@Reply #2 - good point! Honestly that Sigma is basically a workout tool lol. If you only have 450 bucks, you might actually be better off looking for a DJI RS 2 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer 4.5kg Payload on the used market instead of the standard RS3. The RS2 has way more motor torque for front-heavy glass like that. In my experience, the newer RS3 is nice but it feels a bit more consumer whereas the RS2 was built for the heavier pro setups. Another solid choice is the FeiyuTech SCORP Pro 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer 4.8kg Payload. It has that underslung handle built in which really helps when your wrists start burning halfway through a long wedding day. Plus the arm clearance is great for those longer lenses. If you still struggle with the balance, just grab a SmallRig Counterweight Kit for DJI RS 2... it helps pull the center of gravity back so the motors dont have to work overtime.

> so im freaking out because my wedding gig is in two weeks and my old gimbal cant handle this heavy sigma 18-35. Stumbled upon this today and figured id chime in because that Sigma glass is basically a lead pipe lol. In my experience, the issue isnt just the 810g weight, its the physics of leverage. Since that lens is so front-heavy, it creates a massive amount of torque on the tilt axis. If the arms on your stabilizer are too short, youll never get the center of gravity low enough without the camera hitting the rear motor when you try to tilt up. If you can find a deal on a used DJI RS 2 3-Axis Gimbal 4.5kg Payload, grab it. It has longer carbon fiber arms than the standard RS3, which makes a world of difference for clearance. Another solid pick for your $450 budget is the Moza Air 2S 3-Axis Gimbal 4.2kg Payload. Its a workhorse with high-torque motors that dont get jittery when the balance is slightly off... it basically eats front-heavy setups for breakfast. A few technical things to keep in mind for the wedding:

• Always balance the lens at 35mm first since that is its longest physical state.
• Check out the Palle Schultz tutorials on YouTube for specific front-heavy lens balancing hacks.
• If the lens is still dipping forward, you might need a small counterweight kit for the back of the camera plate. You really want a gimbal that can handle the physical length, not just the raw payload capacity. The Zhiyun Weebill 3S 3-Axis Gimbal 3.5kg Payload is also worth a look for its motor strength, tho it feels a bit tighter for space than the RS 2 arms.

I've shot many weddings with that lens combo. Over the years, I've learned motor torque and arm clearance matter most. While the DJI RS 3 3-Axis Gimbal 3kg Payload is fancy, the Zhiyun Crane 2S 3-Axis Gimbal 3.2kg Payload is a total tank. The longer axis arms make balancing that front-heavy Sigma way simpler. Honestly, the Crane wont fail you on a long wedding day.

To add to the point above: I’ve been super happy with the Moza Air 2 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer 4.2kg Payload for this specific lens. It’s a bit of a beast to carry but the motor torque specs are legit. I’ve done full wedding days with the Sigma 18-35 and never had a motor cutout, which is my main concern when things get hectic. It just handles the weight without that annoying high-frequency vibration you get when motors are struggling. Quick tip: since that Sigma is so long, you might run out of space on the adjustment arm. Grab a SmallRig Counterweight Mounting Plate for Moza Air 2 to balance the rear. It takes the strain off the tilt motor and makes the whole setup way more reliable for long shoots. No complaints here, it works perfectly once you get that center of gravity dialed in.

Just catching up on this thread and man, I feel that pre-wedding panic. Like someone mentioned, the physics of that lens are just brutal because all the glass is at the front. I remember my first season with the 18-35... I actually had a motor give out during a reception because I thought close enough was good enough for the balance. It was a nightmare. Be careful with the newer lightweight gimbals tho. They have the tech, but the physical arm length is often too short for that specific lens. Since you are on a budget, I would suggest looking into some DIY stabilization hacks instead of just swapping the gimbal:

• Get a SmallRig Counterweight Mounting Plate for DJI RS 2 RS 3 Pro 2277 and some cheap weights.
• If you're really strapped, literally gaff tape some heavy bolts to the back of the tilt arm to offset that front-heavy lens. It is ugly but it works.
• Keep an eye out for a used DJI Ronin-S 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer 3.6kg Payload - it is older and heavy, but the motors are absolute workhorses for that glass. Make sure to calibrate the motors at the highest stiffness setting once you've got it balanced. You got this, just dont rush the prep!

Building on the earlier suggestion about motor torque, I really think you should be careful with the standard RS3. It is a sleek piece of tech, but that Sigma glass is a literal brick. If you are stressed about a wedding in two weeks, the last thing you want is a motor giving out during the ceremony because of leverage issues. I have seen too many people struggle with micro-jitters on smaller setups. Since you have 450 bucks, I would suggest looking at these two instead:

• Zhiyun Weebill 3S Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer: It is compact but surprisingly beefy. The built-in wrist rest is a lifesaver for long wedding days when your arm starts shaking from that front-heavy lens.
• Feiyu SCORP-C 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer: This is basically a budget beast. It has a unique handle design that helps with weight distribution, and you can usually find it well under your budget. Just make sure to leave some time to practice balancing it perfectly. That Sigma likes to tip forward when you zoom, so you might want to consider some small screw-on weights just in case. Honestly, as long as you dont rush the setup, you will be fine. You got this...