Zhiyun Smooth Q2 Review

[@bruce8209]

good information and nice presented! I 'm curious how to make the settting with you together from 13:45.

[@videogamevegasYeOldeAccount]

Great review! I heard there was a firmware update that takes care of the wide angle motor in the way issue. Have you tested wide angle using the new firmware update? I use a Samsung S10+ and am seriously considering this gimbal. Thanks! vgv

[@theresusboy]

I too am waiting for the reply...

[@chachhi2011]

Hey Wes, thanks a lot for this honest review, i agree with you if zhiyun can fix some of those glitches then Q2 is a best choice.

[@wm005]

I have an S10 with a case. I would like to know if you tested Smooth 4 vs. Smooth Q2 using Android operating system? Also I would like your opinion on which one you would recommend? Thanks

[@WesPerry]

Wayne McD I’m afraid I’ve only tested on iOS. As far as the comparison between the two, it’s almost apples and oranges. One is huge and gives you all the options and control, while the other is very minimal and simplified and tiny.

[@wm005]

Thanks

[@clarkkent6063]

Hello Wes, great review. I just have a few question. What if I use the wide angle lens on my phone and move it further away from the joint and use counterweights, so I won't have to be in the flashlight position while using it. Could that work? Also does this gimbal have motion timelapse feature? Thank you, Wes.

[@TouristKoushik]

How to zoom oparate in q2?

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

The smooth 4 has more buttons; what else doesn't it have . it has BT for audio ? Both can use your own vdo on phone vs a dedicated vdo app ? has time/date on the vdo frame ?

[@novice024]

Wes, I am planning to purchase the iPhone 12 Pro Max...really appreciate you letting me know that I probably will not need a gimbal...I have the Smooth 4, and Moza Mini Mi...both worked for awhile then started flipping and flopping.

[@WesPerry]

Very strange that they both do that to you. I occasionally had that happen on the original Smooth Q, but it was pretty easy to reset (and didn’t happen all that often). Any of the newer ones haven’t done that to me unless I caught them on something or flopped it around Really hard (I call that user error 😂)

[@humorn]

Really enjoyed this rewove, the music and funny angles. Im thinking about returning 4 and get this one. Id like to know (making interviews and want good sound) if theres any chance to somewhere put external sound? Or plug in Rode Wireless go with cables hanging out and put somewhere the gimbal? Aka do you think it works with a mic somewhere on the gimbal. Cheers! New follower

[@WesPerry]

Actually yes. I had the rode wireless go adapted to my phone and then clipped to the back arm of the gimbal for get my audio in ;)

[@humorn]

@@WesPerry Perfect!!! thank you so much, exactly what I needed to hear! have a great evening!

[@humorn]

​@@WesPerry Can you adjust the joystick sensitivity? Aka how fast the gimbal turns, by moving the joystick? Is that an ZY app thing?

[@WesPerry]

Looks like you can, yeah. The vertical pan doesn’t seem to get super fast, but side to side does. You have to “switch to normal cam” from the camera mode, then go to the settings there to find it. It has a newer “cooler” camera mode, and an older legacy mode with more options. A bit of a mess really.

[@bruce8209]

@@WesPerry do you mean the rode receiver connected on the gimbal (with tape or something)? But I can 't find that (very short) cable and splitter for audio and current...

[@JoyShaneez]

My q2 won't charge...what is the problem

[@WesPerry]

Have you tried swapping out the charger or the charging cable to be sure that it’s the Q2?

[@WesPerry]

USB-C charging can be a finicky thing with compatibility issues.

[@JoyShaneez]

Yes I did

[@WesPerry]

@@JoyShaneez How long have you had it? Where did you buy it from? That's unfortunate. Thankfully it has a user replaceable battery, though. You might still be able to save it.

[@anwarsahidtv]

Is it still very smooth when our phone not use EIS in camera?

[@WesPerry]

That’s a hard one to answer, as there’s no was to turn that off (at least on an iPhone)

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

why do I need a joy stick at all if it tracks and follows ?

[@kalkydra]

Has this one got a firmware update that address some of the issues you mentioned in the video? Thanks!

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

can I have button control thru a remote phone and still shoot vdo on this gimbal phone ? Still no BT mic to have remote audio and/or both audio sources ?

