Cinematic Gimbal Moves With Your Phone

Today on the Slanted Lens I’ve got here with me, Melody Moore. Melody makes incredible cookies and we’re going to document her cookie making process to show you how to use this Phone Gimbal from ZHIYUN to get smooth camera moves.

This is the new Zhiyun-Tech Smooth-Q2 Smartphone Gimbal Stabilizer. It’s a great little gimbal that’s pocket sized, it’s light and it gives you 16 hours of battery life which means you can use this thing all day!

It’s basically going to last 4 times longer than your iPhone does. It’s got incredible battery power, it’s made of aluminum alloy, so it’s very strong – I’ve actually dropped it once and it survived well!

It’s got a quick release clip here so you can take it off.

It also gives you the ability to go vertical if you want that kind of portrait shot vs landscape, so you have the option for vertical or horizontal.

And using Bluetooth, it connects my phone to the Gimbal so I can hit record and stop with just the button on the handle!

So let’s take a look at some of the motion options you have with the Gimbal:

Pan Follow Mode

With this, it’s going to pan, but it’s not going to tilt.

Locking Mode

With this one it’s not going to pan or tilt.

Follow Mode

This mode will pan and tilt and follow your motion.

POV Mode

This one gives you complete movement! You can pan, tilt and roll with it.

Vortex Mode

Now it’s just going to roll and as long as you have the joystick to the side, it will continue to roll!

So there’s a look at the modes on the Q2. Very few buttons on the back; one button is a joystick to be able to go through the different modes, you’ve got the record button and the on and off button. It’s very simple to use!

Now let’s get to some camera moves and see how it looks as Melody is making her cookies.

1^st Push-In Shot

For this push-in shot I’m going to put it on the mode where it will flow with me, either tilt or pan. I’m just going to push in as she sets the flower out for the beginning of our little video here.

Dolly Shot

Now I’m going to come over from the side and will just lock this off, following across the counter as she sets the ingredients down that we’re using.

Flyover Shot

I’m adding in a flyover shot so you can have a better look at what the ingredients are as she lays them out.

Paralax Shot

For this shot, I’m just going to allow the camera to move around the bowl, keeping the bowl centered.

I’m going to make one for each ingredient, and then ask I move around the bowl, I can cut in each ingredient.

Vortex Shot

Now doing a Vortex shot from overhead. I’m going to spin as she mixes the opposite way and that’s going to make for an interesting look.

1^st Pull-Out Shot

As she mixes I’m going to do a gradual pull out shot.

2^nd Push-In Shot

I’m going to push-in as she rolls the rolling pin towards me.

2^nd Flyover Shot

This is an interesting way to get another angle on what she’s doing.

Pan & Slide Shot

I’m going to pan and pivot as she’s punching out cookies and sliding over to the cookie sheet.

3^rd Flyover Shot

This is another fun shot to introduce what she’s doing.

2^nd Pull-Out Shot

To finish up the piece now, I’m going to do a variety of shots moving in tight and doing some more broad shots. Cutting it all together as she ices the cookies.

3^rd Push-In Shot

And for this final shot I’m just going to push in to her with the cookies and let it sit there for a couple seconds.

We’ve been shooting for a lot time to get all of these shots, but the cookies are made, shots are done and we’re cutting this into a little short. Let’s take a look!

This was really simple to use and that was amazing. Switching between different modes was easy to set up which made for a really enjoyable shoot! I would absolutely carry this around if you’re traveling or something.