Smartphones have made taking selfies and recording videos easier than ever. But there’s still a slight challenge to overcome. I recently had a month’s holiday overseas, where my wife and I took many selfies and handed our phones to strangers to get that perfect shot. But either my arm was not long enough or the person missed what I was trying to take in the background.
Upon my return, I had a Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra to test, which describes itself as an AI-powered smartphone gimbal. Professional cameramen use fancy ‘Steadicams’ or gimbals to get a tripod effect whilst in motion. This allows for professional photos and videos without any shaking. Yes, modern phones can reduce some shake, but a gimbal takes it to the next level.
Sounds expensive, right? Not so: Hohem have produced a consumer version for a few hundred dollars. Or $299 at JB Hi-Fi, to be precise. That’s a lot cheaper than a dedicated camera with a built-in gimbal, like the DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
Although designed primarily for video, I see some practical reasons to have one of these to ensure your photo and video memories capture what you intended. Let’s face it, most of us are not vlogging every part of our lives and putting them on the internet.
This well-built phone holder weighs less than half a kilogram and fits easily into my jacket pocket. It will work with any phone and any camera app. Although pairing with your phone and downloading the Hohem Joy app both add functionality, it can track an object moving straight out of the box (even with your phone turned off).
The handle features tripod feet that allow the gimble and your phone to stand independently. On the handle is a removable 1.22-inch touch screen with a joystick and a record button. When you see yourself in the Hohem screen, press the joystick, and the AI tracking locks onto your face. Now wherever you move, the Gimbal will follow you.
Gestures allow a photo to be taken or a video to be recorded without physically touching the device. More importantly, you can position yourself exactly where you want with the right background and not have to rely on strangers. The gimbal will even track you in 360 degrees if you want to show off the view.
The touchscreen is removable, so you now have a remote control in your hands and a screen to view what your smartphone sees, up to 10 metres away. A 20.5cm extension pole is built into the handle, allowing for a higher view or a selfie stick if you want to handhold the gimble, providing a wider view or at least a 20cm extension of your arm to get a better view.
When my kids were little, there were no selfie sticks, but we did have video cameras with limited stabilisation. The issue is that my kids were in the shot, but having me in the shot as well was not possible without a tripod.
Now, with the Hohem, I can be in shot as well as others, capturing footage that’s not shaky, with a wide view, and while moving at the same time. To me, that makes a much more engaging video image. Resolution has also improved a bit over the years. My point is that you can take the capabilities of your phone to a whole new level with this gimbal.
Hohem quote nine hours of battery life, plenty long enough to record a day’s activities. The tracking works on objects, including pets. The stabilisation is across three axes, so you can even jog with the thing and get a still image. The gimbal function maintains the horizon level in a shot, which is more than what most phones’ shake reduction features can achieve.
As I sit playing with this new product on a cold, rainy day, there is a three-colour fill light with brightness adjustable by a thumb wheel on the side of the handle. This fill light is reversible, so it can be used to light up your face in a selfie.
When you use Hohem’s app, you can also zoom via the touchscreen, apply special effects and control the recording, shutter, and tracking with hand gestures. Shooting modes include Panorama, Photo, Video, Time-lapse, Time-warp, Slow Motion and Moment (preset movements).
I like that the Hohem gimbal doesn’t require additional accessories to work, and its compatibility with native camera apps is convenient.
The best memories happen in a split second, so having a smartphone gimbal will help you capture that special moment, whether on the side of a football field, a mountain view or a kid’s birthday party.
Australians can get the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra when it launches in September.
The post I tried the Hohem iSteady V3 Ultra to take selfies with style appeared first on GadgetGuy.
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