Honestly, my experience with the ultra-lightweight travel gimbal category has been pretty underwhelming lately. I spent a month traveling with a tiny setup and unfortunately, the motors vibrated every time I tried to pan quickly with a lens like your Sigma 18-50mm. Its not just about the total weight; its about the torque. Most of these gimbals have tiny motors that struggle with the off-balance physics of a zoom lens when you extend it to 50mm. I actually ended up returning my last compact unit because the software was buggy and the calibration drifted during temperature changes in the morning. If you are really worried about setup speed and reliability, you might want to look at the Hohem iSteady MT2 Camera Gimbal Stabilizer. It is surprisingly capable for its size and handles the a6700 weight distribution better than the smaller stuff I have tried. Another path is the Zhiyun Weebill 3S 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer. It is a bit more of a professional-grade tool, but the sling grip and the way it folds makes it easier to pack in a 20L bag than you'd think. I found that spending a bit more for something with decent torque saves you hours of frustration. Balancing a weak gimbal every time you change focal lengths is a nightmare when youre trying to enjoy Japan. Basically, dont sacrifice motor strength just to save a few grams. Youll regret it when your footage comes back shaky anyway.

just saw this thread and honestly, you're looking at the right two options for travel. the DJI RS 3 Mini 3-Axis Gimbal is generally the safer bet for tech features like the bluetooth shutter, but it usually floats right at the top of your budget unless you catch a sale. the Zhiyun Crane M3S Handheld Gimbal is definitely more backpack-friendly for a 20l bag, but those motors can be kinda finicky if your setup gets slightly top-heavy. quick question though before i dive into the technical bits... are you planning on using a cage or adding any accessories like a shotgun mic or a monitor to your a6700? tbh, even a small cage can totally change how these compact gimbals handle the weight. if you're looking to save some money for the trip, you might also want to check out the Feiyu SCORP-Mini 2 Gimbal Stabilizer as a cheaper alternative that still hits your size requirements. it's surprisingly decent for the price.

Unfortunately, my first tiny gimbal was a total disappointment.

• motors struggled constantly
• setup took forever I learned that size isnt everything... honestly, id suggest going for something slightly more robust!