Honestly you might want to consider how heavy your rig is actually gonna get once you add a cage and maybe a focus motor. Be careful with some of those older recommendations because the FX3 can get front-heavy real fast depending on the glass. I would suggest looking at the Zhiyun Crane 4 compared to the DJI RS 4 Pro. The Crane 4 is solid because it has those balance indicator lights that save so much time on set, plus it handles larger payloads without the motors screaming. On the other hand, the RS 4 Pro is basically the industry standard for a reason... the build quality is hard to beat. Just make sure to learn how to manually tune your motor stiffness (PID settings) yourself. If you just rely on auto-tune all the time, you'll eventually run into micro-jitters during fast pans. Check out the deep-dive tutorials on the CineD website or look up Justin Phillip on YouTube for proper balancing techniques. Doing it yourself correctly is always better than relying on software fixes. Just a heads up, if you go the DIY route with a heavy cage, you might even need some counterweights to get it perfectly level without stressing the motors.

Tbh I totally agree with the idea of not overspending just to get the newest shiny thing. But if ur really getting into short films, you gotta think about maintenance and how much you can actually fix yourself if something goes sideways on set. I went with the DJI RS 3 Pro because the ecosystem is huge and there are a million tutorials if u need to troubleshoot a motor or calibrate it yourself (at least thats what worked for me). A few things I’ve learned going the DIY route with my FX3 rig:
* Keep a set of hex keys and spare screws in ur bag—saved me so many times.
* Learn to balance the axis manually every single time; don't just rely on the auto-tune features, idk it just feels more stable.
* Look into 3D printing custom cable clips for the FX3 so they dont snag on the gimbal arms. Basically, if u can service your own gear instead of sending it off to a pro shop for weeks, you're gonna be way ahead.

DJI Ronin-S worked great for me. A bit older, but you can find it used for around $500.

Hey! Forget the usual. FX3's light, right? Ever think smaller? Moza AirCross 3. Decent option, supports the weight. It's about payload and balance. Test the camera's center of gravity on any gimbal before buying. Might save you some serious cash, plus less strain on your arms! Does that make sense?

Forget features, think FAILSAFE! I've seen rigs crash. Consider the DJI Ronin 4D. Integrated power and video transmission means fewer points of failure! My '21 model is still rock solid.

Hey! Instead of chasing the 'best,' consider a used DJI Ronin-S. They're durable – I’ve seen them last years. Check Facebook Marketplace; decent ones often go for around $500. It might free up cash for better lenses or lighting, right? Does your FX3 need *all* the newest gimbal features? Just a thought!