GEAR MINI TESTS
ZHIYUN CRANE-M2 S COMBO £329/$349 zhiyun-tech.com
If you have ever spent more than a few hours carrying a typical one-handed motorised stabiliser with full-frame camera and lens attached, you know how tiring it can be. Many of the newer gimbals come with a second handle to help take the strain. Another route is to go as small and light as possible, with a compact and fuss-free gimbal that may not have the bells and whistles, but gets the job done. That’s where the Crane-M2 S three-axis handheld stabiliser combo kit from Zhiyun comes in. Designed with more power than its predecessor, it supports larger compact cameras, as well as smartphones and action cameras up to a payload of 998g/2.2lb. That rules out some heavier bodies and lenses, but includes a significant number of full-frame cameras and lightweight glass. It will handle full-frame machines like Sony’s A7S III or FX3, the Canon EOS R, Nikon Z 6 and Z 7, as well as Micro Four Thirds cameras from Fujifilm and Panasonic. In all cases, you need a lightweight optic, or it overpowers the motor. Drop down to APS-C and the lens choice widens, though. A relatively up-to-date list of approved cameras and lenses can be found on the Zhiyun website. But it’s not as simple as using a set-up under the weight limit, which is only a rough guide. For example, a light camera with a heavier and longer lens affects the balance and might not work.
SPECIFICATIONS Axes: Three Battery: 1150mAh Runtime: 10.5 hours Charging time: 1.5 hours Maximum payload: 998g/2.2lb Connectivity: 2.4GHz RF, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C Dimensions (wxhxd): 240x150x68mm/9.4x5.9x2.7in Weight: 549g/1.2lb
“It will handle full-frame machines like Sony’s A7S III or FX3, the Canon EOS R, Nikon Z 6 and Z 7”
We went with a Sony A1 – too new to be on the list – and Sony FE 55mm f/1.8 prime, so the combo is above the official weight limit. It took the extremes of adjustment to get it to balance, but still worked perfectly. We also tried a Sony A6300 APS-C camera with a 24-70mm zoom and that was fine. If you pick the right combo, you should have no problems. But it does limit your choice. The pay-off is having the smallest, lightest gimbal, perfect for travelling or all-day use. It’s really designed to work with compact cameras, action
cameras or even smartphones. It comes with a smartphone clamp, but you’ll need to buy your own action camera clamp. The Crane-M2 S takes the features of the older M2 and adds even more functionality, like a higher payload, longer runtime, fast charging via USB-C, smaller handgrip, Bluetooth 5 support, redesigned quick-release camera plate and built-in LED. This combo kit also includes a revamped mini tripod, every cable you could need, and plastic gels to change the light colour – all in a backpack. The styling and colours make it look like a consumer gimbal rather than a more ‘serious’ pro unit, but working stealthily like this has its place. The Crane offers 360° pan, plus 320° tilt and roll rotation with six modes, including the usual pan, tilt, pan follow, POV and vortex modes for the Inception look. These are the modes most used by top filmmakers anyway, and the gimbal itself is very responsive and smooth. With a heavy camera and lens combo, you are at the limits of its potential, but it’s still very good. Forgoing the power and stability of a large, pro-style gimbal with two handles and a monitor is the tradeoff for its low weight and price tag. Control it with the free ZY Play app for iOS and Android. This is easy to use, with full remote control over the gimbal’s movements, plus features like time-lapse and panorama.
COMPACT CHAMP The Zhiyun is genuinely light enough for one-handed operation
KIT AND CABOODLE The Crane-M2 S comes with everything you need inside this backpack
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PRO MOVIEMAKER
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