Tag: #gimbal

Create Silky Smooth Hollywood-Quality Gimbal Shots with the ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 and SMOOTH X2

ZHIYUN, the world’s leading tech company of professional camera stabilization systems, is proud to announce the release of the ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5 and SMOOTH X2 which put a Hollywood quality gimbal in the hands of mobile filmmakers.

A follow-up to the award winning SMOOTH 4, which won the prestigious Good Design Award in 2018, and the SMOOTH X, the SMOOTH 5 and SMOOTH X2 allow smartphone content creators to film like a pro and shine in every way so they can create their best work yet. Compatible with both Android and iOS, the SMOOTH 5 and the SMOOTH X2 have new, revolutionary features that bring the quality of Hollywood to everyone’s mobile devices.

The SMOOTH 5 has dimensions of 311x108x52mm while the SMOOTH X2 has dimensions of 71x56x160mm.

“The quality of smartphone cameras is beginning to rival their Hollywood counterparts and mobile filmmakers are demanding more,” said ZHIYUN’s product director. With the SMOOTH 5 anyone can now film like a pro while the SMOOTH X2 allows mobile filmmakers to shine in every way.”

SMOOTH 5 Feature Highlights

Design – Upgraded motor performance and algorithm

  • The SMOOTH 5 has a smaller size than its predecessor but much stronger performance thanks to an upgraded motor performance and algorithm. The industry-standard 3-axis design allows movements in all angles to be amazingly smooth, even in extreme angles.

  • This makes it easy to shoot in all angles switching seamlessly from portrait to landscape mode, and it mounts easily on the phones favoured by mobile filmmakers like the iPhone 13 Pro MAX, Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold, Huawei Mate X2, and the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra thanks to its smart lock design.

Easy to use control panel – Point, click, and shoot

  • Users will feel at ease thanks to the all-in-one control panel that allows them to adjust many features with only one hand without the trouble of using an app. There’s also a multifunctional control wheel that gives users perfect control over zooming and focusing.

Creative Functions – Next-generation tools for the mobile creative genius

  • With the SMOOTH 5, mobile filmmakers can reach their creative peak. Some of the creative features included in the SMOOTH 5 are Magical Pano, allowing for a magnificent view in your smartphone with 180° panorama, Timelapse, where you can watch the time go by at a quicker pace to experience scenes that are used to take a longer time., and Live Stream Master, which allows for face tracking for the perfect live stream experience. Other features include SmartFollow, which automatically tracks a designated person or object, Dolly Zoom, which mimics a Hollywood style dolly shot without the expensive equipment, and MagicClone which allows you to clone yourself and to appear in multiple parts of a scene.

Fill light – Light up every scene with Hollywood quality lumens

  • The SMOOTH 5 comes with a magnetic fill light that shines at 580 lumens, allowing for any scene to be perfectly lit thanks to the stepless dimming control. It also comes with colour filters and can be attached to either side of the smartphone.

Smart Editor- Make Hollywood Magic with a few clicks

  • During the editing process the raw footage becomes the masterwork. The SMOOTH 5 has an entire smart editing suite that allows for mobile filmmakers to do their best work yet. The ZY Cami Editor means you can wow your viewers with your work of art thanks to the ability to reverse the clip and edit it while adding filters, stickers, subtitles and background music.

  • With the SMART Mode, filmmakers can pre-program the gimbal and achieve creative perfection thanks to dozens of video templates including amazing special effects and music.

SMOOTH X2 Feature Highlights

  • Design: Next Generation Design for Mobile Creatives New from ZHIYUN, meet the stylish and powerful SMOOTH-X2. The SMOOTH-X2 gives you the most comfortable experience thanks to all-new materials. It has a high quality build and exterior with a unique painting technique featuring exquisite polishing, sandblasting, and gradient painting and is available in twilight orange and ink black. With a frictionless, one-step move from opening up the package to shooting, and an innovative 360° rotatable design of the axis, making silky smooth Hollywood quality video with the SMOOTH-X2 has never been easier.

More than Just a Gimbal – Mobile Movie Magic

  • The SMOOTH X2 has many special features which make it more than a gimbal versatile and powerful, meeting everything your imagination could ask for on a versatile Vlogging setup. The unique reversible latch allows the gimbal to be locked and turned into a solid tripod within a split of second and SMOOTH X2 is brand new design from SMOOTH X. Weighing only 300g, and with high-torque magnetic steel motors, the SMOOTH X2 will allow you to have a vlogging experience like never before shooting at every angle for creative perfection. Just rotate, pull, and shoot.

  • Accelerate Your Creativity Without Breaking the Bank

Some of the most memorable shots in Hollywood history have been made with gimbals, but these high end devices are out of the budget of many mobile filmmakers. Now, using a gimbal becomes much easier with the brand new two-way rotation design. Have fun with multiple smart features and artistic flashing lights to make your movie rich with cinematic color and something nobody will ever forget. Make your cinematic masterpiece with the SMOOTH X2!

