According to Gyro-Stabilized Systems (GSS) website, “The Cineflex is an Optimized Stabilized Platform Option for Smaller, Broadcast Payloads.” (Gyro-Stabilization Systems, 2020). Stabilized cameras are used in videography and broadcasting to eliminate unnecessary movements of the camera when filming and can be attached to cables, drones or helicopters to film aerial shots.
GSS Cineflex has “six-axis of movement in an extremely small package, this gimbal only weights 35 lbs (without payload) making it light weight and versatile” (Gyro-Stabilized Systems, 2020). GSS Cineflex has other unique features such as, fully upgradable as gimbal, camera, lens technologies evolve, can be shipped as excess baggage because of its lightweight and many more. While there are many stabilized cameras in the market, GSS Cineflex’s unique features such as, gyro-stabilized six-axis of movement, compact and lightweight design and fully upgradable and interchangeable components, provides GSS Cineflex an edge over other competitors making it one of the top choices for broadcasting and filmmaking companies.
One of the main key features of GSS Cineflex is its gyro-stabilized six-axis of movement, VectorSteeringTM sixth axis look-down with no gimbal lock. Gimbal lock “is caused when the gimbals, or mounts, align in ways that prevent the device from moving in a desired direction.” (Reed, 2020, What is gimbal lock?). Having six axis and no gimbal lock, the gyro-stabilized camera can rotate freely even downwards letting it capture any aerial shots at any angles while moving at high speeds when mounted on a helicopter. Comparing the data of gimbal performance of GSS Cineflex to one of its competitors Shotover K1 from their websites, GSS Cineflex outperforms Shotover K1 in elevation, roll and gimbal slew rate. Which makes GSS Cineflex a better choice as it can capture a wider range of angles and maneuverer faster to capture shots that could be gone in a blink of an eye.
Another key feature of GSS Cineflex is it is compact and lightweight. “With six axis of movement in an extremely small package, this gimbal only weighs 35 lbs (without payload) making it lightweight and versatile!” (Gyro-Stabilized Systems, 2020). With its unique design is it is engineered to be compact and lightweight yet able to fit six-axis of movement. GSS Cineflex weighs only 35 lbs (19kg) without payload and can be shipped as excess baggage (<70 lbs/ 32kg per case) so bringing it overseas will not be an issue.
Another feature that GSS Cineflex has is “fully upgradeable as gimbal, cameras and lens technologies evolve” (Gyro-Stabilized Systems, 2020). This is the interchangeable parts of the gimbal, cameras and lens required for specific shots. The gimbal can be configured to be mounted on land, marine and aerial vehicles to shoot a variety of different scenes. GSS Cineflex is designed to cater to the specific requirements of interchangeable cameras and lens, therefore the clients can request for different cameras and lens without having to use a different gimbal. Comparing to its competitor Shotover K1, Shotover K1 can also cater to almost any cameras and lens, but one unique feature of K1 is it is an open-architecture design which allows changing of cameras and lens to be quick and convenient. GSS could consider adding this feature to the Cineflex to make it even more convenient at the same time it could make the gimbal even lighter by using less materials.
In conclusion, although there are other competitors on the market, like the Shotover K1 with an open-architecture design that allows changing of cameras and lens to be more convenient, GSS Cineflex’s unique features and its compact and lightweight design makes it more versatile compared to other stabilized cameras. The advantages of its features along with GSS’s remarkable service and reputation which are backed by many testimonials from their clients located on their website, making GSS Cineflex prominent over other competitors.
References
Gyro-Stabilized Systems. (n.d). Retrieved September 30, 2020 from https://gyrostabilizedsystems.com/broadcast-cineflex-gimbal
Shotover. (n.d). Retrieved October 05, 2020 from https://shotover.com/products/k1
Paul Reed. (2020, September 14). What is gimbal lock? Retrieved October 06, 2020 from https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-gimbal-lock.htm