Zhiyun Smooth 4 Smartphone Gimbal Review: Elevate Your Mobile Filmmaking

In the age of content creation, mobile filmmaking has gained immense popularity. With smartphones equipped with powerful cameras, it’s easier than ever to capture high-quality videos. However, to truly unlock your smartphone's potential, you need a gimbal. Enter the Zhiyun Smooth 4, a versatile and feature-packed smartphone gimbal that promises to take your video production to the next level. In this review, we'll explore its features, usability, and performance to see if it lives up to the hype.

Design and Build Quality

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 boasts an ergonomic design, crafted for comfortable handling during extended shooting sessions. The gimbal is made from high-strength materials while remaining lightweight, ensuring that you can hold it for long periods without fatigue. Its sleek black finish gives it a professional look, appealing to amateur and professional filmmakers alike.

Controls at Your Fingertips

One of the standout features of the Smooth 4 is its intuitive control panel. With numerous buttons and a multifunctional wheel, navigating through settings and modes becomes effortless. You can control the focus and zoom functions directly from the gimbal, allowing for a seamless filming experience without having to fiddle with your smartphone's interface.

Stabilization Performance

The heart of any gimbal is its stabilization technology, and the Zhiyun Smooth 4 does not disappoint. It uses a 3-axis stabilization system that effectively eliminates shakes and jitters, ensuring smooth and cinematic footage, even while on the move. Whether you're walking, running, or moving in challenging environments, the Smooth 4 provides consistent stability that drastically improves your video quality.

Vertical Shooting

In today’s social media landscape, vertical video is more important than ever, and the Smooth 4 is designed to cater to this need. Switching from horizontal to vertical shooting is simple and quick, making it perfect for vloggers and social media influencers who want to optimize their content for platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is critical in any gimbal, especially for long shoots. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is equipped with a robust battery that can last up to 12 hours on a single charge, allowing you to shoot videos without the constant worry of recharging. Additionally, it offers a power bank feature, letting you charge your smartphone while using the gimbal, ensuring you never run out of juice during critical shooting moments.

Smartphone Compatibility

The Smooth 4 is compatible with a wide range of smartphones, accommodating devices up to 3.35 inches wide. This means whether you’re an iPhone user or an Android enthusiast, the gimbal will likely support your device. Setting it up is a breeze, as the phone holder adjusts securely to keep your device stable during filming.

Advanced Features

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 comes packed with advanced features that cater to both novices and experienced filmmakers. Let's explore some of these:

Object Tracking

With the advanced object tracking feature, the gimbal can intelligently follow moving subjects, ensuring that they remain center-stage in your shots. This is particularly useful for dynamic scenes where the subject is in motion. With a simple tap on the screen, you can lock onto a subject, and the gimbal will do the rest, making your work smoother and more professional.

Time-lapse and Motion-lapse Functions

Creating stunning time-lapse and motion-lapse videos has never been easier. The Smooth 4 offers customizable settings that allow you to set the duration and intervals for your shots, enabling you to capture breathtaking scenes with precision. This feature adds a layer of creativity to your video projects, setting them apart from ordinary footage.

Creative Modes

For those looking to inject creativity into their filmmaking, the gimbal includes several modes such as 'Go', 'Lock', 'Follow', and 'Pan Follow'. These modes enable you to execute cinematic shots with ease, whether you want to create fast-paced action sequences or slow, steady pans.

User Experience: Set Up and Performance

Setting up the Zhiyun Smooth 4 is straightforward; simply attach your smartphone, balance it properly, and turn it on. The gimbal connects easily to the ZY Play app—available for both iOS and Android—which unlocks even more features, including camera settings and additional shooting modes. Users have noted that the learning curve is minimal, and most can dive right into using the controls after a quick read-through of the manual.

Value for Money

At its price point, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 represents excellent value for money. The features offered, combined with solid performance, make it a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about mobile filmmaking. Compared to other gimbals in the same price range, the Smooth 4 stands out for its combination of build quality, features, and user-friendly design.

Final Thoughts on the Zhiyun Smooth 4

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 smartphone gimbal is a powerful tool that can elevate your mobile filmmaking to professional levels. With user-friendly controls, impressive stabilization technology, and a host of advanced features, it is designed to enhance creativity while maintaining ease of use. Whether you're a hobbyist looking to improve your skills or a professional seeking reliable equipment, the Smooth 4 is an excellent choice for anyone looking to capture smooth and engaging video content.

Explore your creativity and take your videography to the next level with the Zhiyun Smooth 4, the perfect companion for your smartphone filmmaking journey.