Zhiyun Smooth 5S is available at Mascom International for KSh 24,000, brand new and sealed, with a 12-month warranty. This handheld stabilizer from Zhiyun holds phones from 150g to 300g and 2 to 3.6 inches wide, carries a built-in 650 lux fill light, and runs up to 24 hours on one charge. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S also brings a joystick, a side focus and zoom wheel, and Vortex Mode for rolling shots. You can test it with your own phone at our store in the Old Mutual Building on Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, before you pay.
Built for content creators, journalists, estate agents and wedding videographers across Kenya, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S fixes the shaky footage that spoils handheld phone video. Walking clips through a Kilimani apartment, interviews on a busy Tom Mboya Street, or event footage in a dim hall all look unsteady when filmed by hand. The motors cancel hand shake on three axes, and the fill light lifts faces in poor light without a separate lamp. Small businesses that sell on TikTok and Instagram also use the Zhiyun Smooth 5S to shoot product videos that look planned rather than rushed.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya that hand over gimbals sealed in the box with no guidance, Mascom International lets you balance your own phone on the clamp and try every mode first. At Mascom International, we're seeing creators move from basic selfie sticks to the Zhiyun Smooth 5S once their clients start asking for smoother video. Customers across Nairobi tell us the side wheel makes zooming feel natural during a shoot. Visit the store Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, or order the Zhiyun Smooth 5S on WhatsApp for pay-on-arrival delivery anywhere in Kenya.
Common Questions About the Zhiyun Smooth 5S
How much is the Zhiyun Smooth 5S in Kenya?
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S costs KSh 24,000 at Mascom International in Nairobi CBD, brand new and sealed. That price covers the 12-month warranty, pay-on-arrival delivery across Kenya, and help balancing your phone at the counter. If you want an extra magnetic fill light and a carrying bag, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo sells for KSh 25,800, which is KSh 1,800 more. For most phone shooters, the standard version already has the built-in light and the full set of controls, so the Combo mainly helps people who film in dark venues often.
Should I buy the Zhiyun Smooth 5S or the Zhiyun Smooth-Q3?
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S suits regular, paid filming, while the Zhiyun Smooth-Q3 at KSh 13,000 is a smaller, lighter gimbal that folds into a bag pocket. The Smooth 5S gives you a fuller control panel with a joystick and a side wheel for focus and zoom, plus mounts for magnetic add-on lights. Pick the Smooth 5S for interviews, events and longer shoots. Pick the Smooth-Q3, also in stock at Mascom International, for travel clips and casual social media video where low weight matters more than extra controls.
Can the Zhiyun Smooth 5S handle KPLC power cuts and long shoots?
Yes, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S runs up to 24 hours on a full battery under light use, so a KPLC power cut does not end your shoot. It charges through USB-C with PD fast charging in about 2 hours, which means a phone power bank can top it up on a matatu ride between jobs. Heavy use of the fill light drains the battery faster, so charge it overnight before a wedding or full-day event in Nakuru or Mombasa.
Which phones fit the Zhiyun Smooth 5S?
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S holds phones weighing 150g to 300g and measuring 2 to 3.6 inches across, which covers most phones sold in Kenya. That range takes large iPhone Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Ultra models as well as popular Tecno and Infinix phones. Phones in thick rugged cases may need the case removed for good balance. Bring your phone to Mascom International and our staff will balance it on the clamp before you buy, so you leave knowing it fits.
Does the Zhiyun Smooth 5S work with my phone's own camera app?
Yes, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S stabilizes video in your phone's normal camera app, and on iPhone the joystick and most modes work there too. The side focus and zoom wheel does not work in the iPhone camera app, so use Zhiyun's ZY Cami app for it. Some extra app features need a ZY Prime membership. For quick TikTok clips, the built-in camera app is enough; for client work, ZY Cami gives you more control over focus, zoom and the shooting modes.
What shooting modes does the Zhiyun Smooth 5S offer?
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S offers six main modes: Pan Follow, Lock, Follow, POV, Vortex and Sling. Pan Follow suits walking shots, Lock keeps the frame fixed for interviews, and Follow tracks movement on every axis. POV and Vortex let you tilt and roll the view for dramatic transitions, while Sling gives faster response for action. Journalists covering events in Westlands and estate agents filming house tours mostly rely on Pan Follow and Lock, then switch to Vortex for an opening shot.
Who should buy the Zhiyun Smooth 5S and who should skip it?
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S suits creators, videographers, journalists and businesses that film phone video every week and need steady, well-lit footage. Skip it if you only shoot short clips now and then, because the Zhiyun Smooth-Q3 at KSh 13,000 costs far less and packs smaller. Skip it too if you film mainly with a mirrorless camera, since this gimbal holds phones only and a camera gimbal is the better fit for that work.
