The 10 Best Face Tracking Gimbals
This wiki has been updated 13 times since it was first published in January of 2019. If you want to make professional-quality videos without spending thousands on a high-end camera, it's a good idea to invest in a stabilizer. In addition to ensuring your footage turns out smooth, these face tracking gimbals can also follow an object of your choosing, and many of them can help you create time lapses and panoramas using your smartphone as a remote control. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. DJI Pocket 2
2. Zhiyun Smooth 4
3. Hohem iSteady Mobile
Editor's Notes
March 11, 2021:
Due to a combination of availability issues and discontinued options needing to make way for new models, it wound up being a very busy round of updates. Some of the choices that we let go include the Zomei Stabilizer and Snoppa Atom.
We replaced the Hohem EA111088 with a newer version from the company – the Hohem iSteady Mobile – and we swapped out the FeiyuTech SPG2 for the FeiyuTech Vimble2S.
We retained the Zhiyun Smooth 4, which continues to be a well-reviewed and popular choice, but we also added its little cousin – the Zhiyun Smooth Q2 – to our list, feeling that it would be an interesting option for fans of the Smooth 4 who are looking for a small backup device, or just users who are simply looking for a compact selection. If your purchase mission is motivated by the latter reason, the MOZA Mini MX is another small-model new inclusion that might suit you.
Perhaps our most exciting addition this time around was the DJI Pocket 2, which was incorporated as a replacement for the DJI Osmo Pocket. The case could be made that neither of these options were suitable for this list, as their integrated equipment might make them something closer to an action camera than a gimbal. However, given their reasonable affordability and the option they both present to be used in conjunction with a smartphone, it seemed silly not to include one on our list, just to make sure that our users are aware of the option. The new model can shoot 4K video and 64-megapixel photos, and – with the addition of a separately-purchased case – can go up to 60 meters underwater.
If you aren’t planning on using your everyday smartphone with this gimbal, then you might be interested in our list of cameras for vlogging. Or, if you’d prefer to procure a dedicated mobile device just for this toy, then maybe you’ll be interested in our list of cheap smartphones.
June 03, 2019:
Extremely easy to set up and use, the DJI Osmo Mobile 2 has a variety of autonomous modes that will help you make professional-looking videos no matter your skill level. It only has a few buttons, which are easy to reach with your thumb, and it can accommodate a wide range of devices, including larger smartphones like the iPhone XS Max and Google Pixel 3 XL, as long as they aren't in thick cases. The Zhiyun Smooth 4 has a lot more buttons on its handle, which can take some time to learn how to use, but once you get the hang of it, you'll hardly ever have to touch your phone's screen to change modes or settings. It works quite well with the company's ZY Play app, but note that some of the functions, like time lapse and multiple exposure, don't work on some Android phones, and it can't shoot 4K video on Samsung devices. The Freevision Vilta-M produces super-smooth footage, even when you're moving at high speeds. Its app is easy to use and has a good selection of functions, including four types of panoramas, manual and automatic time lapses, a beautify mode for selfies, and a smart tracking feature called IntelliTrace. With its 360-degree unrestricted rotation, the Snoppa Atom allows you to track faces and objects without worrying about your subject moving out of range, and it has three different tracking modes: smooth movement, lock mode, and fast track. Its folding handle is convenient for storage and transport, and it has a long battery life of up to 24 hours.
Unlike most others, the DJI Osmo Pocket has a built-in camera for standalone use that can shoot 4K video, and the smartphone app has an editing suite that lets you add music, watermarks, and filters. It's incredibly small and lightweight, so you can easily use it with one hand, but it has a rather short battery life of about 2.5 hours. Also be aware that if you have a phone with a micro USB port, you'll have to buy an adapter separately.
Special Honors
Gudsen Technology MOZA Lite 2 If you think you're ready to progress past smartphone cinematography and start shooting with some serious cameras, you'll want to pickup a gimbal like this one, with a 2.8-amp-hour battery that offers four to eight hours of runtime, and a durable, magnesium-alloy construction that can safely support up to 11 pounds of gear. gudsen.com
Tiffen Steadicam Built strictly for professionals and deep-pocketed hobbyists, Tiffen's state-of-the-art Steadicam system offers several wearable gimbals with elaborates designs. Some even go so far as to include seven-inch HD monitors, fork working at angles that deprive you of access to your camera's primary display. tiffen.com
DJI Pocket 2 Waterproof Case Take your adventures with the Pocket 2 one step further – or deeper, as the case may be – with this waterproof case. It's good for depths up to 60 meters, and it's priced pretty reasonably, too. dji.com
4. Zhiyun Smooth Q2
5. FeiyuTech Vimble2S
6. DJI Osmo Mobile 2
7. Moza Mini MX
8. Freevision Vilta-M
9. Zhiyun Weebill Lab
10. Evo Shift
After deciding that the pen was mightier than the pliers, Canadian electrical contractor William Rhoda abandoned his career and headed back to college, where he majored in marketing and advertising and won a scholarship along the way to earning a diploma in creative communications. His past career landed him a depth of knowledge in tools and hardware, while his current career schooled him in audio, video and camera equipment. During his leisure time, he’s learned lots about outdoor gear, and years of tiresome backyard maintenance have taught him all about pools and hot tubs. His recreational pursuits include rest, relaxation and revolutionary action, and his roommate’s a hairless cat.