hohem iSteady M6 Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphone, 3-Axis Cell Phone Gimbal, Built-in OLED Display,400g Payload,Reverse Charging, Android and Phone Stabilizer, Gimbal with Inception Motion Timelapse

The media could not be loaded. My recently purchased Hohem iSteady M6 Gimbal has been a game-changer! I've been on the hunt for a reliable, versatile and affordable gimbal, and I'm delighted to say that the iSteady M6 exceeded my expectations.The build quality is exceptional; it feels sturdy and well-made, giving me confidence that it will withstand the rigours of frequent use. The compact and foldable design makes it easy to carry around, whether I'm exploring the city or going on an outdoor adventure. The portability is a significant advantage, as it allows me to capture smooth footage on the go without adding much weight to my gear bag.Setting up the iSteady M6 is straightforward; mounting the phone and balancing the gimbal takes a few minutes even for beginners. Phones up to 7” can be used with the gimbal, and they can be mounted either in landscape or portrait mode.The app integration via Bluetooth is seamless, providing access to various shooting modes and settings, including gesture control. The three-motor stabilisation system works like magic, eliminating any unwanted shakes and jitters from my videos. Whether I'm walking, running, or shooting from a moving vehicle, the iSteady M6 consistently delivers buttery-smooth footage that adds a professional touch to my content.Battery life is another area where the iSteady M6 shines. I've used it for extended shooting sessions without worrying about running out of power. With its long-lasting battery, I can focus on capturing the perfect shot without interruptions. The reverse-charge technology that allows the gimbal to charge the phone is super-handy, too.I’d also recommend the AI Vision sensor (available to be purchased separately) as it makes it much easier to use the gimbal with AI tracking. It also has a fill-light with varying colours & temperatures, allowing the lighting to be perfect when filming.

I picked this up for the "Amazon day" price of about 130 quid (which is roughly what it can often be bought for elsewhere) after checking a couple of things with the manufacturer, who were *very* responsive and helpful - indeed, their helpfulness persuaded me to buy it straight away. (A manufacturer who instantly answers questions from someone who isn't even a customer yet gets a huge thumbs-up from me.)What I'd wanted to know before purchase was whether a mobile phone was *necessary* for the thing to work. For anyone wondering the same, it doesn't need a phone, or an app, it works fine totally stand-alone. If you can attach it, and it weighs 600g or less, you can use this to stabilise it. 600g is a fairly hefty phone. The phone holder is adjustable for balance, and it also has a 1/4" female tripod thread for attaching a small arm, mic, or some other non-phone thing (like an action cam, say). There's another tripod thread socket on the 2nd axis arm end, and another on the side of the handle, and a fourth on the bottom of the handle (so you can mount the whole thing on a tripod or rig).The phone mount part is not the easiest to adapt to an arbitrary small camera, but a 3D printed "phone-like" plate with a regular 1/4" screw would do the trick.The stabilising parameters are optimised for an average weight phone. With no load on it (i.e. a really light payload) it tends to vibrate a bit - if you're using it with an SJCAM or something and you get this, just add a bit more weight.The movement is smooth, the device feels (very) decent quality. If using the supported phone camera app, then the follow focus and so on works fine. The "record" button works like a typical bluetooth shutter release so you should be able to start/stop other cam apps.If, like me, you were wondering what the "inception" mode is, it's a thing where it continuously pans through 360 degrees - like in the film "inception", doh. Apparently gimbals all need that, these days.Other modes are arguably more useful for general film-making, though. Default is "pan follow", a kind of partially locked mode where it stabilises (really well) in roll and pitch but the camera follows any pan movement you make with your hand. There's also a fully-locked mode which attempts to keep the camera pointing the exact same way regardless, and a "pan and tilt follow" mode where the camera is only locked for roll.The camera pan and tilt can be offset in any mode using the little joystick. The trigger will re-zero it. The OLED display is clear and informative.There's even a programmable camera movement feature where you set the start and end positions using a couple of buttons and then it will move smoothly from start to end over a settable time.If you're the kind of person who likes to shoot in "portrait" mode (ergh!) then it will do that, too.It has a fairly substantial battery inside, and it will charge your phone or power your GoPro if need be. A nice curly cable for this is included. Also included is a thing that functions either as a handle extension or a mini tripod stand - handy for the auto re-calibration feature.The base kit that I got doesn't include it, but there's a magnetically attached accessory subject-following camera thing that can be fitted on top, and obviously lights etc. can be fitted.Although I was keen to be able to use this with an action cam, in fact, modern phone video camera performance is remarkably good.OK, you're not going to get the authentic look of a fast prime lens on a movie camera if you're shooting with a phone. And phones, action cams, compact system cameras and DSLRs are all typically terrible when it comes to audio. But stick a phone on one of these gimbals and record sound on a compact digital recorder with a decent mic and you could make very passable movies, given sufficient skill. It's hard to get steady shots and smooth. camera movements hand-holding a phone, but this thing improves it dramatically.In summary - I recommend this device, it is well thought out, feels solid and well-made, works really well, and even the associated camera app (needed to make use of the follow focus control) isn't bad.

This gimbal stabilizer, with a payload capacity of up to 400g, supports reverse charging and integrates advanced iSteady 7.0 stabilization algorithms with app integration via Bluetooth.I recently used this gimbal stabilizer on a weekend trip, and it significantly improved the quality of my videos. The iSteady 7.0 stabilization algorithms are incredibly effective, delivering smooth and stable footage even when walking on uneven terrain. The payload capacity of up to 400g accommodated my smartphone perfectly, and I could also attach a small external microphone without any issues.One feature I found particularly useful is the reverse charging capability. During a long day of filming, I was able to charge my phone directly from the gimbal, which saved me from running out of battery at a crucial moment. The app integration via Bluetooth is another strong point, allowing for easy control and customization of settings directly from my phone. The app is user-friendly, and I appreciated the variety of shooting modes available.On the downside, the initial setup was a bit tricky. Balancing the gimbal correctly took some time, and the instructions could be clearer. However, once set up, it was straightforward to use. The build quality is solid, though the device is slightly heavier than I expected, which can cause some fatigue during extended use.Overall, this gimbal stabilizer is a great tool for anyone looking to enhance their video quality. Its advanced features and practical functionalities make it a valuable addition to my filming equipment.

Sturdy and well made. Easy to use with the app. However, the grip got really warm and the display constantly showed "error ". It turned itself off when this showed. Pity I had to return.