ZHIYUN proudly announces that its WEEBILL 3 has won the iF Design Award 2023 in the TV/Camera category. The iF Design Awards recognized ZHIYUN’s WEEBILL 3 is an all-in-one gimbal solution with a unique ergonomic design that delivers light, sound and image-stabilization, while also providing 40% energy savings.
ZHIYUN WEEBILL 3 won over the 133-member jury made up of independent experts from all over the world. The iF Design Awards represents a seal of quality for excellent design; acknowledged by the fact the 2023 competition received almost 11,000 entries from 56 countries.
ZHIYUN CEO, Yilun Liao, commented, “ZHIYUN is delighted to have received this internationally recognized design award from the iF International Forum Design GmbH. It reflects ZHIYUN’s commitment to creativity and innovation in our products that are designed to inspire everyone from amateur to professional filmmakers. The WEEBILL 3 redefines high-end cinematography with its support for DSLR cameras and lenses, enabling all day shooting with easy from a single battery charge, light weight design, and our unique ergonomic design.”
ZHIYUN WEEBILL 3: Professional, Convenient With a Leading Ergonomic Design
Built from lightweight, ultra-strong materials, ZHIYUN’s 3rd generation WEEBILL offers improved ergonomics with an optimized SLING 2.0 system, providing more wrist support for extended use comfort with its new handle design. The grip includes thumb buttons, mini control stick for movement, plus finger trigger and wheel that can be customized according to preferences of shooting modes and action parameters, such as camera paras, movement along axes, follow focus, and more. With compact, powerful motors, the WEEBILL 3’s L-shaped body is exceptionally stable when self-standing, provides more flexibility for customizations, and includes a larger internal battery than previous versions, for up to 21-hours use. The quick release system includes a dual quick-release plate with embedded magnetic wrench. The camera requires balancing just once, and it can be repeatedly mounted and secured easily, fast and conveniently without needing to rebalance.
ZHIYUN, a world leading gimbal brand for filmmakers with cameras and smartphones, will attend NAB 2023 at Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, where it will exclusively preview upcoming camera gimbal products, and exhibit its latest photography lights, including a combination of stabiliser and camera light that creates an efficient, professional shooting solution that enhance convenience and productivity.
The event will also showcase the new MOLUS COB lighting series, the recently launched FIVERAY series of professional lighting, plus other WEEBILL, CRANE and SMOOTH gimbals that are designed for everyone from amateur to professional filmmakers.
ZHIYUN offers NAB SHOW attendees an exclusive first-look at new professional gimbals WEEBILL 3S and CRANE 3S, which are due to launch this May. The updated design is based on the popular WEEBILL 3, which features the ultra-ergonomic SLING 2.0 grip, convenient built-in microphone and light, plus ZHIYUN’s latest quick-release mechanism. Meanwhile, the CRANE-M3 is a highly portable yet professional gimbal, with strong torque motors and wide compatibility across smartphones, action cameras, compact cameras, and even options for full-frame mirrorless.
Discover the Latest ZHIYUN MOLUS Series Professional & Portable COB Lighting
Exhibited for the first time in the United States, the new ZHIYUN MOLUS range includes the portable G60 and X100 COB lighting units, offering a reliable and consistent 60W and 100W professional power output respectively.
As small as a Rubik’s Cube and an ultra-portable 300g, the MOLUS G60 provides initiative controls, an excellent CCT, CRI ≥96 and TLCI ≥97. For added convenience, the G60 can be charged using a DC power adapter or via a USB-PD fast charging.
At just 385g, the MOLUS X100 rivals much heavier cinematic lights with 3881 lux while still imbuing the simplest and most efficient setup. The MOLUS X100 offers excellent CCT, a CRI≥95, and TLCI≥97. On the go content creators can minimise downtime with three ways to power up the light, choosing between the grip battery, DC adapter and the 100W USB-PD fast charging.
