Zhiyun Tech Smooth II Gimbal for Smartphones: Fluid Video Shots Even When Walking

Today’s smartphones can shoot very impressive video with surprisingly good quality. Adding camera movement to your smartphone video can make your video look and feel much more professional. It can also add to the energy of the story. But even with the new generation of premium smartphones with optical image stabilization, most phone video will still look pretty jittery and shaky when you move the phone with your hand. That’s where a gimbal can make a huge difference. Zhiyun Tech makes a professional quality gimbal for smartphones which does a really nice job smoothing out your video footage, even when you’re walking. And it also works well with the larger phones like the iPhone 7+ or Samsung Note series.

Zhiyun Tech was kind enough to send us the Smooth II for review. Full disclosure: This gimbal was given to me for this review, I did not purchase it with my money. I was not paid to do this review.

If you’d like to learn how to record and post process your sound, be sure to have a look at my sound for video courses at http://school.learnlightandsound.com  My Dialogue Sound Post Processing with Adobe Audition course just launched at the end of August 2016.

Visit us at http://learnlightandsound.com for more updates on how to improve your lighting and sound for video. Also be sure to subscribe to get new episodes every week!

Gear used in this episode:

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Zhiyun Tech Smooth II Gimbal for Smartphones

Amazon: https://geni.us/UpL1JFr

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1268168-REG/zhiyun_tech_zysii_zhiyun_tech_smooth_2_3_axis.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/ZHZYSII/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xZHZYSII

Zhiyun Tech: https://bit.ly/28IcZlY

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iPhone 7+

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Other gear used for this video

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Sound Devices 633 Audio Mixer and Recorder

DVeStore: http://www.dvestore.com/guy-says-gear-reviews/audio/audio-recorders-mixers/sound-devices-633-six-input-compact-mixer-with-10-track-recorder/#aid=6242

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Audio Technica AT4053b Microphone

Amazon: https://geni.us/IS7c1o

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/642499-REG/Audio_Technica_AT4053B_AT4053b_Hypercardioid_Condenser_Microphone.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AUAT4053B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAUAT4053B

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Aperture COB 120t LED Light

Amazon: https://geni.us/VNAgQAU

B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1257044-REG/aputure_lsc120ta_lightstorm_cob120_a_b_mount_light.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/APLSC120TA/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAPLSC120TA

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Aputure Light Dome (softbox for 120t)

Amazon: https://geni.us/AYHC5V1

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1287574-REG/aputure_lightdome_light_dome.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/APLDLSC120/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAPLDLSC120

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Panasonic GH4 m4/3 Camera

Amazon: https://geni.us/T6D9c

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1028453-REG/panasonic_dmc_gh4kbody_lumix_dmc_gh4_mirrorless_micro.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/PADMCGH4B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xPADMCGH4B

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Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens (for talking head shots)

Amazon: https://geni.us/HYgh

B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/971404-REG/olympus_v311030bu000_m_45mm_f1_8_lens.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/OL4518B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xOL4518B

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Copyright 2016 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.