Zhiyun Smooth 5 vs 5S: Which Professional Gimbal Should You Buy?
By Naila Syifa
Updated January 2024
If you're looking for a gimbal that can provide you with smooth and stable footage, you may want to consider the Zhiyun Smooth 5 or its upgraded version Zhiyun Smooth 5S. These two gimbals make it easy to capture professional-looking footage with advanced features and intuitive controls that are perfect for both beginners and experienced videographers.
However, there are some key differences between the two gimbals that you should be aware of before making your purchase. Let's take a closer look!
Key Takeaways
Zhiyun Smooth 5S has an extra built-in fill light and a white color option, but other than that, both the Smooth 5 and 5S share similar features and performance. If you don't need the extra light, Smooth 5 may be a better option with a cheaper price and a longer battery life.
Zhiyun Smooth 5
Professional Gimbal
✓ 3-Axis Stabilization
✓ Magnetic Fill Lights
✓ Panel Control with Joystick
✓ 25 Hours Runtime
Zhiyun Smooth 5S
Improved Professional Gimbal
✓ 3-Axis Stabilization
✓ Built-In and Magnetic Fill Lights
✓ Panel Control with Joystick
✓ 24 Hours Runtime
#1 Price
Zhiyun Smooth 5S
As the newer and upgraded model, Zhiyun Smooth 5S has a higher price tag of US$169 for the Standard version and US$219 for the Combo version. On the other hand, the Zhiyun Smooth 5 is more affordable at US$95 for the Standard version and US$149 for the Combo version.
The standard version for both models includes the gimbal, a charging cable, and a tripod, while the Combo version includes additional accessories such as a protective bag, fill light filters, and one fill light for each gimbal model.
#2 Design
Zhiyun Smooth 5
Both the Zhiyun Smooth 5 and 5S come in a 3-axis design that allows for smooth and stable footage. The space between each axis is wide to facilitate extreme-angle shootings, and the motor is located at the rear to avoid getting in the way of the camera screen.
The phone clamp is designed to support a range of mobile phones with a width between 50 to 90 mm, a depth between 6.9 to 10 mm, and a weight between 150 to 300 g. Both sides of the phone clamp have magnetic contact points where you can attach a maximum of two fill lights for improved lighting conditions.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S
One difference is that the Smooth 5S also features an extra built-in fill light in its tilt axis, providing a higher peak illuminance of 2040 lux with all the 3 lights combined. Meanwhile, the Smooth 5 can only achieve a peak brightness of up to 580 lumens with both magnetic fill lights attached.
Smooth 5S is slightly heavier due to its extra built-in fill light, but the weight difference is minimal and negligible. However, a weight of around 600g is considerably heavy for a gimbal, and some competitors offer lighter options for better portability and convenience.
#3 Features
Zhiyun Smooth 5S
In terms of features, both the Zhiyun Smooth 5 and 5S share similar capabilities, such as anti-shake technology, gesture control, object tracking, timelapse, slow-motion, and panorama modes.
Both gimbals also support a cinematic dolly zoom effect, achieved by using the control wheel and adjusting the zoom and focus, or by following the instructions in the ZY Cami companion app.
You can also use the app to access other advanced features like SmartFollow, Video Editor, or Live Stream Master. However, even without the app, you can still use the Zhiyun Smooth 5 and 5s with native phone camera apps and capture stable footage with ease.
#4 Battery
Zhiyun Smooth 5
Charging both gimbals can take around 2-4 hours to reach a full charge, depending on the input power and battery level. When fully charged, the Zhiyun Smooth 5 provides up to 25 hours of battery life, while the Smooth 5S can last up to 24 hours on a single charge.
However, it is important to note that the battery runtime stated by Zhiyun is measured when the gimbals are in standby mode. Under actual use, the battery can last around 4 hours depending on the usage and conditions.
Zhiyun Smooth 5 vs 5S
Final Thoughts
Zhiyun Smooth 5
Overall, both the Zhiyun Smooth 5 and 5S are excellent choices for those looking for a professional gimbal with advanced features and intuitive controls.
While the Smooth 5S offers an extra built-in fill light and a white color option, the Smooth 5 is a better option if you don't need the extra light and want to save some money. Nevertheless, both gimbals share similar features and performance, making them equally reliable and effective for capturing professional-quality footage.
If you like to read more on Gimbals, check out our other relevant guides here:
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs DJI Osmo Mobile 5
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs DJI Osmo Mobile SE
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs Zhiyun Smooth 5S
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs Insta360 Flow
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 vs Hohem iSteady M6
Insta360 Flow vs Hohem iSteady M6
Insta360 Flow vs Zhiyun Smooth 5
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