Both lights have received excellent reviews from users so far, with comments that the product designs are portable, convenient, powerful and even adorably cute! The MOLUS G60 and X100 are effective at combining practicality and stylish design.
FIVERAY F100 & M40 – Powerful Pocketable Professional Lighting
The palm-sized ZHIYUN FIVERAY M40 360° fill light epitomises stylish simplicity and utility, fits neatly in pockets for transport. This ultra-portable illumination companion for videographers uses DynaVort technology for superior heat dispersion, enabling a compact device without compromising on its 40W power – over 2X that of alternatives. Meanwhile, the FIVERAY F100 is designed for one-handed control and comfort, offering a pro lighting solution without the need for complicated set-up or setting adjustment. Embedded with 5 times more LED chips, F100 gives you ultra-bright output compared to similar-sized lights, reaching 20,708 lux at its 100W maximum power. F100 offers six creative lighting effects that help build up the atmosphere easily when inspiration strikes
ZHIYUN, a pioneer and world leader in innovative gimbals and stabilisers for cameras and smartphones, has launched the MOLUS G60 and the MOLUS X100 professional pocket film lights for amateur and seasoned content creators alike. ZHIYUN’s launch of this compact yet powerful new range follows its recent entry into the professional lighting industry and follows its successful 2022 introduction of the FIVERAY lighting stable. With these new lightweight, one-man operational, powerful lights, ZHIYUN upends the notions of cumbersome, complicated, cinematic lighting products that require additional crew.
Pioneering technology with power and vintage-style poise
The ZHIYUN MOLUS G60 and ZHIYUN MOLUS X100 both offer bold retro styling without compromising on performance.
MOLUS G60 is as small as a Rubik’s Cube and is ultra portable at just 300g, offering up to 60W of power at its maximum output. The MOLUS G60 provides an excellent colour CCT (colour correlated temperature) range of 2700K – 6500K, which can be simply adjusted via an intuitive brightness knob. A colour rendering index (CRI) of ≥96, 2367 lux and a television light consistency index (TLCI) of ≥97 make for accurate rendition of the subject’s colours. For added convenience, the G60 can be charged with either an adaptive power supply system DC power adaptor, a PD fast charge method.
MOLUS X100, rivals heavier cinematic lights on the market, coming in at just 385g to provide 100W professional power output, as well as the simplest and most efficient set-up. Users can adjust the light’s colour temperature and brightness easily for the desired effect. The MOLUS X100’s CCT ranges from 2700K-6500K, 3881 lux; the CRI≥95, and the TLCI≥97. On the go content creators can minimise downtime with three ways to power up the light, choosing between the grip battery, DC adapter and the 100W PD fast charge.
Xiaozhuo Feng, Product Manager, ZHIYUN said: “X100 is a portable and pocket-sized 100W COB light that is always ready-to-go in any scenario, thanks to its camera-like design. It breaks down the industry stereotypes of bulky COB lighting.”
Both the G60 and the X100 COB lighting tools adopt ZHIYUN’s patented DynaVort Cooling System™ which deploys gyroscope modelling heat sinks and field oriented control (FOC) fans. The disruptive technology is based on the fluid dynamics and an attitude control algorithm, significantly raising the cooling efficiency ability through intelligent control over airflow emissions – preventing overheating. This means content creators get 100% smooth illumination output without flickering. Supported by ZHIYUN self-developed discharge technology, the ZHIYUN MOLUS range can be relied on for 100% output to secure that all important shoot.
G60 & X100 COB lights are small, powerful and versatile enough for excellent performance in multiple professional scenarios including live streaming and with the addition of the The ZY Mount ecosystem, for portrait and still-life photography, TV commercials, and interviews.
Yilun Liao, founder, ZHIYUN said: “ZHIYUN is a brand that dares to think big and realise its boldest technical ideas. We do the hard work to make filming easy. The launch of the MOLUS X100 and G60 is no different. Whether you are a professional in the film industry, part of a small creative team, a freelance or amateur videographer, ZHIYUN’s innovative and convenient products offer something to inspire anyone passionate enough to turn their imagination into reality.”
