The stabilizer was originally part of professional photography equipment, commonly used in the filming of movies and documentaries. However, with the development of phones and the global rise of Vlogging, the widespread demand and expectations for shooting videos on mobile phones have surged. This transition has quickly shifted stabilizers from the realm of professionals to the hands of ordinary individuals.
The improvement in smartphone video recording capabilities has been rapid, especially evident in the performance of video stabilization features. If you are someone who enjoys creating Vlogs or short videos with your phone, a phone stabilizer remains highly valuable. The phone stabilizer achieves physical stabilization through a three-axis gimbal. In addition to enhancing overall video stability and increasing the usability of footage, it also simplifies the difficulty of framing shots, enabling the capture of scenes that are challenging to achieve with pure handheld filming.
Before using a phone stabilizer for video recording, it's essential to understand the common shooting modes of stabilizers: Full Lock Mode, Heading Follow Mode, Two-Axis Follow Mode, Full-Follow Mode, and the frequently encountered Auto-Rotation Mode.
01.Full Lock Mode
In this mode, all three axes are locked, making it the most stable mode during use. The camera lens does not follow any movement, making it more suitable for capturing linear motion. , the stabilizer's three axes keep the lens direction unchanged. For instance, when shooting with vegetation as foreground cover, the shooter and the subjectTaking parallel lateral movement as an example move parallel to each other. Even with rapid movement, the footage remains stable and smooth. Whether your wrist rotates in the left, right, up, or down direction, the orientation of the smartphone lens remains constant, which is characteristic of Full Lock Mode.
Application of Full Lock Mode: Slow Forward Tracking Shot : In this scenario, the stabilizer is set to Full Lock Mode, and the operator slowly pushes the stabilizer towards the subject. Throughout the movement, the goal is to keep the subject centered in the frame. To prevent any rotational movement of the smartphone lens due to wrist rotation during motion, Full Lock Mode is employed for this linear tracking shot.
02.Heading Follow Mode
In this mode, only the heading axis is allowed to rotate, allowing the lens to move from left to right. It is suitable for shooting various panoramic views and extremely low angles. It is also applicable for linear tracking shots.
03.Two-Axis Follow Mode
Building upon the Heading Follow Mode, this mode unlocks the pitch axis as well. It is user-friendly, making it easy for beginners to capture shots with tilting movements, allowing for flexible changes in perspective, ranging from low to high or high to low angles.
04.FPV Mode
FPV Mode is the most flexible mode of the gimbal, with all three axes unlocked to follow the movement of the hand. The lens can tilt and rotate freely. This mode is ideal for 45° forward pushes and pulls, adding varied angles to the footage for a richer visual perspective. Whether capturing people, scenery, or objects, FPV Mode is versatile for various subjects.
05.Auto-Rotation Mode
Auto-Rotation Mode, also known as "Inception Mode," allows the stabilizer to capture rotating and visually stunning effects. It is suitable for scenes with depth, enhancing visual dynamics and impact.
There are many phone gimbal stabilizers available in the market today. Established in 2015, ZHIYUN focuses on the research, development, production, and sales of gimbals for cameras and phones, along with their accessories. It has now become a leading brand in the global gimbal market.
Upon the first encounter with the ZHIYUN Smooth 5S phone stabilizer, it presents a distinctive feel with its square and structured components, complemented by a tasteful color scheme. When mounting a phone on it, the clear and orthogonal structure of the three-axis motors is evident. This design ensures that even when using ultra-wide-angle lenses, the arms won't intrude into the frame. Simultaneously, such a structure guarantees that the force feedback received by the three axes is correct, leading to improved stabilization effects.
This stabilizer only requires leveling adjustment for the roll axis, making it user-friendly. It is also compatible with a wide range of smartphone models, accommodating anything from the compact iPhone SE to the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Even without leveling adjustment, this stabilizer's powerful motors can achieve a stable state. However, if used for an extended period, issues such as sleep mode or increased power consumption may arise. Therefore, it is advisable to perform a quick leveling adjustment before each use to ensure proper functionality.
