Zhiyun Smooth Q3 Review: Right Fit Gimbal For Mobile Creators

By Author: Blanche Harris
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 I got myself a new gimbal which is the latest Zhiyun’s Smooth Q3. The first gimbal I got ever was the initial Smooth Q. And you know I shot 4 short movies with it. Afterward, Zhiyun launched the Smooth Q2. The Smooth Q2 was very different from the original gimbal, Smooth Q. Well, to be honest, it was not my favorite gimbal.Undoubtedly, the Zhiyun team is working hard to enhance the features and design of the latest and forthcoming products. So, let’s see our views on the latest Smooth Q3.What You Will Like?An Awesome super-light.A compact Built-in LED fill light is superbIt is quick and convenient to balance.Several advanced shooting modesExcellent ergonomic handle and controls with good stabilizationWhat Won’t You Like?It looks and feels cheap and a little flimsyIts ZY Cami application is not reliableDoesn’t include reverse-chargingIts motors look extremely sensitiveWhat Does the Basic Controls Include?The Smooth Q3 includes a joystick, ...
... as we expected. Plus, the big red button is the record button. And it also has a mode button that includes an indicator to indicate which mode the gimbal is operating in so that you don’t need to visit the app settings.The gimbal has the usual zoom control at the sides. However, this doesn’t look very smooth, at least, not on my Samsung S9.One tap of the trigger begins object tracking. And 2 taps center around the gimbal. So that’s all about the basic controls.What’s New the Smooth Q2?The main latest edition comprises a built-in LED fill light, which can rotate 180 degrees. So that you can put light on yourself during shooting vlogs in the night or low-light conditions, plus, it also allows you to illuminate objects and subjects on the other side of the camera. Its handle is more ergonomic than its previous version.Unluckily, the other major changes introduced are downgrades, depending on your perspective. The latest Smooth Q3 is made up of plastic material. Plus, its battery is 1,300mAh, which is less than the 4,500mAh battery of the Q2. This means now you can’t reverse-charge your mobile phone from the gimbal.ModesThe latest Smooth Q3 has 6 different operating modes such as vortex (V), Follow, Pan Follow, Lock, point of view (POV), and GO mode. But I don’t think any of these modes are newly introduced. If you own any of the Zhiyun gimbals, you are likely familiar with all of these modes already.How to Set Up the New Smooth Q3Setting this up is quite breezy as it doesn’t involve any complex balancing. All you need to do is follow the instructions and perform little tasks. You need to extend the device’ arm and tighten the lock screw. Afterward, “unlock” the other motors present there from their travel position. Then put your mobile phone in the spring-loaded clamp. Keep in mind that your mobile phone should fit in the orientation before you power the device on. This minimizes wear on the Smooth Q3 motors.However, it’s a better idea to introduce those adjustments if you have time, but it’s not so necessary. You know this is one of the great advantages of mobile gimbals. Connecting to the ZY Cami app is also pretty easy. Once you power on the gimbal with your mobile phone inserted, open the app and tap the camera button at the top left. Then find your Smooth Q3 device, which should appear in the available devices queue.During the entire Smooth Q3 review period, I continuously needed to reconnect the app with the device via Bluetooth. I don’t know whether it is a bug or something else, but it’s very irritating. And the worst thing is the impact it has on being capable of beginning shooting quickly.Price and CompetitionHowever, the latest Smooth Q3 manages the basics of mobile phone gimbals efficiently. Its app support is a real letdown as it gives the flimsy development quality and motor sensitivity. But if you need a mobile gimbal that can perform the basics well and fits into your budget, then the Zhiyun Smooth Q3 is the right option.However, if you require a more reliable and responsive app, more technical gimbal shooting, or plan to record wide-angle more, I’d recommend checking out either the Smooth 4, the Smooth Q2, Hohem iSteady, the DJI OM4, or the Mobile Plus.For me, the Smooth 4, which costs $99, is a bigger but well-rounded gimbal than the new Smooth Q3 ($89). Then, the DJI OM4 ($149) is made up of plastic but looks and feels robust and gives a better app experience. Then, the Hohem iSteady Mobile Plus ($89) comes, which is another competitor, but it too comprises a cheap plastic material that feels like a disappointing companion app.Meta DescriptionExperience great shooting fun on the latest Zhiyun Smooth Q3 gimbal. This gimbal will provide you more control and grips over the device for seamless shooting.Blanche Harris is a very innovative person, and he always writes about the newest updates and subscriptions plan through mcafee.com/activate. He covers how you can enhance user skills. His blogs have been published on various websites, blogs and e-magazines.Source: https://blanchektechnologyhub.wordpress.com/2021/07/21/zhiyun-smooth-q3-review-right-fit-gimbal-for-mobile-creators/