360-Degree iPhone 4/s Virtual Tour Photography: Top 10 Reasons to Get a ‘Gymbl Pro’ Gimbal Tripod

November 1, 2011 – Atlanta, GA USA – Get a Gymbl!  If you enjoy shooting 360º panoramic images with an iPhone 4/4s, you’ll love the Gymbl ($69) gimbal tripod from YOUBIQ.

Gymbl Pro inlcludes Tripod Adapter

If you enjoy shooting 360º panoramic images with pro gear – and professional stitching software – you’ll love the Gymbl Pro ($99; includes a Tripod Adapter.)

The Gymbl elevates the quality of your images by enabling your iPhone to rotate around its optical center without optical distortion.

If you are a professional 360º photographer, the Gymbl panoramic head is small enough to always carry with your iPhone (when you don’t have or want to carry your pro gear). Plus, you might want to keep the Gymbl Pro tripod adapter always connected to a spare tripod in the truck of your car so you are ready to shoot 360ºs even when you don’t have your pro gear with you.

After shooting more than 30 test images (see links below) at various locations and with and without people; here are my …

Top 10 Reasons to get a Gymbl (or Gymbl Pro with Tripod Adapter)

1. Cleaner, sharper images (will help eliminate ghosting when subjects are not moving)
2. Maximize successful image height (you can do multiple “go arounds” when your iPhone is on the Gymbl gimbal. Simply not acceptable quality trying this technique without a Gymbl.)
3. Like an iPhone, the Gymbl is small enough to alway have it with you (and keep the Tripod Adapter with your professional gear)
4. The Gymbl (ergonomic) hard-shell case for the iPhone feels comfortable (while both protecting your iPhone AND enabling quick connect and release of the Gymbl).
5. Shoot 360º x 180º (spherical) virtual tours are possible: (you’ll need to edit out the tripod with professional software for that full spherical look.)
6. The Gymbl feels like it was designed by a 360º photographer enthusiast for other 360º enthusiasts (it was; so it lives up to your expectations [Click here for YOUBIQ CEO & Founder Gordon Fowler's (humorous) backstory about how the Gymbl came to life.]
7. It’s iPhone 4 and 4s compatible
8. Video: in addition to shooting 360º images, you can use the Gymbl for shooting video too: hand-held; using the tripod; or using the tripod adapter to your full-size tripod (Hint for Apple, Inc. – it would be great if the iPhone could be screwed directly onto a tripod without the need of a separate device.)
9. Lifetime Gymbl warranty
10. It’s easy! It just works! It’s sweet!
11. Bonus: You’ll think of other ways to use your Gymbl than the reasons you bought it!

I included links to many of my test 360ºs (bel0w). Here are four sample 360ºs. Many examples and a list of iPhone 360º shooting apps are below the video.

1. Test Shot 16: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the 360 Panorama app – good; multiple “go around” to add height created a challenge with the waving American flag – good
2. Test Shot 17: Shot with a Gymbl Pro, iPhone Camera and Stitched with PTGui Pro – best
3. Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – very best
4. Night Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – very best

While there are many 360º iOS shooting apps, I limited my Gymbl testing using 360 Panorama and AutoStitch Panorama because of their uniquely different ‘spin’ on shooting 360ºs. (For the novice, 360 Panorama is simply easier and faster. For the pro, AutoStitch Panorama may give you some flexibility, better result and options – with some extra post production.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Examples Shot With Pretty-in-Pink Princess Dani in Atlanta

1. Test Shot 2: Shot hand-held (without the Gymbl tripod or grip) and the AutoStitch app – okay
2. Test Shot 4: Shot with the iPhone 4 camera mounted on the Gymbl tripod and stitched with the AutoStitch app – good
3. Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – best

Examples Shot at Showcase Photo & Video in Atlanta

1. Test Shot 5: Shot with Gymbl Pro (and then mounted to my full-size tripod) and used AutoStitch – ghosting (overlap of images that included people moving)
2. Test Show 8: Shot with Gymbl Pro (and then mounted to my full-size tripod) and used AutoStitch – ghosting (overlap of images that included people moving)
3. Test Shot 6: Shot with iPhone on Gymbl Pro (and then mounted to my full-size tripod) and stitched with PTGui Pro and re-touched with Aperture 3 – best
4. Test Shot 7: Shot with iPhone on Gymbl Pro (and then mounted to my full-size tripod) and stitched with PTGui Pro and re-touched with Aperture 3 – best

