2005Gimbal forum
Bearings in gimbal arm pivot points and their practical effects
21 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
What the thread found
- Some gimbal stabilizers include bearings in the curved pipe section where the arm pin enters, while others do not.
- Adding bearings to an arm pivot point can improve the feel of operation by reducing friction.
- A variable clamping mechanism that allows adjustment of friction at the pivot point is useful for dialing in the desired amount of free movement.
- The pivot point bearing is not critical for photographic stability in the way other gimbal bearings are, but helps with repositioning the gimbal during operation.
- A clamping knob on the pin assembly enables operators to adjust the pivot friction to their preference.
- Some operators find a frictionless pivot less desirable, particularly when the arm is not hanging level or during vehicle-mounted work.
Depends on
- The practical impact of bearings at this specific pivot point on final image quality is difficult to measure.
- Exact bearing specifications used in commercial gimbals were not identified in the discussion.
- The necessity of bearings varies depending on whether the gimbal will be used in horizontal mounting situations.