What kind of gimbal do I need?
Can't keep your camera still while filming? Can't seem to get a smooth shot? Do you suffer from annoying jerky images that detract from your film? You are not alone; tight camera movements are not always easy to make. Plus, it's extra annoying that you often only discover the jerky footage afterwards. But not to worry, there is a solution: a gimbal, or stabiliser. Which gimbal should you have for which camera?
First things first: how does a gimbal actually work?
A gimbal, also known as a stabiliser, ensures that your camera is always hanging straight. This is because a gimbal consists of a so-called cardanic suspension (named after Italian scientist Girolamo Cardano). Basically, an object is suspended in a ring by two hinges, which run in a line through the centre of the ring. That ring is similarly attached in a wider ring, with the line of those hinges perpendicular to that of the first line. This principle is used in a gimbal to keep your camera (or smartphone) steady and upright. And it works extremely well!
No matter how much you move with your camera, or how wild the shots are; the gimbal corrects the movements, ensuring that the shots are always stable. Besides stabilising, a gimbal also allows you to make certain moves that are not possible with just a phone or camera. Think filming low to the ground or higher shots.
Which gimbal should I get?
These days, fortunately, it does not matter what kind of device you use to film with, there is always a suitable gimbal to be found. Zhiyun has a stabiliser for every situation and for every camera, action cam and smartphone. But which camera stabiliser is the best choice for you?
Zhiyun Smooth Q3 - best gimbal for smartphone
Do you mainly use your smartphone for making vlogs and your phone does not have its own (good) video stabilisation? The Zhiyun Smooth Q3 is indispensable in such a case. This gimbal for iPhone and smartphone stabilises across three axes. Moreover, this gimbal has a built-in 180° rotatable fill light so that your videos are always sufficiently exposed. The light has three adjustable brightness levels.
With a charged battery, you can use the Smooth Q3 for 15 hours. You can use this smartphone gimbal with almost all phones: from the iPhone 13 mini (5.4" screen) to the iPhone 14 Pro Max (6.7" screen) to the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (6.8" screen) and all sizes in between.
In the accompanying ZY Cami app, you can access all kinds of cool features such as Intelligent Tracking, Panorama, MagicClone Pano, Instant Dolly Zoom, Gesture Control, SmartFollow 3.0 and Streaming. In the app, you can also edit videos. Here, you have access to numerous templates, music clips, special effects and filters. This is very handy if you want to add something extra to your TikTok or YouTube Short.
Zhiyun Smooth 5S - Advanced gimbal for smartphones
The Zhiyun Smooth 5S is for avid videographers and creative content creators who want to produce cool videos. This gimbal for smartphones is distinguished by its professional three-axis structure.
The larger space between the axes allows an even wider range so you can film from even more angles. With its wide axes, spacious phone clamp and strong motors, the Smooth 5S can stabilise even large phones just fine. You can also use attachable lenses and filters, for example. In addition, you can easily switch between horizontal and vertical imaging.
Thanks to the control wheel with focus-and-zoom support, it is possible to take images with the cool Dolly Zoom Effect. In addition, this stabiliser gives you a diverse selection of movements, such as Point-of-View, Vortex, Pan Follow and Lock. Furthermore, this gimbal has a built-in fill-in light. giving everyone an integrated yet simplified filming experience. And with a battery that lasts around 24 hours, it has everything you need to create inspiring content of your own
Combo version
In addition to the standard version, you also have a combo version that includes an extra LED lamp with four coloured attachment filters. In addition, you also have one year's access to Zhiyun Prime. The Prime membership offers additional options in the ZY Cami app. Among other things, it gives you more options to edit your videos. The Smooth 5S is available in white and grey.
Zhiyun Crane M3, gimbal for lightweight DSLR and system cameras
Are you planning to make the best film of all time? That's quite a challenge! With the Zhiyun Crane M3, you are already taking a step in the right direction. Of course, this gimbal is not only for makers of the next blockbuster. Professional videographers also opt for the Crane M3.
This all-rounder can carry cameras up to 2.5 kilos. For example, it is suitable for the Sony A7S3, Sony FX30 and the Sony A6600. The Nikon Z6II and Z7II, the Canon M50 MKII, Panasonic GH5 and Fujifilm X-T4 and X-T5 can also carry this gimbal just fine. Furthermore, with the right mounting accessory, you can also place a smartphone or action camera on this gimbal if necessary.
In addition, the Crane M3 features a handy touchscreen to adjust all settings. This makes it very easy to create beautiful time-lapses and adjust the zoom, stabilisation direction and white balance. Moreover, this gimbal also has a built-in fill light and you get four coloured filter caps for this. It has a battery capacity of 1150mAh that allows you to use it for around 8 hours. With the PD Fast Charge, Type-C charging port, it will be full again in just 2 hours. You can keep using the Crane M3 while charging via the powerbank.
Suitable for e.g.:
Sony FX3, F30, A7R4, A7R3, A7R2, A7M3, A7M2, A7S2, A7S3, A7C, A6600, A6500, A6400, A6300, A6100, ZV-1, ZV-E10' RX100M7, RX100M6, RX100M5A, RX100M5, HX90
Nikon Z5, Z6, Z6II, Z7, Z7II, Z30, Z50, ZFC
Canon M50, M50 MARK II, M6 MARK II, R, R10, RP, 200D II, G7 X MARK III,
Panasonic GH5, GH5S, DC-G100, ZS110, LX10, LX100M2
FUJIFILM X-T3, X-T4, X-A7, X-T2, X-S10, X-T30, X-T20
Zhiyun Weebill 3 combo, best gimbal for heavier cameras
For the true 'heavy duty filmer', the Zhiyun Weebill 3 is the way to go. This is truly a professional gimbal with ergonomic grip and a very long battery life. This gimbal can carry a whopping 3.8 kg in weight. The maximum camera combination that fits on this gimbal is - as an example - a Nikon D850 with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Together, that's 1.84 kilos.
That means it is also suitable for, for example, the Sony A1, Sony A9II and the Sony A7R4. The Nikon D780 and Z7II, the Canon M50 MKII, Panasonic G9 and Fujifilm X-H2S can also carry this gimbal. Zhiyun has a comprehensive list where you can see exactly which functions work with your camera.
The gimbal's SLING 2.0 design allows you to hold it more stably. For example, the L-shaped handle, wrist rest and a repositioned extendable sling grip reduces more than 40% weight by shifting the weight to the arm. By moving the sling grip to the bottom of the gimbal, it provides better stability and prevents shaking when filming from low angles in particular.
Built-in microphone and LED fill-in light
The Weebill 3 features a built-in Hi-Fi microphone with noise reduction and a bright fill-in light whose colour temperature (2600-5400K) can be easily adjusted. It also has a powerful battery that lasts up to 21 hours with a full battery. With PD Charge support, it is ready to use again after 2 hours. Thanks to its light weight and user-friendly controls, you can fully concentrate on filming itself. In the Zhiyun ZY Play App, you will find many functions, such as balance check, mode switching and remote camera triggering for photo and video recording.
"It also has a powerful battery that lasts up to 21 hours with a full battery."
Zhiyun offers an extensive ecosystem of TransMount accessories to extend the Weebill 3. For example, you have the TransMount Image Transmitter and MasterEye Visual Controller VC100 with which you control recordings remotely via wireless image transmission. In doing so, you even control important parameters like focus and zoom.
