.
It can handle larger cameras such as Canon EOS 1DX Mark II and Panasonic S1H with relative ease because of the high motor power and motor control algorithms. The new FlexMount system also makes setup a breeze. The double safety mechanism prevents your camera from falling as well.
The gimbal ensures spectacular vertical shots as it comes standard with a vertical release mount. The focus control ability of the gimbal is also film grade. The built-in servo follow focuses and focus controller offer extremely fast and precise focusing. As a result, you won’t miss important or decisive moments while shooting.
The 1-inch OLED screen helps you switch between various modes swiftly and go through the entire menu within seconds.
Zhiyun Crane 2S has six gimbal modes that are Go mode, Full-Range POV, Pan Following, Locking, Vortex, and Following. All of these modes are easily accessible from screen.
The gimbal has standard 12 hours battery life. However, you can always keep spare batteries with you if you are doing a longer shoot.
The Zhiyun Crane 2S 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer is a great camera stabilizer to have. It is not as fancy or advanced as DJI gimbals but it holds its own when you have to stabilize your camera in various conditions.
6. DJI RS 2 Combo: Best Gimbal for Sony a6400
DJI RS 2 Combo is another premium but exceptional gimbal for Sony a 6400 and other mirrorless cameras. It weighs 2.3lbs and has a 10lbs tested weight capacity. The weight-to-payload ratio of the gimbal is, in fact, the highest in the industry.
The gimbal is also strong and lightweight because of the carbon fiber construction.
DJI RS 2 Combo features a bigger 1.4-inch full-color touchscreen to use the features of the Ronin app and adjust the settings. However, it offers greater creative control by providing access to ActiveTrack 3.0 right from the app.
DJI RS 2 Combo is a professional gimbal as well. You can integrate it with a jib, car, or on a slider and control it from a distance.
A dual-layer camera mounting plate efficiently balances payloads as it is compatible with Arca-Swiss and Manfrotto standards. You can achieve the perfect balance using the fine-tine balancing knob.
The gimbal captures incredibly smooth footages courtesy of the famous Titan Stabilization Algorithm from DJI. It can even stabilize 100mm zoom lenses through the Super Smooth feature. In simple words, DJI RS 2 Combo delivers matchless camera stabilization, perhaps the best in the industry.
7. Benro Red Dog R1 Handheld Stabilizer: Best Handheld a6400 Gimbal Stabilizer
Handheld stabilizers have garnered massive popularity recently. Therefore, a large number of handheld gimbals are now available on the market. One of the most impressive and versatile of these gimbals is Benro Red Dog R1.
The motorized stabilizer is relatively inexpensive yet lightweight and packed with superb features and functions. It is a small device with a payload of only 1.8kg, perfect for travel and outdoor shooting.
Similarly, it can help you shoot from different filming angles. Some of its operating modes include Locked Down, Universal Follow, and Horizontal Follow. Each mode controls the gimbal according to different shooting situations.
The gimbal also has a joystick for 3-axis movement. It captures movements very smoothly, highly impressive for a gimbal with such a small profile.
The fantastic smartphone app allows you to control your camera and stabilizer remotely. The R1 also comes with a quick storage case that makes setup easier by retaining the individual axis position while in storage.
Benro Red Dog R1 cannot compete with gimbals like DJI Ronin in terms of design or performance. However, it is a lightweight device with sufficient features for an average user.
How to Buy the Best Gimbal for Sony a6400?
Before buying a gimbal, you must determine do you really need it? If yes, why do you need one? Similarly, you must not buy the first gimbal you come across just because it is a famous model or from a reputed brand.
You need to know your requirements as well as your shooting style. However, every gimbal should at least have the following features or functions.
Weight and Payload
Most gimbals weigh from 3 to 5lbs. How much weight they can carry depends on their built quality and construction. A small gimbal with average construction cannot hold a big camera with a lengthy setup. Therefore, your camera setup is a big consideration when it comes to buying a gimbal. You must go for gimbals with heavier payloads if you have a big camera setup.
Compatibility
Not all gimbals are compatible with all the cameras. Some of them work with DSLRs while others are compatible with mirrorless cameras only. There are even gimbals for smartphones and action cameras. Therefore, you must check whether or not the gimbal you are interested in is compatible with your camera model.
Stabilization
A gimbal’s sole purpose is to stabilize your camera while shooting videos. The best a6400 gimbal always employs a micro balancing technique. Similarly, it should be easy to set up and ready to be used within seconds.
Battery Timing
One of the most important factors to consider while buying a gimbal is battery timing. Most gimbals have rechargeable batteries while some also have replaceable batteries. Most gimbals on our list have 12 hours of battery life while some high-end models can also operate for 14 hours on a single charge. The charging time also varies from 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the model.
Keep in mind that battery time is only one of the factors. You must also keep other things into account while making a decision.
Accessories
Sony a6400 Gimbal Kit may also have accessories like wireless or remote joysticks for remote control. Other important accessories for a gimbal include a command unit and focus wheel, etc. Some gimbals also have various shooting modes such as time and motion lapse and panorama as well as mobile app support.
Price
The average price of an entry-level gimbal is $250-$350. However, a professional gimbal can cost you anything from $600 up to $1000. Therefore, you must achieve a balance between your budget and requirements when you buy a gimbal.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is a 3-axis gimbal better than a 2-axis gimbal?
3-axis gimbal rotates on 3 axis compared to 2-axis gimbals that rotate on 2 axis. Therefore, 3-axis gimbals provide better stabilization than 2-axis models. However, they are costlier than 2-axis counterparts.
2. What is a pitch in gimbal?
Pitch is one of the 3 axis of a gimbal. You can capture the up and down movement using the pitch axis. For example, you would use the pitch axis if you are capturing a paratrooper coming down from the sky.
3. Can gimbals work without a smartphone?
Yes, but you cannot record what they are doing. Two other ways to remotely or wirelessly control your gimbal are to use a remote control or joystick. You can also lock the angle using the trigger on the back of the gimbal.
Final Thoughts
We have only scratched the surface with our guide to the best gimbal for Sony a6400. You can choose from countless other models and all of them have something to offer to their users. However, the above-mentioned gimbals offer the best blend of performance, features, and value for money.
Keep in mind that we have included various kinds of gimbals falling in different price categories. Therefore, they cater to the needs and budgets of all types of videographers.