Portability is easily one of the biggest advantages of using DJI OM 5, as its ergonomics, low weight, and excellent portability are hard to beat in this price range. As a 3-axis stabilizer, FeiyuTech Vimble 2S offers a 320° range of motion on each axe, providing the much-needed flexibility to snap stills, selfies, and clips from different angles, even while moving. You can wave goodbye to tilting, rolling, and panning, as the motors will keep lighter action cams, vlogging cameras, smartphones, and even DSLRs in place. As a result, the recommended payload is one of the most important factors when choosing a gimbal. A gimbal that can’t support your desired camera and lens setup is useless, while buying a beefier gimbal than necessary can be quite expensive and heavy.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing Zhiyun’s Weebill 3, a gimbal targeting the same market as the DJI RSC 2. It brings some interesting and different features to the table compared to the DJI gimbal. To help narrow things down, gimbal manufacturers have essentially divided their product offerings into the same three categories we’ll be looking at in this article: phone gimbals, small camera gimbals, and large camera gimbals. The sweet spot in price and weight for many videographers will be the small camera gimbals, but even phone gimbals are popular among a lot of video creators, so I’ll discuss them first. Phone Gimbals DJI’s OM 5 and OM 4 SE Another brand-new feature of DJI OM 5 is the built-in extension rod, which drastically increases its versatility. It’s approximately 8.5 inches tall, and it complements the stabilizer’s ergonomics perfectly. 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. Although the Smooth 5 has a larger side control wheel and a more advanced control layout, most of its features are duplicated in the Zhiyun Smooth Q4 that I just covered. So, I think the Smooth 5 is primarily aimed at mobile videographers who need the extra payload for things like lens add-ons.

Zhiyun Smooth X Gimbal

gimbal: a device that permits a body to incline freely in any direction or suspends it so that it will remain level when its support is tipped. One place you might encounter gimbals is on a ship, where they are used to keep compasses and other things level with the horizon in contrast to the pitch and roll of the vessel at sea. 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. Hohem is a company that specializes in gimbal products, unlike DJI for example, which also offers camera drones, professional cameras for videographers, and a variety of accessories. The iSteady Mobile Plus is a mid-tier gimbal with everything to prove, and I’m here to break down its advantages and features. The amount of money doesn’t necessarily reflect the full value of any product, and this obviously applies to gimbal stabilizers as well.

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. In my opinion, the OM 4 does a slightly better job in terms of performance, even though it’s a bit heavier and more expensive. It can support increased phone weight, it offers an extended range of available shooting modes, and subjectively speaking, I feel like its clamps are a bit stronger. Let’s start with the basics of Hohem iSteady V2. It’s a mid-tier gimbal stabilizer with excellent battery runtime, a sturdy frame, durable arms and clamps, and high adjustability. Zhiyun Smooth Q2 offers a balance between price and performance, a relatively shallow learning curve, and a set of outstanding features. It’s something that will help owners of action cameras, vloggers, and DSLR users benefit from substantially increased accuracy right out of the box.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. Phone screen shake is a common problem that anyone can encounter, no matter how stable your hands are. In many cases, people try to find a balance between a high-quality image or clip and stability, which inevitably ruins both. A gimbal stabilizer can help with that, but not every model is up for the job. The DJI OM 4 is one of the newest smartphone handheld gimbals on the market. It enhances your smartphone camera with a wide variety of features that take your videos to the next level, giving it a series of advantages over other smartphone gimbals. Overall, Zhiyun Smooth X boasts durable plastic build quality and a sturdy frame while providing a variety of convenience-oriented advantages that revolve around its companion app and affordability. It’s a value option for people on a cash-strapped budget given that its price tag is incomparably low.