Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI Review: Flagship AI Stabilizer Delivers Stunning Results

It appears some manufacturers focused on making their latest smartphone gimbals as light and easy to use as possible. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI goes in a different direction, adding features that make it an ideal tool for advanced smartphone filmmaking.

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is an update to the Smooth 5 that adds not only an integrated fill light with 680 lux peak illuminance but also improved stabilization and high-torque motors. With its many new features and available trick shots, Zhiyun’s AI flagship Smooth 5S is a pleasure to use and can achieve stunning results once you learn how to use it properly.

Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is on the left, and the Zhiyun Crane-M 3S is on the right.

Design and Build Quality

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is a bit larger than much of its competition. At 12.24” high by 6.61” wide and 2.04” deep, it is larger than the Crane-M 3S I reviewed last year. While the Smooth 5S is a bit lighter, the Crane-M 3S can accommodate smartphones and mirrorless cameras. That said, I have not found the Smooth 5S to be too large or heavy at all.

The stabilizer’s excellent build quality and design are the first things you notice. The feel of the various materials is wonderful, and the unit is very attractive. A textured translucent material is used in conjunction with multi-layered sprays on the axis arms and control panel. The handle’s thickness and textured silicone feel solid and comfortable.

The front of the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI features the control panel, a rectangle with a translucent face that integrates many of the gimbal’s key controls. Starting from the top of the control panel is the Gimbal Mode/Battery Level/Status Indicator Light, a multifunction display that changes depending on mode, and a single power button press. On the right, directly below this display, is a grouping of controls around the adjustment wheel, which, depending on the app being used, accesses various parameters and functions.

A note about related apps: Typically, devices use a single app provided by the manufacturer. Zhiyun provides two of their own (both available for Android and iOS) and works with a few third-party apps as well. Zhiyun provides the ZY Cami and StaCam apps. ZY Cami is easier to use and is intended for those who do not need access to all of the settings and modes. The StaCam app is more robust and provides access to LUT presets, ISO, and lens choices. Depending on which app is employed, the controls sometimes have differing functions.

At the center of this wheel is the Fill Light Button, which, depending on the app being used and the number of presses, can confirm menu choices, start filming, and turn on and off the optional second magnetic fill light.

The adjustment wheel has a second group of functions found at the noon, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock locations which correspond to Resolution Selection, ISO/Exposure Adjustment, Photo Album and Display Effects respectively.

Below the adjustment wheel is the Mode Button, which switches between the gimbal’s various shooting modes: Pan Follow, Lock, Follow, POV, and Vortex. More on the modes later. A single press of the Mode Button advances to the next mode, and a double press goes back one mode.

Below the Mode Button is the Photo/Video Button. A single press of this button takes a photo or starts a video, while a double press switches between front and rear cameras in the ZY Cami app and between wide-angle, super-wide angle, telephoto, auto, and front camera in the StaCam app.

To the left of the Photo/Video Button is the Joystick, which controls the motorized movement of the gimbal up and down and left and right.

Finally, above the Joystick is the Menu Button, which enters the SMART menu in the ZY Cami app and returns to the shooting interface from the settings menu. If using the StaCam app, this button returns to the filming interface.

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI’s power button is on the right side of the body. A single press shows the battery level, and when pressed and held, it turns the unit on and off.

Below the Power Button is the Function Button, which enters the footage settings menu with a single press and resets Bluetooth when pressed five times. A long press of this button turns on the tilt axis arm fill light.

On the right side of the body above these buttons is also a ¼”-20 threaded mounting hole for accessories.

On the opposite side of the control panel is the Lock for the lower axis arm, which has a USB Type-C port covered by a rubber flap. This port charges the gimbal and performs firmware updates. Below the port is the Trigger Button, which again has multiple functions. A single press enables and disables SmartFollow in the ZY Cami app. A double press repositions the stabilizer. A triple press rotates the pan axis 180 degrees, and pressing and holding the button enters Go Mode.

The Focus/Zoom Wheel is on the left side of the body from the Control Panel. A single press of the button in the center of the wheel switches between the two functions while in the StaCam app.

As is most likely quite obvious after reading the descriptions of the various controls, many functions are controlled differently depending on the app being used. For this review, I focus mainly on using the gimbal with the ZY Cami and StaCam apps. While the other apps offer some great added functionality, some are not free.

What’s in the box

• Smooth 5S AI Gimbal
• Tripod (M2)
• Type-C Charging Cable
• AI Tracker

Setup

Before you can start shooting, you must set up the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI in a few steps. If you have never used a modern camera stabilizer before, it is recommended that you watch one of the many videos online that show how this is accomplished. It seems difficult at first, but it is straightforward, and if you are familiar with similar gimbals, preparing the Smooth 5S is not a steep learning curve.

The first step involves mounting and balancing the smartphone by unlocking each of the three-axis arms. Depending on the desired shooting orientation (landscape vs. portrait), the phone is mounted in the clamp and turned to the corresponding orientation. The roll-axis arm is loosened and adjusted to balance the phone horizontally. The roll-axis arm is then tightened, and you are ready to go.

One thing that is different about the Smooth 5S compared to competitor’s models is that once the smartphone is mounted in one orientation, it cannot simply be turned to the other. I prefer shooting video in landscape mode, so this did not prove to be a hardship, but if switching between orientations quickly is important to you, this may be something to consider.

Modes

The following descriptions and illustrations of the various modes are taken directly from the Zhiyun Smooth 5S user manual.

