Tested DJI OM 5

Baby got pack The OM 5 folds down for easy storage and there’s a soft protective pouch, which also has space for the mini tripod and phone clamp.

■ Trackity zones

DJI’s companion app Mimo gives you access to ActiveTrack 4.0 for keeping the gimbal automatically pointing at a single subject: draw a box around your cat, your kid or your face and the camera will always follow it. R2 800/djiauthorisedretailer.co.za

Let’s go grippin’

Only a year after the OM 4 launched, DJI’s newest mobile gimbal shrinks things down for ultimate portability

■ DJI might be known for its slick drones, but it does a fine side-line in camera-steadying gimbals too. The OM 5 is the latest in its range for phones. It’s much smaller and lighter than the OM 4, but quite pricey for a product in this field.

■ Put simply, the OM 5 is a handle with a three-axis gimbal stuck on top. To get your smartphone fixed to the gimbal, you place a small clamp around it; the clamp locks into place via a powerful magnet. It’ll hold a phone of up to 290g.

■ There’s an extension rod built in, and an included mini tripodscrews into the base of the handle to let you set up on a flat surface. It uses a standard screw, so you can even mount it atop a regular tripod. The controls are all wellplaced, allowing you to use the OM 5 one-handed with ease: there are buttons to toggle phone orientation between portrait and landscape – got to keep the TikTokkers happy!

■ There are limits to the gimbal arm, obviously – fling it around too much and it’ll judder as it struggles to keep up – but used properly it will give your video footage a smoothness that the steadiest pair of hands couldn’t achieve.

■ The one downside of the small size is a small battery, which cuts the old OM 4’s 15hr battery life to 6.4hrs. While that’s a big drop, we think the trade-off of the more portable size and added extension rod is worth it. It recharges via USB-C in any case, so finding a way to top up should be easy.■ Oh my dolly!

Mimo also offers special shooting modes such as panoramic photos, dolly zooms, hyperlapse and timelapse. You can also trigger the camera using gesture controls – flick it a V-sign to snap a selfie, for example. Tech specs

Connectivity Bluetooth 5, USB-C Battery life 6.4hrs approx Dimensions (folded) 175x75x37mm, 326g

STUFF SAYS Rock-steady and travel-friendly, this is the phone gimbal to beat ★★★★★

Never mind the reduced stamina, feel the fold-up compactness

The OM 5 is not a great leap forward over its predecessors, and with that reduction in battery life you could even argue that the OM 4 is a better bet for some people. But the portability of the OM 5 will prove a big boon for many users, and the extension rod is a smart inclusion too. DJI has found some ways to improve on the already-excellent OM 4 here, and for first-time buyers we’d certainly recommend the new model.