Must-have gimbals and microphones for Sony a7 IV and FX3?

Question

So I finally bit the bullet and grabbed an FX3 and an a7 IV for a dual-cam setup after shooting stills on the a7R series for like forever. I thought I could just slap my old handheld rigs together and be fine but man the weight distribution is way different than I expected especially when I try to use the top handle on the FX3. I tried balancing it on my old Ronin-S and it was a total nightmare with the side-heavy setup and the screen flip out on the a7 IV keeps hitting the motor which is driving me nuts.

I've got a wedding gig in Seattle coming up in three weeks so I'm on a bit of a time crunch to get this dialed in. My budget is roughly $1500 for both a solid gimbal and a decent mic setup. I'm mainly doing run-and-gun documentary style stuff so I need something that wont kill my back after 10 hours of shooting.

Need a gimbal that handles the FX3 handle without hitting the back arm

Looking for a shotgun mic that isn't too long for the a7 IV hot shoe

Maybe some wireless lavs that sync easily

Should I just go for the RS3 Pro or is that total overkill for these bodies? Also really stuck on the audio side because the built-in mics are okay for scratch but I need something that actually handles wind better for outdoor ceremonies. What are you guys using for your a7 IV and FX3 rigs that actually balances easily and gives clean audio without a massive footprint?

ThomasBouse · Accepted Answer

> I've been through this exact headache and honestly you should just grab the DJI RS 3 Pro... Regarding what #1 said about the RS3 Pro, its a safe pick but in my experience, the Zhiyun Crane 4 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal is better for wide bodies like the FX3 because of the balance indicator lights. Quick question tho... are you keeping the XLR handle on the FX3 while on the gimbal? That changes the clearance needs significantly. Also, the Rode VideoMic NTG On-Camera Shotgun Microphone wont hit the gimbal motors.

Douglaspetly · Answer

To add to the point above: be careful with your cable management during those fast-paced wedding transitions. I would suggest the Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Shotgun Microphone for the a7 IV since its tiny and wont hit the gimbal motors. For audio, the Sony UWP-D21 Wireless Lavalier Microphone System is a tank for ceremonies. It's a bit pricey but worth it to stay within your $1500 total limit.

Thomasmax · Answer

I've been through this exact headache and honestly you should just grab the DJI RS 3 Pro 3-Axis Gimbal. The standard RS 3 is a bit cramped for the FX3 top handle, but the Pro has extended carbon fiber arms that give you the clearance you need so it wont hit the back motor. It makes balancing way faster during a hectic wedding day. For the a7 IV mic, the Sony ECM-B1M Digital Shotgun Microphone is the way to go because its tiny and uses the digital hot shoe. No cables means one less thing to snag while you are spinning on the gimbal. If you need wireless, the DJI Mic 2-Person Wireless System is solid. The transmitters have internal recording which is basically insurance against audio dropouts during the vows. This combo fits your budget and keeps the weight manageable for those 10 hour shoots.