Hohem iSteady Pro 4 is a Splash proof 3-axis Action Camera stabilizer that levels out the camera, keeping the horizon leveled and stabilizes it on a 3-axis no matter how you move or shake your device but apart from that it offers 14 hours of battery life, can be used as a power bank, wireless camera control, etc. + my personal favorite Motion Timelapse and 360 Inception which are impossible or extremely hard to do with the just camera itself. In other words, iSteady Pro 4 is more than just a regular gimbal.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 14 hours of battery life
- Reverse charging feature / Can be used as a power bank
- Motion Time-lapse
- No calibration required
- Insanely fast mounting design
Cons:
- 360-degree inception is limited
- The mobile app has some bugs
- Motion time-lapse can sometimes fail
- All plastic design
- Poor stabilisation without “Hypersmooth”
Things to consider before buying Hohem iSteady Pro 4
So do you really need a Gimbal for your GoPro if Hypersmooth stabilisation is that good? Well, I would say in 90 % of the cases you are probably good without it because the in-camera stabilisation from GoPro is really impressive.
However, there might be still some cases where you could take advantage of using a gimbal with your camera. For example using a Gimbal always keeps your horizon leveled so you can use a wide, super view, or even linear field of view in any resolution or frame rate and the horizon remains level at all times. If you have a GoPro 10 or 9 it is possible to set it to Linear + Horizon Leveling setting but it significantly crops in on the image so it appears closer and you lose that resolution. Even then this feature only works if you don’t exceed a 40-degree angle while holding the camera so there are some limitations.
Besides a gimbal balances your camera no matter how you move, it keeps its position locked on your subject so you don’t have to worry about shaking your camera or tilting it. There is less room for error with it especially if you are just starting out.
So the main question is who should get the best Hohem Isteady Pro 4? Well, it all depends… if you record lots of POV shots or you love mounting your camera to your sports equipment and recording yourself as you ride then it is not going to be something for you, believe me, GoPro Hypersmooth is more than enough. However, if you want to record a cinematic b-roll, some follow-up shots during sunset while traveling, etc. Maybe you want to record moving time-lapses instead of static ones then iSteady Pro 4 can make it easier to get the shot.
Let me ask what do you want to use your camera for. Is that going to be fast action-based or travel/ cinematic content? Do you need more stabilisation and leveled horizon in your footage? Maybe GoPro “Hypersmooth” is good enough for your needs? Apart from that do you need Motion Timelapse and 360-degree inception? Or maybe you want to charge your camera or batteries while on a day trip? If yes then iSteady Pro 4 has quite a lot to offer for the price.
Features and Benefits of Hohem iSteady Pro 4
Quick-release system
So what makes Hohem iSteady Pro 4 so special? Well, apart from other Gimbals it has a very unique quick-release mounting design that literally takes just a couple of seconds to install your camera in and out thanks to a spring buckle. Whenever you want to use it you just pull it, insert a camera and simply lock it there in place the best part about it is that you don’t need to calibrate this gimbal at all, it just works out of the box. It can be especially helpful for new users as calibration can be a bit hard and time-consuming. Calibration should only be done when it doesn’t work properly.
It is a very simple solution and works with different camera models in exactly the same way. I personally tested it for my Youtube channel and could swap 3 different GoPro cameras in less than 20-30 seconds all of them were ready to shoot in no time. It is so much faster than a standard screw design where it takes a while before you secure your camera. The only drawback is that this Quick release system cannot be used with GoPro Media Mod for better audio because it would be simply too thick to fit in there and if GoPro ever decides to make their camera a bit bigger than Hero 10 it is not going to fit newer camera models so this design is not really future proof.
3-axis stabilisation + 4 different operating modes
Hohem iSteady Pro 4 has 4 different modes to stabilise your footage and you can change between them using a “Mode” button on the control panel. The first mode by default is set to Pan follow in which the gimbal follows your movements on a pan axis. In other words, you can freely move it horizontally and the horizon remains locked. Honestly, it is probably the best mode for most situations as you can smoothly move the camera to the sides recording the surroundings or the following somebody.
The second Mode is called Pan & Tilt follow in which the gimbal follows your movements both horizontally and vertically while locking the horizon. It is a bit more creative this way and can come in handy where you want to point your camera up in the sky, for example, I use it to record beautiful statues or temples in Thailand but it can also be used to record a reveal shot when you start recording the ground and slowly raise the camera to reveal the landscape.
