STABILENS Makes Rebalancing Your Gimbal Super Fast

by Richard LackeyApril 15^th, 2020

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The StabiLens is a flexible weight system that allows you to add weight to your lenses rather than rebalance your gimbal every lens swap.

The trend for high-end cine lenses is that every lens in a set shares a common size, weight and center of gravity. This allows for fast lens swaps on gimbals without the need to rebalance the entire camera package on the gimbal. However, commonly used photo lenses, mirrorless and DSLR lenses are anything but uniform in size and weight.

This leads to a lot of time lost in production when swapping lenses. The StabiLens system was invented by filmmaker Zac Miller. It comprises a flexible rubber ring with holes that can stretch around the front of lenses from 58mm to 100mm in diameter. A selection of included weights can then be arranged in the holes to alter the weight and center of gravity of the lens.

The key is to balance the gimbal for the heaviest lens that will be used. From that point on, the weight of smaller lenses can be modified using the StabiLens system to match. Lens swaps can then be performed without rebalancing the gimbal.

Two StabiLens kits are available, as well as individual rings and weights. The weights come in two types, either made from heavier tungsten, or steel.

StabiLens Starter Kit

The StabiLens Starter Kit is $99.99

What you’ll get:

• 1 StabiLens Gimbal Ring
• 10 Tungsten Alloy Weights (12g)
• 1 Gimbal Arm Counterweight Quick Clamp
• 4 Gimbal Arm 1/4-20 Counterweights
• 1 Hard Case
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

StabiLens Cinematographer’s Kit

The StabiLens Cinematographer’s Kit is $149.99

What you’ll get:

• 2 StabiLens Gimbal Rings
• 20 Tungsten Alloy Weights (12g)
• 20 Steel Weights (5g)
• 1 Gimbal Arm Counterweight Quick Clamp
• Gimbal Arm 1/4-20 Counterweights
• 1 Hard Case
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

For more information head over to the StabiLens website.

Is this a solution you’re interested in using on your productions? Do you think it will save time and add convenience? Let us know what you think in the comments below.