Zhiyun has released the highly anticipated Zhiyun Crane 2S. Could this be the best gimbal for professional videographers? Let’s find out more…
In recent years my love for urban photography has shifted or rather naturally developed to include videography. Initially I would produce cinemagraphs for big international brands including Adidas, Heineken etc… Cinemagraphs are short moving images looping seamlessly (see more here). I then played a lot with producing timelapse, again in a short seamless loop format.
In parallel I developed an interest for flying drones, initially for photography but since I’m inquisitive and love learning new skills, it didn’t take long for me to delve into the video aspect of it.
Before I knew it I’d purchased a gimbal. After doing my research, reading reviews online, watching videos and comparing the competition, for my first gimbal I chose the Zhiyun Crane M to use in conjunction with my compact Sony RX100IV.
With hindsight I did wish I’d bought a more advanced version able to carry the weight of my Sony A7RII and various lenses but in reality I needed a more “entry level” to begin with. This has helped me understand gimbals which I’d never used, what I need from one and how to use one for any given situation in which they lend themselves.
The Crane M is in my eyes extremely good value and I still use it today, it is very well built and has never failed me. There are however a few improvements I would like and that I now see in the Zhiyun Crane 2S which in fact is not just only a massive improvement but also a whole new different beast.
Before we get started… have a quick look at this intro video provided by Zhiyun:
I am always reasonably wary when photography/videography gear manufacturers release new models. Wariness is a good attribute as improvements are often so minor it is hardly worth upgrading and spending your hard-earned cash.
From what I see Zhiyun, a world leader in gimbals, is actually delivering the goods with the Crane 2S three-axis handheld gimbal for professional filmmakers delivering real innovation and true improvements on previous Crane models.
For a gimbal to be appealing it needs to carefully blend very specific and sought-after qualities:
compatibility with a wide range of camera brands and models
reasonable size and low weight (it is only 1.88kg)
high performance in both build quality, motors and features.
Something the Crane 2S seems to do really well looking at the demos.
Now it is true that for many, the image stabilisation built into lenses and camera bodies these days is quite enough not to consider the use of a gimbal. At least it is what one would think until they actually used a gimbal. We are talking night and day as the added stabilisation really makes videos shine.
A gimbal does take videography to the next level if you are a YouTuber, vlogger, and filmmaker of any level. Particularly attractive for social media content creation and vertical “stories”, the CRANE 2S comes with a quick release mount allowing users to switch to vertical shooting in a snap without need of additional accessory installation.
The Crane 2S has a refined algorithm enabling it to deliver quick and smooth gimbal performance even during time-sensitive tasks.
Compatibility-wise the Crane 2S has powerful optimised motors able to hold the weight of large cameras and that really improves its overall flexibility. I looked at an 18 page long list of brands and models and you’ll be hard-pressed not to find your own camera provided it is fairly recent, they include:
Sony A7RII, A7RIII, Black Magic BMPCC 6K, Panasonic S1H, Sony A9, Nikon D850 or Canon EOS 1DX Mark II and many many more (see the full list here)
One of my dislikes with less advanced gimbals is it’s often a real headache to recalibrate the gimbal for a new lens or different camera since the weight distribution is affected. It seems Zhiyun has, through optimised and powerful motors, managed to reduce the need for and simplify the cumbersome task of rebalancing.
For even better ease of use, the Crane 2S comes with a new 0.96-inch OLED screen enabling users to navigate through the entire menu system and switch between modes swiftly.
There are six attractive modes too (particularly attractive to me for timelapse):
Pan following, locking, following, full-range POV, Vortex mode, and Go mode. Advanced cinematic effects such as Panorama, Timelapse, Motionlapse, and Long Exposure Timelapse are made easy.
The “TransMount” group of accessories you can add is extensive with TransMount image transmission system, monopod, mini dual grip, dual handle but also:
DualCam Extension Module (Price TBC): Allows users to mount two cameras onto one Crane 2S gimbal to shoot two different angles. For example, shooting a model, one camera focused on their face whilst another shoots wide / full body so the cameraman doesn't need to shoot twice.
The Smallrig Underslung Handle as shown below (Price TBC):
Overall the Zhiyun Crane 2S matches, ease of use, lightweight, small size, powerful motors and compatibility to most cameras on the market which makes it a very attractive offering.
If you are looking for the best gimbal for professional videographers, the Zhiyun Crane 2S is a real contender I can recommend.
Nico
Available end of August 2020, the CRANE 2S gimbal comes in three versions:
1) Standard at £599
2) Combo at £649: CRANE 2S gimbal, TransMount Handheld Mini Tripod, TransMount Mini Dual Grip Lite, 18650 Li-Ion Battery (2600mAh)*6
3) Pro at TBC
For additional information on the Zhiyun Crane 2S professional gimbal visit Zhiyun’s website and social media:
Facebook: @ZhiyunGlobal
Instagram: @Zhiyun_Tech
This is a sponsored review in collaboration with Zhiyun
I’m very selective in the gear I decide to review and bring to my readers based on my decade-long experience. I only publish a select few trusted reviews yearly and turn down the rest I cannot recommend. For further transparency, I do not earn anything extra from affiliate links across my website.