Zhiyun smooth Q4

Introduction

Inspired by the changes to the DJI OM 5, Zhiyun is back on the drawing board for his latest smartphone Zimbal: Zhiyun Smooth Q4.

For most content creators who use their smartphones exclusively to capture footage, a proper smartphone gimbal is essential. DJI has long dominated the state but Xiun is taking the company to work with its own devices that not only offer many of the same space, but also come up with cheap price tags.

Last year’s Zhiyun Smooth Q3 was a lot of fun to use, and when I found the lack of companion app and somewhat fidly fill light, the overall device was one that I could easily recommend to people who want stable footage on a budget.

Since the DJI OM 5 hit the market, it has come up with a simple folding design as well as an extended arm that can achieve the same effect as the once popular selfie stick; It is clear that Zhiyun was paying close attention to his rival because both of these features (and more) made their way to the smooth Q4.

Instead of using the smooth Q3 screw mechanism, the Q4 now requires a simple movement to bend outwards and ready for action. This is especially effective if you want to capture some footage quickly.

Just like the OM 5, Gimbal’s Base itself can now extend your shots to give a higher perspective. From the short time I spent with Q4, this expander seems to be tough enough and it doesn’t ring easily when used.

A big addition to the Smooth Q3 was a built-in fill light that, despite having a great idea in theory, the feature toggle button doesn’t always recognize an input. At this point, Zhiyun has completely removed the button, instead opting for a magnetic system where the fill light is turned on as soon as you connect it and can be turned off after removal.

The Phil Light itself includes several color filters with Gimbal to add a unique shade. Of course, these filters are so small that you can only see the benefits of their presence in a dark environment, but the magnetic system is a pleasure to use so far.

Zhiyun has also made some huge changes to the companion app and from my first impression I can tell you that the interface is much simpler than before. I need to spend more time with the app to understand all the changes, but it’s nice to hear that Zhiyun has heard the feedback and included it in the smooth Q4.