Say a client has booked you for a short brand film this weekend at a restaurant in Jabi. They want the camera to follow the chef from the kitchen across the dining room, and the picture can't bounce. Handheld, every step will show in the footage, and a tripod can't follow the chef at all. This is a job for a gimbal, and if you don't own one, you can rent one in time for Saturday.
Here's what ours costs to rent in Abuja, what comes in the case, and how to book it.
What it costs
The gimbal is ₦25,000 a day. Need it for seven days or longer? Then you'll pay ₦125,000 a week, which is five days at the day rate.
Pickup is at 8am, and it's due back by 8am the next day. Bring it back later than that and you'll pay the day rate for the late return.
What comes in the kit
We rent the DJI RS 4 Pro Combo. In the case you'll find:
- The gimbal, tested to carry 4.5 kg of camera, lens and accessories. That's enough for a Blackmagic 6K Pro or a mid-size mirrorless camera with a zoom lens.
- The Focus Pro motor, which turns the lens's focus ring so you can change focus while the camera is moving.
- The Ronin Image Transmitter, which sends a live picture from the camera to a phone running DJI's Ronin app. DJI rates the range at up to 200 m in open ground with no interference, so the director can watch the shot from a distance.
- A briefcase handle and a carry case.
The battery is built into the grip. DJI says it lasts up to 13 hours, but that was measured with the gimbal balanced and still, so you'll get less on a day with a lot of movement.
What it's good for
Any shot where the camera has to move: following someone through a doorway, circling a subject, or walking down a corridor without the picture bouncing. That covers a lot of music video, brand film and wedding work.
If you're also renting the Blackmagic 6K Pro, book the gimbal at the same time. With a lens on, the 6K Pro is well under the 4.5 kg the gimbal is tested for, and you'll save yourself a second trip.
How to book
- Online: fill in the booking form on our equipment rental page or on the gimbal's own page. You'll get a booking reference when you send it.
- WhatsApp: if your shoot is coming up soon, message us your dates and we'll tell you if the gimbal is free.
We also deliver within Abuja. To check a date, use the rental page or send us a message on WhatsApp.
If you haven't used a gimbal before
Leave time to balance it before the first shot. Once you know the steps it takes about five minutes, and our guide on how to balance a gimbal goes through them in order. Read it before the day so you aren't learning it on set.
