DGI and Osmo), it seems that the company is using the Q3 to target the more youthful, easy-going creators in the TikTok, YouTube, vlogging crowd, with the Q3's hardware improvements, easy video editing software features and that lovely built-in lamp. At an affordable price point, it brings the ability to shoot high-quality stable footage with minimal effort. The core controls and button layout have also been improved on the Q3 for more natural thumb and finger access and a simplified workflow, which makes using the gimbal more instinctive once you learn the necessary. If you also have Zhiyun's separate ZY Remo remote control feature, a second device can control the cellphone on the gimbal and switch between shooting modes and monitoring - e.g. The most notable offerings include: The ZY Cami app also provides plenty of additional stuff like video editing, tutorials, timelapse and hyperlapse, panorama modes, and much more. The included tripod also functions as a handle extender. What does it mean? For whatever reason, the ZY Cami app just couldnt mesh the pictures together into a seamless panoramic shot. The Q3 appears to have solved this problem. These modes will be familiar to most gimbal enthusiasts. ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 review: Shining a light on mobile creators When I switched to my phones default camera app the problem disappeared. The Point of View mode (POV) is pretty radical in that all three motors follow the movement of the stabilizer handle. Jamie has been writing about all aspects of technology for over 14 years, producing content for sites like TechRadar, T3, Forbes, Mashable, MSN, South China Morning Post, and BBC Wildlife, BBC Focus and BBC Sky At Night magazines. Options. Once that is done, connect the Smooth-Q3 to your PC via USB. Reddit, Inc. 2023. The Q3 may not feel as robust as its predecessor but its also 20% lighter than either the Q2 or OM4. Problem with Zhiyun Smooth Q3 : r/smartphonefilming - Reddit One thing to note about the vertical arm screw is that this is not intended to fully lock the vertical arm so don't crank down too hard on the vertical screw. All rights reserved. $89 at Amazon Pros + 4,300K light on clamp + 3-axis stabilisation + Object tracking and 'smart follow' + Excellent joystick Cons - Stuttering zoom - Zhiyun Smooth 5 Gimbal. The Smooth Q3 uses the new ZY Cami app instead which is rated an even more dismal 2.5 stars. Critical Gimbal Modes of ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3. On the back side of the gimbal handle is the power button and trigger button. The best AI art generators: DALL-E 2 and alternatives to try. It ranges left, right, up and down smoothly and purposefully. What is Lemon8 and why is everyone talking about it on TikTok? Find out how we test. ZY Cami app is unreliable No more reverse-charging Motors seem very sensitive ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 As far as an affordable, basic smartphone gimbal goes, the ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 is a good. Zhiyun Smooth 5S Phone Gimbal, 3-Axis Smartphone Stabilizer with Built-in and Magnetic Fill Light, AI Face Tracking for iPhone and Android, YouTube TikTok Video, White Combo . Delving deeper into the feature set, I found it hard to shake the notion that Zhiyun had simply looked at what DJI was doing and tried to imitate its competitor with mixed success. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. However, when I first tried them together I found out that the s20 ultra does not support 60fps on the gimbal. A 1/4-inch-20 screw thread on the base of the handle allows you to mount the Smooth Q3 on a tripod for smooth panoramas or long exposures. Start by first losing the vertical arm screw and pulling the pan axes motor downwards while holding the tilt and pan axes motors until you hear a click. The more advanced, finessing features are all in the ZY Cami app. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. ), Every issue is packed with photo tips, kit reviews and inspiration. After this, all you have to do is tap the activation button, which will complete automatically. You can also use it to adjust the tightness of the slot so that you can pack the gimbal smoothly. 4.5 / 5. The Smooth-Q3 feels like Zhiyun's natural response to the Q2, in as much as the shortcomings of the Q2 have largely been addressed with the Q3. Sadly, it lacks two-way charging for the smartphone its hosting; shouldnt gimbals be including wireless charging by now? Privacy Policy. ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 3-axis Stabilizer: Best Gimbal for Phones | ZHIYUN Whether you want to film your . All rights reserved. When it comes to portability, especially for mobile creators, weight and compactness are king. The dolly zoom option is an interesting effect that we've seen in movies in the past and it's sometimes called the Hitchcock effect. The panoramic mode with the tripod is awesome since you can set the Smooth Q3 down on a stable surface, enable pano in the software, and then hit record to watch the gimbal work with your phone to capture a perfectly aligned pano shot. But you dont need to spend that much to get a smartphone gimbal that does much if not all of the same stuff. Zoom rocker is located at the left side of the stabilizer's handle and enables you adjust the focal length and subsequently the sort of view from a long shot to a close-up view. But is it any good? In that case, this post covers all you need to know about the highly versatile ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3. The trigger performs a couple of functions. Best add on lenses for phones, Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Its clearly aimed at vloggers and Tik Tok users, but its got plenty of manual control for pro-users and, best of all, its just so intuitive to use. