So basically the consensus is that the DJI and Zhiyun options mentioned earlier are your main contenders for that $300–$450 price bracket. The RS 3 Mini is the Bluetooth king, while the M3S is the tiny travel champ. But since youre worried about clearance and ports, I wanna throw another curveball into the mix that’s actually really cost-effective... have you looked at the Hohem iSteady MT2 Kit Camera Gimbal Stabilizer? It usually sits right around $330 and it’s lowkey a beast for APS-C setups. It has a bit more breathing room for the flip-out screen than some other ultra-compact rigs. 1. **Summary of the thread so far:**
- Most people agree the DJI RS 3 Mini 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer is the best for vertical vlogs and native Bluetooth shutter control.
- The Zhiyun Crane M3S 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer is preferred for its tiny footprint but can be finicky with cables.
- Payload-wise, all these gimbals handle your 18-50mm lens just fine since it's so light. 2. **Quick Tips for your a6700 setup:**
- **Get a cage:** I highkey recommend grabbing the SmallRig Camera Cage for Sony A6700 4336. It adds a bit of bulk that actually makes balancing easier and lets you shift the camera further from the motors to clear the ports.
- **Thin cables are mandatory:** If you gotta plug in a mic, use the Rode SC7 3.5mm TRS to TRRS Patch Cable or similar thin ribbon cables. Thick cables literally pull on the motors and cause micro-jitters, which totally kills the "buttery smooth" vibe you're after. Anyway, if you want the best value, the Hohem is a sleeper hit, but the DJI is definitely the "it just works" choice for Sony users. gl! 👍

So basically the consensus is that the DJI and Zhiyun options mentioned earlier are your main contenders for that $300–$450 price bracket. The RS 3 Mini is the Bluetooth king, while the M3S is the tiny travel champ. But since youre worried about clearance and ports, I wanna throw another curveball into the mix that’s actually really cost-effective... have you looked at the Hohem iSteady MT2 Kit Camera Gimbal Stabilizer? It usually sits right around $330 and it’s lowkey a beast for APS-C setups. It has a bit more breathing room for the flip-out screen than some other ultra-compact rigs. 1. **Summary of the thread so far:**
- Most people agree the DJI RS 3 Mini 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer is the best for vertical vlogs and native Bluetooth shutter control.
- The Zhiyun Crane M3S 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer is preferred for its tiny footprint but can be finicky with cables.
- Payload-wise, all these gimbals handle your 18-50mm lens just fine since it's so light. 2. **Quick Tips for your a6700 setup:**
- **Get a cage:** I highkey recommend grabbing the SmallRig Camera Cage for Sony A6700 4336. It adds a bit of bulk that actually makes balancing easier and lets you shift the camera further from the motors to clear the ports.
- **Thin cables are mandatory:** If you gotta plug in a mic, use the Rode SC7 3.5mm TRS to TRRS Patch Cable or similar thin ribbon cables. Thick cables literally pull on the motors and cause micro-jitters, which totally kills the "buttery smooth" vibe you're after. Anyway, if you want the best value, the Hohem is a sleeper hit, but the DJI is definitely the "it just works" choice for Sony users. gl! 👍

For your situation, I'm super satisfied with the DJI RS 3 Mini 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer. It's basically the best budget pick at roughly $300. - Bluetooth shutter works flawlessly—no cables blocking your screen!
- Native vertical mode is actually SO good for vlogs.
- The 4.4lb payload handles your Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Lens perfectly. Honestly, it's a very reliable, lightweight setup for the a6700. Cheers!

Regarding what #2 said about "So I once nearly fried a motor cuz..." Ngl, cable drag is a real nightmare when youre working with small setups like the a6700. Been thinking about your dilemma and the guys here pretty much nailed the main points—balancing is king and cables are the enemy. My DIY fix for the screen and port clearance is just using some tiny velcro cable ties and a right-angle adapter for your mic. It looks a bit janky but honestly it keeps the center of gravity perfect and stops the motors from fighting you. Basically, you should just go with a DJI stabilizer. I have been super happy with how they handle the a6700 autofocus and bluetooth over the years. You cant go wrong with that brand for travel work. It is a solid direction to go if you want something that just stays balanced and doesnt give you headaches on the road. Just grab one of their lighter units and you are golden.

Re: "Regarding what #2 said about "So I once..." - man, i feel that pain. Cable drag is a total vibe killer when youre trying to get a smooth shot. Looking at the options people mentioned so far, theyre all decent, but you might want to consider the Zhiyun Weebill 3S Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer. Its usually around $330 and is a great middle ground for freelance work. I know you want to keep the setup small, but i would suggest going just a tiny bit bigger than the M3S for the sake of that flip-out screen. On the ultra-compact gimbals, the screen often hits the back motor when you try to tilt, which is a massive headache for vlogging. This one gives you much better clearance for your micro-HDMI and mic cables too. One thing to watch out for tho... even though the a6700 is light, make sure to balance it with your lens extended to where youll actually be shooting. If you balance it at the widest setting and then zoom in, youre gonna put a lot of unnecessary strain on the motors. I've seen people burn out gimbals doing that over a long day of shooting. Also, definitely check for the latest firmware to make sure the Bluetooth shutter stays stable, as it can be a bit glitchy on older versions.

So I once nearly fried a motor cuz my mic cable was too stiff... pretty scary stuff!! For that compact a6700, the Zhiyun Crane M3S 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer is honestly fantastic and sooo tiny. - Watch the flip-out screen clearance.
- Use thin cables to prevent motor strain. Basically, just be careful with cable drag so you dont ruin your motors!! 👍

Basically, whatever unit u pick, the biggest mistake I see people make is relying way too much on the "Auto-tune" software. Like, if ur not getting a perfect physical balance on all three axes first, ur putting insane stress on the motors. For the a6700 especially, that flip-out screen changes the center of gravity (CoG) big time when u open it. TL;DR: Don't let the software mask a lazy balance job; physical balance is KING. DIY tip: If ur clearance is tight with the mic/HDMI cables, u don't necessarily need a bigger rig. Just look into adding a small DIY counterweight on the roll axis or use a cold-shoe relocation plate to shift the weight. It’s a total lifesaver and way cheaper than professional rigging solutions. Also, ALWAYS check ur torque settings manually. If the gimbal is vibrating or "humming," it’s fighting the payload. Honestly, DIY ur cable management with thin velcro ties to prevent any drag. If u don't, u risk frying the PCB over time, and trust me, that’s a repair u really want to avoid.