Shine in Every Way and Light Every Scene

  • The SMOOTH X2 has a lighter but stronger phone clamp with a foldable design, which comes with magnetic contact points for attaching fill lights. Four brightness levels available with various colour filters at your choice to provide different lighting in different situations, no matter if the gimbal is powered on or in standby mode. You can always use it for your diverse style of shooting and create your next masterpiece.

Pricing and Availability

Click here to be a part of mobile cinematic history by joining the pre-sale via Amazon or ZHIYUN’s online store.

The SMOOTH 5 is available for £159, or with a combo that includes a tripod, carrying case, and magnetic fill light as well as a VIP membership card all for £209.

The SMOOTH X2 is available for £129 or in a combo that includes a tripod, carrying case, and magnetic fill light as well as a VIP membership card all for £159.

Read more information at the ZHIYUN site and YouTube.

ZHIYUN’s CRANE M3 gimbal: ultra-versatile vlogging companion hits five industry firsts

ZHIYUN, the world’s leading gimbal manufacturer for cameras and smartphones introduces the CRANE M3, the latest in the highly-regarded CRANE series. Proving it’s more than just an upgrade, the M3 is a professional, 3-axis gimbal, claiming five industry firsts for looks, unmatched versatility, easy operability and trademark high-performance ZHIYUN design. The CRANE M3 is compatible with smartphones, action cameras, and full-frame mirrorless cameras with certain lenses.

Industry firsts

Sporting an all-new, modern white chassis, punctuated with black and red, the CRANE M3 is visually-striking. Small yet mighty, the CRANE M3 is the size of a 550ml water bottle made of robust, composite materials, its compact body design, reverse-loaded motors and optimised axis arm structure, deliver a better gripping and user experience.

Compatible with over 90% of mirrorless cameras, the CRANE M3 is designed with convenience in mind. The gimbal’s quick-release design enables rapid interchange between compact action, DSLR and smartphone cameras as well as battery-changes without the need for rebalancing. Furthermore, easy connection to a professional microphone via the expansion base reduces the need for rebalancing. With its upgraded motors with stronger torque, guaranteeing stable movements  and brand new in-built dual color 800-lumen LED temperature lighting and professional audio solution, CRANE-M3 offers professional videographers outstanding filming experience without extra equipment.

Agile set-up via universal quick release plate

The hot-swapping capability of the CRANE M3, thanks to the upgraded, universal TRANSMOUNT Quick Release plate enables easier balancing, assembly and disassembly – perfect for professional filmmakers who might like to use a variety of equipment within a shoot.

The one-size-fits-all plate also eliminates the inconvenience of rebalancing the stabiliser after changing cameras, and facilitates seamless battery change. It is also useful for anyone using a variety of media or for vloggers who wish to upgrade from a smartphone to a compact mirrorless camera further down the line.

Once the plate is in place, the CRANE M3’s 3-click mechanism reliably secures the camera in position via  tilt-, roll and pan axes locks. The locks with their transverse palm-rejection, efficient design protect cameras and offer optimal responsiveness and stabilisation capabilities, meaning that videographers can concentrate on the action at hand, without worrying about their camera or shakiness.

The M3 features innovative locks and latches for storage. Gimbal can be adjusted to half-storage/full-storage mode. No axis arm adjustments are required when switching to half-storage mode with a mounted camera, and no rebalances needed when expanded.

Compact and convenient light and sound solution

Impromptu low-light shooting is no longer a problem with the CRANE M3. Thanks to its pioneering in-built 800 lumen LED fill light, powered uniquely from heat generated by the gimbal, the stabiliser offers an intense natural lighting solution with full stepless dimming control and temperature settings via a control wheel. The light adopts high-level cooling technology to quickly dissipate the heat while providing great brightness. Additionally available are magnetic light filter accessories for the LED light, in four different colours. At peak power 6W, the M3s lighting reads are as follows: colour temperature levels: 2600-5400K, brightness: warm light 650-750, white light 850-950, CRI (Colour Rendering Index) 90+.

On-the-hoof, live interviews couldn’t get easier with the CRANE M3’s TransMount Expansion Base to which professional microphones can be directly connected. The base bypasses connecting the microphone via the camera, thus removing the need for: additional cables, extra weight on the camera, and further adjustments to the gimbal. The M3 comes with a TransMount Shotgun Microphone as standard, however, the 6.5mm connecting audio port can also support a range of wired professional microphones for clear audio performance with cardioid/hypercardioid patterns.