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

why not compare to the fei tech FT. ?

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

Can U use your own phone vdo app ? Does it have BT Audio for selecting remote or onboard audio ?

[@TheGeoDaddy]

Bought both - when I first got the Osmo Mobil 3 and found the motors too weak to support my iPhone 11 Pro Max when I plugged in the lighting cable for external (Shure) mic or charger - which Zhiyun handles nicely... plus I get the Inception mode. Still like all DJI Memo app has better app functions like Timelapse, Follow Focus and (cute) story. Only problem with both - there is NO give for attaching the iPhone 11 ie any skin protection will make the device too thick to fit securely into the gimbal... have not found a solution to protect my $$$ new iPhone... just keep in in a leather case and risk the transfer to my gimbals... naked... carefully!!!

[@WesPerry]

Yeah, that was an issue all the way back with the 7 Plus (the Q1 and Smooth 4 won’t properly balance with even the thinnest cases). It’s kinda crazy that after all this time they haven’t come around to more fully supporting the bigger phones.

[@saleh_hma]

if u fix the tracking object, it will be the best..

[@milliconsolutions5377]

I like your style, champ. Subscribed; notifications enabled. Cheers.

[@markaj_]

what do you mean you don't get anything from the referral link?

[@WesPerry]

At the time that this video was published, I didn't have any affiliate links for the product, as it was only available in the Pergear store, and they had no affiliate program then. I've since come up with some, though.

[@supjay3945]

Can someone tell me if the smooth q2 will auto pan and track when objects move out of view

[@WesPerry]

I don’t believe it does subject tracking, no.

[@zq9645]

There is a wide angle filming mode. Press the record button 3 times

[@WesPerry]

This might be a new firmware function. When I made the review they told me they were “working on it” at the time. Unfortunately I have yet to successfully update the firmware in mine. Doesn’t seem to agree with any of my computers or USB C cables 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@zq9645]

I see. Maybe you should check with Zhiyun customer support centre. Meanwhile, I am considering getting one of these. I also saw another video where firmware upgrade was successfully carried out. Not sure if it helps, but here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnaae5VpjZeapNk

[@InfaredK]

Can you manage to get the gimbal record button to connect to Filmic Pro? I'm having difficulty doing so.. It just seems to turn my volume up/down on my iPhone.

[@WesPerry]

That’s because in the default camera app, you can use the volume control to activate the shutter/record, so a lot of Bluetooth devices use this button mapping for record. Check and see if there’s a setting in filmic to use the volume as shutter/record.

[@InfaredK]

@@WesPerry You absolute hero! There's a setting, "Volume Keys Trigger Recording" - and now it works. Thanks mate!

[@WesPerry]

@@InfaredK Fantastic!

[@geoffdean8643]

Hi good to see an objective video here after probs with the smooth 4 tried now with the q2 and again having more than teething probs - or is it my phone ? Huawei p30 - biggest problems being having the motor constantly in my screen and vortex mode dosn´t spin around for some reason - looking forward to new firmware and solutions so that I can really get the most of this seemingly great product in general. ​

[@WesPerry]

I wouldn’t imagine the Smooth 4 would be super happy with a phone of that size. Even the Q2 doesn’t really seem to have “plus sized” phones in mind for some reason, even though they’re super common these days.

[@bigsmall9427]

Ordered too. Gonna have fun with it. Looking for wireless microphone for it too.

[@souravkundu9678]

Is there vertigo and scene transition mood in this q2?

[@brandonhughes9888]

in your opinion @wes perry whats the best gimbal for andriod

[@WesPerry]

If we’re being that specific, I’m afraid I’m not much help there, as I haven’t used android in a couple years. Sorry!

[@TheGeoDaddy]

So where is the cross-over of using the MUCH EASIER and MORE STABLE “bitage” shot on an iPhone (11Pro) vs my Nikon Z6 system using the heavier, awkward Moza Air 2 gimbal? Nikon/Atomos still have not come out with - the promised - ProRes RAW firmware update for the Ninja V so the best we can get is Nikon’s 10 bit N-log for quality 4K But iPhone 11 can shoot “log” 4K too... Any experience with comparing the iPhone log with your Sony log (Nikon uses the same chip) and seeing it, at least, “blend” with the larger camera’s output? Are we at (close) to a point of using the - lighter - iPhone for gimbal shots and - cutting that into the Final Cut - with tripod shots from Sony/Nikon cameras? (Especially when you can color/exposure control the shooting with Filmic Pro!)

