The Human Touch: Why Filmmakers Still Choose Steadicam Over Gimbals

By Brian Morgan for Barrel Banter

In a world dominated by brushless motors and digital stabilization, it’s easy to assume that the invention of the Steadicam has been replaced by gimbals. But for many storytellers, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The Steadicam was first engineered by Garrett Brown in the mid-1970s and has remained not just a tool of stability, but one of the best tools for storytelling.

And while the latest Ronin 4D rigs and gyro-stabilized systems have carved out their place in fast-moving, run-and-gun filmmaking, the Steadicam still occupies a unique emotional space that gimbals have failed to replicate.

A clear example can be seen in the Netflix series Adolescence, where most of the episodes were shot with a Ronin Cinema 4D, but the third episode switched to Steadicam. The result? A deep emotional shift in tone. The world suddenly felt more human as if the camera had stopped gliding and started breathing.

A Revolution in Motion

When Garrett Brown first strapped on his prototype “Brown Stabilizer” in 1975, he was chasing an idea: that the camera should move as freely as the human eye. He made various versions of stabilizers including a T-pole he tied to the back of a pickup truck for an automotive commercial. It was, at that time, one of the smoothest moving shots ever captured without a studio dolly.

His first demo reel, featuring a run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps with his girlfriend, quickly caught Hollywood’s attention. Soon after, Steadicam was used in Bound for Glory (1976), Marathon Man, and Rocky, cementing its place as a revolution in cinematography. Then came The Shining which perhaps was the most famous Steadicam showcase in history. Remember the scene where Danny’s tricycle ride through the Overlook Hotel ? By the time Return of the Jedi rolled cameras in 1983, Brown’s invention was being used to follow speeder bikes through the forests of Endor.

The Steadicam forever changed how audiences move through stories.

The Pendulum Effect: How the Eye Sees Motion

At its core, the Steadicam works on a simple principle of mechanical balance. The camera, monitor, and counterweights hang from a gimbal, creating what operators call the pendulum effect.

That natural, gravity-based sway is what gives Steadicam footage its organic quality. It doesn’t track perfectly along an XYZ axis like a gimbal. Instead, it reacts to the inertia of the human body in motion slightly anticipating and following movement the way a person’s head and eyes would when walking. The result is a perspective that feels innately human.

When watching Steadicam footage, you don’t feel the machinery… you feel the operator’s heartbeat, the subtle rhythm of footsteps, and the dance between balance and intention. This gives viewers a one-of-a-kind, personable image that brings cinematic imagery to life.

The Steadicam as a Collaborative Dance

One of the most overlooked aspects of Steadicam operation is its deep collaboration with the director, cinematographer, and actors. Before a take, the Steadicam operator participates in blocking rehearsals to understand the emotional rhythm and physical geography of a scene.

Unlike a gimbal, which can often be run by a tech or remote operator, the Steadicam operator is physically inside the performance—literally moving with the actors, feeling their timing, adjusting framing on instinct. This creates a kind of cinematic choreography, where the operator anticipates a glance, a turn, or a line delivery, translating that energy into camera movement.

Directors often rely on Steadicam operators not just for technical skill, but for emotional intuition—knowing when to drift closer during a confession, or when to hold back and let silence breathe. This synergy turns each shot into a living performance shared between the actor and the lens.

The Rise of Gimbals: Precision Without Personality

Motorized gimbals like the DJI Ronin 4D and Freefly Movi changed the production landscape. Using internal gyroscopes and brushless motors, they cancel out shakes and vibrations in real time. The camera exists in a mathematical space that continuously corrects for every subtle movement.

This makes them ideal for Adolescence-style sequences that demand one long-take setup or can easily be handed off between operators. Gimbals excel in speed, flexibility, and portability. But with that precision comes a subtle tradeoff: they tend to strip away the micro-imperfections that make movement feel emotional and alive.

A gimbal moves on three strict axes: X, Y, and Z. While the Steadicam floats in a more intuitive, gravity-based arc. The gimbal’s precision often feels robotic, where the Steadicam’s imperfections feel authentic and real.

Evolution of the Steadicam: From Garrett Brown to the M-2 Volt Era

Even in the face of digital stabilization, Steadicam technology hasn’t stood still. Modern rigs like the Steadicam Tiffen M2 represents the evolution of Brown’s original design. The M-2 features a modular system similar to a high-end sports car allowing operators to customize everything from post length to power routing, monitor placement, and balance configuration. It can easily adapt to any camera setup, from Alexa Mini LF to RED V-Raptor.

Then there’s the Steadicam Volt which is a hybrid system bridging the analog and digital worlds. The first-generation Volt introduced electronic horizon assist, stabilizing roll and tilt while preserving tactile operator control. The current Volt 3 with brushless motorization has refined that balance to near perfection, offering subtle electronic correction without erasing the human touch. It’s the Steadicam’s answer to the gimbal is a smart assistant and makes innovations that meet to the standards that gimbals offer.

Together, the M-2 and Volt show that Steadicam isn’t nostalgic tech; it’s an evolving language of motion continuing to shape modern cinematography.

A Personal Note: Understanding the Balance

When I first considered learning Steadicam, I’ll admit, I was hesitant. I’d heard all the talk about how heavy it was, how it could strain your back or wear you out after long days on set. As someone who’d spent years running smaller rigs and gimbals, I assumed it would be punishing on the body. But after Buzz Moyer, SOC, one of the industry’s true masters convinced me to attend the Steadicam Operators Association workshop I learned how different the ergonomics really are.

Unlike cheaper gimbal vests or handheld rigs that pull on your upper back fascia and shoulder muscles, the Steadicam distributes weight across the vest and hips. The inertia that the steadicam arm spring design helps transfers load through your core and legs. This actually does the opposite when wearing the rig correctly and builds the body to have the strongest foundation rather than straining your spine. Once I understood that, and learned proper posture and operating flow, the fear disappeared. What felt intimidating at first became liberating. The stress of carrying this heavy rig went away and I quickly understood that the camera becomes an extension of me.

When and Why Filmmakers Choose Steadicam

So when do cinematographers still reach for the Steadicam over a gimbal?

- Character-driven tracking: When movement should feel emotional… like following an actor through a hallway or chasing the antagonist through New York streets.

- Long takes: The Steadicam’s natural flow supports continuous, improvised choreography between talent and camera.

- Cinematic immersion: Its pendulum motion mirrors how human vision naturally absorbs space and gravity.

- Controlled imperfection: Audiences subconsciously connect with movement that feels authentically human because it is.

That’s why, in Adolescence, the Steadicam episode stands out. Watch how the emotional exchange between Jamie Miller and the investigative attorney harmonizes with the subtle body language of the camera.

The Final Frame

The debate between Steadicam and mechanical gimbals isn’t about which is “better.” It’s about what the story needs.

A gimbal offers flawless precision. A Steadicam offers personality, gravity, and emotional tension. Garrett Brown’s invention remains a symbol of what happens when art and engineering intersect. He not only built one of cinema’s most important tools, he built a community of deeply intuitive storytellers constantly refining the way we experience motion.

In an age of perfect stabilization, the Steadicam reminds us that storytelling isn’t about removing movement. It’s about finding the balance between control and chaos. Because in the hands of a skilled operator, the audience isn’t just watching the story… they’re moving through it.