Verdict
In the Smooth Q4 , Zhiyun has managed to create a smartphone gimbal that ’s packed with agiotage feature film but is n’t charge with a eminent - end Mary Leontyne Price tag end . If you ’re in the food market for a gimbal can go toe - to - toe with the DJI OM 5 but at a reduced cost , then this is easy your best bet .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
In the Zhiyun Smooth - Q4 , the DJI OM range finds its most competent rival yet – and that ’s great news for smartphone filmmakers .
In the world of smartphone filming , Zhiyun has felt like the Android to DJI ’s Apple . While DJI typically free one new smartphone gimbal a year , designed to replace the previous model , Zhiyun offers a wider regalia of options that are designed to appeal to consumers at different Mary Leontyne Price points . Strictly speaking , however , it ’s Zhiyun ’s Smooth - Q gimbals that are the closest to DJI ’s OM scope in terms of features .
Last year’sZhiyun Smooth Q3was a great alternative to DJI ’s reigning smartphone gimbal at the metre , the DJI OM 4 . This was for the most part down to its low monetary value , and the inclusion body of a built - in fill light to help filmmakers in low - light scenery . However , the Q3 was sustain back by issues in Zhiyun ’s companion app , and the fill ignitor was n’t quite as seamless to use as it could have been .
In the sentence since , DJI has let loose the terrificDJI OM 5on the world , which left Zhiyun with some serious catching up to do , if it wanted to remain competitive . Now that the Smooth - Q4 is here , I ’m felicitous to report that not only has Zhiyun keep a close center on the advancements of its cheeseparing rival , but the brand has also taken note of feedback regarding the Smooth Q3 . After a decorous amount of examination , here ’s our final verdict .
Design
Simply bet at the Smooth Q4 and it ’s unclouded that Zhiyun has gone back to the drawing board , when it comes to the pattern of the unit . The rubberised grip of the grip now extends almost the entire way of life around for a safe fit in the hand , and the ascendancy jury has been modify to immix more seamlessly with the chief body of the gimbal . All this results in a look that ’s far more positive than the invention of the Smooth Q3 .
The clit on the control panel rest largely the same ; it ’s only the zoom slider that ’s undergo a major change – it ’s now been replace by a ringlet wheel . in person , I ’m a bigger rooter of the more accurate movement that a roll bike affords , and it ’s now far comfortable to get the precise distance that you ’re aiming for when shooting .
These design adaption are only one half of the equality , however ; several more can be spotted if you look further up the gimmick . For starters , the sliding mechanics that had tolerate the Q3 to be stored away is now gone , supercede by a far simpler protein folding mechanism that grant the Q4 to whip into action more promptly .
The clasp has also been modified to be more compact – it can now be folded down when it is n’t in use to avoid becoming captivate on anything . Zhiyun has n’t fully adopted the magnetic solution offered by DJI , but it has been incorporated somewhat into the update filling light .
Here , the fill brightness is n’t bolted to the machine in such a manner that it ca n’t be off . Instead , it ’s a separate entity that snaps onto the gimbal magnetically and trade on once it ’s done so . turn off the fill luminosity is as simple as removing it . It ’s a far more unseamed cognitive process , one that feels several league advantageously than the clunky fill ignitor of the Q3 .
The manipulation of attractive feature is n’t the only inspiration that Zhiyun has taken from DJI . however ; there ’s a secret hiding at the base of the gimbal ’s moving part . Just like the DJI OM 5 , there ’s now an extendable subdivision quick to utilise when it suits you , handy for impart more height to your shots , or even give up you to get frames that are stuffy to the priming without needing to awkwardly crouch down .
Standard elements such as a tripod backing and a USB - nose candy larboard make a return , but with so many improvement made to the design , the Smooth - Q4 feel like an totally different animate being to the Q3 . Again , the fact that Zhiyun has implemented these rise with minimal shock on the cost of the unit is wonderful .
App
If you ’ve ever used DJI ’s Mimo app then you might get a spirit of déjà vu when dive into Zhiyun ’s own ZY Cami app . In terms of the layout , both are near - identical , although DJI Mimo keeps the aesthetic to “ Dark Mode ” , while the ZY Cami app is a much brighter occasion .
There ’s a good amount of TV tutorial available in the app if you ever come up yourself perplex , and on the home page you ’re immediately greeted by example of footage shot by other users . This can always be ready to hand if you ’re in need of some spry intake .
