Zhiyun Crane

From Zhiyun's Facebook page...

"Yesterday, we have released a new firmware that can mount up to 1.5kg of Crane at 24-70mm ll on the 5D MK4.

Our friend Seung Rok Kim just make a footage test and review for it. Here is it:

Conventional Crane is able to use up to 16-35mm at 5D marks 3 and 4 somehow. However, until 24-70mm, it was true that the use of the Crane is so faded that even if it could be used due to the size and weight of the lens, the gimbals would be too shaky.

Firmware download: http://www.zhiyun-tech.com/index.php…

The Canon 5D firmware is a 1.50 version that is not a 1.51 version that upgrades from a smartphone to Bluetooth. This version should be downloaded from our site and upgraded by computer through our program.
In conclusion, we have found significant differences before and after updating the firmware. Of course, I would not use the 5D MK4 to use the Samsung NX1, but I think it would be great to recommend it to anyone who would like to use a 5DMK3 or 4 or a 24-70mm lens.

Lastly, if you are using a camera with a weight of about 1.2kg instead of 5D MK4 and 24-70ll, it is recommended to use the existing V1.51."

https://www.facebook.com/ZhiyunGlobal/
 
OK, I got my Zhiyun Crane, so, first impressions. If you want a quick summary: I'm super happy with it, it's well worth the $300 sell-and-buy upgrade from my Nebula 4000.

* It's super easy to set up and use: with the N4000 I spent days fighting the PID settings before I could get it to work well, with the ZC, I just turned it on and it worked. I had to look for the instructions online to see how to jump between modes, but apart from that it's dumb-proof.
* Balance also is easier than on the N4000: instead of 4 screws that require an allen wrench, this one goes with just one thumb screw. Nice.
* They joystick is just great. So great, I'm getting the external joystick as well. I'm not sure I'm good enough at using it yet that I would want to fly the ZC and use the joystick at the same time, but it's a much better way to adjust pan and tilt before shooting in locked mode, and it also makes the ZC double as a motorized head. I'll use it if I have to stick my camera to a difficult-to-access place, and may even try to build a poor-man's jib out of it (just a long retractable stick with the ZC at the end).
* The phone app is kind-of-useless, I think I'll only use it if/when I need to calibrate the yaw of the ZC. In particular, I'd like the main joystick in the app to control pan and tilt, like the hardware joystick does. Doing tilt and roll on the same 4-way control, and pan on a separate 2-way control, makes it useless: I just can't adjust tilt without affecting roll.
* It flies super smooth, I got better results with this already than I ever got with the N4000.
* The "narrow brackets", compared to the N4000, make it much more useful: now I really can move the handle 360º without hitting anything (on the N4000, I'd often be making two brackets collide) (that "360º" means I already got a motor to appear in the frame by mistake a couple of times; I'll have to learn how to impose restrictions myself, now that the gimbal is not doing it).
* In particular, going into inverted mode is super simple. Yet there's a moment in the process in which two motors are paralell to each other and the thing freaks out a bit for a second, so it's not something I'd do mid-take. But before the take, sure!
* The narrow brackets make it easier to see the screen
* The narrow brackets allow this to fold down flatter than what I could get with my N4000. There's a catch here, though: the handle is a lot longer, so it doesn't take less space. I'll have to find a way to store it for travel, because I don't like the case (it requires breaking down the arm, which increases set-up time).
* For holding it, I also went intuitively for "finger resting on the pan motor". It just requires less force to hold it. But then the joystick is not easy to use. I'm going to print a little plastic piece so my hand moves down just an inch or so, I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

If anybody's interested, this is what I shot the day after I got my Zhiyun Crane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6sye6bXUSw
 
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That's the thing with the Crane. It's just so easy to setup and use. No PID fiddling or shiiit like that just smooth glides.

For transportation I unscrew the handle and then it does fit in most bags easily.
 
Without DVXUser, I wouldn't have even known the Crane existed. I bought mine a few months ago, it now comes on just about every shoot. The Canon 80D with the 10-18 STM IS has become the go to lens for it. I often hand it off to a friend or even occasionally a client who wants to try it and while they don't know what they are doing, we can often pull a short shot that is actually usable from their efforts. I love using it and like Samuel H mentions, there was no way I was buying a gimbal that requires tuning, tweaking and learning a third party app. Ain't nobobdy got time for that, or at least I don't. You take the Crane out of the case, balance it, use it, it's that simple. I am very happy with it as a production tool. Not needed for everything but when you need an occasional gimbal shot or sequence, it works great. My friend who bough a Ronin last year loves it a lot more than his Ronin. What's the point of having a gimbal if transporting it, setting it up and balancing it is such a PITA that you end up not using it? He may sell it to buy a Crane he told me.
 
