5 minute read
Discover why the Hohem iSteady M7 is the ultimate tool for solo filmmakers, offering advanced AI-tracking, stabilization, and dynamic camera movements for effortless professional-quality video production.
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In recent years, major smartphone manufacturers have been stepping up their game in camera technology. Not only are they equipping their main sensors with larger sensors, but they're also enhancing their telephoto capabilities. For everyday use, whether it's shooting people, pets, or daily life, smartphones now deliver results almost on par with professional cameras. This is especially true for content creators and live streamers, as smartphones have become a powerful tool, enabling individual to complete short videos, vlogs, and even micro-films on their own.
But relying on just a smartphone for solo shooting isn't always enough for more dynamic situations: travel or fitness recordings often need a helping hand; running shots or sports require extra stabilization; and live-stream shopping would benefit from automatic tracking of the host.
For those seeking an all-in-one solution for stabilization, tracking, and dynamic camera movement functions, the AI-tracking smartphone gimbals has stepped in.
For smartphone video creators, convenience is the top priority. Therefore, since the first on-device AI-tracking smartphone gimbals appeared in 2021, gimbals have gradually evolved toward greater intelligence and ease of use. They now offer features ranging from stabilization and face tracking to gesture-based auto-tracking and remote parameter adjustment. Notably, the ability to achieve tracking of subjects with a phone native camera without restrictions on apps or phone models has greatly simplified the shooting process. There is no need to worry about whether it's an Android or iPhone, nor to download any specific app. Many MCN agencies and content creators have seamlessly integrated AI-tracking smartphone gimbals into their workflows.
Take Xiao Ye, for example—she’s a professional dancer who regularly films her dance routine and share on social media. At first, she used an AI tracking stabilizer with her phone, allowing her to easily capture her dance routines on her own, even streaming live on TikTok while dancing. However, one time she wore a conical hat while performing a traditional Chinese dance, and the stabilizer struggled to track her movements. This happened because the AI tracker relies on recognizing the human form, and the hat obscured her features, making it hard for the system to follow her accurately.
Although numerous tracking gimbals are available on the market, users' tracking needs remain largely unmet—whether it is professional car and travel vloggers, pet videographers, or live streamers who prefer not to appear on camera while engaging in immersive craft sessions, these users want not only to film people but also to track virtually any subject.
In late October 2024, Shenzhen-based smart imaging company Hohem launched its new-generation AI touchscreen smartphone gimbals, the iSteady M7. By revolutionizing its split-type touchscreen controller and the newly upgraded magnetic AI tracker, the M7 achieved a breakthrough in tracking any target with a phone native camera—from people to objects.
1. Smartphone Gimbals with Video Feed Boost Solo Filming Efficiency
As a professional-grade smartphone gimbal, one of the greatest advantages of the iSteady M7 compared with its predecessor M-series models is its ability to achieve tracking any subject with a phone native camera, breaking through the limitations imposed by specific phone models or apps. Prior to this, achieving object tracking required using a specific app developed by the manufacturer, which inevitably compromised image quality and frame rate. Hohem abandoned that approach and instead innovated a "split-type touchscreen controller" that integrates three major functions: object selection, wireless video feed, and remote control.
Public information indicates that prior to the launch of iSteady M7, no smartphone gimbals on the market had ever featured a touchscreen controller. This meant that there was very little reference material for Hohem to rely on, and they had to define this module from scratch. To tackle the challenges of object recognition tracking and interactive experience, Hohem built a diverse image database with samples from cars, pets, buildings, and more. By double-tapping the screen to frame a target, the AI tracker collaborates to enable object selection and wireless image transmission. Moreover, its split-type design enables the possibility of remotely monitoring the AI footage separately.
Smartphone gimbals with live transmission functionality significantly improve the efficiency of solo shooting. For example, when using the rear camera for selfies, users can ensure they are framed correctly in the shot, avoiding blind captures. Similarly, during remote filming, users no longer need to run back and forth to adjust the phone repeatedly.
