No more shaky videos - an overview of the Zhiyun Crane family

Reading Time: 12 minutes - July 3, 2019 - by Jonas Junk The term gimbal is on everyone's lips amongst videographers, but until a few years ago you couldn't even imagine what it meant. This article aims to shed some light on the subject by taking a closer look at the new gimbals from manufacturer Zhiyun.

The new generation of Zhiyun gimbals

A well-known manufacturer of gimbals is Zhiyun-Tech. The smartphone gimbals from Zhiyun bear the name "Smooth". The stabilization systems for DSLR and mirrorless cameras can be found in the "Crane" series. The Crane V2 (now Zhiyun Crane Plus) was already a great success and many filmmakers in the industry use the compact gimbal. The successor, the Zhiyun Crane 2 was somewhat larger, but with more leeway when balancing the camera and a higher load capacity. The new series consists of the Zhiyun Weebill Lab and the Zhiyun Crane 3 Lab. Both gimbals are designed for real cameras and stand out due to their new shape. Compared to classic one-handed gimbals, the two "Lab" variants have an inclined handle, which makes it possible to shoot close to the ground. In 2018, Zhiyun used the term "Lab" for the first time for Zhiyun's flagship gimbals. Gimbals bearing the name "Lab" have the best possible configurations in their product series and represent Zhiyun's advanced technology.

Zhiyun Weebill Lab

The lightweight and compact Zhiyun Weebill impresses with several ingenious functions. The axes of the gimbal can be locked when switched off, so the device can be transported easily and balancing is simplified. The table tripod can be mounted in two different positions so that the gimbal can be used to conveniently take pictures close to the ground. The rear motor is tilted by 45 degrees, making it easier to see the camera display. Like its big brother, the Crane 3 Lab, the Weebill Lab also has wireless video transmission to smartphones on board. In some cases, this feature replaces an external monitor and, in combination with the smartphone holder, many gimbal settings can be made quickly and conveniently. The camera is mounted using the quick-release plate supplied; alternatively, other Manfrotto and Arca-Swiss plates can also be used. This allows the camera to be removed quickly without having to re-balance the camera.

The Weebill Lab is particularly suitable for compact cameras and system cameras up to 3 KG, whereby the balancing problem must be taken into account. You can find out more in our article 5 tips for buying a gimbal

Our assessment of the Weebill Lab

The Weebill Lab focuses on the compact & lightweight design. It is relatively expensive compared to the previous generation (e.g. Crane 2), but offers new functions such as video transmission and is more ergonomic to use. The Weebill is perfect for shooting on the move, for example, where a larger gimbal such as the Crane 3 Lab would take up too much space and be too heavy.

Zhiyun Crane 3 Lab

The Crane 3 Lab is currently the largest gimbal from Zhiyun. It is ideal for large DSLR and system cameras, as well as for small cinema cameras. The maximum load capacity of the Crane 3 Lab is specified as 4.5 kg. Considering the size of the gimbal, it is impressive that such large cameras can be mounted. The Crane 3 Lab also has a new shape. The angled handle offers more application options and we can imagine that operation can also be more precise, as the gimbal is operated with two hands. A table tripod can be attached to the underside as usual, and there are two attachment options for accessories on the side via tripod threads.

Wireless image transmission to the app

The Crane 3 Lab also has wireless image transmission technology on board, which supports video streaming up to 1080p. The HDMI output signal from the camera can thus be transmitted to a smartphone and used as an external monitor. In practice, this worked very well with the Canon 1DX II. There is hardly any latency in the transmission, but as far as we have tested, it is not possible to select an AF point on the Canon via the smartphone, for example. The camera settings could be easily changed using the wheel with the index finger. Selecting the settings also worked with the Sony A7RIII, but with more latency. Adjusting the main camera settings on the gimbal doesn't add any value in most situations anyway. However, this function is really practical if the ISO needs to be adjusted quickly when the brightness changes. You can find out more about the compatibility of the control functions with your camera here: CRANE 3 LAB Camera Compatibility

Our conclusion on the gimbals from Zhiyun-Tech

The rise of gimbals has been accompanied by Zhiyun almost from the very beginning. Accordingly, the technical possibilities of Zhiyun gimbals are also developing very quickly. One really unexpected feature, for example, is the integrated video transmission on the two Lab models. Not all technical gadgets are usable with the current firmware in professional use, but the idea is good and we are sure that this will continue to develop over the next few years. Zhiyun offers the right electronic stabilization system for video for many areas of application, making it one of the leading manufacturers.