Both products come with a convenient storage bag, facilitating a fast anytime, anywhere setup. MOLUS G60 and X100 feature a Live Mode to enable lights turning-on by group once connected to the power supply. The Bluetooth Mesh Efficient Remote Control feature of MOLUS G60 and MOLUS X100 allows for controlled and adjustable lighting at your fingertips.
ZHIYUN’s X100 in addition features Music Mode; a recording function that enables an automatic lighting control along with music accompaniment to create a special atmosphere. The Bluetooth Mesh For Remote Control simplifies the work flow with the bluetooth mesh to adjust the parameters by group, enhancing the lighting efficiency and convenience substantially.
ZHIYUN MOLUS G60 Combo comes with the following accessories:
Power supply accessories: DC power adapter + cable
Light modifiers: ZHIYUN Mini Softbox (ZY Mount), ZHIYUN Mini Reflector (ZY Mount), ZHIYUN Diffusion Dome
Extension accessories: Bowens Mount Adapter (ZY Mount)
Storage accessories: power adapter organiser bag, storage bag
Quick start guide, Tripod (M2)
*ZHIYUN G60: PD fast charge supports a maximum power input of 100W, and a minimum of 18W. The ordinary fast charge is also supported. You can check the current power on the screen. The maximum power output is 60W. *The data is gathered at the distance of 1.0m.
ZHIYUN MOLUS X100 Pro comes with the following accessories:
Power supply accessories:, X100 grip battery, 120W DC power adapter & cable
Light modifiers: ZHIYUN Mini Reflector (ZY Mount), ZHIYUN Bowen Mount Adapter (ZY Mount) ,ZHIYUN Mini Softbox (ZY Mount)
The X100 Combo package includes all the accessories in the Pro package except ZHIYUN Mini Softbox (ZY Mount) .
*ZHIYUN X100: It is recommended to use the DC adapter with input over 100W. The X100 grip battery weighs 440g and is not included in the standard package. The max input power of the battery is 30W. X100 can work for 30min at 100W. The data is gathered at a distance of 1.0m.
Available from 20 March 2023.
The ZHIYUN MOLUS X100 is available from the ZHIYUN and Amazon store.
Prices are as follows:
X100 = £269
X100 combo = £369
X100 pro = £419
The ZHIYUN MOLUS G60 is available from the ZHIYUN and Amazon store.
Last year you might remember the FR100C from Zhiyun which is a really cool light to have at your disposal and you can check out the review of that here, this time around we have their new FIVERAY F100 stick light which is similar but has more on offer this time around when it comes to features and so on and comes in a really cool travel case too so for those who need portability you have got it and not only that you keep the device protected and out of harms way.
ZHIYUN’s FIVERAY F100 is the second professional lighting stick in its FIVERAY product range, bringing power, portability and accurate colour rendition in one versatile tool. Weighing just 950g, F100 is designed for one-handed control and comfort, offering a pro lighting solution without the need for complicated set-up or setting adjustment. The lighting tool reaches 20,708 lux at its 100W maximum power. Embedded with 5 times more LED chips, F100 gives you ultra-bright output compared to similar-sized lights. F100 offers six creative lighting effects that help build up the atmosphere easily when inspiration strikes.
The unit is a solid well built product and has barn doors this time around and an additional filter and cap to add to the mix and the brand is all about professional tech here for filming and vlogging etc and they have all the tools required for such people and from testing these products ourselves we can easily recommend them for your needs and the lates tkit is no different,perhaps a bit of an overkill for my set-up but it does enhance the game and gives me the opportunity to do better things and the same applies to others doing similar.
Again it is a simple product to use with no app and a simple control wheel to change the lighting experience which offers a wide range of colours and tones to work with making it the right tool for the job in any situation. There is also an app coming soon for this which will make it even more interesting, check out the video below for a full walkthrough of all the features and what to expect.
