ZHIYUN Smooth Q4 Gimbal

Detailed Features Description of the ZHIYUN Smooth Q4 Gimbal

The ZHIYUN Smooth Q4 is a highly capable 3-axis handheld gimbal designed specifically for smartphone videography, blending advanced stabilization technology with intelligent software features to meet the demands of modern content creators and is available at Mobihub Electronics Kenya. Its feature set reflects a balance between portability, ease of use, and professional functionality.

1. Mechanical Stabilization System

At the core of the Smooth Q4 is a precision-engineered 3-axis motorized stabilization system, which actively compensates for unwanted hand movements across the pan (yaw), tilt (pitch), and roll axes. This results in significantly smoother footage by eliminating common jitters and shakes caused by handheld shooting, walking, or running. The motors are finely tuned for fast and precise response, enabling the gimbal to maintain stable framing even during rapid movements or sudden directional changes.

The gimbal supports smartphones weighing up to approximately 280 grams, accommodating a wide range of devices including larger flagship models, smartphones with protective cases, and those fitted with additional lens attachments. The adjustable clamp mechanism securely holds devices within the width range of 55mm to 90mm.

2. Ergonomic Design and Portability

The Smooth Q4’s chassis is constructed from durable, lightweight materials, including reinforced ABS and aluminum components, achieving an optimal balance between robustness and portability. Its foldable arm design allows the device to compactly fold down for easy transportation and storage, making it highly suited for travel and on-the-go shooting.

One of the standout physical features is the integrated extendable rod, which can extend up to 215 millimeters (approximately 8.5 inches). This built-in telescoping mechanism effectively converts the gimbal into a selfie stick, allowing users to capture wider scenes, higher or lower angles, or more immersive shots without sacrificing stability or requiring additional equipment.

The handle itself is ergonomically shaped for comfortable prolonged use, featuring a textured grip surface to reduce hand fatigue and improve hold security during extended shooting sessions.

3. User Interface and Controls

The Smooth Q4 offers a thoughtfully designed control layout on its handle to maximize ease of use and accessibility:

• A multidirectional joystick enables precise manual control over pan and tilt axes, facilitating smooth camera movement during filming.

• A zoom/slide control wheel provides variable-speed adjustment of digital zoom and focus (where supported by the smartphone camera API), enabling fluid zoom transitions.

• A mode button allows quick cycling between different stabilization modes.

• A multi-function trigger can be used to lock or unlock gimbal axes, reset gimbal position, or initiate special functions such as re-centering.

These controls are positioned to allow intuitive operation primarily with the thumb, minimizing the need to adjust grip or divert attention from the subject.

4. Versatile Stabilization Modes

The gimbal offers several operational modes that cater to different shooting needs:

• Pan Follow Mode: Locks tilt and roll axes while allowing pan movements to follow the user’s hand movements, ideal for horizontal panning shots.

• Follow Mode: Allows both pan and tilt axes to follow smoothly for more dynamic framing.

• Lock Mode: Locks all axes in place to hold the camera fixed in one direction regardless of handle movement.

• POV (Point of View) Mode: All three axes respond to the operator’s movements, enabling immersive first-person perspectives.

• Vortex Mode: Enables continuous 360-degree barrel rolls for highly creative, cinematic effects.

5. Advanced Intelligent Features

When paired with ZHIYUN’s ZY Cami mobile app (available for iOS and Android), the Smooth Q4 unlocks a suite of intelligent shooting capabilities:

• SmartFollow 3.0: Advanced AI-powered subject tracking that locks onto a moving subject and automatically adjusts gimbal orientation to keep it centered in the frame. This facilitates dynamic solo shooting without the need for manual adjustment.

• Gesture Control: Enables hands-free operation by starting or stopping video recording and capturing photos through simple hand gestures recognized by the smartphone camera.

• Creative Modes: The app supports various cinematic shooting modes such as Dolly Zoom (a zoom effect that maintains subject size while altering background perspective), Vortex (rotational 360° effects), MagicClone Pano (cloning effects within panoramic shots), and standard Panorama.

• Smart Editing Templates: ZY Cami offers pre-configured video editing templates, transitions, and music, streamlining the workflow for content creators preparing videos for social media platforms.

6. Integrated Lighting

The Smooth Q4 includes an optional magnetic clip-on fill light, which attaches securely to the top of the smartphone clamp. This light provides adjustable brightness levels and full 360-degree rotation, allowing users to direct light precisely onto their subjects. This feature enhances low-light and indoor filming, providing balanced illumination and improved image quality without the need for separate lighting equipment.

7. Battery and Power Management

The gimbal is powered by a built-in 1200mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which offers up to 15 hours of continuous operation under optimal conditions. Real-world usage typically yields 10–12 hours depending on smartphone weight and accessory use (such as the fill light).

Charging is handled through a USB-C port, with support for pass-through charging, allowing the user to charge their smartphone via the gimbal’s power source while shooting. This is particularly useful during extended recording sessions or live streaming.

8. Compatibility and Additional Features

• Wide Smartphone Compatibility: Adjustable clamp size and sufficient payload capacity ensure compatibility with a broad range of smartphones, including larger models with cases or additional lenses.

• Quick Switch Between Landscape and Portrait Orientations: The device allows effortless rotation between shooting formats to suit different content platforms.

• Strong Magnetic Phone Mount: Ensures stable, secure attachment while allowing quick smartphone installation and removal.

• Firmware Upgradable: The gimbal firmware can be updated through the ZY Cami app, ensuring access to new features and improvements over time.

Conclusion

The ZHIYUN Smooth Q4 combines robust mechanical stabilization, ergonomic design, and intelligent software integration into a compact, travel-friendly gimbal solution. Its comprehensive feature set—ranging from advanced AI tracking and gesture control to integrated lighting and extendable selfie stick functionality—makes it a versatile tool for content creators seeking to enhance their mobile videography with professional-level control and cinematic quality.