Zhiyun Crane

It looks like there is a new Zhiyun Crane model; I'm guessing the Crane Z1 is the original and now they have a smaller one called the Crane M. The video is in Korean. It has a bad Google translation which says:"Compared to an existing crane it weighs 0.95kg and 0.74kg in weight reduction becomes smaller."

The opening shot shows two gimbals; one with a shorter grip (that's a nice improvement).


http://cinescopophilia.cUpom/zhiyun-crane-m-3-axis-camera-gimbal-review/

Here is a video discussing the Crane M. She discusses other things before she gets to the Crane M. So go to about 6:00. She says she can only find it available on the Zhiyun facebook page ($499). There is no information about weight capacity. She also says how to pronounce Zhiyun and says it means 'smart cloud'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vllLXDO3Kxc

https://www.facebook.com/ZhiyunGlobal/app/189977524185/
 
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just got this. tested it out and works well. unfortunately i have very limted compatible lenses that work on this :\
 
Not understanding the new Crane M at all. It's 85% as large and heavy, only slightly cheaper with half of the weight capacity? What's the point?

BTW, I have now used the Crane on two client shoots and am using it tomorrow on a TV sizzle shoot, it's great! Easy to use, the results are great, even though I am using it with a DSLR (80D) and not a mirrorless camera as I should be. I was all hot to get the Fuji XT2 for the Crane but played around a friends XT2 yesterday and while the body is small and light, most of the nicer X Mount lenses are heavy and long. I'm now seeing the light on some of those articles that say overall, mirrorless is a bust compared to DSLRs. It's true, what does it matter if the body is so small and compact if the lenses you like to use are still larger, heavier beasts? M43 lenses like I had for the GH4 are a LOT smaller and lighter but APS-C/S35 lenses cannot be shrunk down much for mirrorless cameras apparently. Friend showed me the new X-Mount 18-135, which will be their main video lens and it was larger and heavier than my Canon 18-135! Friend didn't have the kit lens 18-55 but she had the X-mount 16mm prime and it's hefty, I'll have to look up some weights of the Fuji lenses although I looked up the 18-55 kit and with it, the XT2 was within weight specs. Overall, the Crane has been an incredible value for the $600.00, I highly advise anyone to get one as long as you are wanting to use a mirrorless or light DSLR camera.
 
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Paul F said:
The opening shot shows two gimbals; one with a shorter grip (that's a nice improvement).
Click to expand...

Initially I was concerned about the length of the Crane's handle, but in practice it enhances the range of motion, being especially useful for low, or high, angles.
 
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* Mirrorless can be a lot smaller than DSLRs: just look at Leica lenses. The thing is, they can also be big, it depends on what the designer tries to prioritize.

* I'm looking for a small crane for my RX100 IV. The Zhiyun Crane M seems to be exactly that. But from the side-by-side comparison here, it doesn't seem to be much smaller or lighter than the standard one, which would also work on a future a7 series camera... which takes me back to my N4000 and whether it's worth spending $300 to upgrade to the Zhiyun Crane. Has anybody here used both of them?
 
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Another note: when using the Crane in the upright position I choke up the handle & grab the bottom half of the pan motor between my forefinger & thumb. The base of the pan motor then sits on top of middle finger, & joy stick sits untouched in the middle of my palm. Takes a bit of practice to not hit the toggle switch, or power button, but once mastered this grip provides better stability, especially when using the Crane with just a single hand.
 
Bern Caughey said:
Another note: when using the Crane in the upright position I choke up the handle & grab the bottom half of the pan motor between my forefinger & thumb. The base of the pan motor then sits on top of middle finger, & joy stick sits untouched in the middle of my palm. Takes a bit of practice to not hit the toggle switch, or power button, but once mastered this grip provides better stability, especially when using the Crane with just a single hand.
Click to expand...

I shot a few hours in a car over the weekend and I found myself instinctively gripping it the same way. I must say, even though the Crane really smoothed things out, the shots are still pretty bouncy (in an old 70s car, driving on crappy roads in LA) and will require post stabilizing. Any time the car made a turn, the Crane could not deal with any external g-forces, it would go way off target on every turn. My camera, battery, card and lens total about 1150 grams so I am taxing it for sure. The footage I shot is usable but I have to say, the Go Pro footage looked better as far as framing and angle.
 
According to the specs, the gimbal supports "up to max weight 2.65lbs"

Can anyone report using the gimbal at max weight, and if it could be pushed a hair further? I asked because my GH4 + Nokton 10.5mm weights 2.72lbs...

On the other hand, if I were to use it with the Olympus 12mm lens, the weight becomes 1.8lbs.

Could I push it with the Nokton? And even if I could, might I expect much better performance if I utilize it with an olympus lens with less weight instead? (ie will it operate better or the same, VS close to max weight?)
 
filmguy123 said:
According to the specs, the gimbal supports "up to max weight 2.65lbs"

Can anyone report using the gimbal at max weight, and if it could be pushed a hair further? I asked because my GH4 + Nokton 10.5mm weights 2.72lbs...

On the other hand, if I were to use it with the Olympus 12mm lens, the weight becomes 1.8lbs.

