Gimbals have become very famous in the past few years, and for good reason. Videographers and content makers can use these cool gadgets to record steady, smooth video on a range of devices, from smartphones and action cameras to big mirrorless cameras. We are reviewing the Hohem iSteady MT2 gimbal today because it has some cool features and is a good price. Another name for the Hohem iSteady MT2 is a gimbal, which is a professional grade camera stabilizer. It will help you take photos and movies that are very stable. Most gimbals are made to work with a certain type of device, like a smartphone, an action camera, a DSLR, and so on.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Description
In fact, Hohem also makes those kinds of gimbals. However, the MT2 has a very clever mounting system that lets you connect it to almost anything, including those things and maybe even more. Before I talk about the basic features of the gimbal, let’s talk about AI. More specifically, the AI module that comes with the Hohem iSteady MT2 gimbal kit.
The normal MT2 that doesn’t come in a kit doesn’t have this module, but you can buy it separately. It looks more like a fill light than a smart tracker at first glance: The part is magnetically attached to the gimbal. You might think that this makes it easier to lose the module, but the magnetic link is very strong. To use the feature, all you have to do is turn it on.
The Hohem iSteady MT2 gimbal, like other AI devices, takes hand movements to figure out how to follow a subject. If you hold down the OK button for about a second, a green light will come on to show that the gimbal is in auto track mode. The gimbal will also leave auto-track mode if you hold your hand up and make the stop sign. If you want to change the tracking to a more specific place, like your face, you can make the goal post motion with your thumb tips touching and your index fingers in the air.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Pricing
The Hohem MT2 pack normally costs $545, but when it first comes out, it costs $649. It works with cell phones, action cameras, and mirrorless cameras, and this kit has all the tools and extras you need to get started.
Specifications Table
The Hohem iSteady MT2 is a great gimbal for people who want something cheap and simple to use. It works well for both new and expert users, and the price is very fair for all the features it comes with.
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | HoHem Technology |
| Material | Aircraft Grade Aluminum & High-Performance Composites |
| Payload | 1200g/2lb/10.3oz |
| Camera Width | 60mm~97mm |
| Compatible Devices | Camera, Cellphone |
| Connector Type | Bluetooth |
| Mechanical Range | Pan: 360° Infinite Rotation Roll: 200° Tilt: 290° |
| Working Temperature | -10~45°C |
| Battery Capacity | 2600mAh 7.4V / 19.24Wh |
| Charging Time | 3 Hours(5V 2A) |
| App | Hohem Joy |
| Check Price |
What’s in the Box
A very good carrying case comes with the Hohem MT2 Kit. The case is well-padded and has lots of spaces for all of your belongings. There is a lot of room for extra camera parts. The first is a way to mount a phone camera. The second is a way to put an action camera like a GoPro or an OSMO Action. And the third is a bracket and plate for mirrorless cameras. The parts are well put together, and most of the plates and bolts are made of good metal.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Design
The price of the iSteady MT2 varies by about $50 depending on whether it comes with or without the AI tracking part. If you have never bought a Hohem gimbal before, you should choose the one that comes with the tracker because it’s one of the best things about this gimbal. The MT2 can be bought without the AI tracker because it works with the tracker that comes with the iSteady M6 smartphone gimbal. This saves money for people who want to use both products. Other than that, both choices seem to come with the same set of accessories, which is quite a lot.
It comes with a nice-looking carrying case, a small tripod, mounts for a camera, a smartphone, and an action camera, and eight USB links that can be used to connect to different camera brands and models. You can find a full list of cameras that work with this here. The gimbal itself seems strong and well put together. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S is a lot bigger than the average smartphone gimbal and about the same size and weight. That being said, the fact that this can hold full-size mirrorless cameras weighing up to 1.2 kg is really amazing. It’s made in a dark gray/black color scheme with orange accents that stand out.
Personally, I like the look—it’s professional enough while still having some personality but I can see why some people might not like the orange. The controls are set up in a pretty standard way. On the left is the focus wheel, and on the right is the joystick, mode button, and record button. On the back, there is a spot for your fingertip to press. There are some strange buttons on the left side, like the A and B ones. These are great additions. The fact that you can set when motion timelapses begin and end without an app is something I’d really like to see more gimbals have.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: General Operation
Here are some general Gimbal modes and functions. Let’s start with the power button. To turn the Gimbal on or off, press and hold the power button on the side for a few seconds. If the Gimbal is not turned on, press the button to see how much battery life is left. When you double-tap the trigger button, you go into Gimbal mode. When you triple-tap it, you go into photo mode.
If you turn on the power, the Gimbal has four main modes that you can use. PF means “pan and follow.” As you move, it will only move left and right in this mode. It won’t move up and down. In the movie below, I walk backwards from the model to show how PF mode works.
In PTF mode, the gimbal will move tilt to the spot where it was locked in the main mode. If you’ve used this mode before, go ahead and use it, but if you’re new to gimbals, start with the PF.
The “All Lock” or “L” Mode locks the Gimbal so that it always faces forward or in the direction you’re using it.
POV mode is like Pan Tilt Follow, but it can now roll from side to side.
