gimbal for 7dm2? and a few other questions...

[Brandi7dm2]

Hi all, I'm new to the page. I am still learning, and would appreciate some help. One of my favorite things to do is to video birds in flight. My husband is a master falconer, so i get to be up close and personal with the hawks and falcons. The birds can be flying right at my feet, or a few hundred yards away. I currently am using my 7d m2 with 70-200 2.8 IS USM. hand held it can get pretty jumpy. So i am looking into hand held gimbal mounts. but i am having trouble finding ones that will mount the camera AND support it software wise. Any ideas?

I also would like to obtain a microphone, i am currently looking at the tascam dr-10sg. It seems to suit what i will be doing. Thoughts?

final question, if you were able to video these birds, what would your choice of lens and gimbal? or no gimbal at all? what would you have your settings at as well for the camera?

thank you for your time and help. 

[ebiggs1]

For you it may be impossible but not others.

[Brandi7dm2]

the gimbals allow you to move the camera up and down, and left and right. 

[Brandi7dm2]

a tripod would be a disaster because these birds are flying f right over my head, at my feet, blazing right past my shoulders at 60-200mph at times. The prey that they are after will quite often use humans as a deflector of sorts to get the hawk or falcon off their tail. Then they could be a few hundred yards away, and im having to zoom in. 

I wound up going with the Ronin-s, knowing full well that this one does not have the software to control the camera. i am still learning the thing, and as of right now it can balance the 200l lens, to a point. beyond 45 degrees and it doesnt have the motor power to right itself. but like i said i am learning it still, so im sure there is a little bit more tweaking i can do. 

it helps to have the hand held gimbal to stabilize for sure. I have toothpicks for arms, so i need to build some muscle to use the three items together. (Ronin, 7dm2, and 200l). 

[ebiggs1]

"a tripod would be a disaster because these birds are flying f right over my head..."

You do realize all the best pro bird photographers use a tripod?  A massive tripod.   There was a good show on PBS last evening about how they photograph the fastest humming bird in the world.  Now you say your birds are fast and I realize they are but now reduce their size to a hummingbird!

Using a gimbal or a heavy duty tripod with a big lens will have some learning to do and some technique changes to master.  If it was easy everybody would be doing it. Right?

"... i need to build some muscle to use the three items together."

Go for it, keep your eyes on the prize!