Features
【Classic & Portable 】Weighted only 950g/2.1lb, the upgraded stick light packed with excellent features fits perfectly in your hand, offering lighting solutions without complicated settings and setups.
【100W High Power & Innovative Cooling System】Embedded with 5 times more LED chips, F100 gives you ultra-bright output compared to the same-sized lights. Adopts inventive DynaVort Cooling System based on fluid dynamics and the dynamic algorithm.
【CCT Mode and HSI Mode for Pro RGB】Offers precise adjustment of color temperature in CCT Mode via the intuitive dial. CCT Range: 2700K-6200K. Increased to 148 RGB chips and help improves the lighting effect two times brighter than the predecessor.
【Inspiration Glows Non-Stop】6 built-in 2600mAh batteries ensure 1 hour 4 mins runtime at 50W working power. Supports Types-C charging. The adaptive charging technology satisfies PD power adapters of different power for both high power for both high power and long runtime scenarios.
【Get Intuitive And Precise Control】Nail every shoot in various scenarios such as live streaming, interviewing,TVC, vlogging, and close-up portraits.
Looking for a small pocketable light for the house or travel look no further than one the latest products from ZHIYUN which is the FIVERAY M40 pocket fill light is all you will need, this can be anywhere be it at home in the office or like me who stays in hotels quite often and does reviews there where the lighting in general is terrible in rooms most of the time with dim lights to give you some kind of brightness which to be fair I understand.
This is well built and robust and simple to use to which makes even more a product that should be on your radar if you are in the market for such, there is a port to charge via USB-C and this is covered by a swivel type cover that also protects the two wheels to control the brightness and colour temperature and there is 4 LED lights on one side to give you a status of the charge.
This is about the size of an old styled camera and looks like one in some instances and has fans all round to let the heat out and you can see the vents throughout the product and has a nice bit of heft to it too but again will fit in a pocket or travel tech bag which is what I tend to use not taking up much space. As I do travel a lot I keep things to a minimal and this certainly will be a perfect edition to my bag now filling a void that was always an issue but not only that this makes any working space super bright and you can control it to your needs without the need for additional stands and so on and this also can be mounted on a tripod or existing bar or light stand that suits. Check out the video below for more.
The palm-sized ZHIYUN M40 360° fill light epitomises simplicity and utility. Based on the attitude-control algorithm applied on gimbals, DynaVort technology enables better heat dispersion, allows for smaller fans, and therefore, a compact device without compromising on its 40W power. Products of a similar size currently only give 5-13W of power. Weighing only 320g, it fits neatly in pockets, looks stylish and is the ultra portable illumination companion for videographers, whether amateur or professional.
Features
【Tiny but Professional】With a palm size and only 320g that fits well in pockets and looks chic on your desk, providing 360° fill light with 40W peak illuminance.
【14000 Lux, Ultra-Bright】Embedded with 176 LED chips that bring an incredible peak illuminance of 14000 lux, M40 rivals the key light provided by bigger equipment.
【Dual Wheels Design】Precise dimming of color temperature and brightness is available via two separate wheels. Offer adjustable dual color temperature ranging from 2700 to 6200k that enables power output peaks at 40W with no strobes.
【Simplified Setup】The adjustable stand of M40 extends possibilities for various occasions, while two 1/4″ screw holes allow the M40 to be mounted on a tripod or light stand.
【Adaptive Charging Technology】M40 supports a 50W PD fast charge protocol that allows real-time charging.
Overall this is a powerful simple to use effective product which is now part of one of my home set-ups..
11 February 2023 marks Global Movie Day, which was established to celebrate our favourite films, and sits alongside the Oscars. With smartphones driving the digital world, the film industry is also taking notice of how phones can capture award-winning videos.
As early as 2011, movies like “Olive” which was created on a Nokia N8 smartphone were Oscar contenders; while BAFTA recognised a short film Missed Call shot on iPhone X. More recently oscar-winning filmmaker, Charlie Kaufman shot a short film called Jackals and Fireflies, using Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone.
