REVIEW – As a Videographer, I am always looking for ways to add versatility and enhancements to my video shoots, including ways to be totally mobile and lightweight when on the go. Sometimes, I find myself in situations where I use my smartphone to get unplanned video, but when holding it in my hands, the footage shows signs of instability and there is the lack of the benefit of creative angles. Enter the Zhiyun 4 3-Axis Handheld iPhone Gimbal Stabilizer as a possible perfect solution. So, here we go!

What is it?

The Zhiyun 4 3-Axis Handheld Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer is a versatile device that features overall diverse functions. It can also sync with camera settings to control the zoom and focus. It has 4 built-in operating modes that can capture more advanced footage.

What’s in the box

1 x Zhiyun 4 3-Axis Handheld iPhone Gimbal Stabilizer
1 x Carrying Case
1 x Tripod
1 x USB-C Charging Cable
1 x User Guide

Design and features

The Zhiyun 4 3-Axis Handheld Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer is designed to allow the user to shoot smooth video and to take pictures with a smartphone inserted in the holder and connected to the gimbal via Bluetooth.

On one surface of the handle of the gimbal, there are the main controls that include the power on/off, menus, camera/video switching, and several other functions. (See the illustration and function list below the picture)




The picture below shows the “head” of the gimbal that includes the cell phone holder and the rotation mechanism. Below the picture is the related illustration of the parts and functions.




On the handle of the gimbal on the side opposite the main controls, there is an up/down toggle switch that controls the “phone go” and “Following” modes. See the illustration and related function list and description below.


At the bottom of the gimbal, there is a female 1/4-20″ tripod mount.

Performance

The gimbal comes well packaged in a molded case that is described as a carry case but it does not have any handles or real way of keeping it securely closed while transporting. So, one of the first things that I did was to buy an aftermarket hard case that comes with a zipper and carrying strap.

Once the gimbal was charged, I read the instructions and placed my iPhone into the holder. The sides of the holder are spring loaded so that it can accommodate size differences of phones and case types, etc. The spring is quite strong and holds the phone quite well. I immediately noticed that despite using the adjustment knob to center my phone, it would not center partially because of the phone case, and I was reluctant to use my phone without the case. The instructions indicated that once powered on depending on the weight/size of the phone, that the gimbal should be able to accommodate for the off-center issue and it absolutely did. The phone became perfectly balanced when I turned it on. Important note: The instructions say not to turn on the gimbal until the phone is in the holder. When I first took the gimbal out of the box to charge it, I did what many would do and turned it on without reading any instructions. Luckily, there does not seem to be any damage done.

The second part of this operation is to download the app and connect to the gimbal via Bluetooth from within the app. Here are some screenshots from the app:

Connecting via Bluetooth is very simple and straightforward and soon I was on my way to recording. The easy access to the record button along with the camera button to take pictures and switch back to video mode as well as to the menu button to set up preferences is great and right at your fingertips.

While shooting the following video, I moved the gimbal abruptly several times both vertically and horizontally to see how it would affect the video. I also walked normally allowing my body to make deliberate movements while shooting. You can also seem some focus adjustments:

I was also able to just press the camera button to take photos while shooting the video.

The gimbal is capable of many modes of shooting video including follow mode, panoramic, subject switching, etc. You can click here to read the manual and to learn a lot more about it.

What I like

• Build quality
• Features
• Battery life
• Overall performance
• The secure way that it holds the phone

What can be improved

• It does exactly what it is supposed to do. I do wonder if it is possible to have videos stored on an SD card that is housed on the gimbal. This way it would not take up any memory on the phone for long video. The videos and photos are currently stored in the app.

Final thoughts

This gimbal exceeded my expectations, especially since I have tried earlier models from different manufacturers and in many cases was unsatisfied with the basic movement that was at times jerky and hesitant. This gimbal moves smoothly and even when I thought I was challenging it with excessive jerky movements, the resulting video was smooth and really good. I have not yet tried all of the features it offers, but I can definitely say that I really like this gimbal, and the accompanying app works well for me on IOS. I will be trying it with the Android version soon and I will provide an update if things go sideways. For now, I give it a well done and two thumbs up!!

Price: $119
Where to buy: Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by Zhiyun

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

Zhiyun 4 3-Axis Handheld Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 4, 2019 at 9:00 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.

REVIEW – As a videographer/photographer, I am always looking for ways to promote my business and for ways to offer more to my clients. The ability to live stream events like wedding ceremonies, business events, etc is one that I know many of my clients would find appealing because they have previously asked about it or mentioned it. For my needs, I have been looking for a small all-in-one device that would allow me to manage as many functions as I could including features like, encoding, recording, switching, and streaming. About a year ago, while web surfing, I stumbled across a product on IndieGoGo called Yolobox from a company called Yololiv. After much waiting, I finally got my hands on one to test and review. After all of my impatient anticipation, let’s get it going!!

What is it?

YoloBox is a hardware live stream solution that allows you to stream live video across Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and other platforms using many kinds of cameras, such as DSLR, professional cams, action cameras, and Drones.

