![ZHIYUN SMOOTH 4 [Official] 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer (with tripod)-Black](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/713eLRw9KFL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
![ZHIYUN SMOOTH Q2 [Official] 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphone](https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61lZUtUQAJL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
Zhiyun are known for making great gimbals, and this one is no exception.
It came nicely packaged, and includes a mini tripod to screw on to the bottom of the gimbal. The set up was really straightforward, and after correctly balancing the phone which needs to be done by loosening the screw to extend the arm holding the phone then tightening it when I got the correct balance, I was able to turn on the gimbal and it calibrated and leveled my phone automatically. The gimbal is built with plastic, but it feels sturdy and isn't too heavy which is great for filming for long periods of time with.
As for the stabilisation, it is flawless at keeping the phone steady and is completely silent. Walking or running produces amazing results with super smooth footage. There is also four modes - Pan follow, which you can toggle and will pan to follow the direction you point but keep tilt locked. Then Lock mode keeps the phone completely still and is great for still shooting. Then two triggers on the back which one will activate a full follow mode which tilts or pans your phone in any direction you choose smoothly, and then the other trigger will enable phonego mode which quickly follows your movements a lot faster than the previous mode, which can result in some cool whip pan transitions or scary POV shots.
The app works on both iOS and Android phones, and although a lot of people are reporting issues on Android, my Galaxy S9 worked just fine, except for AF tracking only working on iOS. Just make sure your Android phone is listed as compatible before buying. The app has more than enough features for the average person, with an auto, and full manual mode for pro filmmakers, and all the settings can be operated from the hardware controls found on the gimbal. I am able to shoot at 4K 60fps in the app, on my S9. My favourite features are the vertigo zoom shot and slow pan motion time-lapse mode.
The wheel on the side allows you to precisely control manual focus to create smooth focus pulls, or even zoom. It's a feature I can see myself using a lot and has great versatility. The only few downsides I have noticed with this gimbal are that sometimes the gimbal would get in the shot a tiny bit on my Galaxy S9, but cropping in a tiny bit would completely fix that issue. There is also no joystick on this gimbal, so you can use the follow modes to emulate it, however you can control it while on a surface.
The battery life is rated to last 12 hours, and after a whole days use I was still on half battery. It does a while to charge though. There is an included USB type C charging cable, and you can also charge your phone while in the gimbal, however you need to buy a right angled ribbon cable and the only place I found who sold it was Ali Express.
Overall I'm super happy with the gimbal, and would highly recommend it to anyone of any skill level. It does what it says on the tin really well and I can't find any faults with it quite frankly. If you have any questions do let me know and i'll be happy to answer them.
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 37.6 x 16.2 x 7.2 centimetres |
|---|---|
| Package Weight | 0.78 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 9 x 40 x 18 centimetres |
| Item Weight | 1 Kilograms |
| Brand | Zhi yun |
| Colour | Black |
| Part number | 69 |
