ZHIYUNRØDE VideoMic Me Compact Directional Smartphone Microphone with 3.5mm TRRS Connector for Mobile Filmmaking and Content Creation

Battery y life is so decreased

This is my first gimbal and I really struggled to learn how to use it. I was tired of getting shaky videos walking around with my cell phone, however, so I was determined to figure it out. The instructions that come with the gimbal aren't particularly useful, but there are training videos you can watch about how to do things on the app and online. Yes, I said app. To use this gimbal, you have to use the app and you can't just use any software you want. There are a lot of bells and whistles on this gimbal and I have barely scratched the surface, but taking my first smooth video felt like a victory! I also love the tilting feature on the gimbal where it holds the camera. Adjusting the angle of my phone and not just holding it flat has made a huge difference.This gimbal feels like an entry level option, but it doesn't have the instructions and support that true beginners need. If you are willing to put in some time and effort, this gimbal will work well for you. If you want something that is more plug-and-play, this is not the gimbal for you. The gimbal arrives in a nice box and includes a tripod you can attach the gimbal to while you charge it. Or you can film on it, too. The gimbal is heavier than I thought it would be, but I can hold it for 15 - 20 minutes at a time without getting too tired. A USB charger cable is provided, but you will need to charge this with a battery pack or something of your own.

If you're going to shoot a video with your phone then a Gimbal is a necessity. A gimbal makes a shaky hand-held shot into a smooth and professional looking shot (see my video). This unit works perfectly and as intended, but it's super-complicated. There are a lot of bells and whistles and nothing is intuitive, not even the way you unlock and load the phone itself. However, if you watch the videos and take the time it requires to learn about all that it can do, you'll be rewarded with a terrific, dynamic piece of video equipment.I particularly like that it has a space for extra lighting and even color shields. I also like that it feels solid in your hand, but it's not too heavy. I didn't particularly like that you have to manually turn the phone from vertical to horizontal, and there's absolutely nothing intuitive about how this works, from turning it on to running the various applications and possibilities. It has modes labeled PF, L, F, POV and V, but who knows what any of those stand for without practice? And how do you know when to use Mode versus Function, which are on different sides? In fact, there are buttons and dials on all the sides, so some education is required.Don't think you can take this out of the box and use it like a professional. It will take time to learn. But once you do that, you'll be amazed at the kind of shots you can get!

The price for this is a bit curious given that I have seen others that likely have better apps and a lower price point. Honestly if the app was put together better I believe this would be much easier to use and understand how to use. As it sits currently with the app the way it is, I cannot recommend this to anyone but someone who is used to how a gimbal tripod type device works to start with. It does work well once you have it setup properly which isn't just put the phone in and go, at least that hasn't been my experience so far, you have to line up the phone properly every single time, and that alone isn't the easiest thing to get done either. Once that is done than it works well.

I really couldn't get this to do much of anything. DOcumentation doesn't really exists. Instructional videos just show you have great it is, without telling you how to actually use it. I asked support some questions and explained that I couldn't get it to work... their reply was to just return the item. So I don't think they are interested in providing support. Not sure why it was so difficult to use... but I'd turn it on and just didn't do anything useful or intuitively.

Wow, where has this gimbal stabilizer been all my life? I mean, who wouldn't want to walk around with a massive, 3-axis machine attached to their phone? And let's not forget about the gray color that screams 'I mean business.' I just love how this product makes me look like a serious filmmaker, while in reality, I'm just taking videos of my cat doing silly things. But hey, that's what the world needs, more cat videos. And thanks to the Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo, my cat videos have never been smoother or more professional-looking. Highly recommend this product to anyone who wants to overcomplicate their video-making process and add some unnecessary weight to their phone!