The Smooth 4: Is It Worth The Hype?

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that eliminates camera shake by mounting your phone on the gimbal, rotating three pivots in 3 axes: pan, tilt, and roll. The Smooth 4 offers four modes: pan and follow, following, locked, and PhoneGo. The debate over whether cast iron pans should have a smooth or pebbled surface has been ongoing among culinary enthusiasts, with some arguing that smooth pans are easier to clean and have better non-stick properties, while others claim that pebbled pans improve flavour and heat distribution.

Smooth 4's modes: PhoneGo, Following, Locked, Standby, and Vertical

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that can be used to eliminate camera shake. It features several modes, including PhoneGo, Following, Locked, Standby, and Vertical, which offer different functionalities to the user.

PhoneGo mode is a feature that can be activated by pressing the trigger button at the back of the grip. It increases the motor speed, making the gimbal more responsive to rapid movements. This mode is ideal for capturing quick changes of direction and fast-paced scenes, such as sports or action sequences.

Following mode, also known as Pan Following mode, allows the gimbal to follow your movements in the pan and tilt axes while keeping the roll axis locked. This means that if the camera rolls to the left or right, the gimbal will counteract these movements to maintain a parallel position to the ground.

Locked mode, also referred to as Locking mode, locks all three axes of the gimbal. In this mode, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 holds its orientation and stays focused on the target. This mode is useful for situations where you want to keep the camera pointed at a specific subject, such as recording a concert or capturing footage from a moving vehicle.

Standby mode is a power-saving feature that allows you to conserve battery life between shooting sessions. Instead of turning off the device, you can push and latch the horizontal arm to enter standby mode. When you're ready to shoot again, simply flick the arm outwards, and the gimbal returns to stabilization mode.

Vertical mode, or portrait mode, enables you to shoot in a vertical orientation, which is ideal for platforms like IGTV or TikTok. To activate vertical mode, turn off the gimbal and then turn it back on while holding it in the vertical position.

The Smooth 4 also offers other features, such as timelapse and motion capture capabilities, and it can stabilize footage within various apps, making it a versatile tool for content creators.

Smooth 4's design and ease of use

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that is designed to almost completely eliminate camera shake. It has a phone gimbal that offers stability, smoothness, and direct control. It features stronger brushless motors than the previous model and can hold a device up to 8.5cm (3.35") in height and 210g (0.46 lbs) in weight. It provides 240° tilt and roll and 300° of panning. The Smooth 4 is easy to manoeuvre and minimizes the need to touch your phone while operating. It has an ergonomically designed integrated control panel that is easy to reach and convenient to use. The buttons are easy to find and react immediately, providing a quick option for toggling between camera modes and settings. The smooth motion of the Focus and Zoom wheel allows for fine adjustments, while the dual-use Trigger on the back allows for quick switching between movement modes.

The Smooth 4 has four modes: Pan Follow Mode, Locked Mode, Standby Mode, and Vertical Mode. Pan Follow Mode allows the gimbal to pan left and right with your movements. Locked Mode locks the gimbal into a single direction to keep it straight as you move. Standby Mode can be activated by pushing and latching the horizontal arm, which is useful for conserving battery between shooting sessions. Vertical Mode allows you to shoot in a vertical orientation, which is useful for platforms like IGTV or TikTok.

The design of the Smooth 4 allows for an easy transition between standby mode and startup mode by folding and expanding the horizontal arm of the gimbal. It can run for up to 12 hours and can be charged by a portable power bank. The stabilizer can also charge a phone via a USB port on the tilt axis. The large square handle ensures a good grip and ensures a large space for the internal battery. The black and white colour scheme is suitable for a wide range of users.

The Smooth 4 has received positive reviews for its ease of use, sturdy build quality, smooth controls, good battery life, and stabilization capabilities. It has been praised for its ability to minimize the need to touch the phone while operating. However, some reviewers have noted that it is slightly bulkier than competing products and that the object tracking feature is flawed. Overall, the Smooth 4 is a well-designed and easy-to-use gimbal that provides smooth and stable footage.