The third mode locks every axis and keeps the current camera orientation in place. It won’t follow your movements at all so it might be useful when you walk forward or backward in a straight line and need to keep exactly the same scene throughout your movement. However, it is not as good as I hoped for as the camera can drift aside a little when using this mode and in order to fix it you have to leave that mode so I don’t really recommend it.
POV mode is the fourth mode that unlocks all the axes meaning you can freely move iSteady Pro 4 in any direction you like with no restrictions. It can be used for some fpv drone-like shots if you mount the gimbal on a selfie stick and pretend its flying through the air but I honestly didn’t find much use for it myself as it is not as cinematic for my needs and it doesn’t hold the horizon leveled.
360° Inception
While you are still in POV mode and hold the gimbal like a flashlight you can rotate the camera at 360° in both directions creating stunning 360° inception shots. It’s extremely difficult to do it by yourself with just a camera in your hands. It’s great that it can be done while recording a video or time warp because you can make them unique. Basically, all the hard work is done for you and you just have to walk forward holding the gimbal in front of you. I personally love using it while recording a slow-motion scene of my wife taking a walk in some exotic place cause this way it looks surreal as the camera slowly rotates around her while your eyes focus on the model in the scene.
However, there are some limitations to 360° Inception when you do it with Hohem iSteady Pro 4. You can rotate it using a joystick up to 600° in both directions but at some point, it stops rotating and you hit a dead end. In order to compensate for that, it is ideal to rotate all the way to one direction and then rotate in the opposite one to have a full range of motion. I also noticed that you have to pay attention to the right angle of your camera otherwise you can focus too much on the sky or the ground so there is definitely some trial and error with that. If you prefer something simpler then Inkee Falcon Plus gimbal has done it much better as the rotation is unlimited and the gimbal finds the perfect angle for you.
Motion Timelapse
Capturing Time lapses is all about focusing on the passage of time whether you record clouds moving in the sky, dramatic sunset disappearing over the ocean or maybe you record cars passing by some busy highway. Unfortunately with a GoPro your time-lapses can only be static and you need some action in your scene, something moving to make it interesting. isteady Pro 4 lets you move your camera from one location to another recording a moving time-lapse either horizontally or vertically and for me, it is the best feature of this gimbal. I think that for that feature alone this product is unique and stands out from the crowd. Motion Timelapse is all done within Hohem app on your phone, you just need to create at least 2 keyframes where your camera is supposed to start and stop the recording. After that, you have to select how long you want your time-lapse to take, whether it is going to be 30 min or even 3 hours.
Motion time lapse will definitely make your footage more interesting because you can slowly reveal the other parts of the landscape instead of having static scenery. Typically dedicated accessories like that can cost you at least 30-50$ and they can only do one thing so without a doubt this feature can really come in handy in travel videos, vlogs, or capturing the beauty of nature in general.
Most of the time it works fine but in some cases, you may experience weird shakes in the first sec or 2 of your video. I typically cut it out and use the rest in my edit so it is better to record a bit longer transition from one location to another. However, I also had some other rare issues with it where my Time Lapse didn’t move at all or the horizon was a bit unlevelled. I believe the mobile app needs some more work to be done to make it more reliable because currently, it is a bit buggy yet there is great potential there.
Reverse charging & Power Bank feature
Another quite interesting feature is that it is possible to charge the camera while recording a video or time-lapse using a small charging cable that comes in the package. This way you can extend your battery life up to 3 hours of recording so you don’t have to take as many batteries with you throughout the day. Unfortunately, with Hero 10/9/8 you need to mount your camera upside down to have clear access to the USB-C port because its on the other side of the camera. There is no need to do that with GoPro 7/6/5/4/3 though.
You can also take advantage of the hidden USB port to charge your phone, multiple batteries, or other devices while on the go. I remember I used to charge 2 GoPro batteries with a Dual battery charger while driving my car. I recorded lots of footage and got around 50 % of battery on my Hero 10 and Hero 9 and needed to recharge them before we reached a new location and continue shooting. On that day I didn’t have to use the gimbal but it came in handy when there was no electricity nearby.
Hohem Isteady Pro 4 has a 3600 mAh non-removable battery that can last for a whole day of shooting with it. Honestly, I hardly ever charge it cause it simply lasts forever no matter if you record a video or use it for motion time-lapse. On the side of the handle, there are 4 green LED lights that indicate how much of the battery life is still there. Each individual light stands for 25% of the charge, it can be quickly checked if you press the shutter button once.