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Then set up an account with them. NY 10036. Once the gimbal powers on with your phone inserted, launch the app and hit the camera button at the top left. The phone clamp securely held these phones and the rubber inserts protected the finish on the phones. Explore the multiple button options for the mode button, capture button, and power button. Better still it can be rotated through 180 so it works just as well for filming through a smartphones front or rear cameras. . Amazon.com: Customer reviews: zhi yun Smooth Q3 Handheld 3-Axis 2.Gesture control is supported in panorama. You can enter into the PhoneGo mode by long-pressing the trigger button till a flashing indicator emerges. If you buy the combo pack (see Verdict section below) you get a years free Prime membership or you can sign up separately. This third generation is a seriously compact and travel-friendly upgrade on Zhiyuns previous gimbals in the Smooth Q range. Nothing changed, all 4 green lights flashing rapidly. The handle is now more ergonomic than its predecessor. 1. Viewing other content is good for inspiration and for providing ideas of how you can improve your content too. However, upon first hold of this gyroscopically balanced gimbal we noticed that its handle is small. Once the Smooth-Q3 is in lock mode, a single press of the mode button locks the roll axis motor but enables the tilt and pan axes, thus placing the gimbal in follow mode. Cookie Notice The fill-light, enabled by enabling wakey in the app, is really easy to use and gives an even daylight effect across the frame. 1. *:This feature needs to be used with ZY Cami App. The Smooth-Q3 uses a USB-C port for charging. For instance, the Magic Clone Pano is pretty much just the CloneMe Pano, letting you inject yourself into multiple points of a scene for rather hilarious shots of yourself and others being in multiple places at once. Related: What to look for in a smartphone camera. 2 17 17 comments Add a Comment Nocarepassjosh 1 yr. ago Throughout my ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 review period I constantly had to reconnect the app with the gimbal via Bluetooth. On the reverse is a trigger button to reposition the smartphone, switch between portrait and landscape orientation, and enable both PhoneGo (where the roll axis is locked) and SmartFollow 3.0 Object Tracking modes. 411 Share 15K views 6 months ago #DJI #om4 #CreateMagneticMoments Zhiyun Smooth 5 Problems: How to Fix Them Zhiyun Smooth 5: https://amzn.to/3FiAZIl Show more Show more Attach the grip tripod to the ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3. You smartphone is connected via Bluetooth to the gimbal and smartphone software help guide you through capturing content with interesting perspectives. Zhiyun Smooth Q3 gimbal review | Digital Camera World The combo pack includes a rigid carrying case, a wrist strap, and a years subscription to ZHIYUN Prime. Active Level 1. These buttons are spread across the stabilizers and control several functions. The sleek black metal of the Q2's handle - which was a perfectly fine and attractive style - gives way on the Q3 to a more ergonomically shaped grey aesthetic, with indents where your fingers naturally rest to give a better, more comfortable hold and a textured palm rest for additional grip. 4. Prior to turning on the gimbal, you can perform a bit of manual balancing. On the right-hand side is a USB-C slot to refuel its battery. Four of the buttons have multiple actions access with single, double, or triple presses. Enter the $89 ZHIYUN Smooth Q3 gimbal, which is only 60% of the price of the DJI OM4 and looks to be every bit as good but is it? Learn more. The Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus ($89) is another contender, but it too suffers from a cheap plastic feel and disappointing companion app. Therefore, keeping a subject in focus irrespective of any movement from the gimbals handle. User manual Zhiyun Smooth Q3 (English - 33 pages) Weight: 340g Record-breaking 14-hour Runtime. Sure, its solo filmmakers that will benefit most from its fairly impressive built-in fill-in light, but its nevertheless a feature that just as easily be used when using the front or rear cameras. All of the basic modes listed above functioned as expected and were generally quite reliable. The smartphone gimbal war is now a battle of increasingly lighter and lower-cost products. 3.For more templates, please subscribe to ZHIYUN Prime. Theres barely any delay when switching between portrait and landscape mode, and the analogue stick has a good amount of give behind it, which allowed me to pull off a slow-pan with minimal effort. I had trouble connecting since the beginning. . 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A single press of the trigger button selects the target for Smart Following, while double-pressing this button resets the motor back away from Smart Following to its start point. It does this to conserve battery charge, so to wake the device, unlock the fixing buckle of the roll and tilt axis. Open the ZHIYUN gimbal tool and "firmware upgrade" option from the "Open". Its always a good idea to make those adjustments if you have time but they arent absolutely necessary. It also has a diffuser light situated above the phone clamp to illuminate its subject in low light conditions. Heres everything you need to know about the Zhiyun Smooth Q3 gimbal and why it should help all kinds of filmmakers and content creators. It's definitely lighter, smarter and more capable. 