Reference: Zdenka Darula
You're shooting your first vlog and you want to get cool shots to share but you really want smooth movements. You could hire a cameraman but that's expensive. So why not choose a smartphone gimbal? Today we are going to introduce smartphone gimbals and find out what can they do and what you need to know when choosing one.
What’s inside a smartphone gimbal package?
For SMOOTH 5S, when we open the standard package, we can see that the items included in the package are: gimbal, protective box, tripod, quick start guide and Type-C to USB cable. For the COMBO package which comes with more accessories, there are additional items like a VIP membership card, wrist strap and magnetic fill light.
What are fill lights for?
The fill light in the gimbal allows users to reach for a brighter filming environment. As the latest smartphone gimbal from ZHIYUN, the SMOOTH 5S upgraded the lighting and added a built-in fill light. You can use the built-in fill light and add two more magnetic lights at the top and bottom for 360 degrees all around lighting. Need to adjust your lighting? No worries. Multiple filters and hue adjustments are provided as well. What is cool is that you can have all the lights on or you can turn off the arm light and use only those magnetic lights with filters.
Can it hold my device and accessories?
If you feel like making smartphone films, you need to make sure your gimbal can not only hold your smartphone but also accessories like lenses and filters. Take SMOOTH 5S as an example, the deep clamp can fit in a phone or one with a phone case and filters and allow users to film in horizontal or vertical mode. For heavy setups with a tele lens and VND filter, you can have the accessories all the way at the end and the gimbal is still working fine.
What can a gimbal do?
Now we are all set with the filming setup, but how much could the smartphone gimbal do for you? When using SMOOTH 5S, the industry-standard 3-axis design allows movements in all angles to be amazingly smooth, even in extreme angles. The anti-shake performance with high definition preserves the original video quality of the smartphone. Unlike filming videos with just your smartphone, the gimbal extends your creativitiy to another level. You could see that the range of motion is huge. You'll get a full 360 pan, and a wide tilt range, and if you need to do continuous nonstop 360 rotation, the vortex mode does the job the best. If you are filming and need to change the framing a tiny bit, you can just move the phone, hold it for 2 seconds, the angle will then be fixed. You don't have to use the joystick to frame the shot perfectly.
Apps make things easier
Zhiyun Smooth 5S can be used with ZY Cami and StaCam. You can use it to better control the gimbal and the buttons on the gimbal will achieve different functions when using different apps. ZY Cami is for beginners who are just starting out. StaCam is a professional filming app very similar to Filmic Pro except it already comes with gimbal. The function of buttons will depend on which app you are using.
Compatibility
When we are choosing a gimbal, an important aspect is compatibility. You need to know if the functions in your smartphone are compatible with the gimbal when shooting. ZHIYUN also got you covered with this. In the SMOOTH 5S Compatibility List (you can click here to visit), you can search for the smartphone that you use, see what functions are supported for control when using native camera, or what kind of frame rates, resolutions, timelapse you will get, so that you will be better informed of how you can film your video.
Sounds interesting? Try clicking here to check more details about SMOOTH 5S.
