The 6 Best Robotic Camera Mounts
Updated by · How we research
Phone trackers, tilting camera heads and a jib joystick head compared on tracking, payload and control. The Pivo Pod leads for following riders and athletes. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Most phone trackers only swivel side to side, so they lose anyone who jumps, kneels or climbs a step. A head that also tilts keeps more of the body in frame, and a joystick head on a jib adds sweeping crane moves. These picks suit riding coaches, sports parents, vloggers, teachers filming lessons and small video crews.
Editor's Notes
November 1, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Pivo Pod is the one survivor from the old list, and it now leads it. The earlier version mixed motorized heads with handheld gimbals such as the Zhiyun Crane 2, FeiyuTech AK2000, Moza Air 2 and FeiyuTech Qing. A gimbal steadies a camera in your hand, which is a different job, so those are out. The Bescor BEMP101KIT, TigerTilt Motorized, Move N See Pixio and Zhiyun Smooth 4 have all dropped out of stock for good.
The new picks run from the MQOUNY Tracking Holder for video calls to the PROAIM Jr for jib work, with the Soonpho M6 for people who want a camera to follow them without an app. We compared payload limits, tilt range, battery life and how each one tracks, then weighed owner reports on jerky motion, flaky remotes and tracking in poor light. Vinten's studio heads and the Move'n See riding robots sit in Special Honors.
Earlier notes
November 11, 2020:
This update was primarily about bringing the list up to our current editorial standards, though we did make a few substantive changes based on our research of the market. Since the term "robotic camera mount" covers a number of different types of motorized heads, we wanted to feature as many of these functionalities as we could. A few items were removed and replaced by more versatile options, since we felt they offered similar quality at a higher value.
If you'd like a mount that offers automatic tracking, the Move N See Pixio boasts an impressive range and is effective at keeping subjects in frame, though it can be cost-prohibitive, especially with the narrow list of cameras it can be paired with. For those working on a budget, the Pivo Pod Silver works with most Android and iOS phones to automatically keep people or objects in frame using an app that comes with the purchase. It isn't quite as precise as the Pixio, though it does come with a remote as well, so if need be, you can make your shot adjustments manually.
For photographers looking to create composite photos, the FeiyuTech Qing comes with preset modes that make it easy to collect the precise shots you need to create sweeping panoramic shots or time-lapse photo sequences, though you'll need a sturdy tripod to ensure the mount's movements don't cause too much shaking. It also functions as a fairly effective gimbal, though the lack of roll control does limit its utility in this capacity. If you're primarily concerned with having a gimbal for steady handheld video or smooth control when mounting on a jib, the Zhiyun Crane 2 and Moza Air 2 are traditional 3-axis options that should offer a good deal of stability.
February 25, 2019, by Brett Dvoretz:
Robotic camera mounts come in a variety of price ranges. While professional models often cost well into the thousands, we found some units that offer functionality equal to those used on Hollywood film sets, but at a fraction of the price. These include the GigaPan Epic Pro V, Zhiyun Crane 2, Vidpro MH-430, and TigerTilt Motorized. All of the options on our list can be tripod or crane mounted, but some are also suitable for handheld use, such as the Zhiyun Crane 2, FeiyuTech AK2000, Moza Air 2, and Zhiyun Smooth 4. As smartphone cameras continue to increase in quality, more and more people are recording videos with them, which is why we included the Zhiyun Smooth 4. Those on a very tight budget who don't require as much functionality and simply want smooth panning shots can consider the Bescor BEMP101KIT and Zifon YT-260. We included the Move N See Pixio because of its ability to allow one person to film themselves by utilizing its extremely powerful tracking capabilities, but other than having that feature, it does seem overpriced considering the limited overall functionality.
