App REVIEWS
Just installed the app, opened the app, agreed to the terms and privacy policy, nothing happens just keeps popping up to agree to what already has been agreed to. Bought the handheld gyro camera holder and won't allow to connect to wifi, nothing in the menu to set it up, just empty wifi setting. I do not recommend this equipment or this app sent with the equipment, neither thing works.if I could give 0 stars I would and report to BBB for scamming customers out of money.
Terrible experience with the Zhiyun Crane 2 and this app. Cannot get any functionality. Can't even connect to the gimbal.
The app only allows me to use it as a remote to control the crane M3s, the camera and video live veiw don't work at all.
Update 2023: the gimbal can't connect to camera any more; when trying to connect it drops connection to the phone and reports failed to connect. It was working the last years, how could this broke?! It also continuously restarts. Back to 1 stars :( From 2021: Using only to control the crane m2 gimbal; shooting with camera. So far does what it should, works well:) Shortcomings: once scene created, cannot change or delete it(?). Why is that, on YouTube they show it can be. Maybe not on Android?!
Been waiting for an update to have 60fps recording capabilities in the ZY Play app for Samsung but nothing has happened. It's such a pity as the gimbal is amazing but the limitations of the app sucks. Having to use the Samsung camera to get the footage I want and not having the ability to use the app to get full benefits of the gimbal features is making me want to sell my gimbal after all this time off ownership.
Absolutely the worst app for a gimbal. There are no instructions on how to use the 2021 version which is radically different from any versikn there are tutorials on. Panoramas and timelapses are extremely difficult to figure out, software updates won't run through it, and there are no live view functions. The lack of instructions is the most frustrating part.
It's okay. It does what it says. At one point it was probably much better than the stock camera apps. But it feels outdated. The Samsung camera app has way more functionality and use than this app does. It doesn't allow 8k recording even though my phone can do that. It doesn't use optical zooming, only digital, so the zoom function is useless to me as I can get crisp video while zooming on the Samsung app. Even the focus seems subpar. I may use it periodically for simple things, but unlikely.
I agree with the other recent reviews. The Smooth 4 will not connect with the ZY Play app. The previous version was bad. Upgraded hoping to improve a poor connection situation. This was worse. Phone is connected via Bluetooth to the Smooth 4. When connected, says it needs an app to work. Start ZY Play app. Won't connect. Spinning icon. Cannot find device. Tried multiple times and ways. No connection. Makes the Smooth 4 almost useless. Are you serious? Fix it! Using a Samsung Note 9.
Nothing works even when you can get it connected. That's if you can get it to connect. I have the latest firmware on the gimbal and the most recent app update. None of the remote features work such as motion sync. This has been a recurring problem for their android app since I can remember. Really wish they would just put in the time and effort for Android.
The panorama part of this app is one of the most frustrating I have ever used. It decides randomly where it will start taking shots, no matter what I do to try and define the start point, and I can not work out where it will go. Even if I note where it starts and rotate myself to try and adjust, it will just go back round to where it started previously .... often pointing towards me. Come on Zhiyun ...... help us out! Some instructions please. I can't find any anywhere.
Overall the latest version of this app is a good improvement on the earlier version i installed and used when I first got the phone. Unfortunately, for Android users (who I'm guessing will be a significant number of their users) seem to be treated as the poor relation to their iPhone cousins.. for example live streaming (which is gaining in popularity all the time) is enabled on the iPhone version of this app - but is disabled on the Android version (with a message in Chinese - REGARDLESS of which language you have it setup in - stating that it is in development and not ready yet...) - well how hard can it be!!?!? Another slight quirk is that this that you have to swipe right or left on the first screen to select the exact model of your gimbal i.e. Smooth 4 - if you select the wrong model it WILL NOT connect with Bluetooth!.. so if you're having connection problems - first make sure that when you boot the app, you select the correct model and you have BT enabled.. Overall, I love my Smooth 4 - I just feel its a little let down on the software side of things..