Examples Shot at Lake Lanier, Georgia

In these these test shots, you can see that the ghosting disappears when I used the Gymbl connected to my tripod versus a hand-held 360º without using the Gymbl Grip: (at Lanier Sailing Academy Boat House, Lake Lanier, GA)

1. Test Shot 15: Shot hand-held (and without the Gymbl Grip) and using the AutoStitch app – ghosting
2. Test Shot 14: Shot with a Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the AutoStitch app – no ghosting
3. Test Shot 11: Shot hand-held (and without the Gymbl Grip) and using AutoStitch app – ghosting of the close-in railing
4. Test Shot 13: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the AutoStitch app – no ghosting (It was a dark and stormy day.)
5. Test Shot 12: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the Auto Stitch app (lightened image in Aperture 3) – no ghosting (windy; iPhone 4 moved some)

Examples Featuring the St. Simons Island, GA Lighthouse

1. Test Shot 16: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the 360 Panorama app – good; multiple “go around” to add height created a challenge with the waving American flag – good
2. Test Shot 17: Shot with a Gymbl Pro, iPhone Camera and Stitched with PTGui Pro – best
3. Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – very best
4. Night Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – very best

Examples on the St. Simons Island, GA Beach

1. Test Shot 27: Shot hand-held (and without Gymbl Grip) and using 360 Panorama app – notice the horizon over the ocean; not to bad as long as the subjects are are from the camera
2. Test Shot 28: Shot hand-held (and without Gymbl Grip) and using 360 Panorama app – notice the horizon over the ocean and the uneven height
3. Test Shot 29: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the 360 Panorama app – okay

Examples at Gould’s Inlet at St. Simons Island, GA

1. Test Shot 21: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – multiple passes around to create additional height created major stitching challenges
2. Test Shot 22: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – multiple passes without major stitching challenges
3. Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – best

Examples from Morningstar Marinas at Golden Isles, St. Simons Island, GA

1. Test Shot 23: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – some stitching challenges with the horizon over the water. Floating dock may have added to the challenge. Multiple pass (to add height) added to the stitching challenge
2. Test Shot 24: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – some stitching challenges with the horizon over the water. Floating dock may have added to the challenge
3. Test Shot 25: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – good
4. Test Shot 26: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – some challenges with stitching.
5. Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PTGui Pro and Aperture 3) – best

Examples from St. Simons Island, GA Pier

1. Test Shot 18: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – good
2. Test Shot 19: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – okay; some blurring with people moving
3. Test Shot 20: Shot with Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and using the 360 Panorama app – unfortunately, I should not have tried multiple “go arounds” with people. I was trying to add height to the image. One “go around” would have made for a nice 360º.

Warning Will Robinson I should have either used this $6 adapter to mount the Gymbl Tripod Adapter (1/4″) to my professional (3/8″) tripod (instead of using my professional pano head ($80) to “step down” the screw size; or, used my light-weight consumer tripod (1/4″) without the need for this $6 adapter.  As a result of my error, you can see the pano head base, handles and knobs in images 2 and 3.

Examples with ‘Bear’ in the Woods Here are two more test shots to compare the difference of shooting hand-held (without the Gymbl Grip) and with the Gymbl and a full-size tripod:

1. Test Shot 10: Shot with a Gymbl Pro (then mounted to my full-size tripod) and the AutoStitch app
2. Shot with professional gear and stitching and editing software (PT GUI Pro and Aperture 3) – best

While the both the Gymbl and Gymbl Pro with Tripod Adapter connect to tripods, the advantage of the Tripod Adapter:

1. Keep the Tripod Adapter with your full-size tripod and keep the Gymbl with your iPhone 4 (My “Man Bag” contains my iPhone 4, Gymbl, iPad. In lieu of carrying my two FLIP HD video cameras, I use my iPhone 4 with the Gymbl and save the FLIPS for events that need hours of video shot.)
2. If you want to do 360º spherical panoramas (360º x 180º), the Tripod Adapter is easier to keep out of your image because it doesn’t have a Grip. The Grip is on the Gymbl: not the Tripod Adapter.