Every year on the second Saturday of February, people share their excitement over movies with the hashtag #GlobalMovieDay and you can join in too, with inspiration from gimbal and lighting manufacturer Zhiyun. The firm recently launched its Make It Real short film collection and here outlines 10 must-try tips on taking better smartphone films.
Bring subject and scene to life with natural lighting
Lighting the subject and the scene is everything. This does several things, like drawing the viewer’s attention, establishing the mood, and also ensuring the audience can see what you want them to see. You can do that either using natural light or by creating a basic lighting setup that illuminates your subject sufficiently. Take a test shot after your frame is set to determine how it looks on camera.
The easiest lighting option is to use the sun; both powerful and free. Letting the sun illuminate your subjects provides a beautiful, even light that helps hide blemishes and brings out the colours in their eyes. However, the sun isn’t always available, whether hidden behind a cloud or shooting in the dark, so film makers should use whatever light is accessible to capture the most flattering shots. Shooting on cloudy days or in the shade or using a very sheer white curtain can help soften sunlight if it’s too harsh.
Use LED lighting in indoor and low light set ups
There are key lighting don’ts to avoid if you want the best possible shot of subject and backdrop. While the sun is an awesome tool to illuminate your subject, it can cause unwanted shadows. Ensure your back is to the sun to avoid your subject ending up as a silhouette. On the topic of lighting your subject, avoid heavily backlit-settings. Smartphone cameras without advanced HDR capabilities usually can’t see the same detail that the naked eye can and in playback, will output footage with a bright light haloing a dark figure with often no discernable features. To avoid this situation, try configuring a basic light setup.
If you don’t have access to natural light, it may be tempting to use bright LED flash from a phone. However, this can result in overexposed images and washed-out colours and should be avoided. As an alternative, use some fill lights that are designed to render colours faithfully.
Finally, avoid mixing all your light sources. When setting up video lighting, fight the urge to use everything you have. Using competing colour temperatures (think: warm light from a lamp combined with cool sunlight) isn’t ideal as your camera will try to adjust to the new white balances. As a solution, daylight colour bulbs (5,000-6,000K) are available but when in doubt, stick with natural lighting.
Focus on the detail
Think about your story telling. What do you want to portray and how could that be done through imagery that adds interest and depth to your narrative?
For instance, as well as light, our eyes are drawn to reflections. Look for opportunities to play with them in videos such as puddles, larger bodies of water, mirrors, sunglasses, drinking glasses, and metallic surfaces are just a few. Elsewhere, close-up images that capture small, intricate, and delicate details can add interest to scenes. Explore textures and patterns like peeling paint, rough tree bark, a serrated rooftop or a dirt road.
4. Change up how you frame each shot
Placement of your subject in a film is important. Completely fill the frame with your subject or for added interest film them slightly off-centre to create a more visually interesting scene. Play around and see what looks best. Let’s look at one of the most basic principles of film composition; the rule of thirds.
Picture a 3-by-3 grid laid over the field you’re filming. Instead of placing your subject right in the middle of the shot, you should place your subject along one of the lines of the grid. The points where the lines cross are particularly strong areas of visual focus, so if you can, do place important elements of the video there.
5. Unleash creativity with smart editing
You can edit footage directly on your phone if it already has editing software built in or by downloading an editing app. For those of you using a gimbal, there are plenty of apps with a bunch of clever effects that come with them.
The ZY Cami app for example can provide an intuitive solution for the creation and editing of video content. Why not let your imagination run wild with a 4K video recording at 60 frames per second? Alternatively, explore panorama mode to capture the beauty of landscapes. Timelapse, hyperlapse, and motion lapse modes add dimensions and perspectives to your movie.
6. Accessorise with add-on lenses
There are so many great accessories available now in smartphone video kits which can enhance your footage with new effects.
