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The Birth Of SpeediGimbal

Colin Brister. 19th October 2024

Hi Everyone..

I feel I should introduce myself and give you a little background into how the SpeediGimbal range came about.

Hi, I’m Colin Brister, and I’ve been passionate about photography for over 22 years. For most of that time, I worked tirelessly every weekend as an event photographer covering motocross, braving all kinds of weather—rain, mud, you name it. It was during these years that I discovered my love for lighting. Yes, even in the mud and rain, I found ways to use lighting creatively.

In 2017, I became a Pixapro Partner and have enjoyed collaborating with them ever since. Together, we’ve created video tutorials across a wide range of genres, and I’ve had the pleasure of representing them at The Photography Show each year.

A Shift Toward Wildlife Photography

Over the last eight years, my focus has gradually shifted to wildlife photography. There’s nothing quite like sitting in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nature—it’s truly good for the soul.

As my lenses grew larger, I began using a monopod for support. But I quickly ran into frustrations with the available options. Ball heads and full gimbals were heavy and cumbersome, and aligning the bracket into grooves took too long—resulting in missed moments. Whether shooting wildlife or motocross, the best shot is gone in an instant. I can’t tell you how many “bum shots” of red kites I ended up with.

The Birth of the SpeediGimbal Kit

The SpeediGimbal Kit started as a simple doodle—a cup-and-ball concept with screw threads. I shared the idea with a friend, and before long, we had the first working prototype.

In early 2023, I tested it for the first time and was instantly hooked. No more back pain from holding heavy lenses while waiting for hares to move or riders to take off. With the SpeediGimbal, the lens stays perfectly stabilized on the ball, ready to move freely. When the moment presents itself, I can raise the lens, grab focus, and take the shot—all in one smooth motion.

It’s transformed my photography across genres, improving image sharpness by keeping my lens steady with every shot. It’s also given me the freedom to wait patiently for wildlife to move without strain, as the weight is carried through the monopod, not me. I’ve even started using it at motocross events—quick, light, and perfect for moving around the track. Whether I’m shooting macro, aviation, equine, or even portraits, the SpeediGimbal comes with me everywhere.

Expanding the Range

We officially launched the SpeediGimbal Kit in August 2023, but we didn’t stop there. I love solving problems and making life simpler, which inspired us to create some innovative add-ons:

  • Car Window Attachment – Shoot comfortably from your vehicle.
  • Ground/Hide Plate – Assemble quickly and shoot from low angles with ease.
  • Upgraded Straps – Thicker than standard options, preventing kinks and folds. D-Ring – We replaced the traditional swivel bracket with a strong D-ring that slides smoothly along the belt, eliminating moving parts that can break. No plastic stops—just a simple, durable design.
  • Wheelchair System – Developed with the help of Peter Lau, we can now fit this to a large proportion of chairs.
  • The Holster System – Our New system, which allows even greater manoeuvrability, lightweight system perfect for travel.

With the SpeediGimbal and our growing range of accessories, my goal is to make photography easier and more enjoyable for everyone, no matter what you shoot. All of our parts and accessories all work together, the building blocks of lens stabilisation.

Please look out for our future blogs, where I will be in the field using our range.

Thanks for reading… Colin

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