We’ve been sent the latest gimbal from Hohem, the iSteady M7. It’s an ‘Ai Tracking’ gimbal that you can use with your mobile phone to capture video of your work, and after a couple of weeks of using the gimbal for various little projects, here’s what we think! (Tldr; great tool to add to your toolbox!)
When I say ‘video of your work’ I’m specifically talking about that stuff that people seem to love to see in Facebook groups and online in various places, the “BTS” or “Behind The Scenes” from your photo shoots, the footage that people seldom get to experience.
I’ve used all manner of tools to capture behind the scenes of me setting up for a shoot or during a shoot, be it a timelapse of a large group (think team sports) setting up, from when I arrive at the venue to the pressing of the shutter release on the frame that I’m after, to packing away the chairs – I’ve found it’s a nice little extra to share with the team when they get their images for the season! Or another example was when I was photographing a new menu for a client, the experience of setting up the area I was shooting, then the food coming in and out of the set – it was handy for the client (a marketing agency) that they could then use to send to prospective businesses to get more work – There are all kinds of reasons that you might want to maybe catch a bit of video or a cheeky timelapse, and it’s also often the case when you’re starting out that you’re there on your own and don’t have someone to run around capturing that footage…
Well! This is why we thought it might be cool to try out a gimbal like the Hohem iSteady M7, you can use it like a normal gimbal (What’s a gimbal, Simon? : A gimbal is a device that stabilizes a camera or other object, allowing it to remain level and steady despite movement or shaking ) but you can also put it on a tripod and with the Ai follow capabilities, you can have it follow you around your set (It doesn’t walk, no!) and capture that BTS for you, or start a motion timelapse from point A to point B, taking in a whole scene…
The M7 mentions FOLLOW capabilities and Ai in the same sentence, the ability as a solo creator to place your camera phone on the gimbal and have it follow you around the space you’re working in is great! Even with my Pro Max sized iPhone, the gimbal movements were precise and quick, it easily kept track of me – I captured a quick video of the iSteady M7 keeping up with my jerky movements, check this out.
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Use-Cases for creating video on your next shoot.
Showcase the creative process – Demonstrates the thought, planning, and techniques that go into a shoot, making the final images more impressive.
Build client trust – Helps potential clients see professionalism, preparation, and problem-solving skills in action.
Create extra marketing content – BTS clips can be repurposed for social media, reels, stories, or blog posts alongside the final images.
Educate and inspire – Provides teaching moments for other photographers or enthusiasts who want to learn from your workflow.
Capture candid, human moments – Shows genuine interactions with clients, models, or crew, which adds relatability and personality to your brand.
Features of the Hohem iSteady M7 Gimbal
- 360 Degree Infinite Pan Rotation
- 360 RGB Lighting Colours
- Detachable 1.4″ LCD Touchscreen controller
- 500gm Payload
- Ability to charge / power connected phone
- Built-in extension pole / selfy stick (it’s about 20cm long)
- 3 axis stabilisation
- Live-view via detachable remote
The M7 isn’t the most compact or the most lightweight gimbal you’ll find on the market today, Hohem also have a smaller brother, the iSteady V3 Ultra (Which we’ll also be taking a look at) The M7 weighs in at about 630gm which is actually pretty light! The M7 is never going to fit in your pocket, I found it fit in the laptop sleeve of my new camera bag – small isn’t always better though, the motor strength on the M7 is impressive, easily propels my iPhone 14 Pro Max around like it’s nothing, keeping up with all my shaky handed movement easily ? (I’m a coffee drinker, gimme a break!)
What are our thoughts?
Between the tracking, stabilisation and the live view via the detachable remote, this gimbal is a well-priced option for many of you looking to add a little motion to your photography offerings. You do need to spend a couple of minutes balancing your phone after you put it in the gimbal, but I had no trouble balancing mine, even leaving it in the case was fine. There are MANY controls, but they’re easy to navigate once you get the hang of what they all are, also very easy to install and control the Hohem app if you prefer that. You don’t NEED to install the app, even to use the Ai tracking, you can use it without the app, just using the native camera app on your phone, as the tracking is all done via the little module atop the gimbal – great!
We think this is a great mid-sized gimbal option to use in your creating content, vlogs, making short films with your friends, capturing the holidays or just filming unboxings with a bit of Ai powered dynamic follow-along!
You can check out the Hohem iSteady M7 HERE (There’s a great back to school sale event happening right now)
