Review on Zhiyun Smooth-X: Foldable Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer and Selfie Stick - Gray by Jeff Payne

This is my first time buying a stabilizer so I watched all the videos I could find on the available stabilizers before settling on Smooth x. I'm not a video blogger and I don't make videos on YouTube. I just wanted to make some cool videos with my son and family at home. So it's a complete novice experience in suspension. When I first looked at the insert with the fold-out instructions, it seemed like a daunting task. What have I got myself into? However, it was actually very simple, and I think pasting makes it overly complicated (see image). I deployed it, then paired it with the Zy Cami app, performed a firmware update (which took two attempts, meaning I had to press the button again to get it working after the first failed attempt), and everything was installed within minutes. . I was a little concerned after signing up for the Zy Cami app as it was mentioned that I have a Zy Cami Prime subscription for 6 months. What happens when it expires? When I read more about it, ZY Cami Prime only offers you cloud editing and access to more video templates (see image), none of which interested me. I couldn't find the Prime price, but it really isn't. It doesn't bother me as I never intend to use it. I also read that some people had problems verifying their account during signup. I noticed that the countdown clock wasn't a countdown to when the code expires, but rather a countdown to when you can resubmit a different code. So I received my code within minutes of submitting it. Even though the countdown was over, the code was still running, so signing up was easy. I also read about the need for calibration, which put me off a bit, but it's actually a very simple process. Place the gimbal on a flat surface and make the settings to calibrate the gimbal's click. The calibration sequence (see video) was really cool and fast. From there I started using the gimbal, the options seemed a bit intimidating at first but after about an hour I was ready to go. Considering I'm new to all of this, smart video templates were something I thought was a really cool option. They automate gimbal movement and allow you to capture short clips with music and turn them into an amazing short film in minutes. I also tested the time-lapse features, which were well designed. They provide you with a timer when recording that tells you how long the time lapse movie will take so you know how long the end result will be when you record. Another cool thing, since I didn't buy the combo pack, is that it accepts standard screw-mount tripods, so you can use any tripod you can find (in my video, the tripod of mine is used by a projector , which I bought separately ) . Finally, the controls can be customized in the application, for myself I decided to reverse the joystick that moves the stabilizers. Overall I was happy with the stabilizer considering the price as a beginner. The videos I took looked great and were a big improvement on my shaky hands. There are many options and advanced features, but also smart video templates allow me to create great short clips right away without having to learn advanced features. . Several areas that I think could be improved, while the gimbal does have a USB-C port for charging, it seems limited. When I tried to charge it with the USB C to C cable it didn't work, I had to use the USB C to C cable that is also included in the stabilizer. Another thing I'd like to see is a description in the manual of what gestures you can do. The gesture I found was to make a V with my fingers or wave at the camera to activate capture/follow me mode or take a photo in photo mode (don't forget to press the gesture button first in the app to activate the gestures). . However, once I figured out the gestures, the Follow Me feature worked really well, and I love that I now have the ability to take family photos without anyone being left behind or having to run after activating the timer button.