Add-on lenses are a great place to start. A filtered lens will give a tint to the scene, and incite a certain emotional response from your audience. Certain add-on lenses can bring cinematic depth of field to your shooting, others can create a fishbowl effect, which is often used in action sport filming like skateboard videos.
7. Stabilise your shots
A gimbal is essential for smartphone filmmaking and essential to avoiding shaky footage that looks amateurish and disorienting and will take hours to correct in post-production.
The gimbal head is an accessory you can purchase to add to your tripod, giving you the ability to move the camera around the scene while maintaining that necessary stability. The grip rig is slightly different as it is a handheld accessory with a similar purpose—stabilise the image. This type of device may be better suited for videos that require a lot of movement or action.
For example the SMOOTH 5S gimbal has helped filmmakers simplify their shooting and unleash their creativity, especially for small teams with limited budget. You can also find more film inspiration to help you create here.
8. Create cinematic sound
Sound is crucial if you want to keep your audience engaged. There are many options allowing you to capture quality audio externally for your smartphone footage. The simple addition of an audio recorder, boom mic, and even wireless microphones can make a huge difference to sound quality.
Audio recording devices can pick up every little sound, even an air conditioning unit or a train in the distance. With this in mind, as well as audio enhancing tools, pay attention to the locations where you are shooting. Locations with high background noise such as train stations will mean you have to deal with train and announcements noise. When indoors, check for echo and reverberation from the hard surfaces or other distracting sounds.
9. Bring extra charging power
Be aware that your smartphone battery is not going to last for a full feature film– especially if you’re spending hours shooting footage. The last thing that you want is your phone dying in the middle of a crucial scene.
Before filming, ensure that your phone is fully charged. Pack a backup charger, preferably a wireless one to allow yourself to continue filming even if your battery starts to get low.
10. Back it up
Always back up your footage onto an external device just in case you lose the movie saved to your smartphone. Simply use an external memory card or upload your film to your computer and create a copy of everything for extra assurance. An external memory card will also give you extra storage space if your phone is short on it.
The contest was hosted by Zhiyun, with Nikon as the title sponsor and partners including RØDE, Aputure, YC onion, Desview, SmallRig, iFootage, and Lexar, among others. The 2022 version attracted 1,429 entries, and 25 groups of entries awarded prizes and now we are excited to see what 2023 will bring.
ZHIYUN, the world’s pioneering gimbal innovator for cameras and smartphones, has been awarded the prestigious GOOD DESIGN® Awards for its CRANE M2S gimbal.
The CRANE M2S won in the electronics category of the 72nd edition of the awards. Approximately 4,000 shortlisted entries from 52 countries were judged by independent and international jurors with the awards given to products with the highest design quality and innovation.
The gimbal joins ZHIYUN’s range of award-winning products and offers a compact design that feels completely natural in the hand during use. With a built-in 0.66-inch display offering real-time status and operating parameters of the camera and gimbal, users benefit from an at-a-glance view while they shoot.
Another award-winning feature is ZHIYUN’s latest quick release technology, the V-shape design provides better working efficiency allowing quick interchange between any cameras used. While dual safety locks ensure the equipment always remains attached.
At just 549g, the CRANE-M2S impressed judges since it is as portable as a phone gimbal, but can hold cameras up to the Sony A7SIII with small prime lenses. The super lightweight body is combined with stronger motors and extended axes, making it a must-have for high velocity, run-and-gun filmmakers.
GOOD DESIGN is the first, oldest and longest running design prize in the world that honors all design achievements in all its disciplines: from product, packaging, communication and service design, architecture and interior architecture to user interface (UI), user experience (UX), and professional concept.
The highly-prized, highly anticipated, and highly-publicized awards are bestowed annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
The competition evaluates product design, communication design, packaging design and concept designs by the world’s leading brands and sheds light on current trends emerging in the international design and manufacturing sectors.
ZHIYUN’s Head of R&D, said:
“At ZHIYUN, design innovation is key to the success of our products, and we are honoured to be awarded this prestigious recognition for our continuous R&D efforts in gimbal technology. It is our intention to continue to deliver even more novel product experiences to video creators, whether amateur or professional from around the world.”