The app is okay...I'm using it with a Smooth Q gimbal, paired with a Samsung Galaxy S4 (hey, what can I say: I have a dumb phone and use the s4 for video only). I like everything about the app, except: 1. There doesn't seem to be a way in the app for the app to capture video clips directly to the SD card that I have installed in the phone. The app only seems to have a way to record to the internal memory of the phone, which isn't much. 2. Setting up the joystick control withing the app is confusing at best, and there's nothing in the manual that came with my Smooth Q about fine tuning the joystick within the app. I wish Zhiyun had something on their site about this, or a video on YouTube or something...but if I cannot figure a solution to number 1, I will have to switch to using the Cinema FV-5 app, where I have the 'save to' folder set to 'SD Card', and have never had a problem. EDIT: Got ahold of Zhiyun tech support on their Facebook page. They confirmed that with Android devices, you can only shoot video to the internal memory of the device...not to the SD card. Update to the app fixes connection issues.
I was able to use this once, and the video didn't even save. The app itself won't load, it just keeps crashing. I've had to reinstall it multiple time to even try to callibrate it to my phone, even after callibrating it still would flop suddenly and takes a long time to stabilize again. i hope this is worked on, I'd really like to use this piece of hardware.
After a very unconvincing start, where the gimbal would reset every 10 seconds on my Note 9, it now works more or less like it should. I went into the bluetooth settings on the phone and realized it hadn't paired with the Smooth 4. After pairing it properly, I haven't had any problems with the gimbal resetting. The zoom is extremely far from smoooth... Shutter noise is horrible. Shooting in a church is a big no-no!
I'd give it a higher rating if they got rid of the 'shutter click' noise for every photo I take. even if i had the option of reducing the volume it wouldnt be so bad. Also every time i press record, a loud 'ding' noise is heard. having those sounds...it's just not professional. also the ios app seems to get better support and features. please fix these issues.
frustrating. disappointing. i understand that getting an app like this to work on a range of devices is difficult, but i have been unable to get all of the functionality of ZY PLAY to work on ANY device. the BEST results have been with an apple iPad, but even that device gets errors every time, is hit-and-miss with image transmission, and does not ever work 100% (controlling all aspects of the camera and image transmission.) my PIXEL 2 XL won't even get image transmission or any functionality at all, same with an old NEXUS 6 that i factory reset to try to use as a monitor for this setup. since there is no practical way to attach a hardwired external monitor, this is a bit frustrating. hoping that ZHIYUN can update and fix this app - or provide a hardware solution they have designed (preferably) for monitoring!
The function works well. However, some features of the app is not able to operate its task accurately. Moreover, I have a major problem. At first I am capable of recording videos and after few records, it correspond a notification, "record failed", I assume that there may be a system error and what I did is reinstall it. Then, it went perfectly fine, and later on, it went back to the same problem. To whomever the developer of this app, if possible,fix this problem because I risked my money.Please
Now the app works and it does the job, at least on a Pixel2XL or a Pixel3XL. The tracking is utter garbage however and it cannot hold it on fast moving targets. I guess you're meant to use the "photo go" mode of the gimbal to overcharge the motors to let it keep up. The gimbal is also a tad buggy sometimes, but that is down to the gimbal itself. (Smooth 4).
There are 2 big problems that make this app horrible. 1) only records videos at highest resolution of 1080p @ 30fps. 2) There is no possible way to chose where the app saves all media. By default it saves pics and videos onto the internal memory. If somehow the developers managed to get these 2 things sorted out this app would be the ultimate FREE app to use along with the zhiyun smooth 4. There are some other minor issues such as problems with tracking and 3x3 pano shots. The smooth 4 is such a great built capable device that is being hindered by the software that was made for it. At least software can be fixed by updates... it's just a matter of when we get those updates. Hopefully soon. Then that will make this a 5 star review.
I love how this app can be controlled complete play with your joystick and not having to touch the phone screen messing up your videos. I have not had any issues with the software from this app at all and I love how it automatically will connect to my phone when you press connect I don't have to go into bluetooth settings to select the device. Plenty of settings and the best one is the vertigo. By the way I'm using a Galaxy S9 plus I remove the case to make it easier to put in but you can still use the case if you need to.