Being my first gimbal and something I have been meaning to get for some time but now that one landed on my doorstep it was time to see what benefits these gadgets can offer and I have been missing out to greatly.
Smartphones have come along way when it comes to video stabilisation and the iPhone 11 is said to be one of the best out there today and after using the Smooth Q2 the iPhone does not come close to what this can offer. There is others out there and I have not tried any so my review is based on my findings on this model and where I seen the big difference between your smartphones capabilities and what a gimbal can offer they dont make these for nothing right???
First off this is small and pocketable which is ideal and can be used anywhere that allows it be and I took mine to our local park once the fine weather allowed and it was worth it. The build quality is excellent and it is not a cheap plastic build and robust and will not break in a hurry as it would be prone to dropping in fairness.
Ease of use is another thing once you get going, I must admit I had issues setting up mainly because I never bothered reading the manuals but they do provide excellent tutorials online which you can avail of online via a QR code, Once you get the app you paired up get your phone calibrated and away you go and then you can pick from the 5 modes. Pan-follow mode Lock mode Follow Mode, POV and Vortex. After that your controls are simple,the mode switch and navi key the power key and shooting key for photos and videos, not rocket science…
The app itself is fine however I feel many might not use it due to the options native on your phone to do similar things but it is beneficial in some ways and I decided to go with the app to record the my clips. The UI is simple and you can save your files to your smartphone and in my case using the iPhone that is where I ran into issues transferring files but got this sorted in the end,sharing direct to social would be a better addition.
The controls are simple and easy to use as well as the gimbal as a whole with some LED lights atop indicating what mode you are in and you also have vortex mode which is something for the more creative out there. The Navi key on the front does all the work once you have selected the mode you need to use and it takes gentle movements to perform the operation but if its your first time you might need to adjust the thumb memory but you will be flying after a few mins use and on my first shoot I tested at home then brought it to our local park to capture what was at hand.
I also mounted a tripod on it as it can be used in more ways than one, it can lay flat on a surface without but with the tripod gives you the extra layer of security so it wont tip over,this might depend on your smartphone though and it works with a case which is hand should you happen to drop the gimbal.
This can be used indoors or outdoors and used as a selfie stick if you like or just doing videos at home on camera and is ideal for and creator, I feel this will change my perspective on things going forward as I just point and shoot with my phone on a tripod but this will give me other ways to explore and change how I do videos going forward and perhaps look into some vlogging which is something I do want to do and spend some time in front of the camera rather than be stuck behind it all the time.
Overall I was impressed with the unit and there is a huge battery life again something vital for those on the go or plan to do extensive videos with 16 hours in the battery this is great and stands credit when it comes to power on the go, Our smartphones would be lucky to last as long and having the main equipment required to do a job is important and this gimbal gives you all this,ease of use and practicality all in one affordable package that is not to be sniffed at.
Like I said this is my first gimbal and what I think of it and it is unfair for me to compare but from what I have seen this is something a creator should have and if like me and it is your first one to pick up it is certainly worth looking at and for me it will certainly be fitting into my daily tech carry from now on.
Features.
– Quickly switches to vertical mode for a portrait-style look
– The powerful torque motor eliminates the need for counterweights with larger loads such as the iPhone 11 Pro Max or when using accessories
– USB Type-C port for charging the smartphone while shooting
– Object-tracking, motion-lapse, vortex, and time-lapse modes
– Charge your smartphone using the USB Type-C port while mounted
– Removable 4500mAh 21700 battery with 16-hour battery life and 3-hour charge time with a separately available charger
– Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity allows you to control the photo and video record functions of your smartphone camera without an app
– Uses the Zhiyun-Tech ZY Play app to transfer and edit video, change modes and settings, and upgrade the firmware