As always, when shopping for gimbals, just like tripods, keep the payload in mind. Choosing a gimbal that can comfortably support your current weight load – and more if you want room for error when balancing your gimbal – is essential to getting good results. While I like DJI’s app significantly more, I’ve actually found myself using Zhiyun’s Smooth Q4 more frequently. On mobile, I’m not using either brand’s app, but instead filming with Filmic Pro to get better image quality. (As a bonus, Filmic supports both the OM 4 and 5, as well as the Q4, obviating the need to deal with manufacturer apps.) Since the app difference isn’t a factor, I’ve instead based my choice on the mounting mechanism, which is much nicer on the Q4, at least for my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Like the DJI RSC 2, the Zhiyun Weebill 3 is capable of supporting the largest mirrorless cameras and heavy lenses, like 24-70mm f/2.8 zooms. In use, I found the gimbal performed very well, yielding properly-stabilized footage without any micro-jitters. gimbal: a device with a circular part that turns around a fixed central axis (= straight line), used for keeping a compass, camera, or other piece of equipment in position when it is inside a moving vehicle or object. Let’s start with the basics. This is a portable hand-held smartphone gimbal stabilizer equipped with three ultra-strong motors that largely contribute to smoothness, portability, and reliability in the stabilizer’s performance. The addition of a dual layered QR plate makes setup and teardown easier, while reducing the need for balancing. As a big bonus, the mounting plate supports both Manfrotto and Arca-Swiss mounting plates. The inclusion of a 1-in screen reduces the reliance on a phone for configuration. Lastly, battery time is pushed out to 14 hours of operation, while charging even faster than the SC. Even the carrying case has been improved, moving to a splash resistant, more sturdy nylon design, with a zipper in lieu of the plastic clips.That said, the software often only works with a particular operating system, so make sure your phone gimbal is compatible with your device. 5. Compatibility Gimbal stabilizers aren’t the easiest pieces of technology to use. A lot of these devices feature an abundance of control buttons and functions, and plenty of them feature gimbal apps with different methods of operation. Accessories are one area where the SC shines. Both in terms of what’s included in the box, and what’s available as first and third party accessories, the SC is well equipped. In the box, you get the gimbal itself, a QR plate, phone holder, lens support, and camera cables that support operation with most major cameras. Beyond the included accessories, the SC supports focus wheels, focus motors, a separate command unit that adds a screen for operational control, and a cheese plate for mounting additional aftermarket accessories. Whether you’re shooting pictures for your Facebook account or simply enjoy filming your neighborhood area, you’ll want a gimbal stabilizer to make your content stable.

I’ve mainly focused on standalone gimbal stabilizer products for a very simple reason – bundles are not only more expensive, but the chances are that you have a camera bag at home, and that’s usually the best accessory that comes in the box. While the M2 S supports cameras like the Sony a7, Canon EOS R, and Nikon Z lines, it’ll be limited to very small primes and only the lightest zooms. In my mind, this gimbal is really positioned as a step up in performance and features from a phone gimbal, able to support compact cameras and action cameras, while being able to stabilize mirrorless cameras in a pinch. A smartphone gimbal does more than just keep your camera steady. Many of them have built-in features that elevate your cinematography game, even including utility software and Bluetooth capabilities that connect to your mobile app. 1. Axis Stabilization Although its supportive strength when it comes to smartphone weight is formidable, it amounts to little as its actual weight is above 2 pounds, which pretty much spells ’hand fatigue’. True to its name, its ergonomics support smoothness in filmmaking and photoshoots, especially when taking selfies, but I’ve noticed a few other issues with the ZY Play app as well. The Hohem iSteady V2 gimbal is an ultra-lightweight, compact gimbal. It is the lightest option on this list, foldable, and the perfect definition of portable and compact. On the move or at home, it is easy to set up and ready to serve.This affordable gimbal comes with the ZY Cami companion app, which allows you to control programmable filming techniques. What’s more, the stabilizer has a few shooting modes, such as the Gimbal Mode, the Selfie Mode, and the Tripod Mode, which help you take professional shots. To help you avoid these issues, I’ve made this little guide for you to understand the basic elements I’ve searched for in every gimbal stabilizer I’ve reviewed: 1. Price That being said, I would also like to note that the learning curve of a gimbal stabilizer should not be mistaken for its versatility or complexity of features alone. It’s a balance, or better said, a combination of factors that contribute to how easy or difficult it is to use a specific model.

Plenty of alternatives that come to mind are either far more expensive or too simplistic to compare. What adds to that is the fact that the stiff competition between different manufacturers has led to each brand upgrading their models and gimbal apps to extremes, sacrificing the ease of use for more versatility and utility. Though the competition is stiff, I think Zhiyun Smooth 4 might still be a better choice for the money, depending on the features you are on the hunt for. So, let’s elaborate a bit further. A gimbal is a pivoted support that permits rotation of an object about an axis. A set of three gimbals, one mounted on the other with orthogonal pivot axes, may be used to allow an object mounted on the innermost gimbal to remain independent of the rotation of its support (e.g. vertical in the first animation). For example, on a ship, the gyroscopes, shipboard compasses, stoves, and even drink holders typically use gimbals to keep them upright with respect to the horizon despite the ship’s pitching and rolling.DJI’s OM 5 phone gimbal is the latest entry in their OM series. Interestingly, it includes a set of tradeoffs compared to the previous OM 4 SE model and isn’t necessarily the better choice for everyone. In short, theOM 5 is better for users who want the gimbal to do as much for them as possible, while the OM 4 SE is for those who want a simpler gimbal with better battery life. Finding the right balance between price and performance is hard, especially if this is the first gimbal stabilizer you’re buying. As a good rule of thumb, starting out with a cheaper model is generally better, as certain features of more expensive products can be quite complicated to use for beginners. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal for smartphones is the best smartphone Gimbal for video stabilization and recording. You should consider the following factors in addition to price, size, weight, battery life, and build quality. If you are unable to fit your phone or the hardware is not designed for it, you may need to reconsider. The number of features in the app (if any) should be noted. With a 2,000mAh battery, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 should be able to charge in as little as 10 hours. The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is one of the best phones on the market, but it comes at a high price. A folding design makes the OM 5 an ideal choice for portability and distinguishes it from most other gimbals on the market. The attention to detail when it comes to the design of this gimbal stabilizer is surprising considering how inexpensive it is. In terms of durability and reliability, at least in my opinion, Zhiyun Smooth X is the ultimate gimbal stabilizer for vlogging and shooting scenery photos. A lot of pros are using it, and for good reasons too.

This camera has excellent performance and smoothness in its movements. This isn’t something you’d take with you for the entire day, so don’t use it. Heavy DSLR and cinema camera setups that require long professional lenses can be handled with the Gudsen MOZA Air 2, allowing for a maximum weight of 4.2kg. This camera has eight different motion modes that allow it to produce impressive video when moving, as well as a 3-axis stabilization system. The DJI RS 3, in addition to its long battery life, may be a worthy addition to your collection if you already own the RS 2. With its one-handed design, the MG Lite is an excellent example of a one- handed mirrorless camera Gimbal. The Manfrotto MVG300XM can be used with a DSLR or mirrorless camera as well as a large lens. The Zhiyun Smooth Q2 works with Android and iOS native phone cameras through direct camera control. Plus, it has a new portrait gesture feature that requires less effort to manage.Smaller gimbals embed the battery in the handle. Run times can be long enough for all-day use, and USB charging is a standard feature. Just keep in mind that when those batteries stop holding a charge, you have to replace the whole unit. Some options still use swappable batteries, however.