Best Gimbal Stabilizer for Phones and Small DSLRs

Best Gimbal Stabilizer for Phones and Small DSLRs
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Blurry or shaky footages are a bane to any video. If you’re a professional videographer, vlogger, or a regular Joe looking to improve the quality of your video, then a gimbal stabilizer offers you one of the best solutions. And in this article, we offer you the best gimbal stabilizers for smartphones, mirrorless cameras, and small DSLRs.

Here are Some of the Best Gimbal Stabilizers:

DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal


The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal comes with the following features:

  • Landscape and portrait orientation

Besides the standard landscape videos, the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal allows you to take selfie videos with its updated feature to shoot in portrait mode.

  • ActiveTrack

This gimbal stabilizer has an ActiveTrack feature that allows you to lock onto a subject and keep it inside the frame. And equipped with built-in sensors and brushless motors, it ensures stable and smooth movement as the camera moves around the target.

  • Time and Motion Lapse

Recording flowers in bloom or the changing cloudscape? The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal lets you record your subject in an extended period while keeping movement stable. It comes with a flat base that makes it stand on its own. Or, you can use the gimbal’s standard thread to attach it to a tripod.

Besides timelapse, the device fetches you more dynamic footage with its motionlapse feature.

  • Cinematic zoom control

Whether you are new to shooting videos or have been doing it for quite a while, the cinematic control zoom of this gimbal stabilizer fetches you a smooth cinematic zoom. It can even give you a dollyzoom effect.

  • High-definition panorama

The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal can operate automatically to capture multiple photos of a landscape, cityscape, or what have you and stitches them together to create a seamless image.

  • Impressive battery life

The DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal can support up to 15 hours of live streaming.

  • Travel-friendly

Because it’s made of high-strength modified Nylon and comes with a compact foldable design, this camera phone stabilizer is lightweight and portable. It tips the scales only at 485 grams.

Pros

  • Ability to shoot in landscape and portrait modes
  • Works well in stabilizing video
  • Shots come out smooth and clean
  • Compatible with both iOS and Android phones
  • Great battery life
  • Carrying case is lightweight and has a silhouette slot for the device for a snug fit

Cons

  • Shifting from landscape to portrait can be fiddly
  • The app it comes with may crash at times.
  • May not accommodate all phones
  • When you use lenses with your phone, you will have to add a counterweight manually.
  • Battery is built-in. Thus, you cannot swap out the battery when it’s drained or no longer performing optimally.

MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal


The MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal features:

  • Four follow modes

The MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal offers you four follow modes, namely: yaw-follow, yaw-pitch follow, all-locked, and roll-follow. Yaw-follow directs the camera to track you as you move it left to right. Yaw-pitch tells the camera to follow your left, right, up, and down rotation. All-locked fixes the gimbal to one direction. Roll-follow fetches you a Dutch angle as you move the gimbal sideways.

  • 360° rotation

The MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal is capable of doing a full 360-degree rotation on the yaw-axis.

  • Long exposure motion timelapse

This gimbal stabilizer has a built-in timelapse technology as well as custom-designed cables, which are sold separately, to accommodate a range of cameras for long-exposure motion timelapse. Shutter time, intervals, duration, and path can be set within the MOZA App.

  • Intelligent power supply technology and superb battery life

The MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal comes with a 12.6V DC IN connector in the handgrip, allowing you to connect the gimbal to a third party power bank for an endless supply of power while shooting.

And if you are using Sony or Panasonic mirrorless camera that easily drains, then the AirCross has an integrated DC output connector for a dummy battery to power your camera. Additionally, the gimbal’s rechargeable batteries with 2000mAh capacity can last up to 12 hours.

  • Universal quick release system

The MOZA AirCross is compatible with any quick release plates, allowing it to work seamlessly with Manfrotto 501PL and Arca Swiss systems.

  • Big load capacity

The MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal comes with a 1.8-kg payload that makes it ideal for compact system cameras and small DSLRs.

  • Auto-tuning for optimal parameters

The AirCross has an auto-tune function and efficient calculation system that computes and sets the optimal parameters for your setup.

  • Mimic motion control

Besides handgrip control, the AirCross can be tilted, panned, and rolled from a distance through the MOZA thumb controller, which is also sold separately, that uses quick-response sensors to mimic the direction of your hand.

  • Expansion port

Need a camera stabilizer that can hold a light, microphone, or video monitor? The AirCross has an expansion port for such needs. You can also mount the dual handle for two-handed control.

Pros

  • Great for CSCs and small DSLRs
  • Its MOZA Assistant App works on both Android and iOS systems
  • The hard case effectively protects the device and its accessories.
  • Has everything you need to get started
  • Great battery life and supports external charging
  • Offers good value for your money as a mirrorless or DSLR camera stabilizer

Cons

  • The app is not that intuitive or user-friendly.
  • Doesn’t have an OLED display to remind you what mode you’re using
  • The hard case requires you to break down or disassemble the parts.

Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal Stabilizer


The Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal Stabilizer has the following features:

  • Four modes

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal Stabilizer provides you four mode options, namely: pan-following, locking, following, and PhoneGo mode. The gimbal stabilizer can do a 360-degree pan, 240-degree tilt, and a 240-degree roll.

  • Object Track

Through its Object Track feature, this gimbal stabilizer lets you lock onto faces and subjects with high precision, making sure they’re inside the frame the whole time.

  • Convenient handgrip controls

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal Stabilizer comes with a built-in handwheel for convenient zooming in and out as well as an FN switch button in the handgrip for high-precision focusing. Besides those, this gimbal stabilizer comes with hotkey buttons for easy and smooth operation.

  • Freestyle timelapse, hyperlapse, and motionlapse

This gimbal stabilizer supports all types of advanced shooting techniques with customization options.

  • Two-way charging and great battery life

The Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal Stabilizer can run for 12 hours with a battery indicator, telling you how much power is left. When running low on juice, it can be charged in two ways: a USB type-C port or an output port.

Pros

  • Easy phone installation
  • Its ZY Play App is compatible with both iOS and Android users.
  • Handgrip controls greatly reduces the need to touch the screen
  • Is chargeable even when it’s in use through an external power pack
  • Provides you with multiple timelapse options

Cons

  • ZY Play App for Android doesn’t work that well
  • No joystick or thumbstick
  • Functions not available on all devices

Verdict

So, which of the three best gimbal stabilizers should you get? It all depends on your needs. If you’re using a phone, then either DJI Osmo Mobile 2 Smartphone Gimbal or the Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal Stabilizer is a great choice. For mirrorless cams and smaller DSLRs, the MOZA AirCross 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal is a steal for its price and what it can do.

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