Further information on CRANE M2S at the GOOD DESIGN® Awards can be found here.
The kit came in a professional-looking box, clean and smart with all the accessories listed on the side with the QR code directly for the app. Inside the box came a solid practical carry case with all the accessories located with the additional slots to allow to add additional accessories. The carry case allows the portability to carry the case without the worries of losing odd accessories. The Zhiyun Smooth 5S is solid yet lightweight with 3-Axis Stabilizer which an appropriate locking mechanism, the kit has a Detachable Tripod, and USB-C Charging Cable. There is a digital display while minimal in terms of size of the screen, with a Light as required controlled via the dials. The Light has Dual-Side Magnetic to allow the colours to change with an extensive Smartphone Compatibility List
Contents:
1x Zhiyun Smooth 5S
1x Mini Tripod For Smooth 5S
1x USB Type-C Cable
1x Wrist Strap
1x Protective Bag
1x Magnetic Fill Light
4x Fill Light Filter
1x Zhiyun Prime 1-Year Membership Card
Key features:
3-Axis Stabilizer for 1-Person Capture
Integrated & Magnetic Fill Lights
Supports Larger Smartphones 5.3-10.6 oz
For Phones 2 to 3.5″ Wide, 0.4″ Thick
Sturdy Motors, Upgraded Algorithm
Livestreaming via Mobile App
Various Templates & Gimbal Modes
2-Hour PD Charging/Up to 25-Hour Runtime
Detachable Tripod, USB-C Charging Cable
Zhiyun Prime 1-Year Membership
Setup and use:
The Smooth 5S Combo come with clear instructions with a QR code available to download the instructions easily. The setup for an android phone is relatively easy and playing with the Stabilizes and balances the phone to the correct settings. Allow at least 30 minutes to play with the setting and balancing on the first go. If you have the same phone taking note of the setting on the scale ( or Tipp-Ex to the mark ) allows for easy future setting up which can be done in a minute or 2 once familiar with the balancing. This model was found to be easy and practical to set up as compared to other models use. Once set up and balanced the choice then becomes on the shooting modes including PF, L, F, POV and V which is technically easy rather than a user-artistic approach to filming.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S Combo, buttons
Multiple classic shooting modes including PF, L, F, POV and V
Pan Follow mode (PF): The tilt axis and roll axis motors are locked, and the camera rotates with the handle while panning horizontally. Push the joystick up/down to control the tilt axis angle, and push it left/right to control the pan axis of the camera.
Follow mode (F): The roll axis motor is locked, and the tilt axis and pan axis motors follow the rotation of the handle. Push the joystick up/down to change the tilt angle of the camera and the left/right to change the horizontal orientation of the camera.
Point of View mode (POV): All three motors move when the handle is rotated.
Vortex mode (V): The tilt axis motor rotates upward by 90°, and the tilt axis, roll axis, and pan axis motors follow the rotation of the handle. Push the joystick to the left/ right to control the rotation of the pan axis. How to Use CRANE-M2 S
Go mode (GO): The roll axis motor is locked, and the tilt axis and pan axis motors quickly follow the rotation of the handle.
App use: ZY Cami
The app got a rating of 1.6 out of 1.59 k reviews. I would agree with this poor rating for an Android phone. This app requires getting a verification code matching certain pictures in the background, sounds simple, similar to eg ticks of boats on a screen but is made more complicated by the system used in a different format. this is further complicated by when getting a code the email states must be used within 10 minutes while the phone has a timer count down of 60 seconds, This is before you get to log in to the software. The experience of using the app with an iPhone is much improved as per conversations with colleagues and feedback but not tried it during this review.
Warranty: 1 year
Models comparison
Conclusion:
The physical setup of the gimble works well with the calibration process easier than others used before with minimal effort / technical knowledge/experience required. This product is let down by the Android App if used as this has an overly complicated setup process and depending on the model used results in a different experience having tried it on a few phones.
