3. Who This Course Is For

Before beginning the practical training, take a few minutes to gather your Smooth 5S AI, smartphone and available accessories.

In this lesson, you will receive a quick overview of the essential and optional items used throughout the course.

Essential Equipment

To complete the practical lessons, you should have:

• A Zhiyun Smooth 5S AI gimbal.
• A compatible smartphone.
• A compatible charging cable and power source.
• Internet access for applications and course resources.
• Enough smartphone storage for practice videos.
• A safe, uncluttered practice area.

Package Accessories

Depending on the package you purchased, you may also have:

• A magnetic AI tracking module.
• A tripod.
• A magnetic fill light.
• Colour filters.
• A wrist strap.
• A storage bag or case.
• Product documentation.

Package contents can vary. Check your box and purchase record rather than assuming that every accessory is included.

Prepare Your Equipment

Before continuing:

• Charge the gimbal and smartphone.
• Confirm that your phone fits securely in the clamp.
• Remove accessories that interfere with mounting or balancing.
• Clean the smartphone camera lenses.
• Confirm that sufficient storage space is available.
• Keep your charging equipment nearby.
• Identify whether your package includes the AI tracker.

Optional Items

A power bank, external microphone, headphones, lens cloth, additional lighting and filming props may be helpful, but they are not required for every lesson.

Purchase additional equipment only when it supports your actual filming needs.

Key Takeaway

The Smooth 5S AI and a compatible smartphone are the primary requirements. Other equipment depends on your package and the features you want to practise.

When you are ready, continue to the next lesson.

Video Transcript

This course starts at beginner level, but it is not limited to beginners. It is for anyone who wants to understand the Smooth 5S AI as a complete filming system rather than a device that produces smooth footage automatically.

You may be a home user recording family moments, travel, hobbies, or community events. You may be a social-media creator recording vertical video, walk-and-talk clips, demonstrations, or tutorials. You may run a business and need product videos, training material, interviews, property footage, or repeatable content. You may also be an experienced camera operator who is new to smartphone gimbals or this exact model.

Both iPhone and Android students can use the course. My main demonstration phone is a bare iPhone 14 Pro, so most screen recordings reflect that environment. When the Android path differs and the difference is verified, I will describe it clearly. When an Android-only behaviour has not been physically demonstrated, I will not label it as instructor-tested.

Not everyone needs every optional path. If your goal is stabilized family or travel video, you may focus on setup, balance, modes, operator technique, and native-camera workflows. If you film yourself, AI tracking may be central. If you deliver scripts, the teleprompter sections may become part of your main workflow. If you want more manual control, the app and filmmaking sections will matter more.

Even with a specific goal, do not skip the core foundations. Model identification, hardware inspection, charging, safe mounting, balance, axis clearance, controls, modes, and operator technique affect nearly every later result. Optional paths can branch later; safety and mechanical foundations remain shared.

Choose one primary use case and one secondary use case in the workbook. This does not lock you into a niche. It gives your practice a clear starting point and helps you decide which examples deserve extra repetition.