Zhiyun Crane

Indeed: I use it with two hands on the single handle. It's lighter than if I added two handles, and personally I just think I have better control this way. Though that's probably because I never put the time to practice with a two-handle setup: when I switched from tiny steadycam to N4000 gimbal, one hand on the handle and the other one supporting it seemed like the obvious way to use it.
 
Anyone have trouble balancing a light camera setup (A7sII and sony 28mm) with the Manfrotto quick release adapter on the Crane? I tried it for quite awhile one night and could never get it to balance sturdily. No matter how many micro adjustments I made it seemed to slowly start shifting one way or another and seemed back heavy... I haven't upgraded the firmware yet, but the balancing stage is with the crane off, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference anyway?
 
I use an RX100 IV with a velbon quick release. No troubles here, except I have to set it almost at the edge for the forward-backwards balance. I use the position of the back screen to counteract any minor shifts that can happen (e.g. if I change the zoom position).
 
hopkins802 said:
Anyone have trouble balancing a light camera setup (A7sII and sony 28mm) with the Manfrotto quick release adapter on the Crane?
Click to expand...

The Manfrotto QR system is not well suited for mounting a A7 or GH to the Crane. Mostly it's just too heavy, & but it also raises the center of balance more than what's ideal.

I've been using the Velbon QRA-3 that Osslund recommended somewhere in the depths of this threads, & suspect it's the same one Samuel's sporting. Unfortunately it does not work as well on the GH5 as it did on the GH4 due to the new camera being wider on the grip side, so I'm switching to a 1" Arca-style QR clamp from Kirk Photo, & ordering a low profile camera plate from Reaaly Right Stuff, which should allow tucking the camera as close to the Pan/Tilt motor as possible.
 
Bern- is the Manfrotto too heavy when used with the light cameras, or do you think too heavy in general?

I use Kessler QR (pretty heavy), and wonder if they would work on (the heavier) Canon 80D?
 
Did not realize the Manfrotto QR system wasn't a good fit for the Crane :/

I've had good luck with it on GH4 with the small Olympus 12mm on medium motor setting. Adding a variable ND caused it to struggle a little but I may have just not had it balanced perfectly.

Will play around with GH5 + Manfrotto QR + 12-35 lens + Variable ND, probably using motor high setting, and see how that goes...

Can good results not be achieved w/the Manfrotto QR?? It's a bigger deal to me, because I have 5 devices and 2 cameras all setup on the Manfrotto QR so that's a major PIA if not...
 
Anyone else tried the GH5 on this?

I put it on and noticed it's unfortunate the new dimensions don't play well. GH5 is just slightly too wide for camera to still mount through the middle screw slot, so I have to move the camera to the outer left screw slot. With the quick release plate mount, this moves the center of gravity too far left to the point where I can't even balance the crane to offset this enough!

My solution right now was to gaff tape a small 90g weight from my old steadicam onto the right side of the platform to rebalance it inwards just enough that I can achieve proper balance.
 
filmguy123 said:
Anyone else tried the GH5 on this?

I put it on and noticed it's unfortunate the new dimensions don't play well. GH5 is just slightly too wide for camera to still mount through the middle screw slot, so I have to move the camera to the outer left screw slot. With the quick release plate mount, this moves the center of gravity too far left to the point where I can't even balance the crane to offset this enough!

My solution right now was to gaff tape a small 90g weight from my old steadicam onto the right side of the platform to rebalance it inwards just enough that I can achieve proper balance.
Click to expand...

Wow, I mount my Canon 80D using the middle slot, that's surprising as I think of the 80D as a "big old DSLR".
 
If anybody cares, I got an XC-10 to mount. the mounting slots don't quite allow it balance on the tilt axis since the 1/4 20 mount is directly at the center of balance of the camera, but Crane works pretty well.
 
I forgot to answer this: I use the Velbon QRA-635L, I have six bases and six plates and it allows me to move my cameras very quickly from one rig to another, without requiring rebalance. No idea how it compares to the manfrotto system, but it's 75g for the adapter and 50g for the plate, and I think the whole bunch is 18mm tall. It worked well with my a7S on the N4000, but on the ZC I'm using the ultra-tiny RX100 so I can't really say how bigger cameras will work.

The only downside is that it blocks the door of the RX100. This doesn't happen with the a6000, and I think it didn't either with the a7S. Given how fast batteries die on the RX100, it's a bit of a pain.

qra635lii_sub5.jpg
 
filmguy123 said:
...so I have to move the camera to the outer left screw slot. With the quick release plate mount, this moves the center of gravity too far left to the point where I can't even balance the crane to offset this enough!
Click to expand...

Had the same issue using the little Velbon QR to mount the GH5 onto the Crane.