This Zhiyun brand stands out in terms of accessories supplied and case, A lot of work has gone into this area with a well-designed case with all the accessories compartmentalised and the option to carry additional bits in the strong carry case. The shooting modes are easy to use for the PF, L, F, POV and V to allow a variety of filming tableau and artistic presentations.
Overall a sturdy easy-to-use gimbal with an abundance of accessories and features for any budding filming enthusiastic to allow creative filming.
Don’t worry if you’ve missed Black Friday or Cyber Monday and are still looking for that special gift for someone. ZHIYUN, the leading gimbal brand for amateur and professional filmmakers with smartphones and cameras has some special Christmas discounts on some of its most popular products.
Gimbal: the perfect gift for anyone with a smartphone or camera
Gimbals are light, compact and durable stablilisers, with smartphone versions, small enough to shove in a rucksack or your pocket to take your videos to the next level. There’s nothing more annoying than reliving sporting events, nights out, holidays, trips or special occasions only to see a blur of shaky unwatchable footage. While camera gimbals are sturdier to support larger cameras for professional users.
Smartphone gimbals
Elevate your smartphone with the latest smartphone gimbals.
Tell better stories with the newest member of the SMOOTH range. With its powerful built-in fill light, SMOOTH 5S offers a simplified way of filmmaking for everyone with a smartphone, day or night. With the classic 3-axis design, you can create inspiring content with no angle limitations. SMOOTH 5S makes you a one-man vlogging crew. Available in white or grey from ZHIYUN or the Amazon store.
This neat little smartphone gimbal has a new design for better grip and easy unfolding. It has a 215mm built-in, extendable rod that allows you to shoot at various angles from a wider background. SMOOTH Q4 comes with a double sided, adjustable magnetic fill light offering you a quick and easy way to get the lighting even in the darkness. Buy it at the ZHIYUN or the Amazon store.
Standard: Now £99/$99 USD (original price £119/$119)
Film like a pro with the latest ZHIYUN SMOOTH 5. It makes cinematic smartphone filmmaking possible with its 3-axis design that allows movement through all angles to be amazingly smooth, even at the extremes. Its carefully considered ergonomic controls, high performance motor, professional anti-shake system, and magnetic twin fill lights empower new creative opportunities. Buy it at the ZHIYUN or the Amazon store.
Standard: Now £139/$139 (original price £159/$169)
Now in its 3rd generation, the A4 sized WEEBILL 3 has evolved and tuned its ergonomics with carefully crafted parts that reduce the carrying effort by 40%. This innovative all-in-one solution provides sound, light and image stabilisation together, setting a new bar for portable, powerful gimbals that makes even complex filmmaking endeavours effortless and simple. Available from the ZHIYUN and Amazon stores.
Standard: Now £399/$399 (original price £449/$449)
WEEBILL S: Unleashing possibilities for professional filmmakers
Despite its compact size, the WEEBILL-S easily handles mainstream mirrorless and DSLR camera & lens combos. Its neat, lightweight body and a unique Sling mode allows the WEEBILL-S to offer an effortless shooting experience. Inside, its strong motors feature ZHIYUN’s unique stabilising algorithm. An intelligent ViaTouch 2.0 system as well as an ultra-low latency HD image transmission module, means the WEEBILL-S pushes the limits for boundless filmmaking.
Standard: Now £299/$299 (original price £369/$439)
CRANE M3: For Ultra-portable professional handheld filmmaking
The CRANE M3 is a portable, compact and professional camera gimbal. It provides an excellent grip and balance, with an ergonomic array of control panel, buttons, wheels and joystick for full control of the powerful motors that can carry different kinds of cameras and lenses in stable and smooth movements. The two-in-one universal quick release plate makes camera changes during a shoot safe and efficient.
Standard: Now £319/ USD 319 (original price £369/$369)
Combo: Now £379/ USD 379 (original price £449/$449)