Special Honors
Move'n See PIXEM 2 The French company behind the Pixio, which this page once listed, now makes the PIXEM 2 robot cameraman. It's built to follow a single rider or athlete around an arena or a court, and it's aimed at riders filming lessons and sale videos. It costs far more than a phone tracker and is sold through the maker's shop and camera dealers. shop.movensee.com
Vinten FH-155 Vinten's FH-155 and its robot-only sibling, the FHR-155, are studio heads for TV crews. They carry camera rigs of up to about 155 pounds, move smoothly and quietly, and an optional tracking module lets them work with roaming robotic pedestals. They're sold through broadcast dealers and priced for studios. vinten.com
Pan Only Or Pan And Tilt
How much matters: the Soonpho M6 tilts about 27 degrees, the Soonpho M2 about 50, and the PROAIM Jr turns all the way around on both axes.
A phone tracker such as the Pivo Pod turns in a flat circle and nothing more. That's fine for a rider circling an arena or a speaker pacing a stage, but it can't follow someone who jumps, sits down or walks up a slope. Pivo's own guide says as much about its Pod models and points to tilting units for that (Pivo).
A pan-tilt head adds an up-and-down axis. How much matters: the Soonpho M6 tilts about 27 degrees, the Soonpho M2 about 50, and the PROAIM Jr turns all the way around on both axes. iPhone owners have a third route: stands built on Apple's DockKit let the phone's own camera app steer the mount, with no extra app (Apple).
Weight, Power And Control
Weigh the camera with its lens, battery and any microphone before you buy, then compare it to the maker's payload figure. The Soonpho M2 is rated for 1 kilogram, enough for a phone or a compact camera. The M6 takes 2 kilograms, which covers most mirrorless kits. The PROAIM Jr is rated for 5 kilograms and is meant for full video rigs on a jib. A head near its limit strains, drifts and wears out sooner.
Battery units run roughly 6 to 10 hours per charge, by the makers' figures, and charge over USB. The PROAIM Jr runs from a wall adapter or a 12-volt battery and takes commands from a wired joystick on a 15-meter cable that extends to 50 meters. The cheaper heads use wireless remotes with a range of about 30 meters. Every pick here mounts on the standard 1/4-inch tripod screw that almost every tripod uses (Wikipedia).
Tracking, Beacons And Studio Robots
Camera-based tracking looks for a face or body shape, so it needs decent light and a clear view. Soonpho warns that hand signs fail in weak light or strong back light, and the cheap trackers can lose a subject who turns away or moves fast. Motor noise can also reach a phone's microphone, so use an external mic for talking-head video.
For field sports and riding at a distance, beacon systems follow a tag the athlete wears instead of a face. Move'n See makes these for riders and individual sports. At the top end, broadcast studios use robotic heads such as Vinten's FH-155, rated for camera rigs of about 155 pounds and built to work with robotic pedestals (Newsshooter). Whatever you use, filming other people's children or in locker rooms may break school, club or venue rules, so check first.
How we researched this
We compared about 20 motorized mounts, trackers and stabilizers, including every model from the old list, read the makers' spec sheets and feature charts for the six finalists, looked for patterns in owner feedback on tracking and smooth motion, and checked each brand against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database. We found no independent lab tests of consumer tracking mounts.
Frequently asked questions
Is a gimbal the same as a robotic camera mount?
No. A gimbal is a handheld stabilizer that keeps a camera level while you walk. A robotic mount sits on a tripod or table and turns the camera for you, by remote, joystick or tracking.
Do I need an app for auto tracking?
It depends on the model. The Pivo Pod tracks through the Pivo app on your phone. The Soonpho M6, MQOUNY Tracking Holder and Yeaki Tracking Tripod have their own sensor and need no app.
Pivo or Pixio: which is better for sports?
The Pixio is no longer sold. It followed a beacon worn by the athlete, which works at longer range. Its maker, Move'n See, now sells the PIXEM 2. The Pivo Pod uses the phone's camera, costs far less and suits arenas, courts and drills where the subject stays in clear view.
Can a robotic mount hold a DSLR?
Only some. Check the payload figure against the weight of your camera with its lens. The Soonpho M6 is rated for 2 kilograms and the PROAIM Jr for 5 kilograms; phone trackers carry a phone only.
Will it fit my tripod?
Yes, in most cases. Every pick here has a standard 1/4-inch thread underneath, the same one most tripods, light stands and clamps use.
