Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal Review: Steady Action Made Easy

Trying to get great first-person POV video with an action camera is iffy at best. While mounts work well, they don’t keep the camera steady, which results in video that can easily make you motion sick. Get better footage of all the action with the Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal. I recently had the opportunity to try this gimbal out for myself to see just how well it performs.

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by Hohem. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author who maintains editorial independence even when a post is sponsored.

Overview of Features

While designed for most action cameras, you’ll get the most benefit if you have a GoPro 3 or later (the GoPro 7 white and silver edition doesn’t support any extra features), though it works best with 8, 9, and 10 models. However, it’s also compatible with DJI OSMO Action, Sony RX0, Insta360 ONE R, and other models of a similar size and weight. With GoPro models, you do get extra features, such as wireless control.

One thing that instantly stands out about the Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal is how you mount the camera. Instead of screws, there’s a flexible arm that clips the camera into place. While it holds it steady, it’s surprisingly easy to disconnect whenever you want to remove your action camera.

The 3-axis gimbal, along with the iSteady 5.0 anti-shaking algorithm, provides superior stabilization, and you can even use it in the rain, thanks to the IPX4 waterproof design.

The gimbal features multiple modes, and the mode button will help you switch between modes:

• POV mode – The pan, tilt, and roll motors keep the camera stabilized during the action.
• Motion time lapse – You set the track, and the gimbal handles the rest to record clouds, traffic, or other major movements.
• Trigger-button sport mode – Keep up with fast-moving subjects, such as athletes, with ease.

• Pan 360-degree rotation – The pan motor rotates a full 360 degrees to give you fun inception-style shots.

The battery features an impressive 14-hour life per charge, but it can also double as a power bank for your action camera. This keeps you recording without having to take a break for charging.

In the Box

Immediately upon opening the Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal, I was impressed to see a nice zippered case to contain the gimbal and its accessories. This makes it incredibly easy to travel with it without the worry of it getting damaged, while the case is stiff to help protect the gimbal from bumping around during transit.

Even better is everything is already in the case when you open the box. This includes the gimbal itself, a small tripod base, three cables for charging different action cameras, gimbal charging cable, and instructions.

Getting Set Up

While not absolutely necessary, the Hohem Gimbal app is recommended for remotely making adjustments to the gimbal. For instance, if you need to adjust the angle or tilt the camera a little, you can do this from your phone. Everything connects via Bluetooth.

Mounting the action camera couldn’t be easier. In fact, this is one of the best methods I’ve seen on a gimbal. The bar unclips, allowing you to slide in your action camera. Then, when it’s all set, you clip the bar back in place, securing the camera. It only takes maybe 30 seconds from start to finish at most.

Of course, don’t turn on the gimbal at all until you have your camera properly mounted. Once mounted, I turned on the gimbal, and the camera immediately aligned with no issues.

Using the Gimbal

The Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal is fairly straightforward with its controls. While it’d be nice to see a little more instruction from the included manual, you can pretty much figure things out.

I didn’t have a GoPro for my review, so I wasn’t able to use the camera connection feature. This allows you to take photos and videos straight from the gimbal controls versus having to do this manually from your action camera. However, all the controls for adjusting the camera position work the same for all supported action cameras.

The mode button lets you quickly jump between modes. You can see what’s selected based on what mode is lit up at the time. You can also adjust the positioning using the slider and joystick. Once it’s in the position you want, the gimbal keeps it stabilized as you move about.

From walking and jogging to keeping up with movement, this gimbal doesn’t fail. The quiet motor continued to keep pace with whatever I was doing. I went from video I couldn’t stand to watch because it moved all over the place to video that barely moved at all.

The app itself worked fairly well. You can adjust the pan, tilt, and roll motors from your phone. If you have a GoPro, you can also take pictures or shoot video. Of course, you can also do that from the gimbal itself.

Another thing I was surprised by was the gimbal grip. When you’re doing stuff outdoors, your hands tend to get sweaty. The rubberized grip helps you hold the gimbal without slipping. Plus, there’s a screw mount at the bottom and side to attach it to a bike, extender, or tripod.

The tripod it comes with serves as more of a simple base, though it doesn’t slide easily, which is nice. I had another tripod for an older camera, and it connected with no problem.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a combination of performance and price, it’s hard to beat the Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal. The 3-axis stabilizer is made for an active life or to just keep you in the frame while vlogging. The controls are easy to access with just one hand, and mounting is an absolute breeze.

While I wish there were a way to use the camera connection features with other action cameras, that’s limited to GoPro for now. But it’s still a highly useful gimbal for other action cameras as well. Plus, you don’t need to buy a case to store it in.

You can start shooting your own smooth, stabilized video with the Hohem iSteady Pro 4 Gimbal for just $99.