Feiyu Vimble C test - 3-axis smartphone gimbal

First impression of the Feiyu Vimble C

What's in the box

The gimbal is delivered securely packaged so that even the sensitive motors are well protected during transport. In addition to the gimbal, the scope of delivery also includes a micro-USB cable, two attachable foam pads, two operating instructions - one in English and one in Chinese - and a warranty card. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not include a transport bag.

Design and workmanship

The Vimble C has an interesting design. The massive plastic handle distinguishes the Feiyu Vimble from the competition. At the same time, the gimbal is easy to grip. There is a control pad on the handle itself, which can be used to individually control the rotary movements. The power button, which is also assigned the trigger function, is located below the control pad. A micro USB socket has been placed on the right side of the handle. This can be used to charge the built-in 2200 mAh battery and firmware updates are imported via an existing USB connection. On the back of the handle there is an easily accessible rotary knob which, in combination with the "Feiyu On" app, is used for zooming and which can be used to change the stabilization mode when activated. The underside of the handle is equipped with a ¼ inch tripod thread and is additionally padded with a rubber layer. Because the bottom is flattened, the gimbal can also be put down. There is a multi-colored LED indicator on the left and right on the top.

The 3-axis constellation of the Vimble C is made of aluminum. The smartphone or action cam holder can be pulled out and is therefore adjustable in size. A thin rubber padding with a profile ensures a secure hold. The workmanship of the Feiyu Vimble C is still appropriate for the price. The plastic handle, however, looks cheap. A rubberized padding of the handle would have been desirable.

Preparations and commissioning

 Before you even think about switching on the gimbal, you should have the smartphone or action cam firmly inserted into the holder. Failure to observe this step can damage the motors. This essential step is pointed out in the operating instructions right from the start.

As already mentioned, the holder itself can be pulled out and is therefore adjustable in size. Smartphones can be inserted with a maximum width of 8 cm. That corresponds roughly to a conventional 5.5 inch smartphone. The maximum load capacity is 200g. If you want to use the Vimble C with an action cam, the enclosed foam pads must be attached depending on the size of the cam.

The gimbal can be used with the “Feiyu On” app - which is available for Android and iOS smartphones in the respective store - or completely without an app and can only be operated using the operating options on the handle. The gimbal can be switched on by holding down the power button. The top LED indicators show the current status and stabilization mode. If the inserted smartphone is not balanced, i.e. if it still tilts to the left or right, you have to readjust it using the adjusting screw of the “roll” motor.

Features and Feiyu-On App

The Feiyu Vimble C offers interesting functions considering the price. In addition to control via the directional pad with a maximum of 320 ° tilting, roll and panning, there are also 3 control modes.

Panning fashion

In this mode, tilting and rolling control directions are fixed. Depending on how you move the gimbal by hand, the left and right swivel movements are followed.

Panning and tilting mode

Here, only the rolling control direction is fixed. Pan movements to the left and right are followed, as well as the tilting movements are followed.

Lock fashion

In this mode, the inserted smartphone remains fixed. Movements are not accepted.

The modes can be triggered using the multifunctional control button on the back of the handle. The modes can be changed depending on the key press combination. The LED indicator shows the current mode. Another feature is the switch between horizontal and vertical stabilization. If you tilt the gimbal by 30 ° and press the multifunctional control button, the change is carried out automatically.

The "Feiyu On" app is, on the one hand, the mobile control center of the Vimble, and the app also includes a recording function for photos and videos. You can use the app to make settings for the gimbal itself and for recording. For example, the rotation speed of the motors can be adjusted in the gimbal settings. The image and video resolution can be adjusted in the recording settings and there are setting options for face tracking.

Face tracking is one of the more interesting features of the app. Faces are automatically recognized, marked on the app's live image output and the movements followed. You can zoom directly using the rotary knob on the handle. The connection between the smartphone and the app is via Bluetooth. 

Practice test of the Feiyu Vimble C

 Commissioning is easy and understandable. Balancing the smartphone is a necessary step and must be adapted to the inserted smartphone. However, this step requires only a few steps and can be carried out quickly. All functions are explained in detail in the operating instructions, so that after a short period of familiarization one can also cope with the versatility of the Feiyu Vimble C.

The connection between smartphone and app is established quickly and easily. The stabilization itself is accurate and the gimbal was already well calibrated out of the box. The engines coped well with heavy loads in the test. A slight vibration was only noticeable on extreme inclines, but this did not have a negative effect on the video recording.

 Face tracking is in need of improvement. People who wear glasses are only recognized correctly in the rarest of cases. But even when a person was recognized correctly, there were minor dropouts. Additional object tracking would be desirable. The battery life is nothing to complain about. The battery only had to be recharged after a good 4 ½ hours. Unfortunately, the charging time is also a good 4 hours. The built-in battery cannot be replaced.