Ella Walter
The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a gimbal stabilizer that turns your mobile phone into a professional filmmaking camera, helping you create stable, cinematic, and expressive footage with just your phone. It can be used to shoot 3x3 panoramas, also known as 180-degree panoramas. The ZY Play App is required to unlock the full potential of the Zhiyun Smooth 4, although some users prefer to use third-party apps such as the Filmic Pro app. To shoot a 3x3 panorama with the Zhiyun Smooth 4, it is recommended to use the bundled tripod accessory to stabilize the camera and ensure the shot is taken in a wide area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Design | Integrated control panel, hot-key buttons, slider switching stabilizer modes, focus puller |
| Functionality | Cinematic video, 3-axis gimbal stabilizer, 180-degree panorama, 3x3 panorama, vertigo effect mode, time-lapse, slow-motion, object tracking |
| Compatibility | Latest iPhones and Androids, USB-C type charging cable |
| Ergonomics | Awkward to hold due to size and number of controls |
| Portability | Cannot function as a power bank like some other gimbals |
| Accessories | Tripod, extension for handgrip |
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What You'll Learn
Set up your phone on the gimbal
To set up your phone on the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal, start by removing your phone case, if you have one. Next, balance the gimbal with your phone before powering it on. This is important—if you turn on the gimbal before balancing it, it may fall.
To balance the gimbal, slide your smartphone in as close as possible to the tilt axis motor. Loosen the Roll (Y) Axis Thumb Screw, which is located on the back of the gimbal, to adjust the centre of gravity by sliding the horizontal arm. You'll know that your gimbal is balanced when your phone stays level with the power off. If your gimbal falls after approximately one minute of use, or a red light appears at the bottom, it is not balanced and you will need to add a counterweight.
The Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal stabilizer is designed to transform your mobile phone into a professional filmmaking camera, helping you create stable and smooth footage. It features a unique control panel that reduces the need to touch the screen, allowing you to control both the stabilizer and the camera directly with hot-key buttons. With the gimbal, you can easily shoot in both portrait and landscape modes, and it also includes a bundled tripod accessory that can be used as an extension for the handgrip to help with low-angle shots.
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Balance the gimbal
To balance the gimbal, follow these steps:
Firstly, ensure that your smartphone is securely attached to the gimbal's clamp. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is designed to accommodate phones of various sizes, thanks to its powerful motor. However, it's crucial to confirm that your phone is firmly in place.
Secondly, adjust the Roll Axis arm to achieve balance. According to the user manual, this arm should be extended or retracted to find the point of equilibrium. This adjustment is crucial for stabilization and smooth footage. The arm has a limited range of motion, extending only about 1 cm from fully closed to fully open, but this adjustment is often sufficient to balance the setup.
If you're using a heavier phone or have added accessories like a lens or a case, you may need to consider counterweights. These weights can be attached to the gimbal to compensate for the additional weight and restore balance.
When balancing, pay attention to the center of gravity. Attaching a USB-C cable to charge your phone during use, for example, shifts the center of gravity and may require further adjustments to the Roll Axis arm or the use of counterweights.
Finally, utilize the gimbal's hot-key buttons and control panel to fine-tune your setup. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is designed to minimize screen touches, so explore the various modes and adjustments offered by the control panel to perfect your 3x3 pano shots.
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Shoot in a wide area
When shooting a 3x3 panorama with the Zhiyun Smooth 4, it is important to shoot in a wide area. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a gimbal that turns your mobile phone into a professional filmmaking camera, allowing you to create stable, smooth, and cinematic footage. It has a unique control panel that reduces the need to touch the screen, making it easier to control both the stabilizer and the camera.
To ensure a successful 3x3 panorama, the Smooth 4 should be set up in a wide-open space. This is because the panorama feature requires ample space to capture the full 3x3 image. Shooting in a confined or narrow space may result in the image failing to stitch together properly, leading to an incomplete or distorted final image.
