At the Bench: Freefly Systems MōVI M5

Freefly Systems has started shipping their MōVI M5 3-axis digital stabilized camera gimbal, which is the lightweight little brother to the M10 with a smaller design and a payload capacity of 5 lbs. Freefly has done a great job making the M5 easy to balance and set up with new clamping and balancing mechanisms. Combine that with the same 'brains' found in the M10, and the M5 can be easily used to create beautifully stable shots. Check out my video above to see some of the new hardware designed for the M5 and how you can balance everything from a DSLR up to the Canon C100 on it.

To read the full post, visit our blog:

[fladude]

So amazing. Wish I could see this in person. Spectacular movie making. This M5 is amazing thank you so much for posting this this was amazing and very informative video

[MotionArtweddingfilms]

Finding it a bit difficult to fly on it. I believe I have it tuned and balanced correctly. Anything tips? Walking behind your subject seemed really smooth. Straight off the rig without post prod stabilization?

[unsung]

@Jesse Dampolo

If you are only able to stabilize one camera, you could run a wide lens on the other camera to make the footage as shake-free as possible.


Hope this helps.

[BasicFilmmaker]

OK. I have a lot of questions I'd like answered please. a.) I assume no battery grip on the Mark III due to size limits? b.) So, what is the difficulty of changing the battery on this unit? Do I have to un-mount, change, remount after battery replacement? Then is that a re-balance? c.) How good is the unit as far as longer lenses? In other words, do I need to use 28 or 50 (max) like a steadicam, or will it handle something like an 85mm? d.) How about the cheap 24-105? Do I have to re-balance if I zoom? Oh, sooo many questions. Let's just start there before I write a book. Love to get my hands on one of these, but at that price level and since it's for my YT channel, I'll need a lot of info before buying. Thanks so much in advance. :)

[brianboyd]

A 5 lb payload is the old standard. Newer gimbals such as the AllSteady-6Pro can effortlessly carry about 8 lbs because it combines a much stronger structure with more powerful motors and support cages and bearings. Don't have the gimbal yet, but I'm going to be using the 5D with the 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and it's also wireless follow focus ready.

[waisuncheng]

hi, great review. Just got a question. is it possible to put a remote follow focus control on this rig? would it be too heavy if the follow focus system is added?

[MoDizzle]

I have a canon 5D Mark III, and I want to buy a MoVI M5, and put a light around the lense of the camera along with a mic, do you think that would be to heavy for the MoVI M5? And my other questions is do you think it handle a big zoom lense like for an example a 70-200 or a 400 type lense?

[LeftlaneCa]

Nice...How are you adjusting the camera settings without the joystick on the C100 ?

[jessedampolo]

I'm going to be shooting my film on the C100 next month but will also have a 5d mk3, do you think the lack of stability is worth it with the C100 or would it be better to just use the 5D and match footage in post? In your opinion?

[cvegas]

Thanks for the video good stuff.  Is the initial setup really that simple for someone setting one up for the first time?

[dontfeedhimmc]

What camera was on the tripod at 4:40 ? 

[ccp]

Do you think a c300 would work on the m5?

[MakeMyDayVideo]

Is it possible for the C300 MK I to fit and work with the Movi M5?

[mickdurham]

A good choice for may be 8 months ago, the M5 has since lost almost all its market share to the AllSteady 5Pro and the Came 7800.

[lvolendrungl]

So you can't use this with a C100 II?

[nadeemqureshi]

its quiet rubbish i dont no if any one noticed that when you are turning left or right its very quick jerks for eg if you go right or left there are jerky moves very littel that gave me headache pl look at it and tel me thats not the case co i can see robotic adjusments made by the motors

[ItsDPMikey]

what in the world were those guys thinking when they priced this at 15k?