The smoothest servo on the planet?

by RetroMcSmart | March 22, 2013 | (3) Posted in Tips

Good servos for the camera gimbal seems to be the wholy grail of stable and smooth shots. Currently nothing can match the direct drive motors, but that system is currently out of reach for most of us. I decided to hunt down servos associated with or recommended for camera gimbals. Of the servos, I have only owned one myself, the Hitec HS-5245 MG. It burned on the second flight, possible deadlock but not shure. Do you have experience with any of these? Am I leaving anyone out? Sorted after price.

Hitec HS-65MG ($24)
0.14s/1.8kg @4.8.
"The Futabas might be superior servo, but the HS-65MGs are working pretty smoothly in my rig." (Source)
hitec Hs-65MG
 Hyperion DS11-SCB ($29.95)
1.60 kg/0.06 s @4.8v
"Brand New HYPERION DS11-SCB as suggested for perfect Gimbal function" (Source)
Hyperion.DS11.AMB
 Futaba S3154  ($34.99)
0.10sec/1,5kg @ 4.8V
"I haven't tested the gimbal yet, but Aeroxcraft recommended the Futaba S3154 servos" (Source)
futaba 6035
Futaba S3102 ($36)
0.25s/3.7kg @ 4.8v
The twitching is gone and the gimbal moves very smoothly (Source)
futaba S3102_Servo

Hitec HS-5245MG ($42.68)
0.15s/4.4kg @ 4.8v. DON'T JAM IT!
"The PhantoMount X-2 includes two $45 Hitec HS-5245MG " (Source)

 

HitecHS5245-180x180
Savox 1258 ($64.83)
0.10s/3.7kg @ 4.8v
"Spektrum H6040is popular as well as Savox 1258 (for gimbal)" (Source)
savox 1258
Spektrum H6040 $69.99
Titanium Gears 0.08 sec/4.7kg @ 6V
"Loving my H6040's!!!" (Source)
 
Spektrum-H6040
Futaba BLS 451 $109.99 ($109.99)
0.13s/8.50 kg @4.8v
"When it is smooth you are looking for take the Futaba BLS 451" (Source)
futaba bls 451

COMMENTS

pyrosamz on March 23, 2013
Prehaps the best was to make a gimbal servo smoother is to gear it down, at least 1:4 via belts and remove the pots and put them on the gimbal axis. I've had a bit of luck with this using hs56mg
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zev on March 25, 2013
I have a BLS 451 and I assure you it is in no way the smoothest servo around. fast strong and super reliable, but not smooth.

not to be cynical, but you are recommending servos that you have never tried, and that burnt out on the second flight. what exactly is the point of that?
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RetroMcSmart on March 25, 2013
Thanks for the input on the 451. I haven't tested all of them myself for practical and economical reasons, however, I'm passing on other's recommandations with link to the source, so you can check for yourself or contact the persons on the forums. This list is ment to be a better starting point than to just order some random servo and see if it's smooth. Input from readers makes even better. About the burned servo, I think its a good choice, just make shure it's not jammed. I could have been more clear in the article :) Thanks

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iLoveRC on April 28, 2013
Hi, thank you for your article. I actually bought the "Hyperion DS11-SCB " and tried on my gimbal and I actually liked it. Feel free to see my review on "DJI Naza Gimbal for F450" that I just published. Thank you again
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The smoothest servo on the planet?