The Short Answer
For a mirrorless camera with AI tracking, pick by payload: the iSteady MT2 carries 1.2 kg, the MT3 1.4 kg, and the MT3 Pro 2.5 kg. The MT3 Pro adds longer tracking range and follows pets and vehicles, not just people.
A wedding prep in Tagaytay, 9:15 a.m. You are the only shooter, the groom is pacing by the window, and your Sony is on a monopod because there is no second shooter to run B-cam. Phone gimbals solved this problem for vloggers years ago. For camera shooters, the answer is an AI tracking camera gimbal that follows the subject on its own while you handle focus, audio, or the client.
Hohem makes three of these, and we carry all three. If you are only filming on a phone, skip this and read our AI tracking phone gimbal guide instead. For cameras, start with the Hohem iSteady MT3, the middle option, and decide up or down from there.
What Each One Is Built For
- iSteady MT2 (₱12,899): a 4-in-1 that takes phones, action cams, compacts and small mirrorless bodies up to 1.2 kg. A magnetic AI sensor with fill light tracks via gestures, no app needed. Can control GoPro 5 to 11 (not the Hero 7 Silver and White).
- iSteady MT3 (₱17,999): 1.4 kg payload, built-in 1 MP AI camera, tracking from 0.5 to 5 m, gestures from 0.5 to 3.5 m. Runtime about 17 hours balanced, 11 with tracking, 6 with tracking and fill light. Weighs about 765 g.
- iSteady MT3 Pro (₱24,299): 2.5 kg payload, 2 MP AI camera, tracking 0.5 to 7 m for people and up to 15 m for vehicles. Hohem says it tracks humans, pets, vehicles and any subject you frame on its touchscreen, and it adds remote live-feed monitoring. Runtime about 20 hours balanced, 14 with tracking, 8 with tracking and light. Weighs about 1,070 g.
Spec Sheet Side by Side
| Spec | MT2 | MT3 | MT3 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (VMI Direct) | ₱12,899 | ₱17,999 | ₱24,299 |
| Payload | 1.2 kg | 1.4 kg | 2.5 kg |
| AI tracker | Magnetic sensor + fill light | Built-in 1 MP camera | Built-in 2 MP camera |
| Tracking range | Not published | 0.5 to 5 m | 0.5 to 7 m (people), up to 15 m (vehicles) |
| Runtime with tracking | Not published | about 11 hrs | about 14 hrs |
| Tilt range | Not published | -90° to 180° | -188° to 108° |
| Weight | Not published | about 765 g | about 1,070 g |
Figures from Hohem's published specifications as listed on our product pages. "Not published" means Hohem's listing does not state it.
How to Choose
- Compact mirrorless with a kit lens, or a mix of phone and action cam: MT2. It is the most flexible, and the GoPro control is handy if you shoot both.
- Mirrorless with a prime or small zoom, solo creator, long days: MT3. The built-in AI camera and 11-hour tracking runtime are the sweet spot.
- Full-frame body with a heavier zoom, events, cars, pets: MT3 Pro. The 2.5 kg payload and vehicle tracking are what you pay for.
Weigh your camera and lens together with any cage or mic before buying. Running near the payload limit makes motors work harder, drains the battery faster, and can cause jitter.
A quick way to check: put your camera, lens, cage, mic and quick-release plate on a kitchen scale. If the total sits above about 80% of a gimbal's rated payload, step up a model. A Sony ZV-E10 with a small prime fits the MT2 easily. A full-frame body with a 24-70mm f/2.8 belongs on the MT3 Pro.
Also think about how you shoot vertical. The MT2 offers two vertical mounting options, one of which keeps a flip-out screen visible for selfies. That matters if you film yourself for Reels and TikTok with a camera instead of a phone.
Honest Trade-offs
- Re-balance on orientation change. Hohem notes the MT3 Pro must be re-balanced after switching between horizontal and vertical mode.
- Weight adds up. At about 1 kg before your camera, the MT3 Pro is a two-hand rig for long takes. The BH01 sling handgrip helps.
- One subject. Like phone trackers, these lock on one subject. Frame wider for groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the MT2 with my phone too?
Yes. The MT2 is a 4-in-1 gimbal for phones, action cameras, compact cameras and mirrorless cameras up to 1.2 kg.
Does the AI tracking on these work without the app?
Yes. The tracker runs on the gimbal and starts with a gesture. The Hohem Joy app adds extra settings.
Which Hohem gimbal can track a car?
The MT3 Pro. Hohem lists vehicle tracking up to 15 m, plus pets and any subject you frame on its touchscreen.
More in this series: fixes when a gimbal stops tracking and which Hohem gimbal to buy.
Questions about your camera's fit? Message our team with your body and lens. See our return and refund policy. VMI Direct is an authorized Hohem distributor in the Philippines.
Written by Johannes Yu, VMI Direct. Specs from Hohem's published product specifications.
