Review: Zhiyun's Smooth II 3-Axis Gimbal Gives iPhone Video Footage Better Stability

[MacRumors]

Digital image and video stabilization features have been included in modern smartphones for a while now, with each new generation offering improved correction for jumps and jitters that typically occur during handheld shooting.

Still, even the latest handsets can't quite match the benefits that can be gained from using a motorized mount specifically designed to reduce vibration and unwanted shake.

Smartphone gimbals are made for just this purpose. Phone gimbals look similar to selfie sticks, but incorporate special motorized axes that keep shooting balanced and steady by adjusting for tilt, roll and tracking movements.

One brand that's been steadily gaining plaudits for its gimbals is Zhiyun. The Chinese firm's gimbals in its Smooth range have been noted amongst video aficionados for their robust design, multiple operational modes, and relative affordability compared to the competition. Here, we looked at the company's latest Z1-Smooth II ($329) to see what advantages a gimbal offers for iPhone owners.


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Article Link: Review: Zhiyun's Smooth II 3-Axis Gimbal Gives iPhone Video Footage Better Stability

 

[roboats]

DJI Osmo Mobile is better, plus it has a far better companion app, I know from experience. Plus it's cheaper at $299

 

[BellaPass]

I own the DJi osmo mobile - 299 and twn times better quality.

This Chinese knock off junk is simply that, knock off junk.

 

[Telos101]

Not sure what the feature difference is with this one but I used the Zhiyun Smooth C in a college course project and was amazing - I want one.

 

[macduke]

I've always wanted one of these but they're too expensive to justify the extra benefit, especially now that my iPhone 7 has image stabilization. Sure, this is better, but not better enough for the cost. It's good for daily vloggers.

One time at work I rented a nice gimbal to do some sweeping tracking shots through campus with our 5DMkIII. It was my first time using one and it was incredible. Wish I could do more video stuff.

 

[mrbossman]

There are major stabilization issues with the DJI Osmo & the iPhone 6 or 7. The automatic image stabilization cannot be turned off on iOS devices which leads to unusable footage as it in effect double stabilized. I would assume this is the same for all mobile phone gimbals when using an iPhone.

 

[now i see it]

A GoPro is a superior solution for an action camera.

 

[munishp]

I also prefer the DJI osmo mobile. Just overall a better product and quality

 

[kikyuu]

I own the DJi osmo mobile - 299 and twn times better quality.

This Chinese knock off junk is simply that, knock off junk.

Isn't DJi also a Chinese company?

 

[macrescue911]

Isn't DJi also a Chinese company?

Yes it is

 

[Freida]

There are major stabilization issues with the DJI Osmo & the iPhone 6 or 7. The automatic image stabilization cannot be turned off on iOS devices which leads to unusable footage as it in effect double stabilized. I would assume this is the same for all mobile phone gimbals when using an iPhone.

What?
Is the dji one not mechanical? If the gimbal stabilisers are mechanical then there is no way to have double effect. It would be as if you were having super steady hands
However, if it's electronical and the video gets processed through an app then maybe you could have a point. Can someone clarify, please?

 

[Canubis]

Wondering how this performs when the camera-person moves more quickly, since all the demo scenes are either from a fixed perspective or with actually quite slow movements. Gets me thinking.

Especially interesting would be how this performs compared to Red Dot Design Award winner LUUV. They seem to have specialized on action filming and do a lot of stunningly looking fast-paced clips.

 

[Michael Scrip]

This Chinese knock off junk is simply that, knock off junk.

I dunno man... this is their third handheld gimbal for smartphones (after the original Smooth and the Smooth-C)

And Zhiyun has been making GoPro gimbals for years as well.

Plus... their larger gimbals for mirrorless and DSLRs are highly rated too. Take a look at reviews for the Zhiyun Crane and Crane-M on Youtube.

This may be one time where the Chinese "junk" is actually pretty good.

(DJI is a Chinese company, too, ya know)

Here's a review of the original Z1-Smooth... it looks good to me:

 

[NanoTubeReturns]

Zhiyun in Hebrew is ****ing. So, ****ing Smooth II !
Haha!

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

They paid for this advert. Sad but not surprised.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

They paid for this advert. Sad but not surprised.

