CAME-Mini 3 Axis Digital Gimbal Review

CAME-MINI 3-Axis Digital Gimbal for GH4, A7S, etc – Review & Tests

Today, I am reviewing yet another camera gimbal from CAME-TV. This one is a new breed of gimbals built specifically for the small and light cameras like the Panasonic GH4 and Sony A7S.

This gimbal obviously doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of the big guys like the DJI Ronin or the CAME-7800, which I compared here.

The advantage of this gimbal is that it’s small and light, making it easy to operate for longer periods of time. Plus, it’s also much easier to travel with it, as it easily fits in the carry-on luggage.

Of course, CAME isn’t the only gimbal maker who realized that people are looking for these small gimbals. Recently at NAB 2015, DJI announced their new Ronin-M gimbal, which is only slightly more expensive (extra $200+) than the CAME-MINI, yet seems to offer more features. I have yet to test out and review the new Ronin, but you can already pre-order the Ronin-M at BH Photo Video

Here is the video review of the new CAME-TV gimbal

You can buy this CAME-MINI gimbal directly from the CAME-TV store.

6 thoughts on “CAME-MINI 3-Axis Digital Gimbal for GH4, A7S, etc – Review & Tests”

  1. Hallo

    Is possible to mount this WIELDY 577 RAPID Connect Adapter with 501PL MOUNTING PLATE on Came Mini ?

    Thanks

  2. Warning : big design problem on the Came-Mini

    I use the Came-mini for around six weeks with the couple GH4 / 12-35 mm Panasonic. After a few hours to adjust to have a satisfactory behavior I had a hardware that works properly.

    There are some days I had a problem with the Roll axis that was no power! after dismantling I realized that the power cable was broken. In fact there is no slip rings for supplying the Roll motor but simply a cable which twist over the roll rotations that are free. In my case the cable was twisted about 8 laps and it ruptured : http://www.cv42.fr/design-problem-came-mini

    When using the system you have no idea how many already completed rotations. These rotations can be made off when you calibrate the mini-cam or simply by putting it in its carrying case: one makes a 180 ° rotation for the set up and when we remove also have another 180° rotation. ..if it is in the opposite direction no problem we return to 0 but if it is the same direction you have one more turn at the cable rotations.

    I raised this issue at the company that makes the mini-cam: Cam-Tv. It is recognized that the problem could happen, but the only solution he proposes is to connect the mini-cam with SimpleBGC software to see how many of rotation on the Roll axis !
    content of the reply email Cam-Tv:
    —————————————————-
    Hello Christian,
    Thanks for your email.
    Hope You Could Understand That It will shows clearer How Many Times you turn it When You connect it to the computer.
    as the attached photo, the number on the bottom of Each axis shows the angle, more Higher the corner, it shows more times you turned, you just need to turn the roll or pitch up to the angle is “zero”, When It’s zero, it’s the normal status. Then just keep it is not turned too much times.
    —————————————————–
    The worry is that this solution (difficult to implement in the field) is not valid at all.
    Everyone can try: made 2 turns on Roll axis without power and then connect your system. You will see that the Roll axis displays still 0 !
    Finally Came-Tv does not offer solution … After reading various reviews about this company she appeared to me as serious.
    Finally the company is not serious and unreliable.
    Absolutely avoid if you’re handyman.

  3. I had a Mini 1 and it worked right out of the box. Unfortunately there was a problem with the screw which looks the batteries. I could not unscrew it, the customer service was not very helpful at all and did not want to accept the defect … The even told me, that I should use more force to unscrew the screw … kinda hard to believe for me, because a gimbal is quite sensitive to force. I sent it right back to Came-TV and I am switching to the DJI Ronin. I’d rather pay more and get a working product with excellent customer service.

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