You might say that mobile filmmaking is having a...moment. We've posted lots of articles on the pros, cons, and how-tos of smartphone filmmaking. We've lauded Sundance films made on smartphones and marveled at the fact that indie behemoths like Steven Soderbergh and Michel Gondry have toyed with the possibilities of phones as serious filmmaking tools.
Part of what has made smartphones viable for high-quality production is the introduction of tools that make them behave more like professional cameras. Moment introduced premium lenses for camera phones a few years ago, and DJI's Osmo Mobile has charged to the head of the pack among stabilizers. The problem was, you couldn't use the two of them together because the extra weight of the lenses threw off the gimbal's ability to properly stabilize the camera. Fortunately, that is a problem no longer, with the introduction of Moment's Counterweight, designed specifically to address this issue.
An Osmo Mobile with Moment's lens and Counterweight attached.
The weight balances the Osmo Mobile with a Moment Case and any of its lenses, which include wide, tele, macro, and superfish options. Available at both 50g and 100g sizes, the Counterweight you need is relative to the size of your phone. Moment's product page notes that, if you’re using the Battery Photo Case on iPhone 7 or iPhone 8, or if you’re shooting on Plus sized phones, you should choose the 100g Counterweight. (Note that iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone 8 Plus Battery Cases are not compatible with the DJI Osmo.)
Moment also notes that it’s important to first balance the gimbal before shooting to minimize stress on the motor and maximize battery life. In the video from the company below, three snowboarders (including the Counterweight's inventor) show us just how easy the product is to use, and give a few useful tips on different types of shots possible with the setup.
The Counterweights are available now on Moment's site, with anticipated shipping on December 11, 2017. During the company's annual holiday sale, both the 50g and 100g are priced at $31.99 (down from $39.99).
Phone Compatibility
- iPhone 8+
- iPhone 7+
- iPhone 6+
- Pixel XL
- Pixel 2 XL
- Note 8
- Galaxy S8+
Features
- 50g and 100g sizes
- Made of stainless steel
- Compatible with all Moment lenses and phones listed above