Joystick & Wireless control
If you take a closer look at the control panel notice that there are a couple of buttons to control your camera. For example, at the very top, you can use the joystick to control your camera movements either horizontally or vertically and you can fine-tune its speed in the mobile app. For example, if you want to have a cinematic panning shot focusing on the horizon it is better to slow it down within the mobile app. This way it feels more smooth and more professional as the default speed is a bit too fast. I often use the joystick when I want to record a panoramic shot, mounting the gimbal to a tripod and using a joystick helps me keep the scenery as steady as possible.
Alternatively, it is possible to control the whole gimbal using the mobile app on your phone. By doing so you don’t physically press on the button with a finger causing unnecessary shakes and vibrations. Additionally, you can control the joystick from afar via Bluetooth if you need to be further away from it or if you want to record yourself, though there is no preview of the scene so it is impossible to frame the shot.
At the lower right corner, there is a red dot button that allows the to power on/off the gimbal if held for 3 seconds, though it can also be used to start and stop the recording if pressed once and can change between video or photo mode if you quickly double-tap it. All of these make using the camera with isteady Pro 4 so much easier and natural as you don’t have to physically touch a button putting unnecessary pressure on the gimbal motors.
A single Press on the mode button will cycle between 4 different working modes of the Gimbal that I have already discussed in detail at the beginning of this article. A small grey LED light indicates which mode is currently being used. Though, it is extremely difficult to see it on a bright sunny day as that LED light is not strong enough. When it happens I typically pan and tilt the gimbal a bit to see how it reacts to double-check I got the right setting.
A slider button, which can be found on the left side of the control panel, allows to manually adjust horizon level by fine-tuning the roll axis. Since there is no calibration required to use the gimbal it can happen that the horizon is not straight, in such a situation it can be easily fixed with the slider button. Fixing the horizon is not a big issue in post-production, though it is a nice bonus to be able to fix it before you even press a record button which later on saves a lot of time while editing your video.
On the other side of the handle, there is a trigger button that has 2 main functions. If you press and hold it enables Sport Mode in which the gimbal becomes more responsive to your actions, it feels faster and more aggressive. It is definitely going to be useful while recording a fast-paced activity like skiing, skateboarding, etc. Sport mode is all about keeping your subject in the frame rather than making it look good and cinematic and it is much faster than the default speed. It can also be used to quickly change between different subjects or scenes making it look more dynamic.
If you quickly double-press the mode button once again the gimbal restarts itself and the camera returns to its original orientation. It is especially useful if you want to quickly return your camera to its default position without wasting time doing it manually with a joystick etc.
I think it is also worth mentioning that at the very bottom there is a ¼ screw hole that can be used to quickly mount iSteady Pro 4 on a tripod so it can be used to record a motion time-lapse or just leave it there for a moment and have your hands free. Alternatively, it is possible to mount it on a selfie stick that has ¼ thread, this way you can use iSteady Pro 4 as a crane. It is especially useful if you want to record a low-angle shot without bending your back and smoothly raise the camera high in the sky like a fake drone shot but it can also be used to record hard-to-reach places. I remember I used it on a long selfie stick to record a beautiful tall statue and that was the only way to get closer to it and get the shot.
On the side, there is another ¼ screw hole that can be used to mount some extra accessories to iSteady Pro 4. Hohem recommends using it with an official Hohem Mobile phone adapter. This way you can connect for example GoPro camera with GoPro app on your Smartphone to have a much bigger preview of your scene. Unfortunately, the preview within the app while recording a video is no longer supported on GoPro 10/9 so if you have these models it is not going to work but if you only have GoPro 8 and below it works just fine. There is a slight delay though so it is not going to be real-time.
Alternatively, the side ¼ screw hole can be used to mount some external microphones, lights, or other accessories as they have ¼ thread or you use some adapter with it. A mobile phone adapter is an optional accessory and doesn’t come in the standard package. You can either get it with the gimbal on hohem official website or separately as a standalone product. Its official price is around 29$ but it is often on a discount and can be bought for 18$. The whole idea to use it as a bigger screen for your camera is great, it is just a shame that newer camera models from GoPro no longer support preview while recording.