Exceptional control through touchscreen and one-handed operational

The CRANE M3 offers the professional filmmaker a range of exceptional control options. The new gimbal has a built-in receiver at the base which can be paired with the transmitter module for wireless control of mainstream cameras via Bluetooth. Furthermore, the M3’s design brings one-handed, ergonomic operation capabilities through its versatile control wheel and joystick buttons that support adjustments to roll axis, aperture, shutter and ISO to optimally position your camera for perfect footage.

New to the CRANE series is the added feature of an interactive 1.22”, full-colour HD interactive, touchscreen enabling parameter adjustments to a range of gimbal mode settings (portrait, vortex mode and go-mode) as well as follow speed. The intuitive display panel also indicates camera operational status, connection to the gimbal and battery levels.

Zhiyun Crane M3

Pricing and availability

Available here from 8 November 2021, pricing is as follows:

Standard package: CRANE M3 + standard tripod – £369

Combo package: CRANE M3 + Tripod Plus + Cell Phone Mount + TransMount EasyGo BackPack – £449

Pro package: CRANE M3 + Tripod Plus + Cell Phone Mount + TransMount Shotgun Microphone + TransMount Expansion Base +TransMount EasyGo BackPack – £649

Universal TRANSMOUNT Quick Release plates are available for the following camera models: ​​Sony α7M3; Sony α7C; Sony α6000; Sony α7S; Sony ZV-E10; Canon M50; Nikon Zfc; Fuji X-S10; Fuji XT-4.

Specs

Dime​​nsions

  • 280.3 mm (W) x 74.88 mm (D) x 157.06 mm (H)

Weight:

  • 700g (without tripod and quick release plate)

Battery Power

  • Maximum battery 8 hrs run time

Charging

  • Type-C charging port, 2 hrs charging time

  • Support 12W PD fast charging

  • Supports portable power bank charging while operating

Read more information at the Zhiyun site and YouTube.

Tech Review – ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 gimbal.

ZHYIUN makes a fine range of gimbals to suit all pockets and they are an ideal piece of kit to have at your disposal if you are a blogger/vlogger. Much improved over the last model we tested the Smooth 2 this is a welcome product and a clean design with all the features expected and more..

Last week, DJI launched a new gimbal with extendable grip and available in different colours.OM5 will feature an extendable grip and be available in colours of grey, white and pink.

Sounds familiar? Back in May of 2020, which is over a year ahead, ZHIYUN  launched its SMOOTH X, a 2-axis phone gimbal that comes with a 26cm-long extendable pole and is available in grey, white, black; a few months later came the SMOOTH XS in pink, white and black. ZHIYUN was innovative in incorporating the convenience of a selfie stick with the stabilisation ability of a cellphone gimbal with a hope of better experience for beginners.

The multiple colour choices prove that it is an attempt to appeal to the general consumers. ZHIYUN is happy to see more products of this kind are offered in the market so cellphone gimbals can be more accessible and useful to general consumers. ZHIYUN keeps the SMOOTH X/XS at a very accessible price of £39/£82.48 (currently as 25% off). Before other gimbals, you could consider the SMOOTH X/XS, true ahead-of-curves cellphone gimbals you might have missed over one and half years ago. And also the 3-axis SMOOTH Q3 and its 17-hour battery life predecessor the SMOOTH Q2

Smooth Q3

The three-axis gimbal is an enhanced SMOOTH Q-series product, with a unique new compact and lightweight design. New functionality, including enhanced lighting features and smart templates, ensures more creative shooting possibilities, while a better button layout and design simplify user experience, all at a highly competitive price.

Uniquely, the gimbal features a 4,300k warm-toned integrated fill light with three levels of brightness adjustment and touch button control for 180°front and rear lighting; perfect for capturing clear portrait images in low light set ups.

The gimbal boasts an industry-leading 17 SmartMode built-in templates, speeding up creation of videos that are shot on a regular basis. With the ZY Cami Editor, users can spice up videos with customised templates adding an array of music, special effects and filters.

Additional new features include gesture control, SmartFollow 3.0 Object Tracking, an instant Dolly Zoom, and MagicClone Pano which is operated by a single press trigger button to mark the target and activate smart following.

The gimbal is a compact powerhouse, as it is easier to fold and lighter than its predecessor, SMOOTH-Q2, while boasting a higher maximum payload. It measures 45*154*180mm, while it weighs only 340g, and can handle a 280g payload.

Behind the sleek folding and sliding design, users enjoy power on and shoot control from the ergonomic super compact handle.

The new intuitive button layout leads to overall smoother operation. For example, by triple tapping the trigger switching between portrait and landscape modes could not be easier, while ultra-wide-angle shooting means that vast landscapes are just as easy to capture as low-angle shots.

Battery life is excellent on this model and during my testing it lasted much longer than the previous model which is vital for long shoots or a really busy day out on the field ..

