Zhiyun, the world-renowned brand for camera gimbals, has just announced the arrival of the new CRANE 3S. This new gimbal is made to handle heavier, bulkier cameras with more accessories attached. Think of the CRANE 3S as the big brother when placed beside the WEEBILL-S that we reviewed here.
The CRANE 3S does take on Zhiyun’s new product design mantra and it is now made with a similar mindset as the WEEBILL-S. The new CRANE 3S now has a modular design which means you can literally make it yours and most suitable for your filming environment.
The new CRANE 3S is also equipped with the new SUPER motors, enabling up to 6.5kg payload in total. According to Zhiyun, it can carry large cameras like the Canon EOS 1DX, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema cameras, and even Canon Cinema EOS, Sony FS and FX series, and Red Digital Cinema cameras.
The new CRANE 3S also has an extension module (included) that attaches onto the roll axis, so that you can mount larger cameras. This module can be detached so that smaller cameras can be kept in a small footprint.
The overall utilitarian design of the CRANE 3S comes with a detachable second handle with two options – EasySling Handle and SmartSling Handle. You can either mount EasySling handle to extend the grip for more comfort upright & underslung operation or choose to mount SmartSling handle featuring an intuitive control panel and OLED screen, for direct camera & gimbal parameter adjustment, or combine them together.
The handle mods are easy to fit and remove, and both provide multiple thread holes in different sizes to mount accessories. The modular design makes CRANE 3S highly compatible with motorized dollies, jibs, cable cams, Easyrig, etc.
Zhiyun is also moving towards removable 18650 batteries too, as the new CRANE 3S accepts a total of 3×18650 batteries and is able to run for 12 hours. There is also another DC-in power port on the battery compartment that allows up to 25.2V direct charging.
For longer shoots, Zhiyun also has a new accessory called the TransMount PowerPlus Battery Pack. It is made specifically for the power-hungry CRANE 3S as it also acts as a compact fast-charging power bank for the gimbal and camera together.
The TransMount PowerPlus houses six 18650 batteries and independently provides 18 hours of runtime for the gimbal.
Another feature that is brought over from the WEEBILL-S is the axes lock. This is very useful to ensure that the gimbal does not swing around while it is not in use. This individual axis lock is also useful for balancing the gimbal.
The new CRANE 3S also comes with new firmware with an algorithm that enables higher responsive speed and smoothness. In fast action shooting, the CRANE 3S can resist high winds. The 55° tilted roll axis is designed for an unrestricted view and allows enough space to mount large cinema camera combos.
For those who are already using the Zhiyun TransMount Image Transmission Module, the CRANE 3S also supports it. This means that Zhiyun is expanding its ecosystem of accessories so that it works with multiple different gimbals.
Pricing and availability
The all-new Zhiyun CRANE 3S can be purchased at the Zhiyun official store. It is available in three options:
CRANE 3S-E (with EasySling Handle) @ USD $649
CRANE 3S (with SmartSling Handle) @ USD $739
CRANE 3S Pro (with SmartSling Handle, PowerPlus Battery Pack, Zoom & Focus Controllers, Image Transmission Transmitter and Smartphone Clamp) @ USD $1,149
Click for more information about CRANE 3S.
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