IPX4 Splash Proof design
iSteady Pro 4 is resistant to water splashes from any direction thanks to weather-resistant seals on its charging ports. Though it is not fully waterproof, it is going to survive a light drizzle, snowy day, and humidity just like a GoPro camera. I remember once I was recording a 2 hours motion time-lapse and we were caught by the rain. I didn’t have to finish my recording immediately because I knew it is not that heavy yet and managed to finish it before the rain got really bad.
Mini tripod to safely mount the camera
It also comes with a small plastic tripod that can be used to mount it on the bottom of the handle and safely put the gimbal upward. It is easier and more stable to mount the camera in and out with it than if you were to do it without it. The mini tripod can also be used as a small extension of the handle for a better grip especially if you want to hold it with two hands. It is not super stable and definitely I don’t recommend it for recording a motion time-lapse but it should be enough to mount your camera on the gimbal or simply put it away for a moment when you need to have your hands free. Honestly, I prefer to use it as it is light and doesn’t take up much space in my camera bag, and its quite useful. Though it’s not ideal and you can replace it with something more stable in the future.
Carry case for storage and protection
Hohem iSteady Pro 4 comes in a hardshell travel case with a zipper to keep your Gimbal and the rest of its accessories stored in one place, offering you some decent protection while traveling. Unfortunately, it is only possible to store the gimbal itself inside of it, it won’t fit with a camera mounted on the gimbal. Inside of this travel case you can fit a small tripod that comes in the package, USB-c charging cable, and 3x small cables for reverse charging. It is cool that the compartments are designed to hold the gimbal and its accessories in place so it is not hit each other while carrying it.
Specifications:
Weight
365g (including battery)
Compatible Cameras
GoPro Hero 10/9/8/7/6/5/4/3,
DJI OSMO Action,
Insta360 ONE R (4K & 1-Inch),
and other action cameras with similar sizes and weights.
Max Camera Size:
Height: 51mm; Depth: 30mm
Cameras can be controlled with a handle
GoPro 10/9/8/7/6/5
(not support GoPro 7 white & silver version)
Battery Capacity
3600mAh
Working Time
14 hours
Charging Time
3.5 hours
Working
Temperature
-10~45℃
Best alternatives
Apart from Hohem iSteady Pro 4, there is one particular gimbal that I would like to recommend if you have GoPro 10/9/8. isteady Pro 4’s main competitor is Inkee Falcon Plus which is slightly more expensive but offers infinite 360 inceptions, portrait mode, selfie mode, and most importantly it is the only gimbal that can be used with GoPro Media Mod.
- It can be used with GoPro Media Mod and Light Mod for vlogging and better audio.
- It offers a reverse charging feature when connected to Media mod with a USB-c cable.
- It has clear access to the touch screen and can be used with any type of ND filters
- 360 inception is unlimited and it is much easier to do.
On the other hand, if you have some older GoPro like 4/5/6/7 then I strongly recommend looking for GoPro Karma Grip even though it might be hard to come by it is definitely the best Gimbal you can get. It has incredibly good image stabilisation that doesn’t rely on GoPro Hypersmooth to make it smooth. Additionally charges your camera while recording and has a few buttons to power on/off the camera, switch between the modes and start or stop the recording. Basically everything you really need and expect from a Gimbal.
- Outstanding video stabilisation without Hypersmooth
- Full camera control
- Weather-resistant
Conclusions
Even though GoPro Hypersmooth stabilisation is phenomenal having a 3-axis gimbal with it can help you get a better shot. Hohem isteady Pro 4 might come in handy if you want to get a bit more creative with your camera and get certain types of shots that would be very difficult to get without it like 360 inceptions or motion time-lapse.
This accessory is quite affordable as you can get Hohem iSteady Pro 4 for around 95 $ considering that you get a gimbal, travel case, motion time-lapse device, and a power bank all within a single package makes it a really interesting accessory to level up your content creation.
I would love it If Hohem iSteady Pro 4 offered better image stabilisation on its own without Hypersmooth. After all, this is the main reason people decide to get a gimbal in the first place. If you want to get this gimbal be aware that you need to use it with in-camera stabilisation for best results.
Nevertheless, it is a solid piece of gear and I highly recommend it and see if it works for you. If you are going to record travel content or wish to record something cinematic then it is totally worth getting one. It’s not perfect but it is probably one of the best gimbals you can get for GoPro 10/9/8 on the market right now.