[@WesPerry]

I won’t pretend to be an expert on log profiles/grading, so I’m probably not the best to ask about that. The high dynamic range video capture on the iPhone comes from exposing two frames consecutively and HDR blending them (so 120 frames are captured and blended during 60fps video capture). So it’s actually able to capture a higher dynamic range than a full frame camera in log mode...BUT obviously that’s with HDR artifiacting if you look close, and some weird exposure relations throughout the frame. What the 11 Pro Does do amazingly is stabilization. Even without the gimbal it often does better than a full frame camera, with a stabilized sensor, on a gimbal. 👌🏻

[@mikhailthomas6480]

I had this product and came to the same conclusions. I sent it back and got a Benro 3XS. It’s hard it’s flaws too but ones I can actually live with.

[@WesPerry]

Good eye ;) I’m sure most people wouldn’t have noticed, but I guess it’s my job to be picky. Haha

[@pndamonium1241]

Nice review, I think this is the better physical product over the OM3 however DJI has the better software. Subject tracking and modes on the latter just work where I've seen that it doesn't on the Smooth Q2. Anywhooo when can we see a review on the Viltrox 85mm 1.8 that you so candidly displayed on your video? =)

[@WesPerry]

I’m hoping to have it out by the end of this week, or early next week. I have to take it off my camera long enough to do the review 😂

[@theresusboy]

Is der any firmware update wch fixed the issues u mentioned???

[@WesPerry]

I’m not sure, because I haven’t managed to successfully update the firmware yet 😒

[@AndySomething]

Great video! My Zhiyun Smooth Q2 just got delivered today. Waiting for it to charge. Will need to test out the performance but I dont need it to be perfect. Main reason I was drawn to this gimbal is because of how small and beautiful it looks; most other phone gimbals look ugly. On another note; I backed the Sirui P1 gimbal on indiegogo. Would be cool to hear your thoughts on that gimbal if you're considering picking one up! I want to use it for a light set up with the A7iii.

[@WesPerry]

Honestly I’m trying to reduce the number of gimbals in my life. Haha. The stabilization of the iPhone 11 Pro is insane. Really doesn’t need a gimbal.

[@AndySomething]

@@WesPerry Haha!! I keep telling myself that I'm going to downsize the gear I have and I always end up getting more 😳🙈 Oh wow really, I have the galaxy s10 but i'll consider iphone next time I upgrade!

[@WesPerry]

Andy Mckay For me it’s the biggest upgrade in camera quality between the XS and the 11. (I have a comparison video on here as well). The stabilization is truly next level. The XS stabilization was just meh, as expected from a smartphone, but I don’t understand how such a small little camera can stabilize such huge movements in the 11.

[@serendra90210]

totally agree that other gimbals look so ugly. lol.

[@kelvinchong7648]

Great review 👍

[@ashwinrambert]

So confused, please suggest me. Smooth 4 or Q2???

[@WesPerry]

That all just depends on whether you need the extra buttons and functions of the 4, or if all you need is a record button and prefer something you can fit in your pocket.

[@ashwinrambert]

@@WesPerry Thank you so much. Asking you, if you want to buy means which one you buy?

[@WesPerry]

Q2. I’m not very inclined to bring it if it won’t fit in my pocket ;)

[@ashwinrambert]

@@WesPerry Great, thank you so much 🥰

[@ashwinrambert]

@@WesPerry is there any option to take vortex mode on smooth 4.?