Smooth 4's compatibility with other apps

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that can be used with a variety of apps to enhance its functionality. While it has its own dedicated ZY Play app, which features various inbuilt features and modes, it is also compatible with other apps like Filmic Pro.

The ZY Play app, available on Android and iOS, offers a range of features that unlock the full potential of the Smooth 4. It provides access to modes such as the vertigo effect mode, a photography effect that is unique to the Smooth 4. However, some users may prefer to use alternative apps for filming due to personal preferences or the desire for more advanced shooting software.

The Smooth 4's compatibility with Filmic Pro is a notable feature. This compatibility allows users to shoot in 4K and utilize the zoom wheel within the Filmic Pro app, providing a seamless experience. The Smooth 4's buttons can be used to control the Filmic Pro interface, eliminating the need to touch the screen frequently. This compatibility enhances the user experience, particularly in bright conditions, and reduces fingerprints on the screen.

In addition to dedicated apps, the Smooth 4 can also be used with various camera apps on iPhone and Android devices. The gimbal's stabilization features can be leveraged to capture smooth and stable footage within any camera app. This versatility allows users to choose their preferred camera app while still benefiting from the Smooth 4's stabilization capabilities.

Overall, the Zhiyun Smooth 4 offers flexibility in terms of app compatibility, allowing users to choose from dedicated apps like ZY Play and Filmic Pro or utilize it with their preferred camera apps on iPhone and Android devices. This versatility caters to different user preferences and enables a more personalized experience.

Smooth 4's gimbal and stabilization features

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that uses three brushless motors to rotate three pivots in the pan, tilt and roll axes. This rotation counteracts camera shake, keeping your camera steady and stabilising footage. The gimbal has three basic shooting modes: pan and follow, following, and locked. In pan and follow mode, the gimbal will follow your movements left and right (in the pan axis) but counteract any movements which point the camera up or down. In following mode, the gimbal will follow your movements in the pan and tilt axes, but lock the roll axis to keep the camera parallel to the ground. Locked mode locks all three axes, keeping the camera focused on its target.

The Smooth 4 also features a PhoneGo mode, which can be activated by pressing a trigger button on the back of the grip. This mode increases the motor speed, making the gimbal more responsive to quick directional changes. The gimbal also has a time-lapse feature, where you can choose two points in space and set the timer for how often the gimbal should move and record.

The Smooth 4 has a control panel with a slider and trigger button, which can be used to switch between gimbal modes. The control panel has been ergonomically designed to be easily accessible and convenient to use, reducing the need to touch the screen. The gimbal also features a handwheel, which allows for finite adjustments and high-precision focus changes in real time.

The Smooth 4 is a handheld device that can be paired with an iPhone or Android smartphone over Bluetooth. It features a clamping mechanism for your smartphone, with adjustable arms to accommodate smartphones of all sizes. The gimbal can be charged via a USB-C type cable, and also features two-way charging, allowing the stabilizer to be charged by a portable power source while charging your phone via a USB port on the tilt axis.

Smooth 4's package contents

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 comes packaged in a lightweight and sturdy grey styrofoam box. The package includes the gimbal, a charging cable, and a small tripod. The charging cable is a USB-C type, which is an upgrade from the Micro USB port that is featured in most gimbals. The tripod is small but functional.

The Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that is designed to almost completely eliminate camera shake. It is built with purpose and function in mind, measuring 32.8cm (12.9") on the long end and weighing 547g (1.2 lbs). It can hold a device up to 8.5cm (3.35") in height and 210g (0.46 lbs) in weight.

The gimbal comes with a QuickStart guide that instructs users to download and read the complete user manual. The user manual provides instructions on how to balance the phone on the gimbal, how to use the Follow and Lock modes, and how to shoot in vertical mode. It also includes information on how to use the USB Type-C cable provided in the package to fully charge and activate the batteries on the first use.

The Smooth 4 has received positive reviews for its value for money, build quality, and smooth video output. However, there are mixed reviews regarding its functionality and ease of use, with some customers reporting that it takes time to understand and that the phone flops around.

Frequently asked questions