Pro Moviemaker August 2022 - Web

A6300 APS-C mirrorless made the whole kit feel very light. The new grip includes thumb buttons, a mini control stick for movement, plus customisable finger trigger and wheel – all standard for higher-end gimbals. Compared to the previous version, the Weebill 3 has an upgraded 7800mAh internal battery for up to 21 hours of runtime. There is support for PD fast charging in two hours and pass-through charging of attached cameras. But it’s lost the flip-out touchscreen of the former model, replaced by a smaller, fixed screen. Zhiyun’s latest quick-release system includes a dual plate with embedded magnetic wrench. The camera only needs setting up once, then it can be repeatedly mounted and secured without rebalancing – as long as you don’t swap lenses. Levelling the gimbal is straightforward, although the catches and locks are slightly more fiddly to operate than the DJI RS 3. The 1000-lumen fill light offers CRI of 90+ and dual colour temperatures of 2600K and 5400K. It’s turned on and adjusted by a control wheel that sits under your right thumb. Although it might seem a bit of a gimmick, it actually works well and is especially bright up close. It’s no replacement for a large, external light – but it’s the

PACKAGE DEAL The Zhiyun Weebill 3 comes with mini tripod and support handle

LIGHT-BULB MOMENT The built-in LED is usefully bright when up close – and ambient light levels aren’t too high. Not much use outside on a bright day, but it’s nice to have

“The built-in mic has forward-focused cardioid recording with noise cancelling”

sort you always have with you and comes in handy in a pinch. That’s more often than you would think, if you’re anything like us! You can magnetically attach coloured filters for more creative effects. The built-in mic has forward- focused cardioid recording with noise-cancelling functionality, and records directly to camera once plugged in. Audio is far better than your in-camera mic, but still not as good as a shotgun or wireless lav mic. For scratch audio or even close-up vlogging, it’s not too bad. Model 3 of the Weebill has been stripped back to basics. Zhiyun has got rid of the touchscreen and made it smaller, lighter and more ergonomic. And stabilisation is said to be improved, although it already

worked perfectly well. If you’re in the market for a lightweight, but powerful gimbal with a built-in light and mic, it’s the one for you. The kit we tried comes in a funky backpack, too. But it can also be fitted with accessories for more pro-style credentials. Add on Zhiyun’s TransMount Image Transmitter and MasterEye Visual Controller VC100 to get full wireless image transmission and monitoring, complete with a second set of gimbal controls on the side of the monitor. There’s also a focus/zoom control motor, so you can rig it up and command everything remotely. As your needs grow, it can grow with you. zhiyun-tech.com

A LA MODE This small screen on the body allows you to see the main settings – or you can use the app

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