REVIEW – I am primarily a photographer, but very occasionally dabble in creating videos. My daughter always created personalized videos that we still treasure to this day. When the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer came up for review, I knew I wanted to give it a try. I wanted to know if this gimbal can help me create videos that others will enjoy. Read on from a beginner’s point of view.
What is it?
The Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer is designed for DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It has a built-in AI tracker, Bluetooth control (with selected cameras), cable control (with selected cameras), and lens control (with selected lenses), with approximately 12 hours of use on a single charge. The built-in 1.3 OLED touchscreen allows for easy configuration and use.
What’s included?
- Scorp 2 stabilizer
- Allen key
- Camera fix screw
- Lens holder screw
- Fixed plate
- Slider
- Quick release plate
- Camera backing plate
- Lens holder
- Tripod
- USB 2.0 to USB-C
- USB-C control cables x 7
- Extension rod
- Arri Rosettes mount
Tech specs
Click to expand
- Weight: 1070 gr / 2.36 lbs
- Payload: 2500 gr / 5.51 lbs
- Stabilization: 3-axis motor
- Display: 1.3″ OLED touchscreen
- Tilt range: 320° (with limitation)
- Roll range: 320° (with limitation)
- Pan Range: 360° (unlimited)
- Battery: Non-removable 2500mAh, charge via USB-C port
- Battery life: 13 hours (max)
- Charging time: 1.6 hrs (using 18W fast charger)
- OS requirements: iOS 9 or later / Android 6 or later
- Follow modes: pan follow(PF), pan and tilt follow(PTF), pan and tilt and roll follow(FPV), lock mode, flash follow
Design and features
The Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer is similar to the competition, namely the DJI Ronin and Zhiyun Weevil offerings. It has 3-axis stabilization and eight different built-in shooting modes. The 1.3″ OLED touchscreen allows for easy navigation and configuration.
One feature that sets the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer apart is the AI tracking feature. With four different hand gestures, different functions can be triggered.
- Showing a spread palm results in taking a picture or starting/stopping video recording.
- Showing an ‘OK’ gesture starts or stops smart tracking
- Showing a double L-shape (think field goal) customizes the composition
- Showing thumbs in opposite directions stops tracking
Another differentiating feature is using the gimbal with both hands. I showed the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer to a friend who frequently uses a gimbal for filming and his first reaction after holding was, “That’s different”. One grip reminds me of a helicopter flight stick. For me, my right-hand fits comfortably with all the surrounding buttons, screen, trigger, and joystick lever all within easy reach of my thumb. My other hand grips the bottom handle making my movements even more controlled and stable. Additionally, with a payload of 5.51 lbs, using two hands reduces strain. A few other thoughtful design features are foldable arms that help keep the gimbal sturdy on a table and a multi-functional knob.
In my eagerness to start using the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer, I didn’t bother connecting my camera to the gimbal. I had to physically press the start/stop button on my camera while it was mounted on the gimbal. This was very annoying and cumbersome. Thankfully, I re-read the instructions and found the correct cable to connect the stabilizer to my Sony camera to have the buttons on the gimbal start/stop recording – so much better! Included in the kit were cables for Sony, Canon, Nikon, and other brands. You’ll just need to match the connector type to your camera body. There is a Bluetooth option, but I did not have any luck with that connection. It didn’t really matter to me as the cable connection was working great. Reading through the manual and watching some videos, the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer also supports controlling certain lenses. I didn’t have any of the supported lenses but click here to see the compatible list for Bluetooth, cable compatible, and compatible lenses (as of February 2024).
Assembly, Installation, Setup
I’m not a videographer, so this review is from a beginner’s viewpoint. I know that one part of creating a good video is not having shaky video. I also wanted to use my Sony mirrorless cameras instead of my iPhone. Having met both of these criteria, I was ready to begin my learning curve with the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer.
Admittedly, setting up the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer was a little intimidating and took longer than I thought. Opening up the case, I was presented with so many connectors, screws, cables, and many rotating and moving parts to the stabilizer. I’ve never set up a gimbal before, so the process was new to me. The printed instructions weren’t that helpful to a beginner like me, thankfully there were QR codes to scan to watch videos. Even with the videos, I had to pay attention to the rotation of the stabilizer in the video so I could match inserting the various plates and balancing. After watching the videos a few times through, I was able to get it set up and balanced.
I am able to get it balanced a lot quicker now that I understand the process. After getting the L-bracket on your camera, and the quick-release plate on the stabilizer, the next step is to get balanced. Feiyu has done a good job with the process. First, lock all three axis from rotating. Then unlock one, balance, then re-lock. Repeat this process for the remaining two axis. Once all three axis are balanced, the stabilizer works smoothly. There is an “auto-tune” feature for the motor that vibrates in each axis to tune the motor based upon the payload – pretty slick!
I used a Sony A7iii and A7Riii in my testing. I didn’t have luck connecting my cameras to the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer through Bluetooth, but when I used the included cable, I was able to stop/start recording with a button on the stabilizer.
What I like about the Feiyu SCORP 2 gimbal
- Ergonomics, with a couple of different grip options, various buttons, knobs, triggers, and joystick within easy reach
- AI tracking, being able to perform some functions as a solo videographer adds to the versatility
- Camera connection, being able to control functions on the gimbal for the camera is key
- Stand, I like the fold-out arms to set the gimbal on a table or ground to perform filming
What needs to be improved?
- Assembly, without labels or numbers on the different brackets, it was hard to figure out which piece goes where
Final thoughts
First of all, kudos to all the videographers out there. Creating meaningful videos is harder than it looks. Did the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer help me create smoother, less jittery videos? Short answer, yes. This gimbal made my “run-and-gun” video shoots a lot less bouncy and motion-sick-inducing. Was using the gimbal more complicated than I thought? Again, yes. It’s worth learning and practicing because the result can have more potential.
I took the gimbal out on a family hike through a local botanical garden on Mother’s Day. I was determined to capture enough footage to compile a short video to remember the day. I noticed that others along the trail couldn’t help but notice the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer. I kind of felt like paparazzi following my family around. It looks very professional. Perhaps, recording video on my phone would be less intrusive and make capturing candid moments easier.
I was able to capture some useful footage and the stabilizer definitely helped me capture some of the angles that I wanted to capture. I found that when sitting down to combine all these clips into something coherent and enjoyable, the adage “garbage in, garbage out” was very much true. With a stable, less jumpy video, I had more creative freedom in my edits. There is definitely a learning curve and room for improvement, but it’s exciting to develop my videography skills to really take advantage of this stabilizer.
Below are a couple of clips showing how much difference you can expect using a stabilizing gimbal. For reference, I was using the Sony A7R3 with a Samyang 24mm AF lens in both videos. The lens does not have any stabilization and the Sony is rated for 5.5 stops of IBIS along 5-axis. For the handheld video, I was using two hands and walking slowly and deliberately. With the Feiyu, I used one hand and tried to mimic the same walk. I did want to mention, at the angle I used to shoot these videos, the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer was much more comfortable.
Here is a short clip without the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer:
And here is a similiar clip using the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer:
Will the Feiyu SCORP 2 stabilizer make you a better filmmaker? Maybe 🙂
I would recommend it and say, “ACTION”!
Price: $399.00 (SCORP 2 kit)
Where to buy: Feiyu SCORP 2
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Feiyu Tech. Feiyu Tech did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
