7 Cinematic Gimbal Moves You Can Create Without a Gimbal

When it comes to videography and cinematography, the gimbal has risen to a staple of the craft, whether you're an amateur or a professional. However, if you don't own one or don't have one with you, there are plenty of substitutes that offer similar results.

Gimbals have been a type of equipment that has benefited a lot from time when it comes to accessibility. That is, the price and size have reduced significantly over the years, to the point where many of us can now use them, even if we're not professional videographers or cinematographers.

Nevertheless, it's still something you would have to spend at least hundreds of dollars on to add to your arsenal. If you're just dipping your toe in video waters, this may be a stretch too far. Similarly, there may be times when you don't have space to pack your gimbal or you didn't bring it with you on an outing. In these cases, you are stuck with creating shots that don't use a gimbal, but there are ways you can replicate the look with a decent level of accuracy.

In this video, The DP Journey shows you how he creates many familiar gimbal shots without a gimbal, often using his tripod against his body for a similar effect. One extra technique you can add to some of his methods is to add a camera strap around your neck for a third point of contact, stabilizing the shot further and making it look even less as if it's handheld.