[@ELTAOWAM]

Hello pro I hope to be safe 👍 I wanna ask you a few questions 1. Which when is good zhiyun Smooth 4 or 2Q 2. Kind of camera you make videos also the side camera and lens necessary Thanks man I follow you from United Arab emirates

[@WesPerry]

1) that depends on whether or not you need advanced controls 2) I use the a9 and a7iii

[@ELTAOWAM]

@@WesPerry side camera a7iii with which lens please

[@WesPerry]

@@ELTAOWAM The main camera from angle a9 has the Sony 35 1.4ZA, the side a7iii is using the 85GM in this video, but I have since switched to using the Viltrox 85 1.8 for that, as the video autofocus is more reliable (and it's lighter/easier to use). And the counter shot is just an old a7ii with an old Minolta 50mm manual focus lens. I prefer to use a manual focus lens for the counter shot because I can just set it and forget it. With any modern lens you have to refocus it every time, and it's a pain. And autofocus is no good, because it keeps grabbing my hand as it comes back up.

[@ELTAOWAM]

@@WesPerry thank you for explain

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

not listing all features of the Smooth 4 and its features the Q2 does not have. ; Sure don't want to depend on a dedicated Vdo app. ! The Gimbal app interfaces with any phone vdo ?

[@WesPerry]

You can use any video app you want, but if you do the only button that will work right is probably record.

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

@@WesPerry ok what else is there. Does not have zoom . Would be useful if full app control was on a remote phone only; leaving my Gmbal phone to take vdo. only. And. seems to be missing BT mic.. for remote persons needing to speak !

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

@@WesPerry ok the vdo is integrated; but each frame shows time/date ? on vdo ?

[@류정렬-e3w]

the device is so good. i have one. it is fit for my phones. love it so much.

[@ShanMichaelEscasio]

The only thing i hate about this is that phones 8.9mm thick like my poco f2 pro do not sit snugly on the phone clamp.

[@jrod8574]

I have both. I paid $120 for both. $120 for the osmo mobile 3 cause i didn't get the version with the case and tripod as i have other tripods and cases. Same for the smooth Q2. But I got the smooth Q2 recently on black friday for $120.

[@WesPerry]

I’d love to hear how you find they compare (and also what phone you’re using, as that can make a difference)

[@jrod8574]

@@WesPerry well you hit it all right on the mark. Very true opinions. I mainly enjoy the smaller footprint of the osmo 3 and even more so the Q2. The Smooth Q2 is very tiny and doesnt draw much attention to you and itself when out and about. The world has come into the UltraWide lens craze now on smartphones. Thats something future manufacturers have to consider which DJI has with the osmo mobile 3. I use the Note 9 but I mainly use the LG V35 for its 10 bit sensor and 107 degree UltraWide lens and manual camera controls. Excellent device to use and a main mobile shooter. But I love the new cameras on the IPhone 11.

[@WesPerry]

I didn’t say it in the video, because not everyone can afford a $1000+ phone, but the image stabilization on the iPhone 11 Pro (primarily the main camera) is unbelievably good, and makes the gimbal completely redundant. It looks like you’re using a gimbal all the time. It’s seriously mind boggling.

[@jrod8574]

@@WesPerry yeah I LOVE watching 4k footage on the 11's. They definitely have outdone themselves on the cameras this time. The dynamic range is mindblowing. I still believe that one day the gap will nearly if not definitely be closed from smartphone cameras and bigger cameras. If I made a smartphone id put a single lens with the biggest sensor I could get into a phone body with a round rear camera cluster and try to imbed a rotating zooming ring into the mechanism for the sensor so it has its own manual lossless zoom. All the space used with multiple lenses when all you need is 1 with a huge sensor.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah I was a little disappointed that Apple went with that huge camera bump and didn’t bother to make the sensor any bigger.

[@geertslandwaterscapes7930]

Thanks Wes for this honest, sharp quality (and funny) 🇨🇦 video review of the Smooth Q2! One of my 2 contenders of choice I will be buy this Spring to film my landscape bus./water gardens projects! Hoping it works well with a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.👊😉

[@katherinehayward1740]

thanks for your info

[@discoverybhutan]

I have brought one and it looks great

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

tripod necessary most of the time. The included does not look great for rugged uneven terrain. where you need flex. octopus legs.