When choosing a location to shoot your panorama, consider the following:
- Find an open area free of obstacles: Look for a location that offers a clear and unobstructed view, allowing you to capture the full 3x3 image without any interruptions or objects blocking the frame.
- Allow for sufficient distance: Ensure that you have enough distance between yourself (and the Smooth 4) and the subject or scene you are capturing. This will give the camera the necessary field of view to capture the entire panorama effectively.
- Consider your composition: While shooting in a wide area is crucial, also consider the composition of your image. Ensure that the subject or scene you wish to capture is properly framed within the panorama.
- Lighting and exposure: Pay attention to the lighting conditions in the chosen wide area. Ensure that the lighting is even and consistent across the entire frame to avoid uneven exposure in the final panorama.
By following these guidelines and choosing a suitable wide-area location, you can effectively utilize the Zhiyun Smooth 4's 3x3 panorama feature and capture stunning panoramic images.
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Use the ZY Play app
The ZY Play app is the official app for the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal and is available on both Android and iOS. It offers comprehensive camera controls for convenient photo and video shooting, combining various intelligent functions, including time-lapse, long exposure, slow motion, and more.
To use the ZY Play app with the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal, first, make sure that the app is up to date. Bluetooth connectivity is required, so ensure that your smartphone is connected to the gimbal via Bluetooth. Mount your smartphone on the gimbal, balancing it before powering on. To balance the gimbal, slide the smartphone in as close as possible to the tilt axis motor. Adjust the gravity center by loosening the Roll (Y) Axis Thumb Screw and sliding the horizontal arm until the phone stays level when the power is off.
Once your smartphone is balanced and connected to the gimbal, you can use the ZY Play app to access various shooting modes, including 3x3 panorama mode. When shooting in 3x3 panorama mode, ensure that you are in a wide-open area, or the shot may fail.
The ZY Play app also includes a range of editing features, allowing you to create film-grade footage with your smartphone.
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Adjust the gravity centre
To adjust the gravity centre of the Zhiyun Smooth 4 gimbal, you must first balance your phone. Slide the smartphone in as close as possible to the tilt axis motor. Next, loosen the Roll (Y) Axis Thumb Screw, which is located on the back of the gimbal. By loosening this screw, you can adjust the gravity centre by sliding the horizontal arm. Slide the arm until the smartphone stays level and vertical on the tilt axis. Once the phone is balanced, tighten the Thumb Screw to secure the adjustment.
It is important to note that proper adjustment of the gravity centre is crucial for optimal power consumption. Even if the stabilizer functions well with an improper gravity centre configuration, it may lead to increased power consumption and affect the torque output.
Additionally, make sure to balance the gimbal, especially if you have a heavy phone, before turning it on to avoid damaging the motor. You can determine if the gimbal is balanced by observing its behaviour with the power turned off. If the phone stays level, it is balanced. However, if the gimbal falls within approximately one minute or a red light appears at the bottom, it indicates that the gimbal is not balanced, and you may need to add a counterweight.
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Frequently asked questions
The Zhiyun Smooth 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer that turns your mobile phone into a professional filmmaking camera, helping you create stable, cinematic, and expressive footage with just your phone.
Remove your phone case, then balance the gimbal with your phone before powering it on. Slide the smartphone in as close as possible to the tilt axis motor. Loosen the Roll (Y) Axis Thumb Screw to adjust the gravity center by sliding the horizontal arm.
When the phone stays level with the power off, it is balanced. If the gimbal works but falls in approximately one minute or a red light appears at the bottom, it is not balanced, and you will need a counterweight.
Shoot in a wide area to avoid failure. Use the bundled tripod accessory as an extension for the handgrip to make it easier to take low-angle shots.
The ZY Play App needs to be used to unlock the full potential of the Zhiyun Smooth 4, although some people prefer to use third-party apps like FiLMiC Pro.