To see all my Gymbl tests using my iPhone 4, please go to TourWrist and search the keyword: GYMBL

Tips

1. When using any powerful app like AutoStitch Panorama, it’s a good idea to close all your other apps (or do a re-start before stitching lots of high resolution images together).
2. Before you invest in professional gear to shoot 360ºs, you might consider starting out with your iPhone 4, Gymbl Pro and investing in a tripod, professional stitching software (such as PT GUI Pro) and editing software such as Adobe’s PhotoShop (I used Apple’s Aperture 3 on my iMac.) It’s simply amazing what you can achieve with these tools. With the new iPhone 4s 8 megapixel camera, souped-up optics and enhanced image quality, you could probably come close to producing 360ºs that rival photographers with professional gear (at a fraction of the investment). Professional 360º photographers will find the convenience of always being able to shoot 360º attractive.
3. Can’t decide between the Gymbl and Gymbl Pro? Get the pro version. The Tripod Adopter is worth the difference in price. While the Gymbl will mount a full-size tripod, I like keeping the Gymbl with me; and the Tripod Adopter with a spare full-size tripod in the truck.

Suggestion for YOUBIQ

• With some slight modification, it looks like the next generation of the Gymbl iPhone case could (easily) be modified to work with the GoPano Micro from EyeSee 360 iPhone 4/4S lens accessory that shoots 360º video. I would like to use the Gymbl to shoot both 360º degree photos and video with the same iPhone 4/4S. (It’s not practical to switch between the Gymbl and GoPano Micro semi-permanent cases.)

Suggestion for 360º App Developers

• Since the iPhone is upside down in the Gymbl, please provide a “Gymbl Mode” to change the orientation of your app.

iPhone 4/4S 360º Shooting Apps shown in TopAppCharts.com (Price on 10/19/11)

1. 360 Panorama ($0.99)
2. AutoStitch Panorama ($0.99)
3. Apple (native 360º shooting coming soon: “How To: Take Panoramic Photos On Your iPhone Without A Jailbreak,” reports AppAdvice 11/8/11)
4. DerManDar Panorama ($1.99)
5. Pano ($1.99)
6. PanoEasy (Free)
7. PanoLab (Free)
8. PanoLab Pro ($2.99)
9. PanoMinute (Free)
10. Panorama 360 Camera ($0.99)
11. Panorama Camera ($2.99)
12. Panoramatic 360 ($0.99)
13. Panorama Free (Free)
14. Panoramas ($1.99)
15. PanoMinute (Free)
16. Panorama Mosaicker (Free)
17. Photosynth (Free)
18. Pixeet 360 (Free)
19. UScape.it (Free)
20. YOUBIQ App ($2.99)
21. Video to Panorama (Free)
22. Video Panorama ($1.99)

Gymbl Resources

1. Gymbl Quick Start Guide
2. Gymbl Tripod Adapter (Ships with Gymbl Pro) Quick Start Guide
3. www.YOUBIQ.com
4. YOUBIQ on Facebook
5. YOUBIQ’s Panorama Examples
6. YOUBIQ Community: Blog, Gallery, Tutorials, Forums

Short URL for This Article

• http://j.mp/Gymbl-Pro

Test 6 Image: iPhone 4 with Gymbl Pro Using the Tripod Adapter. This Image Retouched

Disclosures

• I received a free Gymbl Pro from YOUBIQ. You can buy it from YOUBIQ or Amazon.com.
• TourWrist engages my Agency, GREAT!, for Media Relations, Strategic Alliance and Business Development – including the integration of the free Publish to TourWrist API. My 360º virtual tour photography is hosted on TourWrist at no charge; including the image examples in this article. I have a meaningful interest in TourWrist.
• I receive commissions from Amazon.com purchases.
• I love all things Apple, including my: iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iMac and MacBook Pro; and the Apple Genius Bar team.