Zhiyun Crane

puredrifting said:
Any new feedback from Crane users? Are you guys out shooting and making money with the Crane?
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Yes.

Flouted it in three major cities last week, & taking it to NYC today. Unfortunately cannot share any footage.

Came in especially useful filming driveby B-Roll in San Francisco. Had a convertible but the streets were in such bad shape that we couldn't get useful footage out of the ALEXA Mini, or FS7, so switched to GH4(s) mounted on single-handle gimbals (a Crane, & a Beholder DS1).

The Crane's hard case is well enough made, but a bit bulky for air travel, & prefer the shape of Beholder's soft case.
 
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Thanks for the feedback Bern. Share some footage when you can, if the NDA ever lifts because it airs. A bit OT, but how do you make the GH4 colors better? I sold mine before they came out with log, are you shooting log and someone tweaks it in post to make it look good?
 
Just got my crane and I couldn't be happier! It's my first gimbal and I'm really impressed, it was really easy to balance - the first time took me maybe 20 minutes, but now I can change lenses and rebalance really fast.
Love the results too, still getting a little up and down motion as I walk but I'm sure with better technique it will get even better. Oh and loved the size, I was in NYC and one day I used all afternoon and wasn't tired at all. Soon I'll share the results.

edit: still editing the final video but here is a snippet we already posted. Audio is not great as I ended up using the a6300 internal mic (that is actually great coming from a canon 70d)..Still wondering how will I mount my microphone on the crane, any tips? I'm using a sony a6300 + 10-18mm (or 35mm 1.8 oss), I really want to use my sennheiser avx lavalier, would it work if I mount it on top of the camera?
 
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How easy is it to control pan / tilt with the joy stick? I assume there are different speeds of pan/tilt available? Is it based on how hard you push the joystick or can you double click something and it goes from slow to fast? And I see some reference to a remote on one site but not on amazon... so does it come with one?
 
I am considering the Crane for use with a 5DIII, 16-35 2.8, and Rode Video Mic pro. I know the Crane's suggested max payload is set at 1200g, and the set up mentioned comes in at 1710g. Is this ridiculous and not to be considered at all or do you think it'll fly until I can purchase the GH5?

From the research I've done some people are getting good results with the 5D III and according to Zhiyun's FB page it can support up to 1800g. Check this out. "1200g is the best payload weight for the gimbal, but 1800g will be the max it can support if you balance the gimbal well"

Zhiyun.JPG
 
It might not be the actual weight but the bulk of the 5D and 16-35 that makes it less than ideal. I would certainly like to have a smaller lens than the Sony 16-35 but I just can't see any other lens being as good.
 
Anyone had a chance to try the Zeiss batis 25mm or 85mm lenses with an A7rii or A7s yet? Both are less than 1100g. That's the rig I'm considering using the Crane with.

Thanks!
 
I received the Crane last night and put it work shooting some BTS footage for broadcast for a CBS show today. Talk about no learning curve. Amazon dropped it off at 8:00 PM last night, I immediately put the batteries on to charge, woke up early this morning to balance it, which only took about 2 minutes. It seemed to respond fine. I was on set two hours later, shooting footage of a couple dancing and the Crane worked really well. A few notes...

1. I have not bought a mirrorless camera yet but will probably be getting the Fuji XT-2. I shot today with my trusted Canon 80D and the Canon 10-18 STM IS lens, mostly at around 12-14 mm focal length. God I love DPAF and Face Tracking, it was pretty much seamless. I noticed after balancing that the camera body and the tip of the lens could hit the Crane if I tried to do certain moves with it, like inverting. I am fine on weight, but the size and bulk of the 80D is not ideal for this gimbal. I can't imagine flying a 5D MKIII or any other camera that size, you will definitely have fit issues, if not weight issues. If you want to float a larger DSLR, buy a Ronin or something larger than this. The Crane is designed for mirrorless cameras, not big clunky DSLRs

2. I need a recommendation on a small, table top tripod. I have the Manfrotto one with the button that pushes in to allow the head to swivel any direction. It just barely holds up the Crane with a camera on it. Not an ideal setup but it got me through today. A heavier duty tabletop tripod screwed into the 1/4" 20 inlet on the bottom of the Crane will work well but mine almost tips over, the leg spread is not wide enough and the drag on that button isn't tight enough for something this long that weighs as much.

3. Battery life looks to be excellent. I shot long takes for about an hour and the Crane battery looked to be hardly used.

4. I put the gimbal into inverted mode and it kind of freaked out and wouldn't respond and when I righted it, the camera body hit the Crane where the arms swivel past each other. Anything I need to know to use the Crane inverted?

Until I can afford to pick up the Fuji XT-2 and lens package (it's not the body that is expensive, it will be the 3-5 new lenses needed), I think in the meantime, the Canon 2.8 STM pancake is going to be a hot lens for the Crane with an 80D. 38mm FOV, 2.8 is fast enough and it will lighten and reduce the overall size of the unit the gimbal is floating. Overall, the Crane gets a thumbs up. Not perfect but an excellent value, rented it for 1/3 of it's cost to the client so two more shoots and it has paid for itself!
 
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For a tripod, try the Manfrotto 209. You'll need a 1/4" male to 3/8" female adapter in between it and the Crane.
 
It is easy if you turn it around exactly over the side of the camera. Not over the front or back of the camera.
I have the crane for one week use it with sony a7s, small Canon FD lenses and mounted a video devices pix e5. I'm very happy with this setup.
 
Thanks for the tips guys. The instructions are a little vague about things like this so it's nice to hear from people who are doing it. Garten, you mounted a Pix E5? Where? Would like to see a picture of your setup when you have time.
 
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L-Plate on the bottom of the Crane, mini ball head and you may use the lens support of the crane to secure your HDMI cable. All parts I have found in my box for left over things.
 
It is a bit havier of course. But quite comfortable to handle with both hands. Inverted mode is very easy to handle and the monitor is in the right place for viewing. And I can start/stop recording with the left hand supporting the Pix. I don't think I switch to the dual handle when it is available.
 
deadhumpy said:
Does someone with the gimbal think the canon xc10 would fit? It seems the weight should be ok, about 1020grams.
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Considering the 80D with the 10-18 STM IS is hitting the crane arm itself on certain moves, I am going to say no. Isn't the XC10 longer? The Crane is made for small mirrorless.
 
Gave my first test of the Zhiyune Crane last evening with my A7R2 and Zeiss Batis 25mm lens. Very nice combination. Having a little trouble getting the Crane to start its pan movements smoothly, but was able to cut together a nice little video from the footage:

https://youtu.be/EWyVz8lwrXk

Let me know what you think.
 
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