Don't Shake: TOP 5 Steadicams for Smartphones

The young Chinese brand Gudsen famously jumped into the market of stabilizers for cameras, and after a while expanded the range of models for smartphones with the MOZA Mini line. And if the first model {!!! block='price' idgood='1393189' !!! If there was a water breakdown, then the MOZA Mini-S released in 2019 is much more like a full-fledged stabilizer for SLR cameras. And it is quite inexpensive at the same time.

Firstly, the improvements affected the design. With the help of a universal mount, the MOZA Mini-S made friends with tripods. Moreover, a tripod is included. Also, the stabilizer was equipped with a telescopic handle, which allows you to increase the length of the stabilizer to 43 cm. It turns out to be a good alternative to a selfie stick. In addition to everything, the design has become more thoughtful, it is easier to fold and hide in a case for transportation.

MOZA Mini-S can work with smartphones weighing up to 260 grams and less than 88 mm wide. That is, almost any popular camera phone like Samsung Galaxy S10 128 GB Price from 9 999 up to 41 698 ₴ or Huawei P30 Pro 128 GB / 6 GB / Dual . However, the stumbling block here will not be the dimensions, but firmware updates that allow adding support for new smartphones. At the time of the announcement at the end of 2018, the MOZA Mini-S list of supported smartphones did not look too modern: iPhone X and younger, Huawei P10, Samsung Galaxy S8, Xiaomi Mi and Mi MIX 2. The firmware is constantly updated, but some models from the top DxOMark are still not in the list.

However, it's all for a reason. The fact is that the MOZA Mini-S can directly control the smartphone camera via Bluetooth or microUSB. And such integration takes time. With regard to the controls, on the front of the handle you can find a standard four-position and several quick access buttons for changing the camera position, shooting vertical video and switching shooting modes (there is hyperlapse, selfie, axis lock and other modes of "older" stabilizers). In general, setting up the stabilizer takes a few minutes, does not require additional tools and skills.

Against the background of all this, a small disadvantage of the model is the limitations of the angles of rotation and tilt, which can create problems when shooting from some particularly difficult angles. Although, the question here is how much it is needed when recording video from a mobile phone.

FeiYu Tech Vimble 2 is a fairly simple stabilizer for a smartphone, one of the main charms of which is intuitive operation.

There are three main keys to control the shooting. The joystick key on top controls the camera movements right-left and up-down. The middle key turns on/off the stabilizer and switches one of the five operating modes. Well, the third lower button is used for shooting: a short press takes a picture, a long press turns on video recording. There are zoom buttons on the side, and there is a button on the back that activates the pan or tracking modes.

I liked that the smartphone holder is quite tight. You have to push the doors with two hands, so it's not scary for a smartphone that it accidentally falls out during filming. And the design itself is unlikely to be loose in six months. The inside of the holder is upholstered with something like soft touch plastic. In appearance, it is impossible to damage a smartphone even in a plastic case. Smartphones up to 84 mm wide and weighing up to 210 grams are supported. That is, virtually any popular camera phone.

To start working with the stabilizer, you need to install the proprietary Vicool application and connect your smartphone via Bluetooth. The application displays the charge level of the stabilizer, shooting modes and a million small settings of Vimble 2 like object tracking, screen grid, motor settings, head speed, etc. Unaccustomed to it, it seems that there are too many settings (plus there are explanations for not all in the instructions), but after a while you get used to it. Moreover, it is necessary to enter the settings only if necessary.

Of the additional features, it is worth noting the ability to work in the selfie stick mode (the telescopic tube can increase by 18 cm) and a tripod included. Against the background of competitors, only a small battery life looks like a disadvantage (5 hours versus 8-12). But the big question here is who will shoot the video five hours a day? Yes, and no one forbids connecting a power bank to the stabilizer and charging it during filming.

Upon close acquaintance with Zhiyun Smooth 4, it seems that it tends to more serious professional stabilizers for cameras rather than multifunctional counterparts that are designed to work with smartphones.

For example, there is no selfie stick mode, and the whole system comes in a fairly simple foam case. The stabilizer body is made of metal with plastic and assembled conscientiously: no backlash or creaks, maximum reliability. Plus, there is a lock on one of the stabilizer axes, which prevents the design and the smartphone from hanging out when carrying.