2. While more serious, heavy-duty DSLR camera users will migrate upstream to pro-level gimbal products such as Zhiyun's own Weebill and Crane (or competing products from e.g. 2. Just like the DJI Mimo app, theres a great emphasis on community here, since youre immediately presented with an array of videos created by other users. Click on "upgrade," and the process will commence concluding in a few minutes. Its joystick is excellent. Also:Best camera phone 2021: Take the best photos and videos. After graduating with an MA in History from University College London and cutting his teeth for several years as a journalist in the film and TV industries, Tom joined the Trusted Reviews team as a Co, Unbiased and independent advice on what to buy, Exclusive offer: Get NordVPN + 3 additional months, Three-axis gimbal for stable video recording, The Smooth-Q3 captures stable cinematic video with ease, Fill light button is sometimes unresponsive, Users can edit their footage through the ZY Cami app, Some features are locked behind a paywall, The Smooth-Q3 is incredibly forgiving and easy to use, Some features dont work quite as well as they do on DJIs gimbals, The included fill light is perfect for selfies and low light scenes. This system isnt quite as modern as the folding design used by DJI, but it gets the job done just as well. Classic sliding design for you to shoot and pack anytime as you go so you don't have to miss any important moments that need to be captured. Zhiyun SMOOTH-Q3 Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphone Android Cell Phone To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. Your Smooth Q3 should appear in the available devices list. Visit our corporate site. ZHIYUN is gunning for DJI with the new super-lightweight Smooth Q3 at almost half the price of the OM4. The flip-side to that is that the Q3 is very easy to travel with; the entire gimbal collapses in half thanks to a slider. Use just a single gesture to start the shooting while you can just be yourself anywhere anytime. The Zhiyun Smooth-Q3 undercuts the DJI OM 4 so heavily that it earns a solid recommendation on price alone. The main new addition here is a built-in fill light, which can rotate 180 degrees. (Bought it new today) Does it mean it is faulty? You move towards or away from the subject while zooming in the opposite direction. Guilin Zhishen Information Technology Co., Ltd. ICP17006240-1 COPYRIGHT 2015 - 2023 Guilin Zhishen All Rights Reserved. We also discovered an issue with a jumpy zoom rocker and were not convinced that the ZY Cami app needs to collect as much personal data as it wants. This is also useful when using the tripod to record yourself doing things in front of the camera. When reviewing the Smooth Q2 I had come to terms with the quirks of the ZY Play app (rated 2.7 on Google Play). The standard kit package, which costs 89 USD, contains a foldable 3-axis gimbal, a USB-C cable, and a mini-tripod. Inevitably, disappointingly, certain app features are restricted to 'ZY Prime' members, which is possibly another level of ownership that nobody needed. Which Gimbals are Currently Supported by FiLMiC Pro? The ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3 is feature-packed but a worthy place to start its extensive payload support of 280 grams, making it one of the highest amongst smartphone gimbals, especially given its lightweight. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3 offers lightweight materials, compact construction, and a built-in fill light for mobile content creators. Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased Now the ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3 is activated and ready for use. Zhiyuns latest mobile gimbal does its best to swipe the DJI OM 4s crown with a similar array of features and an even more tempting price point. Suppose you are looking to buy this smartphone stabilizer or have already made your purchase, and you are wondering how to take your smartphone cinematography to the next level. ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3s 3-axis motors let the gimbal rotate in several directions, enhancing the users ability to shoot captivating videos. Switching to vortex mode on the Smooth-Q3 can be done by single pressing the mode button when in POV mode or double pressing the mode button when in pan follow mode. Theres a USB-C port for charging but you can no longer reverse-charge your phone with the gimbal. When shooting, the Smooth Q3 can pan (300), tilt (340) and roll (340). To accommodate for the longer design, the Q3 uses a screw mechanism to hold the arm in place when its not in use, the arm slides down to rest just behind the handle. It didn't . We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. The control interface has also been revamped, with a larger thumbstick and record button, as well as a rear-facing trigger designed to re-centre the camera during filming and allow for quick swapping between portrait and landscape mode with just three taps. The Smooth 4 ($99) is a larger and less portable but more well-rounded gimbal to my mind than the Smooth Q3. Once that is done, proceed to: 1. You can long press this button for a few seconds to turn the device on or switch off the Smooth-Q3 stabilizer. The joystick is used to control tilt and pan axis in this mode. DimensionsUnfolded 311*168*52mm : 311*168*52mm : 