On first inspection, this review might seem a little wide of the mark for AV News, but the growing interest in user generated content makes any product that brings an enhanced level of professionalism to the novice user increasingly relevant to the AV specialist. Not cheap, but definitely affordable, this Zhiyun Crane M2 S Gimbal offers a wide range of slick video features to the videographer. With its video teams deployed to both a ski resort in Austria and then immediately to ISE in Barcelona, AV News had a unique opportunity to put the gimbal through its paces with a variety of cameras and environments.
So what is a gimbal and why would you want one? If you have seen video footage of parkour, snow boarding or any other extreme sport where the camera follows the action, focusing on the participant while they jump, spin or fly through space in a continuous sequence without losing focus or clarity. The videographer is usually using a gimbal. If so, these can be hideously expensive, bur not in this case. Amazon prices (depending on model) start at £259– not at all bad when you consider what they do!
“As Vlogging is trending, more and more content creators including influencers and bloggers are seeking for a tool that is easy to use and portable, meanwhile, it can bring their video quality to the next level. That’s why we created Crane M2s” said Wu Caner, the chief designer of this product.
Zhiyun advertises the Crane as the right choice for camera phones of lighter weight mirrorless cameras with lighter weight lenses. The weight of the gimbal adds just about 1lb to the overall weight of our rig. Theoretically you can use bigger, heavier cameras but we advise checking before you commit, particularly is you tend to use chunky lend arrays.
Features
The new mirrorless gimbal’s main selling point is a focus control on the handle of the gimbal. This allows Gimbal Operators to control the camera focus manually. This therefore allows much more control over creative focus pulling shots. And as you don’t have to move your hand to the camera, it will make shooting even more stable.
What’d really good about this product is the range of compatible cameras. For ISE, the AV News videographers could use their usual DSLR models, but this wasn’t really an option on a glacier in Austria where small format camera phones and GoPros were much more the thing. Fortunately, the Zhiyun-Tech Crane M2 S can handle both extremes. It is rated to an approximate 3lbs maximum payload. High-torque brushless motors make this 3-axis gimbal mountable by all models of DSLR and mirrorless camera on the market and certainly everything that we would use.
Capabilities
The Crane M2 S comes with three 18650-type batteries and provides 6000mAh of capacity. This is equivalent to 18 hours of continuos operation. And we have heard that some Sony cameras may be charged through the gimbal, eliminating time otherwise spent swapping out camera batteries.
The Quick Release Plate by Manfrotto on the Zhiyun-Tech Crane M2 S allows you to switch your camera quickly between the stabiliser and a tripod. This industry standard fitting is a good addition to a DSLR gimbal, which we found very useful.
In use, Zhiyun have fitted a reasonably sized monochrome OLED display. This helps you easily identify the connection status, battery level, control mode and multiple camera parameters. Selectable features from the handle of the gimbal include Lock mode, POV, vertigo mode, 1000 lumen fill light, lock mechanisms for each aspect, fast charging via USB C.
Conclusion
The Crane M2 S gives the videographer really smooth motion shots, but the Zhiyun Crane M2 S gimbal is notably bigger and heavier than similar gimbals. If you’re considering purchasing the Zhiyun Crane M2 S gimbal, you should double-check the system’s size and weight to make sure it makes sense for your workflow needs.
When filming moving subjects, stability and range of motion is crucial to nailing the shot. This is where a gimbal comes into play. Videographers who have been in the business for a period may be familiar with dollies, jigs, and other specialized video-making tools. Though gimbals cannot replace these, they are much more portable, which is good news for multimedia creators.
A hit?
To make everyone a true filmmaker in their daily lives, Crane M2 S brings a new handheld stabilizer designed for multiple devices for users of all levels. Featuring an easy-to-use quick setup system and smart lock design, as well as six creative operation modes, the Crane M2s gimbal easily goes wherever you go and offers endless possibilities to your everyday creation.
With a sleek body and compact size, the Crane M2 S gimbal offers great comfort to your hand and unrivalled control over your camera. In PF Mode, the camera pans as you turn the gimbal left and right – a favourite for travellers. A ‘must-have’ for hyper lapse.
The intuitive OLED display will show the gimbal mode, Bluetooth & connection status, battery level and various gimbal parameters. Adopting a WiFi-and-Bluetooth control module, Crane M2 S gimbal allows you to control your camera wirelessly through the gimbal handle. Once paired your camera and the gimbal will automatically pair again when turned on.
Zhiyun Crane M2 S gimbal
- Battery:
- Operation Voltage – Max: 12.6v, Standard: 11.1v, Min.: 9.8v
- Operation Temperature – Max: 45℃, Standard: 25℃, Min.: -10℃
- Battery Runtime – Max: 18h, Min.: 12h
- Charging Time – Standard: 2.5h, 2400mA
- Stabilizer:
- Following Deviation in Motion State – Max: ± 0.1°, Min.: ± 0.05°
- Following Deviation in Static State – Max: ± 0.03°, Min.: ± 0.01°
- Tilt Mechanical Range – Max: ᐩ 185°, Min.: − 135°
- Roll Mechanical Range – Standard: 360°, Unlimited Rotation
- Pan Axis Movement Angle Range – Standard: 360°, Unlimited Rotation
- Valid Payload – Max: 7 pounds, Min: 1.1 pounds
- Packing List:
- Stabilizer (1), 18650 Li-ion Battery (3), Sony Camera Control Cable (1), User Guide (1), Tripod (1), Micro to Micro USB Cable (1), Panasonic Camera Control Cable (1), Shoulder Strap (1), 18650 x3 Battery Charger (1), Micro to Mini USB Cable (1), Micro USB Cable (1), Storage Case (1)
- Packing Specifications:
- Product Dimensions (mm) – 210*118*450 (W*D*H)
- Packing Size (mm) – 502*141*270 (L*W*H)
- Carton Size (mm) – 640*565*345 (L*W*H)
- Product Net Weight (g) – 1250 /Units
- Product Net Weight (g) – 3700 /Units
- Packing Weight (kg) – 17.7 /Box (4 Units/Carton)
What’s really good about this product is the range of cameras that it can work with. For ISE, the AV News videographers could use their usual DSLR models, but this wasn’t really an option on a glacier in Austria the previous week.