Could I push it with the Nokton? And even if I could, might I expect much better performance if I utilize it with an olympus lens with less weight instead? (ie will it operate better or the same, VS close to max weight?)
Click to expand...

It's a much easier discussion if you use grams. The weight capacity is 1200 grams. my rig is 1150 so I would say I am close to the limit. It can be pushed but you will exponentially decrease the performance and responsiveness as you approach and exceed the weight limit. I can already feel a noticeable difference in using my light pancake lens (EF-S 24mm 2.8 STM) versus the heavier zoom (EF-S 10-18 STM IS) Based upon what you want to use, unless you are willing to settle for compromised performance, buy a gimbal with more weight capacity.
 
Gotcha! I own both the Olympus 12mm and Nokton 10.5mm, I just like the Nokton more... but looks like I'm going to be much better off with the much lighter 12mm Olympus as my full time gimbal lens. GH4 + Oly = right around 800 grams.

Now, the Nokton 25mm on the GH4 comes in just under 1100 grams so weight wise, it works.

Is 25mm (50mm equivalent) too long of a lens for use on the Crane?

Lastly, if I WERE to have to go up to one next level of crane, what would be the next step up to support up to 3-3.5lbs?
 
If I understand well, the reduction in performance you get by getting close to the weight limit is of the following form: you have to be extra gentle with your moves, otherwise it will nosedive or go crazy in some similar way. So, it depends on what you're going to do with it. For lots of stuff it would be perfectly OK, if you want to rig it to a car definitely leave enough headroom.
 
My experience with the Crane has been as the weight increases, the responsiveness and smoothness of the moves decreases. You can go way over the weight limit, people have with the 5D MKIII, etc. but how much loss of performance are you willing to put up with? One more level up of Crane would be a Ronin M or Helix Jr. Zhiyun Tech, so far, does not make one more level up of Crane. They just came out with the Crane M, which has far less weight capacity than the regular Crane, a curious marketing move. It's cheaper but not by much and it's smaller, but not by much. As far as focal length, it just depends on your FOV. Am shooting an APS-C sensor in the 80D and to me, my 24 and 28mm lenses are fine and very useful for holding a medium on a person I am shooting. On an M43 format, might be too tight, I can't recall the FOV equivalent of M43 vs APS-C, other than to remember that it is pretty narrow. So far, my most used lens with the Crane by far is the 10-18 STM IS, used mostly at around 12-14mm. I shot a piece for Dancing with the Stars with Marilu Henner and Derek Hough where I was at 10mm the whole time because I needed to track them dancing with a full view of their bodies. Just depends on what you need as far as each client/job.
 
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puredrifting said:
My experience with the Crane has been as the weight increases, the responsiveness and smoothness of the moves decreases. You can go way over the weight limit, people have with the 5D MKIII, etc. but how much loss of performance are you willing to put up with?
Click to expand...

I have found My 70D + Sigma 18-35/1.8 Art (755g + 811g = 1566g) introduces a slight fast up & down bounce in pitch

You can see a video of someone who had the same issue with the 18-35mm on an a6300 with the MC-11 adapter (a total of 1490g, just a little less than my 70D setup but just as front-heavy) on the Crane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSOvOESAwHM The brilliant thing is, he figured out that using the third mode on the Zhiyun smartphone app ("Full") does indeed provide stability even though the first two modes are unstable. (Unfortunately it seems only the first two modes are accessible via the built-in joystick...) So I tried the Full follow mode with my 70D, and it's stable in this mode!

puredrifting said:
One more level up of Crane would be a Ronin M or Helix Jr. Zhiyun Tech, so far, does not make one more level up of Crane.
Click to expand...

Actually, Zhiyun does make the Shining, which has a stated 4kg limit.

I'm still curious if the Crane would be any better with the stronger 26650 batteries mentioned in the manual (and where to get them?).

I'm also looking forward to Zhiyun unlocking the focus control lever...
 
lwestfall said:
......I'm still curious if the Crane would be any better with the stronger 26650 batteries mentioned in the manual (and where to get them?)...
Click to expand...

No, it will not change performance except that it will run a longer time. The 18650 is rated at about 3400 milliamp-hours (depending on brand) and can deliver about 4 amps maximum. The 26650 is rated at about 4800milliamp-hours and can deliver about 5 amps. It is clear from the long run time, that the Crane is not using the full current delivery capacity of the 18650 (4 amps) and so the 5 amp delivery capacity of the larger battery will not be used.

You can get either battery at this vendor (I have no experience with them) http://www.batteryjunction.com/batteries-size-26650.html
 
I have a Sony A7SII and Sony 16-35/4 lens on my Crane and it works great despite ending up above 1,2 kg. Haven't used my Crane to much but I had some time today to play with it. Super smooth and really easy from assembly to operation. It just fly great and whatever imperfections there might be the IBIS takes care of that.
 
I'm wondering if part of the jittery IQ problem I seem to experience even when balanced right on light lenses (olympus 12mm on GH4), is the lack of IS on a native Panasonic lens?
 
Definitely download and use the mobile app to adjust your smoothing and tracking speeds in the settings. Makes a world of difference for trying to control their not so stellar pan movement ramping movement. You can also check on the firmware you have in it.
 
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