JOBY Spin and Swing Released – Pocket-size Motion Control Systems for Smartphones

Smartphone Filmmaking

by Francesco AndreolaFebruary 4^th, 2022

The JOBY Spin and the JOBY Swing are two compact motion control systems that allow mobile videographers to achieve dynamic camera movements. They are respectively a 360° panoramic tripod head and an electronic slider. Both devices can be seamlessly controlled via the smartphone app.

While it’s true that content is king, the way it is delivered is crucial. Since it’s not always easy to keep things visually engaging when shooting on a smartphone, camera accessories manufacturer JOBY is trying to offer some assistance.

In partnership with Syrp Lab, the company recently developed two tiny motion control devices that allow content creators to produce dynamic, repeatable camera movements on the go. Please welcome the JOBY Spin and Swing. Let’s take a closer look.

JOBY Spin and Swing: motion control in your pocket

With the introduction of the Spin and Swing systems, JOBY is trying to make motion control technology accessible for everyone everywhere.

These products are designed with mobile videographers in mind. They allow smartphone shooters to add complex and precise motorized camera movements to their videos, timelapse and product shots.

The JOBY Spin and Swing feature a lightweight and travel-friendly design. Moreover, they offer an easy-to-use approach. Parameters such as speed and start/endpoints of each movement can be easily adjusted through the JOBY Motion app (available for both iOS and Android devices).

They share the same integrated bubble level and USB-C charging interface. However, they differ in battery life. In fact, while the Spin ensures up to 3 hours of shooting time, the battery of the Swing only lasts for about 90 minutes. Now let’s dive into what each unit can offer.

Spin: a panoramic tripod head

The JOBY Spin is a 360° motion control panoramic tripod head that conveniently fits in your hand. It can support a maximum payload of 750g which is enough for a smartphone setup.

A 1/4”-20 threaded hole at the bottom of the Spin allows for mounting the unit on top of a tripod. Moreover, a smartphone holder, like the JOBY GripTight ONE Phone Mount, can be attached directly to the head via its 1/4”-20 screw.

But that’s not all. In fact, by pairing two Spin devices with a dedicated Pan Tilt Bracket, you can simultaneously perform complex camera movements on the pan and tilt axis. You can get even more creative by using the JOBY Spin as a turntable for moving your props rather than your camera.

Swing: a compact electronic slider

The JOBY Swing is a tiny electronic slider that offers a camera travel distance of 38cm. This is quite impressive considering the size of the unit (16.9 x 4.9 x 5.2 cm).

The Swing can also be mounted on a tripod via a 1/4”-20 threaded hole. It can host a small ball head or smartphone holder on the top and bear a maximum payload of 600g.

Price and availability

The JOBY Spin and Swing are now available for pre-order on B&H. They turn out to be quite budget-friendly. The official retail of the Spin is $89.95, while the Swing slider is a little more expensive at $129.95.

Both units come with a charging cable, while the smartphone holder is not included in the basic kit. However, the manufacturer also offers some pre-made packages with additional accessories, like their GorillaPod, BallHead 1K, and GripTight ONE Phone Mount.

Are you a mobile content creator on the go looking to add dynamic camera movements to your videos? What do you think of these new JOBY products? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!