Do you want to give free rein to the Steven Spielberg that is in you? Do you want a tool able to make the leap in quality to your video content? The stabilizer YI GIMBAL for smartphones it could be for you. But be careful!
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For several years now I have been trying to create more or less demanding videos and looking and looking at my works the verdict has always been the same: "We miss something!"
The jump from "amateur video" to "professional video"I never did ... until I discovered the existence of GIMBAL! 3 axis optical stabilizers capable of make a smooth video as no optical stabilizer could ever do.
From passionate Xiaomi which is it did not take me long to discover that even YI, Xiaomi sub-brand dedicated to rooms and videos, had produced its stabilizer and that, compared to the competition, it was distinguished by the usual excellent value for money.
I started to fantasize about the product, I already saw myself at the Academy Awards for Best Director with Loren's academic kiss, but in the end it arrived ... and the initial impact was ... particular!
YI GIMBAL - DESIGN
Let's leave my ambitions for an international director for a moment and talk about the product.
YI Gimbal immediately the idea of simplicity and attention to detail. Holding the sensation is to hold an instrument robust and technologically advanced.
The body of the GIMBAL is completely in polycarbonate but definitely solid and well finished. The decision not to use metal like aluminum in my opinion has donated rigidity and lightness to the device.
The presence of the "screw" attachment at the base of the useful handle to place the gimbal on a tripod is also very appreciated.
YI GIMBAL - FUNCTIONS
But what is GIMBAL for? We have already said that it is one three-axis stabilizer. But practical side what does it mean? It means that by mounting our smartphone in the appropriate hook and taking up a scene, the electronically stabilized mechanical arm will allow to eliminate any vibration making the classic movements of PIN (rotation from top to bottom and vice versa) e PAN (rotation from right to left and vice versa) much more soft and fluid.
The GIMBAL simply has 3 buttons and 1 joistick therefore all configurations are easily selectable with the pressure of a finger.
We describe the available registration methods:
MODE 1 (PAN): In this mode the rotation on the horizontal axis is blocked. The smartphone will remain stable by not moving up or down but leaving the possibility of rotating to the right or left through the rotation of the handle in the chosen direction.
MODE 2 (LOCK): In this mode all rotations are blocked. The smartphone can be adjusted with the joistick and the position will remain fixed despite the movements of the GIMBAL.
MODE 3 (FREE): Both the rotation from right to left (PAN) that from top to bottom (PIN) I'm assisted but enabled. The smartphone will follow the body of the GIMBAL slowing down the rotations and giving a smooth and stabilized movement.
YI GIMBAL - VIDEO TEST
YI GIMBAL - APP
I must admit, at first I had not really considered it. I had tried to use the GIMBAL only and exclusively with the system room.
But as far as this is possible, we lose a good 50% of the potential of the instrument.
RECITALS
The YI GIMBAL APP works OK. Or rather ... on the Mi8 with new MIUI 10 and Android 9 DOES NOT WORK.
Il GIMBAL disconnects continually, it dies suddenly during the panning and it turns off definitively (you need to restart the gimbal) when you try to enter the settings or try to trace a subject.
This is to say the least poco depressing if we consider that the APP for iOS, although not free from problems (the 2 stars on the App Store are proof of this), funzionicchia and this allowed me to see what the potentials could have been. However, regret is a lot.
Xiaomi ... .. WHY!?!?!?!
Let's see what we could do with the YI Gimbl App.
PANORAMIC PHOTOS
Thanks to this functionality the APP will communicate with the GIMBAL to rotate the smartphone automatically and take pictures at regular intervals. At the end of the rotation of 180 degrees the APP will process and join the shots by taking out a single panoramic photo of good workmanship.
OBJECTS TRACKING
This is definitely the most interesting feature (although in fact I could not try it for the problems described above). Activating the TRACK it will be possible to draw a square around the subject to be traced. THEThe GIMBAL will automatically move to keep the subject always in the center of the shot.
YI GIMBAL - CONSIDERATIONS
Let's go back to my fantasies about being the new James Cameron ...
Before the GIMBAL arrived, I kept thinking about the myriad of videos I could do with such technology in my hands. The truth, unfortunately, was another.
The first time I held the GIMBAL I was filled with an incredible sense of incompetence. The only things that came to my mind were "IT'S BROKEN!", "HOW IT WORKS HIM", and similar stuff.
Which, in contrast to theextreme simplicity of the controls, made me feel a real incapable.
It took a while time not so much to understand how the instrument was used (which as we said simply has 3 mode), but to understand under what circumstances to use it, what could I need. The truth is that we are not faced with the sacred grail of video making but of a simple, as useful, instrument of recovery.
If we do not have the basic notions of video shooting or at least clear ideas of how to use this GIMBAL well… it seems brutal to say so but… it won't help you.
My conclusion is therefore the following:
The YIM GIMBAL is an instrument done really well which has in the value for money one of its strengths. If you want to make your shots take the leap in quality and you realize that your path towards great direction passes through better image stabilization this YI GIMBAL is straconsigliato.
If, however, you are a novice videomaker and you still do not know what you want to be great ... the GIMBAL will not turn you into experienced directors. It is more likely to make you feel like you are incapable of me. 🙂
PS .. after a bit 'of smanetting ... a little' hand you take it anyway so even if you are perfect amateurs and you want to try and do it well but remember not to discourage the inevitable first sensations of cosmic uselessness. 😀
Here is my videoreview of YI GIMBAL, good vision!