Smooth Q2 – ultra-long 17-hour battery life and so small no need to fold it  £99

Smooth Q2 is the smallest mobile gimbal in ZHIYUN gimbal family. Unlike any other gimbal in the market, you don’t need to fold up Smooth Q2 to make it small. Measuring only 204mm long, Smooth Q2 is almost equivalent to a sunglass case that you can throw into your handbag. The aluminum-built miniaturized body is crafted for maximum solidity. Coated with soft silicone, the handle is comfortable in your hand.

SMOOTH-Q2’s professional features and ultra-long 17-hour battery life are ready to capture life’s important moments – the micro-USB port also allows SMOOTH-Q2 to act as a power bank for phones, cameras and other devices. SMOOTH-Q2 can directly control iOS and Android smartphone camera for photo and video taking. Professional filmmaking functions like time lapse, slow motion, object tracking and full-range POV mode make it easy to seize life’s beautiful moments and express them in your own personal style.

The SMOOTH-Q2 offers an intuitive mode indicator LED, a five-way quick mode switching joystick, a photo/video record button, and support for ¼ inch screw hole accessories. The SMOOTH-Q2 is a compact and lightweight gimbal built from aluminum alloy and features enhanced motor durability, reliability and longevity.

SMOOTH-Q2’s control zone conveniently offers an intuitive mode indicator LED, five-way joystick with quick mode switching, a photo/record button, and supports accessories with its 1/4-inch screw hole. The lightweight and easy-to-use gimbal is built from aluminum alloy material using precise CNC technology and it features enhanced motor durability and excellent reliability and longevity.

So there you have it you have multiple choices to pick from at affordable prices, which one depends on you..

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ZHIYUN sent us this to review with no input or payment and are seeing the review the same time as you..Distributed in EIRE via Barker Photographic https://www.barkerphotographic.ie/zhiyun-smooth-q3-combo-phone-gimbal/cameras/video

 

 

Review – The SJCAM SJ10 PRO Action cam. #SJCAM #Tech

If you are looking for a new device to capture images videos or action shots which includes underwater activities this might be one to look at with a simple to use UI and plenty of features to go along with it including slo mo 4K and multiple settings to toy around with you will not be short of options with the SJ10 PRO action cam.

Small and compact and a robust build that also comes with an exterior case and waterproof alongside the other accessories there is no limits to how you can use this and be creative there is also a dash cam mode too which is nice to have, One thing to note is you should get a high quality SD card that can handle 4K footage as anything less will freeze up the unit as I found out during my testing.

This can be placed on a tripod,gimbal a bike,helmet,selfie stick or handheld it is up to you how you use it and very versatile so there is no limits and it does work great underwater I might add. There is multiple options to change in the settings and an app to help you too and use it via your smartphone which we will see in the video review below,the only thing is it struggles with is battery life  but if you have a portable charger at hand well then this is no problem for anyone and anyone that does carry such would be inclined to be prepared by having a spare battery or a back up portable charger anyway. Night time images turnout a bit grainy or blurry but in the daytime it shoots well and overall I i find the video really excellent but on my test night it was cold the night of testing and perhaps had an effect on the results you can see for yourself down in the video.

What is nice with this too it is touch screen there is only one button on the unit to power on/off and take a video or photo so it is not a complicated  mess of buttons or hard to navigate UI and settings menu with no deeply buried material to find to get the full use of the product and most of all the price is  really competitive too in the market for such tech. You can also live stream your creations or take footage at events where allowed, it is really a one stop shop for vloggers,tech enthusiasts and You Tubers.

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Review – The Hohem iSteady X Smartphone Gimbal. #Gimbal #Smartphone #Tech #Hohem

The Hohem smartphone gimbal is a lightweight ideal tool for beginners and more, With the use of social media and other ideas this gimbal fits the bill for most people especially newcomers to using such tech,the accompanying app you get with it makes it even easier to use and is one of the better apps out there to get started with all the tutorials on board,you also get other features in the app too which you may or may not want to use to enhance or add to your creations.

The design and build is nice and an off white colour which I like over the typical black colour we tend to see much of and the functions are easy to use too again described well in the tutorials on the app, We go through the app in the video below anyway.

You have a simple zoom button to the left and a navi key that is circular to direct the gimbal in any direction however I did find it did not tilt backwards too much compared to another model I have here but you can change the axis on the back. This is a 3 axis gimbal with four shooting modes with anti shake and face tracking, In the video I am testing a new Sony xperia L4 and you will see the difference here between handheld and using the gimbal whilst walking around and it is quite impressive for the price, Overall it is an affordable way to up your game and try something new using such technology and it has only been recent I have started using gimbals myself and they are a handy tool to have at your disposal.

The company sent us this to review and paid no compensation they are seeing this the same time as you and had no influence on my findings.

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