[@a2za2z23]

Subscribed nice review

[@pedroalberto5495]

El estabilizador es de buena calidad pero tiene varios defectos graves: - Si lo pones en vertical se ve el motor y te fastidia la toma, por lo que hay que usarlo siempre en ángulo de 45 grados - No tiene botones para controlar el zoom ni el joystick tampoco vale para eso - No tiene modo follow me (lo pones con el trípode y te sigue) o al menos yo no lo he encontrado Me arrepiento de haber confiado que al ser mas caro que el que tenía en mente (el Hohem iSteady X) iba a ser mejor, pero en este caso el más barato si llevaba todo lo que este carece

[@JasonLorette]

Solid review...I’ll stick with my Smooth 4, I agree though, it’s definitely the ‘hefty’ big brother of the others.

[@WesPerry]

Yeah, they’re not really even in the same class with all the extra bells and whistles the Smooth 4 has. That being said, I’m going to be getting rid of my Q and 4 real soon, as I essentially have no use for gimbals at all now that I have an iPhone 11 Pro. It’s built in stabilization is just insane. I’ll keep the little Q2, just in case, as it doesn’t take up much space anyway. I couldn’t really mention that in the review, though, as most people in the market for a budget gimbal don’t have a $1500 phone 😂😭

[@JasonLorette]

Wes Perry - I hear you, when I was in California this month I was shocked how stable my iPhone Pro Max was, I think I used my Smooth 4 twice, in a week? I’ll still keep it because I do like some of the functionality...if I’d known when I bought it though about the iPhone stability I may have spent the money on an external mic instead. :)

[@novice024]

I have a Smooth 4, but it just flips and flops around. I have tried calibrating without success. Any suggestions?

[@JasonLorette]

@@novice024 - Is this a new occurrence? Sounds like you might have a bad motor?

[@alannguyen2010]

Bobbing When Walking? (bump up and down) Gimbal not supposed to do that? Is terrible design

[@WesPerry]

Bobbing when walking is more caused by the user than the gimbal. You need a full steady cam rig to really prevent that.

[@alannguyen2010]

@@WesPerry I have a gimbal for dslr. I don't have that problem. I walk normal. Video not bobbing.

[@ryszmansoundvision6572]

If you put the gimbal in walking mode it really helps with the bobbing

[@darkstepwarrior88]

Cmon man saying we should go to a affiliate link and stating that tou don't get anything? That is just weird

[@WesPerry]

Yeah, it is weird. It’s the link the distributor gave me. As per terms of our agreement on this particular video, it’s their own affiliate link and not mine 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Mikeyyshoots]

Keep up the work Wes

[@WesPerry]

Thanks, Michael!

[@pergear4965]

like this video so much.

[@benjaenyoutube7882]

Buen video¡¡¡ fue de mucha ayuda

[@RemusLt]

IT DOES NOT HAVE A TRIGGER AND THE MOTOR GETS INTO IMAGE.

[@BUDIID.]

Hopefully in the future this can also be used for GoPro @ @

[@alexandervasil1807]

heyy, I just wanted to say that my q2 costed me 113 bucks

[@WesPerry]

Where??

[@PrinceJorge]

WEll done Wes Pery nice video

[@zsoltpasztor7]

The PANORAMA photo made by 1280x800 pixel pictures... LOW resolution, NOT good result. :-/ So I changed the PHOTO resolution from 1280x800 to a bigger resolution (about 3840x2160 - much better quality pictures) and the result is: the program CAN NOT take (can NOT do) panorama photo :-/ Why???

[@WesPerry]

Yeah, I had no luck with panorama, so I didn’t even mention it as a feature. I think either it still needs to be updated, or it wasn’t even supposed to be a feature but it sort of works anyway.

[@WesPerry]

I just tried it again to see if anything had changed, and that’s a nope. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@zsoltpasztor7]

@@WesPerry Thank You for Your Help. Maybe the software one day in the future will be better...

[@WesPerry]

Hopefully. It works...okay for doing panoramas in the default camera app. Tends to move a bit too quickly, though.

[@zxgamingcupu]

thanks, i like dji for now

[@melindaleon5907]

yep

[@lucyviruet5542]

You that are getting paid to push this gimbal , forget on purpose to tell us that an iPhone on a gimbal is just a camera! You lose your iPhone. You need two iPhone when you use a Gimbal

[@WesPerry]

Umm what? I’m not paid anything But also… how much do you need your phone to be phoning all the time? 😂

[@madedigital]

Too much old flaws ...I would the dji

[@eball333]

jiggly-niggaly