The review clearly says:

Note: Zhiyun supplied the gimbal to MacRumors for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.

That's not a paid advertisement.

 

[840quadra]

Just received mine today, got an open box on Amazon. Looking forward to comparing it to my Yuneec typhoon handheld.

 

[newyorkone]

The sample footage sucks. You can see the bounce when the operator is walking. I don't need the gimmicky battery powered stuff. Just need a steady, smooth phone holder, and it clearly isn't that.

 

[Michael Scrip]

The sample footage sucks. You can see the bounce when the operator is walking. I don't need the gimmicky battery powered stuff. Just need a steady, smooth phone holder, and it clearly isn't that.

You can mitigate the bounce by holding your arms loose yet steady and using the ninja walk.

But the real point of these gimbals is eliminating the horizontal rotation that makes the image wobbly.

So while you might still get the bounce... without a gimbal you'll get bounce and a wobbly image.

I don't see how not using a gimbal will result in smoother images.

 

[alphaod]

The problem with the Ziyun product is that you can get the same thing for 200 RMB on Taobao (Chinese Ebay). That's like $35.

 

[840quadra]

I own the DJi osmo mobile - 299 and twn times better quality.

This Chinese knock off junk is simply that, knock off junk.

I also prefer the DJI osmo mobile. Just overall a better product and quality

How does the hand feel, weight and overall response compare between the two? I have only used the Osmo 4K, not the phone model. I liked it, but, I find it nice to be able to use the Smartphones I currently own, as well as older models I have sitting around.

 

[zellxak]

I use

There are major stabilization issues with the DJI Osmo & the iPhone 6 or 7. The automatic image stabilization cannot be turned off on iOS devices which leads to unusable footage as it in effect double stabilized. I would assume this is the same for all mobile phone gimbals when using an iPhone.

Filmic Pro with my OSMO at times. It has the ability to turn off image stabilization.

 

[840quadra]

There are major stabilization issues with the DJI Osmo & the iPhone 6 or 7. The automatic image stabilization cannot be turned off on iOS devices which leads to unusable footage as it in effect double stabilized. I would assume this is the same for all mobile phone gimbals when using an iPhone.

I have never experienced that with the DJI on my 6S (Digital IS only), nor with my iPhone 7 (Digital and Optical IS). After using my Smooth-C for about an hour on 3 phones (slightly different model than reviewed in this link), I can report no issues with how the 7 reacts to this gimbal.

It doesn't go all wonky like my Canon IS lens when using a Tripod, it is actually quite smooth. I am not sure exactly what algorithms they use, however it acts like the accelerometers and gyro's are feeding reliable information to the phones lens system.

 

[Corrode]

There are major stabilization issues with the DJI Osmo & the iPhone 6 or 7. The automatic image stabilization cannot be turned off on iOS devices which leads to unusable footage as it in effect double stabilized. I would assume this is the same for all mobile phone gimbals when using an iPhone.

This. There are issues with the 6s Plus and 7/7 Plus using gimbals where the balancing counteracts the optical image stabilization inside the phone's lens causing the video to bob. Since there's no way to turn off optical image stabilization, it seems to be an issue with any gimbal. http://forum.dji.com/thread-63027-1-1.html

MacRumors used a 6s so they wouldn't see an issue. Would love to see this tried with a 7.

 

[chanoe]

I have DJI OSMO Mobile and iPhone 7 Plus. I can tell you from my experience that the footages shot with DJI is unusable. Every now and then the images bob and jerk, as if the mechanical thing that controls the OIS is engaged whenever the gimbal compensates for jerky movement. Though, it's not entirely DJI's fault nor any other mobile gimbal manufacturers' as all phones with OIS suffer from this. And the sad thing is that there's no getting around it.

If you are going to use the footages shot with these gimbals for any degree of professional use, don't bother. They can't be used. But for hobbyists trying to capture moments of family functions, children or pets... it's fine. No one will notice.

Too bad, Apple does not allow developers to disable the mechanism that enables OIS. I'm using my DJI with GoPro and the results have been much better as the GoPro does not have OIS.

Also, Filmic Pro and some other apps that disable IS only applies to the software IS, not the OIS.