In this review, we are taking a closer look at the iSteady Pro, a budget GoPro gimbal that you can pick up for under $100. Before I even get into the review of this new gimbal by Hohem, I want to point out how nice it is to see more competition of GoPro gimbals popping up on the market. Competition fuels innovation and improvements and not to mention forces more competitive pricing. We have seen this happen with smartphone gimbals. A few years back DJI released the Osmo Mobile with a price tag of $299. Soon afterward we have seen third-party gimbals launching with prices as low as $99. This caused DJI to lower its price when they launched the Osmo Mobile 2 earlier this year to $129.99.
The Hohem iSteady pro is a simplistic GoPro gimbal that comes packaged in a nice case and even includes a mini tripod for those times when you want your gimbal resting on a suitable surface to create time-lapses. Also included with the kit is a micro USB cable for charging up the unit. I found the gimbal to be very comfortable to hold with its molded hand grip. It is a nice compact gimbal and very light to hold. The first impression are good, it is a little plasticky but what do you expect from a $99 gimbal. All in all, it does look to be well constructed and even includes a joystick for nice smooth movements.
The Good: The handle features a full-sized USB slot that can act as a power bank to charge any device that can be charged via USB. It also has a micro USB port near the camera mount that can be used to charge your GoPro while using the gimbal. Now this only works for cameras that you mount where the battery door is not blocked by the motor. I found the footage I shot with the iSteady Pro to be quite smooth and was pleasantly surprised. Like all gimbals there is some slight motor vibration noise, however, I did find it to be at an acceptable level. Hohem has a nice little app for the iSteady pro that allows you to control the gimbal remotely and make some adjustments to how the gimbal behaves when in use. A very basic app but a nice touch for the price.
The Bad: I did find the gimbal handle would knock the camera on occasion when doing extreme moves/angles, so you have to pay attention to the angle at all times. I also found the horizon a little tilted when doing fast panning, it would correct itself but could be annoying to some filmmakers while others may like the fluid more natural motion.
All in all, I found this to be a nice little gimbal for the price. If you’re looking for a low-cost gimbal you might just want to take a look at the Hohem iSteady pro, I am sure you will be satisfied with the purchase. Watch our full in-depth review on YouTube.
iSteady Pro (USA) https://amzn.to/2L5wclP
iSteady Pro (CAN) https://amzn.to/2NUUIUN