The seriousness of the device is manifested in a sophisticated control system: there are standard start/stop buttons, switching modes of operation of the stub and calling the menu, plus a couple of additional buttons that conventional stabilizers for smartphones do not have. For example, one of them puts the stab in a kind of sports mode, when it instantly turns and spins, tracking a fast-moving object. There is also a button for tracking along the tilt axis or tracking along all axes. This is more like the functions of the vaunted DJI Ronin-S Standard Kit .

Another cool feature from the older brothers is a large ring on the side face, which allows you to control zoom and focus. However, it only works with the ZY Play app, which sometimes behaves buggy on Android. Although, this is fixable with the update. There is also no usual joystick for turning the camera, everything is done manually. It may not seem convenient to someone, but in fact it turns out to be faster and more accurate.

Therefore, it is worth recommending Zhiyun Smooth-4 to owners of top-end camera phones who are seriously interested in mobile filming. For broadcasts in social networks and filming of tourist vlogs, it is better to take something simpler like FeiYu Tech Vimble 2 Price from 4 172 up to 5 360 ₴ or Gudsen MOZA Mini-S .

FeiYu Tech SPG 2 is one of the most functional and convenient mobile accessories on the market, which, although not cheap, is suitable for any smartphone, and for any task.

This model is extremely friendly to any smartphone models. The main thing is that the width of the case does not exceed 95 mm, and the weight is less than 300 g. Considering the size and weight of modern frameless models, such indicators are closer to the dimensions of tablets. In general, FeiyuTech SPG 2 will easily make friends with both Samsung Galaxy Note9 and Huawei P30 Pro.

Among the additional features, we note a functional wheel on the handle, which simplifies interaction with a smartphone, as well as powerful motors and a high-quality stabilization algorithm. The latter is able to produce a "soft" picture even with strong shaking and generally shows itself well when shooting in extreme conditions, which is not quite typical for such stabilizers.

Well, an OLED display to display the operating mode, battery charging and connection status is quite a convenient thing. Also note the protection from moisture and dust, and high battery life. FeiyuTech SPG 2 is capable of working from one charge up to 14 hours. It may come in handy if after the shooting day you forget to put it on charge, and the next day you need to take it off again. Plus, the battery is removable here, so you can buy an additional one if necessary.

However, all this pleasure will cost $ 220. This is much closer to stabilizers for entry-level professional cameras like Gudsen MOZA AirCross , rather than inexpensive stabs for smartphones. In general, this is not a toy for one day, but a serious device.

Osmo Pocket from DJI is a unique device that blurs the boundaries between gadgets. The fact is that a camera is already built into this stabilizer, and a smartphone is used here to output images from the camera. Its essence is simplicity: turned on, pressed record, shot a high-quality video.

It was created in order to help people who are not particularly versed in the nuances of video shooting to make videos of an almost professional level. Therefore, there is simple one-handed operation, high picture quality (thanks to the large matrix), a shooting frequency of 60 frames per second and effective mechanical suppression of shaking. Well, if this becomes not enough, you can buy accessories for Osmo Pocket like a tripod, a monopod, a smartphone holder, a bicycle mount or a set of light filters that expand the capabilities of the built-in camera.

Externally, Osmo Pocket resembles a small stabilizer for smartphones: a handle, a screen and a camera with a balancing system. The size is as compact as possible, it lies in the hand like a cast, and because of its light weight (116 grams), hands do not get tired of it, as from heavier stabilizers. Camera control is also sharpened under one hand, you can start recording, switch to the camera or change the shooting modes with your thumb without looking up from the camera.

As for the camera, DJI Osmo Pocket is equipped with a 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor with 12 million effective pixels. The optics received an aperture of f/2.0 and a focal length of 26 mm. The maximum video quality is 4K, the maximum photo resolution is 4000×3000. If we move away from dry figures towards subjective impressions, then the cameras shoot very well, for travelers and Youtube bloggers this is more than enough. I especially liked that when the camera is bad, it adjusts well and does not suffer from overexposure or darkening. Plus, the stabilization quality is excellent. I didn't like maybe not the biggest camera viewing angles. Well, in the tracking mode, Osmo Pocket sometimes stopped following the object or accidentally switched to another one.

In terms of battery life, we have about 140 minutes of work when shooting videos in Full HD and a little less than an hour if we set the quality in 4K. This is not so much, but fortunately you can connect a power bank to the camera or buy a special case with an additional battery.

Well, talking about a decent cost (about $ 400) will be out of place here, since the device is unique and it essentially has no competitors.