The Hohem iSteady V3 is a gimbal packed with useful features, but it requires patience to realise its potential.
Many people use gimbals to gain an edge in smartphone photography, whether it's capturing memorable moments or creating social media content. While using a gimbal may take some getting used to for beginners, it can greatly enhance your creative output.
Hohem was founded in 2014 and specializes in gimbals and photography accessories.
Hohem iSteady V3 – Design
Hohem iSteady V3 is a 3-axis stabilizing gimbal that can stabilize the pan, tilt and roll axes, allowing you to capture a variety of shots and angles depending on which axis of freedom you allow.
The detachable remote control has most of the buttons you'll use and a dedicated charging port, and it also has a built-in extension rod and tripod for placing it on the ground or holding it in your hand as a selfie stick.
For even more versatility, the V3 folds up to fit in a cargo pocket or bag.
Like the iSteady M6, the V3 features a magnetic, detachable fill light with “AI” features in the form of gesture detection. If you're shooting solo, it's useful to use gestures to set up the gimbal to track your face, switch between landscape and portrait modes, and adjust your composition.
If you don't want to turn on the AI ​​feature, there's an on/off switch on the side. The fill light can be switched from warm to cool tones, helping to cast subtle or extra light on your subject up to 110 lux.
Hohem also has an app for the V3 and other gimbals that allows you to make the most of some of the tracking features as well as update firmware.
If you are using the V3 for casual purposes, you can do without it, but if you are going to make the most of the gimbal for movie templates or tutorials, it is worth having one.
Hohem iSteady V3 – Specifications
Product Details | Specifications |
---|---|
Weight | 420 g / 14.82 oz |
Maximum payload | 300 g / 10.58 oz |
battery | 1400mAh |
Charging time | Approx. 2.5 hours |
size | 5″ x 2.56″ x 12.28″ |
Folding Dimensions | 3.85″ x 1.73″ x 6.32″ |
Extension rod | 25 cm / 9.84 inch |
Hohem iSteady V3 – Usage
As my first gimbal, the V3 was user-friendly but still had a learning curve. With nine buttons including the remote, it took some time to figure out what all of them did.
Check out Hohem's video below for a good overview of how to use the V3, but here's a quick rundown of most of the buttons:
The orange side wheel controls the fill light, the trigger on the back controls the gimbal state, and the joystick lets you tilt and pan your smartphone.
The mode button allows you to switch between the different control axes and landscape/portrait mode, and finally, the shutter button controls taking photos/videos.
I've used the V3 in review workflows, photo shoots and even video calls, and the AI ​​tracking and remote features make it extremely convenient to set up and control from a distance when you're alone or are the designated photographer in a group.
While I think the gimbal would be a useful addition for FaceTime or Zoom calls, the AI ​​face tracking feature doesn't work with video calls.
At first the V3 struggled to switch from portrait to landscape orientation, especially with the fill light attached, but it's important to have the phone as close as possible to the volume/power buttons for balance, and this seemed to solve the problem in my case.
If not, if the gimbal payload is unbalanced or misaligned, the V3 will beep frequently and the motors will stop and need to be reset if they don't auto-correct. I don't see this as a defect of the gimbal, but rather a warning to be careful while using it.
Hohem iSteady V3 – Perfect for learning the basics of photography on your own
Although the V3 is a lighter and easier-to-use gimbal in Hohem's line of devices, we don't recommend buying a gimbal without doing thorough research to see if it will fit your needs. This gimbal is perfect for solo content creators, smartphone photographers, or anyone looking to add a little extra flair to their everyday life photography.
The price and compact features make it well worth it as a first gimbal.
Advantages of Hohem iSteady V3
- Foldable Design
- Versatile use with tripod, remote control and extension rod
- Extensive features and great gesture controls
Cons of Hohem iSteady V3
- Learning curve for beginners
- AI face tracking doesn't work on video calls
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Where to buy Hohem iSteady V3
The Hohem iSteady V3 can be purchased on Amazon for $103.20 (20% off) and on the Hohem store for $129 (14% off).