Sports Mode is great If you can’t shoot quickly enough in other modes, Sports Mode is great for times when things are happening quickly. The Hohem Joy phone app is the best way to set up sports mode.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Balancing
Getting your body in balance is important for both the best gimbal performance and long battery life! With its simple balancing system, the Hohem iSteady MT2 makes this process easier, making it simple for users to fine-tune their camera setup. It’s very easy to mechanically adjust each arm so that it balances properly with any camera, big or small, that doesn’t weigh more than the gimbal can hold. Don’t forget to set up your camera’s flip-out LCD screen ahead of time.
This is also the time to add any extras, like a shotgun microphone. Then, just turn on the gimbal, ideally while it’s sitting on a flat, solid surface.it will right itself in a few seconds! Or, the gimbal will let you know if you haven’t balanced it yet or if you forgot to unlock one of the arms. Of course, you can learn how to balance a gimbal in no time at all.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Performance
The iSteady did pretty well on site, as you can see from our supporting video. Using motion control, we had no trouble turning on the face-tracking feature of the Hohem Joy app. This made the gimbal follow our every move, even when we turned our face away from the camera. It was hard for the Hohem Joy app to follow us when we made the intro to the supporting video. This might have been because my face was lit from behind by a white sky. But by attaching the magnetic AI tracker to the gimbal, I was able to make it pan and turn to follow me while I filmed with the built-in Camera app on my iPhone.
For some reason, when you use the app or the AI sensor, you have to use different actions to get the gimbal to follow you automatically. To work, the monitor needs to be told “OK.” To start auto-tracking, the app needs you to make a move that looks like a “Victory V.” With your hand raised, both the app and the AI tracker will stop following you. Not so great about the AI sensor is that it can’t start or stop recording itself. You have to remember to press the record button in your chosen camera app.
In the Hohem Joy app, you can use gestures to start and stop recording. It will also track you. I really liked using the iSteady MT2 to get a variety of smooth pans, tilts, and tracking shots while shooting actress Paulina Cherry walking through a busy city. It’s the eleventh gimbal I’ve tried for Digital Camera World. I also shot a few cinematic rotating angles because of the extra Inception mode, which I liked putting together in Final Cut Pro. There are a lot of cool social media tricks in the Hohem Joy app, like a Dolly Zoom.
This tries to look like the stretching of space that happens when you zoom in on a subject and move away from them at the same time. I tried this mode five times but couldn’t get a good dolly zoom, so I’ll label that as a “gimmick.” CloneMe, on the other hand, was great. There are three different shots taken by the gimbal because of this. Then it puts the shots together so they look like one. This made me think of taking a picture of my actor having a fight with herself. It was fun to shoot, and the picture turned out great, so that creative panorama went straight to the top of my social media feeds.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Software and Battery Life
If everything goes as planned, the iSteady MT2’s battery will last up to 17 hours. You probably won’t get that many, but it will still last longer than enough for most shoots. Also, it will only take three hours to go from empty to full after it’s been drained. The MT2 has a USB-C power source right next to its mounting point, which is useful because you can use the gimbal’s big battery pack to charge your phone or camera while you film.
You can use the Hohem Joy app on either iOS or Android to connect the gimbal. The gimbal can be controlled from a distance once it’s paired, which is great when using it with a camera. If your phone is connected to it, you can also use it to record.
For remote control, if you use the app, you can move the gimbal with an on-screen joystick or by moving your phone to trigger motion sensors that control the gimbal. The second one is a cool party trick, but I don’t find it very useful. On the other hand, the on-screen joystick works great. It works quickly and is simple to use. In comparison to using the gimbal alone, you have a little bit more control when creating motion timelapses with the app. If your phone is set to record, you do not require the AI tracking module. The Hohem Joy app and the camera on your phone can be used for tracking. The typical tools that accompany a smartphone gimbal are also included. These include shot templates, panoramas, beauty filters, and ultralapse and timelapse modes.
Hohem iSteady MT2 Gimbal: Pros and Cons
The Hohem iSteady MT2 is an excellent gimbal for content creators of all levels. It is well designed, offers excellent stabilization, and has a variety of features that make it easy to get professional-looking shots.
Pros
- Unique AI tracking for seamless subject tracking
- Solidly built from aluminum
- Ample shooting modes for total creative freedom
- Physical buttons control wide range of functions
Cons
- AI sensor sold separately
- Only works with relatively lightweight cameras
Final Words
As of now, the Hohem iSteady MT2 is the most flexible gimbal I have tried. That being said, it is more expensive than most smartphone gimbals, but the fact that it works with cameras makes it so much more valuable, and it’s also less expensive than getting two gimbals. This product really stands out because it offers something that no other brand does. It has great AI tracking features that work on their own, which I have never seen from a rival brand.
The built-in stabilization on smartphones and action cameras is getting so good that you almost don’t need an external one. The IBIS on digital cameras is also getting really good. What this means is that gimbals’ tracking features are quickly becoming one of the best reasons to own one. If that sounds like you, the iSteady MT2 is the only one that lets you track across various devices without an app, as far as I know.