The real meat of the app lies in the LiveView section , which apply an overlayer to the camera that lets you use a gang of digital features in accordance with the Q4 gimbal . There are stock modal value such as Timelapse , which is always great for atmospherical barb , and there ’s MagicClone Pano , which lets you take intentionally – and , sometimes , unintentionally – hilarious shots where you may have multiple interlingual rendition of a soul in the same picture .
As you might expect , there ’s an redaction suite within the app , too , and it ’s divide into two section : make and Quick Edit . The former declare oneself a adequate amount of customisation , with the power to bestow overlays , textual matter , euphony and even filters . It is n’t as feature - deep as LumaFusion , for example , but it gets the task done . The latter is ideal for little , shareable clips mean for societal culture medium ; the software uses AI to do most of the editing for you .
There are some resources such as additional guide and undivided music tracks that are mesh behind a paywall for ZY Prime , but there is n’t enough to make it feel as though the ZY Cami app is lacking in its default state . Overall , it offers a strong experience that , while lacking the finesse of DJI Mimo , does a decent job in emulating its ripe bits .
Stabilisation and Performance
At its effect , the Zhiyun Smooth - Q4 is a blast to habituate . I ’ve put a few gimbals through their tempo in my time , which can become overwhelmed by too much motion ; but this was n’t ever the case with the Smooth - Q4 . or else , the gimbal has n’t complain back all that much as I ’ve tried to push the motors to their limits .
The same goes for those juncture I extended the arm hidden within the gimbal itself . This surprised me , since I ’ve been using the fairly heavy iPhone 12 Pro Max for this review article and I expected some resistance in this area .
Similarly , the rear - facing initiation could do with being more tactile . miss are frequent enough to be a major issue , but this has chance when I ’ve tried to recentre the gimbal or move from Portrait mood into Landscape style .
fortunately , the charismatic fill light is quick to help you out in such situations . The filling light itself is now far well-heeled to apply , as you’re able to adjust the luminosity by plainly pressing down on the gimbal ’s scroll wheel . This is a far more seamless affair than the unresponsive design of the Q3 ’s filling light .
There are even colour filters include , if you want to sway up the atmosphere of a particular shot . Overall , it ’s a fantastic feature to have , but what I ’d like to have seen is the power to add the fill light to either side of the clasp . With only one side devote the magnetised handling , it is n’t possible to use the filling light in continuative with the rear - present cameras when in Portrait mode – with the arm of the gimbal itself getting in the way . Hopefully , this is an issue that will be remedy in next yr ’s update .
The 15 - hour battery of last class remains unchanged , but there are no complaint on that front . That 15 - hour limit is still more than sufficient to get you through several shoots . And , apart from top up the gadget straight out of the box , I have n’t need to charge the Smooth - Q4 during the examination period for this review .
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Should you buy it?
Given that the Smooth - Q4 has almost all the major feature of the pricier DJI OM 5 , it ’s severe to call back of many reasons , out of doors of DJI ’s ranking app , you would n’t just plunk up Zhiyun ’s gimbal instead .
While it remains more low-priced than its rival , the Smooth - Q4 has had a noticeable cost tramp over the Smooth Q3 . If your budget is crest at £ 100 , then last class ’s model is still a heavy pick .
Final Thoughts
The Zhiyun Smooth Q4 is a victory . It ’s a steadfast exemplar of what can pass when a company not only listens to consumer feedback , but also pays attention to the trends of the grocery store and the success of its contender .
With the inclusion of the extendable arm and a totally revamped figure and fill - light system , the Smooth - Q4 is great merriment to use , and a very hefty prick for anyone making subject matter using their smartphone . The ZY Cami app still has a way to go before it can match DJI ’s offering , but with the Smooth - Q4 being a mediocre bit tinny than the OM 5 , the computer hardware has never felt as closely matched in terms of quality .
Trusted Score
How we test
The Smooth Q4 was test using an iPhone 12 Pro Max in a sort of different locations . The equipment was used as the referee ’s primary gimble for several calendar week before being scored .
FAQs
The Smooth Q4 can work with both iPhones and Android telephone set that are compatible with the ZY Cami app .
There is a USB - C port for charging and data transfer on the Smooth Q4 .
Full Specs
