Gimbals for Phones: After someone herementioned a nice gimbal he had for his phone - Zhiyun - I began looking online. Unless what you're considering is just a stick that holds a phone...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

After someone herementioned a nice gimbal he had for his phone - Zhiyun - I began looking online. Unless what you're considering is just a stick that holds a phone, be sure to see the list of compatible phones. You don't want to buy a gimbal that doesn't manipulate the phone. Ultimately, I decided against getting one for my son because I doubt he would use the phone instead of a camcorder.

hcmcdole

I got the DJI Osmo (can't remember the model number) gimbal a few years ago. I find I have to take my Samsung S20 out of the Otter Box shell to fit in the gimbal for best results. Then getting the connection between phone and gimbal is hit or miss at times. For zooming in/out, panning, and staying level it does what it says it will do - I only used it for video and rarely take it with me these last couple of years.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

hcmcdole wrote:

I got the DJI Osmo (can't remember the model number) gimbal a few years ago. I find I have to take my Samsung S20 out of the Otter Box shell to fit in the gimbal for best results. Then getting the connection between phone and gimbal is hit or miss at times. For zooming in/out, panning, and staying level it does what it says it will do - I only used it for video and rarely take it with me these last couple of years.

I'm always leery of various devices connecting over the air.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Our retirement community has a TV Studio with some equipment for checkout. One is the DJI Osmo 4. I've had it checked out for about a month.

I'm using it with a Samsung Galaxy S9 in an Otterbox case. Current price is $100. There are two newer models, the Osmo 5 and Osmo 6.

It works extremely well at its primary job of taking the jiggle out of phone shooting. There are other control and tracking features that work well too.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bsprague wrote:

Our retirement community has a TV Studio with some equipment for checkout. One is the DJI Osmo 4. I've had it checked out for about a month.

I'm using it with a Samsung Galaxy S9 in an Otterbox case. Current price is $100. There are two newer models, the Osmo 5 and Osmo 6.

It works extremely well at its primary job of taking the jiggle out of phone shooting. There are other control and tracking features that work well too.

There is so much technology available now. I have to limit what we buy, though. I want to make sure I have a use for it, and I know how to use it.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

jerryc41 wrote:

There is so much technology available now. I have to limit what we buy, though. I want to make sure I have a use for it, and I know how to use it.

If I were to transition to my phone being my primary video camera, a gimbal like this would be a must have. At my (our?) age, steady video with a phone is a challenge. They are awkward to hold and my hands are not as "rock steady" as when I landed on carriers for a living.

The two hardest things to solve in video are quality, steady footage and good audio. DJI's Pocket 2 camera with it's "creator combo" kit solves both. The wireless mic is awesome. Other features that come with using a phone for control are useful too.

delder Loc: Maryland

For cheap, I found a Selfie Stick with a nice Cellphone bracket [1/4" Thread] gave me a good handle on the Smartphone and the collapsible stick served as a rudimentary stabilizer for the Smartphone.
Also worked well as a Monopod. [Yes! Even on my D3100!]

williejoha

What the heck does one need a gimbal for an I-phone? The only time I use a gimbal is when using a big and heavy lens. What am I missing ? JMTC
WJH

tgreenhaw

jerryc41 wrote:

After someone herementioned a nice gimbal he had for his phone - Zhiyun - I began looking online. Unless what you're considering is just a stick that holds a phone, be sure to see the list of compatible phones. You don't want to buy a gimbal that doesn't manipulate the phone. Ultimately, I decided against getting one for my son because I doubt he would use the phone instead of a camcorder.

I put this on my wish list for Christmas as it's only $30 and does have a motorized gimbal stabilization capacity to take smooth videos, especially when walking and panning. The negatives I see in the reviews is that you have to use their phone app that may have privacy issues and big phones with cases may not fit. It does have buttons on the handle for zoom, mode for photo or video as well as a joystick for motorized panning. The app supposedly has face tracking for following a moving subject.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

tgreenhaw wrote:

I put this on my wish list for Christmas as it's only $30 and does have a motorized gimbal stabilization capacity to take smooth videos, especially when walking and panning. The negatives I see in the reviews is that you have to use their phone app that may have privacy issues and big phones with cases may not fit. It does have buttons on the handle for zoom, mode for photo or video as well as a joystick for motorized panning. The app supposedly has face tracking for following a moving subject.

See if your phone is supported by the software. Even if it isn't, it's still a good gimbal at a good price.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

I use a gimble a lot with my iPhone 14 Pro.
Sometimes I mount it on a tripod if I am videoing a presentation.
Sometimes I use it when I'm hand holding my phone and taking video.
Sometimes I use it when I'm in the back seat of a Nanchang (plane) taking air to air pictures of the other planes.
Sometimes I use it just when I'm taking pictures to help hold the camera steady.
Probably a few other reasons, but there are reasons.

coolhanduke Loc: Redondo Beach, CA

Here is the gimble I use. It's a Zhiyum.
Most if not all gambles have an expandable clamp to fit the iPhone into. The only issue is, it usually does not expand enough to hold the phone if it has a case on it.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

coolhanduke wrote:

Here is the gimble I use. It's a Zhiyum.
Most if not all gambles have an expandable clamp to fit the iPhone into. The only issue is, it usually does not expand enough to hold the phone if it has a case on it.

I got a Zhiylum(sp?) for my son, but I haven't opened it. That will happen on Dec 25. Unfortunately, only certain phones connect with it electronically, so he will be using it without the connection.

jcboy3

williejoha wrote:

What the heck does one need a gimbal for an I-phone? The only time I use a gimbal is when using a big and heavy lens. What am I missing ? JMTC
WJH

You are confusing a gimbal tripod head with a gimbal stabilizer. Gimbal tripod heads are used to balance large lenses, and might have panoramic features for doing multi-row panoramas, while gimbal stabilizers are used to stabilize video.

"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). " - wikipedia