Compared to other entry-level smartphone stabilizers on the market, the Hohem iSteady M7 combines the performance of a camera stabilizer with the convenience of a smartphone stabilizer. Most portable smartphone stabilizers struggle to support Android phones with large lenses. However, with an upgraded motor control system, the iSteady M7 offers nearly mirror-less camera-level load capacity, supporting up to 500g. Weighing in at the lightest end of professional stabilizers, it's incredibly portable. The phone clamp has been optimized to extend from 58mm to 90mm, making it compatible with fold-able phones that are less than 12.5mm thick even when folded. This means you can use larger phones without having to remove the case. At a price of just $299, the iSteady M7 offers a much lower entry cost compared to professional camera stabilizers that can easily cost $400.
For users who need more accessory options, the Hohem M7 also provides multiple expansion ports for external lenses, shotgun mics, pocket lights, and more, catering to the diverse needs of creators.
It is evident that the upgrades in tracking, control, stabilization, and payload capacity of the iSteady M7 are not a mere patchwork but a meticulously engineered evolution, designed to meet the practical demands of smartphone video shooting in various niche scenarios.
2. AI Automated Camera Movement: Effortlessly Capture those 'Million-Dollar Shots'
If you've been in the video industry for a while, you’ve probably experienced the anxiety of "creative burnout," feeling like your videos are becoming too repetitive. Sometimes, even shooting the same content from a different angle can make all the difference, giving the final product a totally fresh vibe.
The Hohem iSteady M7’s second major advantage is exactly this. With its AI automation and built-in extension rod, it effortlessly enables a wide range of creative camera movements, making your videos more engaging and dynamic.
For Instance, an outdoor camping enthusiast can pull out the Hohem iSteady M7’s extension rod on the way to the campsite, positioning the phone outside the car door to capture the vehicle and the scenic road ahead in one shot, giving a more immersive feel. When setting up the tent, they can switch to the moving time-lapse mode, set the phone in place, and let it automatically record a time-lapse video. Unlike static time-lapses, a moving time-lapse adds motion to the footage, bringing it to life. When their puppy runs freely on the grass, they can activate the ultra-wide mode by pressing the stabilizer’s control button four times and using the extension rod to push the camera forward, capturing the dog’s low-to-the-ground flying perspective. Finally, when sitting around a campfire with friends, they can switch to the phone's cinematic mode, locking the camera onto the teapot for a smooth, slow follow shot that creates a beautiful bokeh effect, resulting in a stable, professional-looking video.
From departure to the end of the camping trip, the Hohem iSteady M7 can assist with automated camera movements throughout the entire shoot, making it easy for the creator to focus less on pacing and more on the shot, simplifying the whole process. You no longer need a dedicated cameraman to capture high-quality, dynamic content.
When traveling, filming a landmark head-on can result in flat footage. In such a case, just tap twice on the target box to lock onto the building and set the start and end points for a motion-lapse. The videographer doesn't even need to hold the device—the task of tracking is handled by AI, allowing for a smooth, wide-range motion-lapse footage. This technique fully showcases the grandeur of historic architecture, proving that with just one person and one smartphone gimbals, one can achieve what might be described as "million-dollar camera moves."
The Hohem iSteady M7 goes the extra mile by addressing potential framing issues caused by varying phone camera placements. It features a new AI calibration mode built into the touchscreen controller, allowing for quick alignment of the image with just a three-button press, ensuring that the phone’s viewfinder matches the controller’s screen.
In short, AI-powered automated camera movement not only makes it easier for beginners to master shooting techniques, but it also opens up new ways and perspectives for capturing daily life, enhancing the overall production value with richer, more dynamic shots.
In conclusion
A great smart imaging device is far more than just a cold machine, it breathes life and soul into the work. The Hohem iSteady M7 provides tailored solutions for different user needs, whether it’s automatic tracking of any subject during live streams, car shoots, or travel vlogs, or more precise control over creative camera movements. It truly shines as a professional-grade smartphone stabilizer.
Purchase it at the following links:
From travel adventures to live-streamed short videos, from capturing pets to documenting crafts, Hohem will continue to innovate, driving product evolution and helping video creators deliver exceptional imagery in a wider range of complex shooting environments.
Tags: Production Gimbals mobile filmmaking Hohem
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