Honestly, the latest rigs feel like a mixed bag. There’s a lot of small, lightweight gimbals that promise a lot of stabilization, but most of them end up being a bit finicky with heavier lenses. Then you’ve got those hybrid shoulder rigs that claim to replace a tripod, but they’re still bulkier than a solid tripod and can feel awkward if you’re only shooting a few shots a day. If you value a steady hand and a lens that feels right, sticking with a good tripod and a reliable stabilizer for the occasional run‑and‑shoot still makes sense. The tech’s nice, but it’s not a silver bullet, and it doesn’t replace the simplicity and reliability of a sturdy tripod in most everyday shooting scenarios.

Stick with the tripod, it’s the quiet backbone of a good shot. If you ever want to dip into a small gimbal, just test it on a quiet scene first and see if it actually smooths or just adds extra weight and battery drain.

Sounds like a plan—keep it clean, keep it simple.