	Lock Mode (L): The three motors are all locked and won’t follow the movement of the gimbal handle. Push the joystick up/ down and left/right to control the tilt axis and pan axis.
	Follow Mode (F): The roll axis motor is locked. The tilt axis and the pan axis motor follow the movement of the gimbal handle. Push the joystick up/down and left/right to control the tilt axis and pan axis.
	Point of View Mode (POV): The three motors all follow the movement of the gimbal handle.
	Vortex mode (V): The tilt axis motor rotates upward by 90°, and the tilt axis, roll axis, and pan axis motors follow the handle’s rotation. Push the joystick to the left/right to control the pan axis’s rotation.
	Go Mode (GO): The camera pans and tilts quickly, following the gimbal’s movement, while the roll axis is locked.

Standby Mode

When SMOOTH 5S is powered on, rotate the roll axis or pan axis manually until the axis triggers the built-in lock device. Then, SMOOTH 5S will enter standby mode automatically. Unlock the roll axis and pan axis to wake up the gimbal.

Battery

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI battery supports fast PD charging, meaning that a full charge requires just two hours. According to Zhiyun, with the AI installed and the integrated fill light turned on, the Smooth5 Scan runs for seven hours on a single charge. With the integrated fill light and two magnetic fill lights all on, the unit will run for two hours and twenty minutes. In standby mode, the battery will last 26 hours. A charging cable is provided, but as is the norm these days, a charger is not.

Available Zhiyun Smooth 5S Kits

Currently, all three kits are available at newly reduced prices.

• Standard: ($135.20) Smooth 5S AI Gimbal, Tripod, Type-C Charging Cable
• Combo: ($175.20) Everything from the Standard Kit and adds the AI tracker module
• Pro ($199.20) Everything from the Combo Kit and adds the Fill Light, Fill Light Filters, Wrist Strap and Storage Bag

AI Module

I am reviewing the Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI, which shipped with the optional AI module ($69.00). The AI module attaches magnetically to one of the two attachment points on the phone clamp. These magnetic connections can accommodate the AI module and a fill light or two fill lights if desired. The connections also allow the accessories to be mounted facing forward or backward.

The AI module weighs less than 1 ounce, barely adding to the gimbal’s weight. To use it, snap it onto the magnetic mount, activate it with a single press of its only button, and then continue in the ZY Cami app to control the gimbal via hand gestures.

Using the AI module, users can start and stop recording, reframe, and implement custom tracking controls without being near the gimbal. The intelligent subject tracking uses updated Zhiyun algorithms, which track subjects regardless of obstacles or light interference.

Accessories

• ($69.00) AI Module
• ($36.00) TransMount Magnetic Fill Light
• ($29.00) Extension Rod with ¼” Thread Handheld Pole

Sample screenshots of the ZY Cami app

ZY Cami App

As mentioned earlier, many apps work with the Smooth 5S. Zhiyun offers the easy-to-use ZY Cami app and the more robust StaCam. These apps can be used for both filming and editing with the ZY Cami app SMART mode and a collection of intelligent video templates that provide user-friendly editing and one-click video production.

The StaCam app goes further with customizable framing, lens focal length adjustments, depth beauty effects, and advanced video customization, facilitating professional-grade video production.

Other third-party apps, such as Filmic Pro, offer even more extended controls and capabilities, but they are not free. Users can also choose to use the camera apps already on their phones if they desire, but they will not have the level of integration and control offered by the Zhiyun apps.

Using the Stabilizer

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is a blast to use. It is easy to achieve truly impressive smooth motion whether you use the gimbal handheld, walking or running, or on a tripod for pans and timelapses. However, my favorite way to use the Smooth 5S is connected to a monopod. This allows for easy crane shots, moving the camera from inches above the ground to as high as your monopod extends. I found that using the monopod is great for shooting using both hands, something that can come in very “handy” in some circumstances.

The Smooth 5S’s 360-degree rotation enables extended creative shots like Vortex Mode. Thanks to stronger motors, it can support heavier phones (up to 0.66 pounds).

The built-in fill light enables shooting subjects in low-light conditions, and the ability to add one or two more fill lights extends that capability even further.

You can even use the Zhiyun Smooth 5S and its 2,600mAh battery to recharge your phone.

Specifications

Tilt Mechanical Range

Max: 209°
Standard: 349°
Min: -140°
(including storage state)

Roll Mechanical Range

Max: 259°
Standard: 349°
Min: -90°
(including storage state)

Pan Mechanical Range

Max: 180°
Standard: 360°
Min: -180°

Smartphone Compatibility List

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI is a powerful bit of gear that transforms your smartphone into a legitimate filmmaking tool. You can achieve impressive results, and the number of modes and functions and the production and editing effects are extensive. My only complaint is that the mode display is tiny, faint, and virtually unreadable in daylight.

There is a learning curve to get the most out of it, but it is great right out of the box. At the new lower price of $175.20, it is competitive with gimbals that offer much less. It’s a great tool to grow into. In fact, there are a few shots, techniques, and effects that I haven’t tried yet, but I am looking forward to doing so.

The Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI retails for $219; it is available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including B&H Photo and Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Beautifully smooth footage; Feature-rich; Wealth of controls including excellent zoom wheel; Great design; Excellent build quality; Great battery life

What Needs Improvement: The Gimbal Mode Indicator is unreadable in daylight; There is a learning curve to get the most out of it