If you are looking for something that fits the FX30 perfectly for run and gun, I would highly recommend the DJI RS 3 Mini. It is well within your budget and honestly a lot more practical than the heavy duty professional gimbals that require a whole crew to manage. From a DIY perspective, I love that this unit is basically self service when it comes to balancing. You dont need any special tools or a pro technician to get the axis dialed in, even if you are swapping between different E-mount primes. The technical side is where it shines for the FX30. It handles the weight without breaking a sweat, and since it uses standard mounting points, you can easily rig it up with your own handles or monitor mounts. It is much better to have a compact setup you can maintain yourself rather than a massive rig that is a pain to transport. Here are a few reasons it hits the spot:

• Arca-Swiss compatible plates for quick swaps to other DIY rigs
• Bluetooth shutter control to keep the setup clean and cable free
• Extremely lightweight which is essential for handheld work Anyway, just make sure you stick to something lighter that lets you focus on the shoot rather than fighting the gear. Just be sure to calibrate the motors through the app every time you change your payload to keep those motors healthy for the long haul. It is a solid way to keep your kit professional without the professional price tag.

Ive spent way too much time fiddling with different stabilizers for my FX30. Honestly, once you get the balance right on a decent mid-sized unit, the motor strength handles the rest. I used to be obsessed with technical specs but eventually, I realized the software and the app interface matter way more for that smooth follow feel.

• My first one was way too heavy for long shoots.
• My current setup lets me keep the top handle on, which is a total life saver.
• I once spent five hours trying to DIY a custom cable for camera control because I didnt want to buy the official one. It actually worked out okay, but I ended up melting a bit of the plastic casing on the port with the soldering iron. I am always messing around with stuff like that instead of actually filming. Spent all of yesterday just trying to organize my cable drawer and found stuff I forgot I even bought... anyway, point is, dont overthink the weight too much or you might end up with a DIY mess like I did. But yeah.

Ugh, I totally feel your pain with the setup stuff... balancing these things makes me want to scream sometimes. I have spent way too many hours just staring at my FX30 tilting slightly while I sweat through my shirt, it is literally the most frustrating part of the whole day. Honestly, why is it so finicky? My arms are basically noodles after a long shoot anyway tho lol. I ended up with the Zhiyun Weebill 3S Handheld Gimbal and I've been really satisfied with it for a while now. No complaints at all for the price, fits the FX30 well. Quick tips:

• Grab a SmallRig Quick Release Plate so you can jump to handheld without ruining your balance.
• Use the built-in wrist rest, it actually helps with the fatigue a lot.

For run-and-gun with the FX30, I've been super happy with the DJI Ronin-S. Over the years, I've tried many, and the Ronin-S's payload capacity and one-handed operation are perfect. I especially like the axis locks for quick setup. Solid build quality, too. You might find a used one around your budget.

Consider a used Zhiyun Crane 2S. Often find them around $350. In my experience, more gimbal than you'll likely need, freeing up budget for essential lenses.

FX30's IBIS is decent, but for smooth shots, consider a used DJI Ronin-S. I had issues with cheaper gimbals' payload capacity; focus pull was never as good as expected.

Safety first! While gimbals seem similar, payload capacity matters. Unfortunately, I had issues with cheaper gimbals causing sudden drops – scary with an FX30. Consider the Zhiyun Crane M3 Pro; it's around your budget, but *verify* the published payload exceeds your camera + lens weight by a comfortable margin (at least 200g extra). Check user reviews for reported motor strength issues; avoid anything flimsy.