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MINI TESTS
FEIYUTECH A2000 3-AXIS GIMBAL £749/ $549 www.feiyu-tech.com
SPECIFICATIONS Payload: 250-2000g/ 0.55-4.41lb Stabilisation: Built-inmotorised three-axis Maximumrun time: 12 hours Tilting, rolling and panning angle: 360 degrees Tilting increments: 2-75°/ sec Panning increments: 3-150°/ sec DimensionsWxHxD: 219x176.5x376mm/ 8.6x6.9x14.8in in single-handed mode Weight: 720g/1.59lb (without batteries)
FeiyuTechmay not be the only Far Easternmaker of three-axis motorised gimbals, but it is one of the best known with a build quality and spec that’s definitely at the higher end. The A2000 kit is made of black anodisedmetal with quality red fixings and comes in a fitted case, with one-handle or two-handle options included. The two-handle option gives more stability and has accessory mounts for lights andmics. The single-handle option is lighter and less obtrusive and is easier to use on low-angle shots. The camera is mounted to a quick- release plate that has a variety of mounting holes for different weights of camera and lens. Then comes the tricky bit of balancing the unit. As the FeiyuTech takes all sorts of different cameras and lens combinations, and of course some lenses expand as you zoom, the unit has to be balanced before turning on. If you’ve never done this before, you can follow the instructions but a better option is to search online for videos so you can see how it’s done. If you have balanced a motorised gimbal before, then the FeiyuTech is as easy as they come, with simple thumbscrews and sliding plates to get it balanced. You soon get the hang of it and it’s simple to do, especially as the kit comes with a small tripod that screws in the base so you can balance without fear of the lot falling over. A wider tripod would be evenmore useful. Once it’s reasonably well balanced, you turn the unit on via a button on the handgrip and the motors kick in to keep everything balanced perfectly. If you zoom your lens and it extends, the motors are good enough to keep everything balanced within reason. We had no problems with a Sony 16- 35mm f/4 zoommounted on a Sony A6300. And the motors are quiet, so mics aren’t likely to pick up any noise. The FeiyuTech works with any camera payload up to 2kg, but comes with a coiled Sony lead which plugs into the unit andmeans you can control the shutter button from the A2000 rather than the camera. This is of more use for stills, unless you alter the camera’s custom settings. By using the A2000’s function button which falls nicely under the
thumb on the rubberised handgrip, you can set a variety of modes such as panning – the default mode where the camera stays level wherever youmove the handle and panning happens when you push the joystick sideways. This is the most-used function where you can follow your subjects and the camera stays very still, even if you move the handle around which you always do when walking around. It takes out the vibrations very well, certainly compared to some rivals. But like all bits of kit, there is a technique involved to get the smoothest shots. But even as a beginner, you will get shake-free footage that’s very good. Other modes allow you to turn the camera around 180° at the push of a button, and even set the unit to pan around so you can get amazing time- lapse videos or even still photos. All the modes can be controlled and set from the unit itself, or via the free Feiyu On app, available for iOS or Android devices. This pairs up quickly and without fuss, and lets you control the unit from a distance and key in settings to control the sweep of the unit and time to complete the sweep when shooting time-lapses. One of the big benefits of the FeiyuTech is that there is enough clearance so the camera can be moved around through 360° in all planes, whereas on some rivals, the camera hits one of the gimbal arms and stops. Another key issue with gimbals like this is that the unit obscures the view of the rear screen. This is the case on the FeiyuTech too, but you canmove the handle thenmanually tweak the camera so you can see the screen. Holding the camera in this position resets the gimbal and it will stay there. It’s a neat solution, and it’s typical of the thought FeiyuTech has put into the A2000. The A2000 takes cameras up to a 2kg payload, whichmeans most pro mirrorless cameras are catered for. The kit is well made, the batteries last for 12 hours, it’s easy to set up and use and it will transform your movies. AD. PROMOVIEMAKER RATING: 9/10 Pros: Great spec, works well and easy to use Cons: Gimbal can obscure the camera screen
BELOW The twin-handed mode is smoothest. The unit can obscure the rear screen. It comes in a fitted case.
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PRO MOVIEMAKER SPRING 2018
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