Since I don't need it to support a payload much bigger than 1Kg, I would take the Zhiyun Crane over the Ronin ANY DAY. Even at same price. Even if the Ronin was $500. Things don't get any better than this, and there's no need for the extra size if my camera+lens fits under 1.2 Kg.

If you're using a bigger camera, then you need a bigger gimbal. Otherwise, stay lean.
 
Mine arrived yesterday and I'm using it with a GX85 with the Lumix 25mm 1.7 or the 14mm 2.5. It's over the minimum weight, but the lenses are so light that I can't get it to balance perfectly. It's just not heavy enough in the front. I've powered it up a few times and it seems to be operating the way it's supposed to. How concerned should I be about damaging the motors if I'm using a fairly light camera that isn't balanced perfectly? Or is this more of a problem with heavier cameras?
 
It's anyone's guess if that's a problem. The power consumption of the gimbals with encoders (Crane) is very low, so the possibility of overheating is significantly reduced compared to gimbals without encoders. But, an imbalance means the motor has to continuously work regardless if the gimbal is moving or standing still. So it will consume more power. That will shorten operating time. Will it burn up the motor or the the motor drivers? There's no way to know without someone reviewing the design or we hear from the first victim. I'd rather have a heavy camera that is balanced than a light camera that is not balanced. Add a weight to get it balanced.
 
I'm using an RX100 IV, which has exactly the same problem. But I always put it on a quick release plate, and by using that I was able to move it forward a cm or so, and now I can balance it properly. Plus, I can get the camera out of the gimbal easily, and put it back without having to rebalance anything.
 
Gotcha. I tried adding some weight by using a quick-release plate, but it still wasn't enough. I think I'm going to try and sell it and go for the Crane M instead, which should handle my lighter payload much better.
 
Erik Naso said:
How does it compare to the Came-TV Single?
Click to expand...

I have been using cametv-Single for half a year now,
I can give you a very detail review why the crane is better:
-price camtv single @1000USD way over price compared to crane @649USD
-weight handling (from what I read from net, the crane is pretty much handle all combination weight within the max payload and the cametv single only works for certain body lens combination, even its under the max payload you will be having some micro jiggle which you need to fix in post.)
-battery (this is the WORST part for the cametv single, my battery have been replaced 4 times now. Once you over charge the battery over 2 hours, the battery will died instantly. well you can ask me why I over charge it? because the charger they gave me to charge the battery will keep charging the battery even the battery is full. I figured this out myself by doing a lot of research about the battery they used, funny part is I have email ask them why/how the battery died so easily they just didn't say anything at all lol. The crane you can find and replace the battery very easily.)
-remote control (I am not sure the crane has remote or not, my remote bluetooth board has replaced 2 times now and it still not working, plus the bluetooth will generate sound noise if you placing the recorder too close.)

btw I am using the older version of the cametv single, I am not sure about the newer version, but I have seen ppl saying the battery still having the same problems.
right now I am stucked with cametv single, I wish the crane announce earllier before I bought the cametv single :(

other than the above point the cametv single works perfectly and very time when I charge the battery I am stuck to keep sitting next to it for an hour then only that I can head to sleep :(
 
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Samuel H said:
This is my charger for LiPo batteries. Highly recommended. I think it should work with the one of the Came Single.
IMAX B6AC
Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing the charger, I am not very expert with these Lipo battery.
hope it wont kill the battery I am using now, waiting for cametv to replace a battery gonna takes 2 to 3 weeks (finding one that size will fit into the gimbal is really hard too :()
 
i had a nightmare with the Came TV single i bought early this year. the battery situation was horrible plus i had quite a few other funky issues and considered it either a lemon or not ready for prime time and returned it B&H.

whatever small gimbal i buy in the future id like it to operate and be reliable like the Ronin does and have friendly software like the Ronin as well.

I've been following this thread on the Crane but in no rush to jump in yet.

david
 
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