181.7*107.7*56.3mm : 90*127*279mm : Stabilization . The Smooth Q3 also has a shorter battery life about half that of the Smooth Q2 in my experience. Buy Now. You can use the gimbal alone as a stabilizer for your phone, but you won't experience all of the special effects and creative options unless you use the included software. The ZY Cami app also has a powerful editor that lets you fully edit your captured content right on your phone. This features three levels of brightness adjustment and touch-button control and can be rotated for either 180 front or rear lighting. Entering the lock mode with a single press (when in pan follow) locks the three motors. If you want a mobile gimbal that can do the basics and wont break the bank, the Smooth Q3 is still a good option. The Institution of Engineering and Technology is registered as a Charity in England & Wales (no 211014) and Scotland (no SC038698). Download the calibration upgrade tool and USB drivers. Zhiyun's improved companion app hosts 17 new 'SmartMode' video templates, which contain special effects and filters for quick, professional-looking results when created with the ZY Cami Editor. Guilin Zhishen Information Technology Co., Ltd. ICP17006240-1 COPYRIGHT 2015 - 2023 Guilin Zhishen All Rights Reserved. This soft but powerful light contributes to a warmer, more natural skin tone and is well-suited to day or night-time use. Nevertheless, its a noteworthy improvement. Zhiyun claims that the gimbal has a battery life of up to 15 hours, and I found that there was plenty of juice remaining in the tank following several days of filming. What does it mean? At $89 the Smooth Q3 is cheaper than both its predecessor the Smooth Q2 at $119 and the DJI OM4 at $149. For most of its features (such as the Magic Clone Pano), the DJI Mimo app does it all so much better. I really wanted to like what ZHIYUNs attempting here going toe-to-toe with DJI but the execution leaves a bit to be desired. 3-Axis Gimbal This. The tripod base is very wide and creates a stable platform for using the gimbal hands-free. The latter's indicator shows you which mode you're in, from a list of six possibilities: pan follow; follow; lock; POV (point of view); V (vortex), and Go. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. There are options for video, photo, pano, dolly zoom, timelapse, hyperlapse, and smart options. Activation is usually a one-off process for your new gimbal. Zhiyun has released their new Zhiyun Smooth Q3 smartphone gimbal. Put it back on the charger for 2 - 3 hours then check it, probably will fix the issue. > product_id error ble dev name:SMOOTH-Q3_FFFF. Meanwhile, the Micro USB power port at the side of the handle allows convenient charging from direct power source via a USB port. . For casual content creators, TikTokers or young filmmakers, the Zhiyun Smooth-Q3 is a great accessory. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The app will only work with your location turned on. The Prime service, one year is included with the combo package, provides you access to online editing, online video storage, and more templates for advanced editing of your videos. Whole-new clearer button layout that better suits when using single-handed. Power Button: The power button is the first button on the outer side of the stabilizers handle. Im not sure if this is a bug or expected behavior, but its very annoying. Really small. It is used to adjust the smoothness of the slide slot and lock in the contact points so that power flows to the motors throughout the rest of the gimbal. Available in multiple panorama modes * . For most people, Id recommend using the ZY Cami app only when you need one of the Smooth Q3s app-specific modes like hyperlapse. Smooth Q3 Combo . The Smooth Q3 cant compete with the OM4 either in my opinion, except on price. 1.Arm screw helps ensuring good contacts with the contact points in the axis arm. 4. It also lets you illuminate subjects and objects on the other side of the camera. One key change is that the upper arm of the gimbal is now longer, so the phone in the clamp is kept away from the hand grip in almost every conceivable position, regardless of the size of the phone. Its advanced features include object tracking, gesture control, and Zoom & Focus system, which can be easily adjusted with just one hand. And we work to do this in a way that allows our users full manual control over FiLMiC Pro directly from each . The ZHIYUN Smooth-Q3 comes with several modes that are designed to give creators a variety of shooting options. Best camera phones The main things to consider with any gimbal are how stable is it and how easy is it to use? With such a notable difference in price, its clear that Zhiyun intends to undercut the competition in a massive way. I did get the occasional video stutter in the resulting footage, which I later realized was down to the ZY Cami app. Cookie Notice The trigger button is one of the most used with a single press toggling on/off Smart Follow mode, a double press repositioning the phone to center it, and a triple press switching your phone between landscape and portrait orientation. Unfortunately, the other main changes are downgrades, depending on your perspective. Before the ZHIYUN Smooth-X will work at all you have to install their ZY Cami app on your phone. March 29, 2023 Zhiyun Smooth 4 By Zhiyun Check price Positives Great stabilization Wide selection of buttons and knobs Long battery life Great value for price Negatives No object tracking. The gimbal also acts as a selfie stick or even as a tripod and is an essential tool for video creators.