What’s in the box

1 x Yolobox
2 x HDMI Cable
1 x AC Adapter with USB-C Cable
1 x ¼-20” Tripod Mount
1 x Carrying Sleeve
1 x User Guide
1 x Holder with Sim Slot release tool

Design and features

Specifications

Encoded Format: Video Encoded Format：H.264
Audio Encoded Format：AAC (48k)
Video Recorded format：MP4
Audio Input Format：32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 16-bit
Video Input Format：1080i/ 720p/ 1080p
Video Recorded Resolution：Up to 1080p：60fps
Live Broadcast Resolution：540P/720P/1080P
Video Storage: Storage Card Type：SD Card, Storage Card Capacity：Expanded to 128G
Network Connection: WiFi：2.4G/5G, Support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 4G Network：LTE-FDD B2/4/5/7/12/13/17/25/26，LTE-TDD B41
SIM Card Size：Standard SIM Card
Power Interface：Type C, Quick Charge 3.0
Battery Capacity：3.7V/5700mAh
Transmission Network Protocol：RTMP
Dimensions: 185mm(L) x 107mm(W) x 19.5mm(H)
Weight：480g

On the top edge of the Yolobox as shown in the photo below, from left to right there are 2 x HDMI input ports, 1 x USB input port, 1 x HDMI output port, 1 x Ethernet port, 1 x audio input port and 1 x  USB-C charging/powering port.

On the bottom of the Yolobox from left to right, as shown below, there is an audio out port, a Sim card slot, a 1/4-20″ mount, an SD card slot and the power button.

Performance

When I first took the Yolobox out of the box, I was very impressed by the build quality, the design and the sleek look. The front of the Yolobox is smooth with no protruding buttons.

Once I charged it up and powered it on, I was greeted by a Yolobox splash screen and then it took me straight to the network screen that offered 3 choices for connectivity. The following are your choices:
I have been using the hard wired ethernet cable choice since I have been live streaming the sermons from my church and I prefer not to risk any signal issues that may occur when using a wireless connection. As you can see in the picture below, I mounted the Yolobox with the 1/4-20″ head to a tripod so that I could operate it at eye-level. The touchscreen response is great, but the screen does attract fingerprints that are actually only visible once the device is powered off.

At the top of the device, as shown below, I have an HDMI cable plugged into the input. The other end of this cable is plugged into an 8-port Blackmagicdesign Switcher that has 6 cameras connected. So for this particular live stream, the camera switching is done on the BM Switcher. I also have an HDMI cable plugged into the HDMI output port. That cable goes to a large monitor approximately 10 feet away and is used by other members of the media team that keep an eye on everything. The white cable that you see is a flat Ethernet cable that is connected to one of the network switches for internet connectivity.

The picture below shows the Yolobox as it is actually live streaming a sermon. As you can see on the screen, the device provides the live streaming data including data rates, dropped packages metrics, the platform or platforms that you are streaming to (Note the Facebook Icon ion the bottom left corner. You can stream to multiple platforms simultaneously), as well as utilize the functional options on the toolbar across the bottom of the screen.

The features also include the ability to add custom graphics layers like a logo or watermark to your stream and you can also live switch between 5 video inputs((2 HDMI, 1 USB,1 SD card,1 from web source). You can stream video with picture-in-picture and audio from a separate external audio source if you choose to. Here is an illustration of the platforms that you can stream to:

There are a large number of settings that utilize the features and capabilities of the Yolobox, and too many to mention in this review. During the time that I have been testing this device, the Yolobox record feature was enabled so that you can record your stream onto an SD card and have it ready for other purposes. However, I have noticed an extreme audio/video sync problem with the recordings. The audio and video start off in sync, but over time, they become extremely out of sync and unusable without major editing. There is no sync problem with the live stream.

Another negative that I have been experiencing is that connectivity to Facebook has been a bit inconsistent. Out of every 4 attempts, there will be one occasion when it will not connect. I have identified this as an issue because I have a lower-end streaming box that connects every time. They are both on a 1GB/1GB FIOS connection, I did reach out to Yolobox support, and while they responded within a couple of days, they never offered any clear or practical solution.

You can click here to see one of the sermons that I live streamed to Facebook using the Yolobox.

What I like

• Its size and sleek look
• Build quality
• Numerous included functions and features
• The all-in-one concept/design
• Battery life
• Expansion capabilities

What can be improved

• A redesign to include a user replaceable battery.
• The ability to stream 4K
• A storage capacity beyond 128GB
• Fix the audio/video sync issue

Final thoughts

Yolobox is poised to make all of my live streaming needs and goals a reality. Right out of the box, its functions and features make it a winner in my book. It also seems that the architecture is already built-in to expand on its capabilities to make parts of it future-proof. Otherwise, the only test left is to see if it stands up to extensive use. This is where the weakness may exist partially because of the built-in battery that does not seem to offer a replacement option. In addition, I do think that a software fix is needed to ensure that the connectivity to all of the compatible platforms always works. Regardless, I am giving the Yolobox a well done!! And, two thumbs up!!

Price: $999
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Yololiv.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Camera gear, Photography

Yolobox portable live stream studio review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 5, 2019 at 8:23 am.

Note: If you are subscribed to this feed through FeedBurner, please switch to our native feed URL http://the-gadgeteer.com/feed/ in order to ensure continuous delivery.