ZHIYUN Crane M2 [Official] 4 in 1 Handheld 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer for Smartphone, Action Camera, Gopro and Mirrorless Camera

Product Information

Adopting a WiFi-and-Bluetooth control module, Crane M2 allows you to control your camera wirelessly through the gimbal handle. Balancing your camera is actually fairly easy and once you have mastered it you’ll be able to do it in minutes. I looked at the batteries, and there was a bit of oxide on the contacts, which I managed to clean with a coin, I think. Please check whether the camera is installed well and close to Tilt Axis Motor, and tighten all lock switches. The advanced automated modes described above (motion timelapse, panorama and so on) only work on smartphones.

The Zhiyun Crane M2 S is a small and portable gimbal with only 549g net weight, as large as a bottle, it also has the portability of the Crane M2 and the tech from the Crane M3. It is worth remembering, however, that you’ll still get better image quality overall if you use the Crane-M2.

The CRANE-M2 offers 360° pan, 310° tilt, and 324° roll rotation across six modes of operation, including POV and Vortex modes. As someone who'd be using only one mirrorless camera for the time being, which also happens to not have the full compatibility with all features this gimbal offers, I am slightly torn; however, if I owned one of the other cameras on the list, I wouldn't hesitate.

If you’re new to gimbals, the Crane-M2’s setup process might take a little while to get your head around; it’s certainly not as simple as the DJI Osmo or one of Zhiyun’s more basic gimbals to get started with. I'll keep hacking away for a while but if it doesn't work out soon I'm gonna place the gimbal directly under my truck tire and hit the gas. First of all, before you go out shooting, you need to understand what each mode does and which one to use. Over a wired connection, the gimbal is able to power a supported camera and control its zoom, shutter, and video start/stop functions.Accommodates with uncomplicated set up a variety of camera models, I use two Panasonic Lumix and it works a treat. Why not sign up to our newsletter and receive info on exclusive offers each week that are not available to the public. Somehow the menu came back up and I pressed this one button and set payload from small to large, then it seemed to start working again. As someone who is by no means attempting to get into professional videography, I did want something that can help make my personal video or photography tutorials footage more dynamic, and I can see this gimbal doing just that.

The Zhiyun Crane-M2 isn’t the cheapest gimbal around and if you only want to smooth out footage from your smartphone or action camera, there are better choices. You’d think presenting a list of products and letting you choose the right one would be the simplest thing in the world, but no. This was my first mistake, when I thought I would just learn it on the go, but looking back, I would recommend thoroughly reviewing each mode first. This is because EIS crops the image slightly and compensates for movement by using the extra pixels surrounding the crop as a buffer zone, thus reducing image quality overall. Smaller, more lightweight, the CRANE-M2 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer from Zhiyun-Tech is designed for compact cameras, smartphones, and action cams up to 1.

Here, the camera follows the direction you point it in, keeping it dead level, and allows you to adjust the tilt axis using the joystick. In-depth testing Latest Camera Reviews Beyond the studio tests Feature Articles and Videos see how we see Sample Galleries real world performance Field Test Videos Throwback Thursday Classic Cameras from Days Past What's that Noise? Lastly, it has an OLED display, which shows battery level, connection status, and your selected shooting mode. The mini tripod attaches on the bottom to function as a tripod or a stand, but it can also be used as an extension to provide you with even more control over the gimbal and camera, as you'll have a better grip on the gimbal. The majority of cameras on the list allow taking photos, start and stop recording, as well as a zoom in and out option when using the gimbal handle.

Inside the box is the gimbal itself and selection of accessories: one mini tripod, which attaches to the bottom of the gimbal’s handle; a USB-A to USB-C cable; a wrist strap; and a spring-loaded clip for holding your smartphone safe and secure. It took me lots of tapping and swiping around to actually find the Crane-M2 in the app’s labyrinthine menus. With a sleek body and compact size, CRANE-M2 offers great comfort to your hand and unrivalled control over your camera.The Zhiyun Crane M2 S 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer features a quick release camera mounting system that lets you secure or remove your camera at the push of one lock button. This aside, the CRANE-M2 provides the standard features that have made gimbals such a revolutionary addition to the world of camera supports. One of the biggest downsides is the lack of an inverted mode which makes it tricky to get low angle shots. Besides the current issues with the responsiveness of the joystick it also isn’t properly glued or attached to the gimbal. With a tagline of making "every one a true filmmaker of their daily lives," ZHIYUN has brought a three-axis stabilizer, which is designed to perform for multiple devices and for users of all levels.