Is the Zhiyun Smooth 5S good for filming in low light?
Yes, the Zhiyun Smooth 5S has a built-in fill light rated at up to 650 lux, which brightens faces at close range in dim rooms and at evening events. You adjust its brightness with a dedicated wheel, so you need not stop recording. Two magnetic mounts on the phone clamp take extra snap-on lights and colour filters. University students filming club nights at Strathmore or JKUAT can leave the separate ring light at home and still get clear, evenly lit faces.
Technical Specifications
Stabilization and Motors
- 3-axis stabilization — motors correct tilt, roll and pan together, so walking footage looks smooth instead of bouncy.
- Upgraded magnetic steel motors — they hold heavier phones steady, including large models fitted with clip-on lenses.
- Pan range of 360 degrees as standard — you can sweep a full circle around a room, a stage or a crowd.
- Tilt and roll ranges of 349 degrees as standard — wide freedom for creative low, high and rolling angles.
- Six modes: Pan Follow, Lock, Follow, POV, Vortex and Sling — one gimbal covers interviews, house tours and action transitions.
- Vortex Mode — the phone rolls continuously for spinning transition shots that work well in TikTok and Reels edits.
Phone Compatibility
- Works with iPhone and Android phones over Bluetooth — one gimbal can serve a team using mixed phone brands.
- Phone weight from 150g to 300g — covers budget handsets up to large current models in thin cases.
- Phone width from 2 to 3.6 inches — the wide clamp grips big-screen phones that older gimbals struggled to hold.
- External lens support — clip-on wide-angle or macro lenses can stay on the phone while you film.
- Stabilization works in the phone's own camera app — no setup needed when you only want a quick clip.
- Accessory port note — in horizontal mode the tilt motor covers the phone's port, so plug in a microphone when shooting vertically.
Battery and Charging
- Runtime of up to 24 hours under light use — several normal shooting days between charges.
- USB-C charging port — the same cable type that most new phones and laptops already use.
- PD fast charging in about 2 hours — PD means Power Delivery, a faster charging standard found on modern adapters.
- Indicator lamps double as charge lights — you can check charging progress without opening the app.
- Charges from a phone power bank — keep filming through long days away from a wall socket.
- Slower adapters stretch charging to about 3 hours 40 minutes — use a PD charger to get the 2-hour figure.
Controls and App
- Thumb joystick — steer the camera view smoothly without twisting your wrist.
- Side focus and zoom wheel — zoom in or pull focus during a take with one hand, through the ZY Cami app.
- Mode and record buttons on the handle — start and stop recording without reaching for the phone screen.
- Front trigger — press to recenter the phone or flip it around for selfie shots.
- Light button and brightness wheel — change the fill light level without pausing the recording.
- Bluetooth 5.1 link to the ZY Cami app — the app opens the full mode list, and some extras need ZY Prime.
- StaCam app support — a second Zhiyun app with deeper manual camera controls, with some features paid.
Build and Lighting
- Weight of 625g with battery — heavier than pocket gimbals, so it suits planned shoots more than casual all-day carry.
- Size of 311 x 168 x 52 mm — fits in a camera bag or a daypack alongside a laptop.
- Built-in fill light rated at up to 650 lux — lux measures brightness, and this level lifts faces at close range.
- Two magnetic mounting points on the clamp — snap on extra lights and colour filters when a scene needs more.
- Pan axis lock — the pan motor locks for travel, while tilt and roll use detents to hold their position.
Package Contents
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S arrives sealed in Zhiyun's retail box with the gimbal itself, a USB-C charging cable and a quick start guide. It is the gimbal-only version, built for buyers who already own a stand or lights. The magnetic fill light, carrying bag, tripod, wrist strap and ZY VIP card come with the Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo instead. Ask our team on WhatsApp if you want to add a tripod or extra light to your order.
Warranty
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S ships with a 12-month warranty through Mascom International, covering manufacturing defects under normal use. Motor, battery and control faults that come from the factory are covered, and claims are handled at our Nairobi CBD service desk.
Where to Buy the Zhiyun Smooth 5S in Kenya
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S is in stock at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. We are open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Bring your phone and try the modes, the side wheel and the fill light before you decide. It comes in Grey and White, so confirm the colour in stock on WhatsApp before you visit.
Reach our team directly on any of these:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
We deliver with pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Orders within Nairobi and its environs arrive the same day, and major towns such as Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru and Nyeri receive delivery the next business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Your gimbal is backed by the 12-month warranty above. We give honest specifications, clear pricing and real after-sales support, so you know exactly what you are paying for.