My solution was to switch to a Arca-Swiss style QR system which allows sliding the camera snug up against the motor & balance perfectly.

I'm using a tiny camera plate from Really Right Stuff, & a QR from Kirk Photo.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ff_bpns_plate_small_bi_directional_plate.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555485-REG/Kirk_QRC_1_0_QRC_1_Quick_Release_Clamp.html

Since the 1/4-20 thread on the base of the GH5 is not perfectly centered front-to-back the QR plate tilts a tiny bit backwards which isn't much of an issue, & may be solvable by removing the cork, or using the alternate mounting hole in the plate. Unfortunately I cut away some of the cork before testing (a decision I blame on Jet Lag) the alternate mounting slot because it interfered with closing the LCD slightly.

When B&H reopens after Passover I'll be ordering another camera plate & test the alternate mount, & also fully removing the cork. In the meantime the system works fine.
 
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Bern Caughey said:
Had the same issue using the little Velbon QR to mount the GH5 onto the Crane.

My solution was to switch to a Arca-Swiss style QR system which allows sliding the camera snug up against the motor & balance perfectly.

I'm using a tiny camera plate from Really Right Stuff, & a QR from Kirk Photo.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ff_bpns_plate_small_bi_directional_plate.html

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555485-REG/Kirk_QRC_1_0_QRC_1_Quick_Release_Clamp.html

Since the 1/4-20 thread on the base of the GH5 is not perfectly centered front-to-back the QR plate tilts a tiny bit backwards which isn't much of an issue, & may be solvable by removing the cork, or using the alternate mounting white in the plate. Unfortunately I cut away some of the cork before testing (a decision I blame on Jet Lag) the alternate mounting slot because it interfered with closing the LCD slightly.

When B&H reopens after Passover I'll be ordering another camera plate & test the alternate mount, & also fully removing the cork. In the meantime the system works fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips Bern. Out of curiosity, what lens(es) do you fly on the Crane, especially now with the slightly heavier GH5?
 
Bern Caughey said:
Mostly the LUMIX 12-35mm v1, but occasionally the LUMIX 7-14mm f/4, SLR Magic 12mm, SLR Magic 17mm, & Voigtlander 25mm.
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Cool

I've avoided getting the 12-35 for a while now, but I may have to pony up. It's just too damn practical it seems. I have slr magic 25, sigma 18-35, speedboosters, nikon 28mm ais, tokina 28-70 2.6-2.8, etc, but sometimes I want a really lightweight fast-ish wide-capable lens.
 
Gonna try this setup today.

GH5
Nikon 28mm Ais (lightweight dumb adapter - no aperture control on adapter)
Beholder 2 grip handle
Neewer fishbone arca quick release
arca plate with a bit of lateral adjustability (useful if you don't have truly bidirectional plate like Bern's RRS)
701 lite monitor
hdmi cable that is WAY too thick. I'm not used to needing a full size hdmi on both ends. Good problem to finally have

The whole setup, despite all of the add-ons, is still so much more forgiving on the arms than a ronin M or similar. Of course, the weight capacity is also way more limited.

So far, I love:

How easy it is to get eye level shots because the Crane's arm is so long.
I can get really low shots simply by tilting forward since it's light enough to do so when using both hands.
I can set it down easily, although as you can see, it's a fairly top heavy setup with a somewhat narrow base. Still....
It makes balancing the thing or making any other adjustments much easier
The entire setup has a quick release plate, so switching to single handle is very fast.

Will try to follow up with a bit of test footage.



IMG_6058.jpg
 
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Most my Arca-style plates are designed for 35mm, or much larger cameras, but found a smaller one I had sitting around that came with a travel tripod. Although larger than the RRS plate it seems to work fine with the Crane, & the offset mounting hole lines up better with the GH5's base.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1068688-REG/mefoto_pmu60_quick_release_plate.html

Only minor issue I'm having is sometimes the QR binds a bit due to the rubber base of the Crane's camera plate pushing against the QR. Takes a second or two to loosen the connection when attaching a camera, & when removing you'll just need to wiggle the camera a bit to disconnect, so not much an issue.
 
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Bern Caughey said:
Most my Arca-style plates are designed for 35mm, or much larger cameras, but found a smaller one I had sitting around that came with a travel tripod. Although larger than the RRS plate it seems to work fine with the Crane, & the offset mounting hole lines up better with the GH5's base.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1068688-REG/mefoto_pmu60_quick_release_plate.html

Only minor issue I'm having is sometimes the QR binds a bit due to the rubber base of the Crane's camera plate pushing against the QR. Takes a second or two to loosen the connection when attaching a camera, & when removing you'll just need to wiggle the camera a bit to disconnect, so not much an issue.
Click to expand...

That looks exactly like the plate I'm using!
 
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