Zhiyun Crane 2 Gimbal Review

Links for Crane 2 in description: Amazon US, UK, FR, ES: geni.us/B9TbX2L
3-axis motorized gimbals have become incredibly popular camera tools to smooth out movement while shooting video with a mirrorless or DSLR camera. The problem I’ve run into with the larger cameras is that many of the single handle gimbals don’t have quite enough power to really work with the larger cameras. That’s where the Zhiyun Crane 2 comes in - perfect for larger mirrorless and DSLR cameras and even has a follow-focus knob which works with Canon 5D (mkII through mkIV).
Links to Gear Discussed and used to shoot this review:
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Zhiyun Crane 2 for larger Mirrorless and DSLR Cameras
MomanPlay: momanplay.com/products/zhiyun...
Amazon US, UK, FR, ES: geni.us/B9TbX2L
Alternate Amazon Link: geni.us/IhLOk
B&H: bhpho.to/2fYQr6L
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Zhiyun Smooth 3 (for smartphones)
Amazon: geni.us/BjgB
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Zhiyun Smooth Q (for smartphones)
Amazon: geni.us/G5kQQB
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Zhiyun Crane V2 (original version for small to medium mirrorless and DSLR cameras)
Amazon: geni.us/MBBGKg
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Schoeps CMC641 Super-cardioid Microphone
B&H: bhpho.to/2yeJbaL
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Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder
DVeStore: bit.ly/2tEHGRa
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Panasonic GH5 Camera (for product shots)
Amazon: geni.us/OtAhCQ
B&H: bhpho.to/2oIdG7o
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Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 Zoom Lens
Amazon: geni.us/suBexT
B&H: bhpho.to/2k9dmg2
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Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

[@SNXMD]

All your videos have the perfect amount of information and don't linger on. Love it!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@chandrasekardavey3328]

Really appreciate how non commercial your videos are. The information density and clarity are consequently that much higher. I really enjoy your style. Thank you.

[@curtisjudd]

Thank you Robert, I appreciate the feedback.

[@ProHorizon]

Great review Curtis. Really clear information and you come across really well! Have you used this gimbal with handlebars, atomos ninja inferno and the GH5?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, thanks! I haven't used handlebars yet, but that should be a nice setup!

[@Phishis]

Hey Curtis, thanks for the great review. If I may- I really mean it when I say you've got the most important video production reviews. Well rounded, detailed, coherent and simple. Keep up the great work. Appreciated.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks so much Phishis!

[@congoimaginetv4142]

this is one of the best videos on this particular topic. I cant stop watching

[@curtisjudd]

Wow, thanks!

[@andreyan7608]

Amazing review! Really great to see summary in the beginning.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks for the feedback Andrey!

[@DroiMedia]

You make some of the best and most thorough reviews, Curtis! I will occasionally see the runtime and think "ugh, NINE minutes?!" then find myself watching the whole thing intently. Keep it up!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks, I really appreciate it!

[@PrimalVideo]

Another great video Curtis!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Justin!

[@MarcoPeru]

Amazing review, love your professionalism as well as your video quality! Ciao from Italy!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks so much!

[@TheCraneCouple]

Fantastic review Curtis! The Crane 2 is probably a bit overkill for the kind of videos we make, but it definitely looks amazing to use. Hopefully there's some kind of update to enable more features with Panasonic cameras!

[@curtisjudd]

+The Crane Couple thanks! I just received the cable to use it with the GH5. The follow focus does not work but you can engage autofocus and start/stop recording from the Crane’s handle.

[@whoismatt]

Love it Curtis! Got one of these on pre-order myself. :)

[@curtisjudd]

👍 I hope it works well for you!

[@curtisjudd]

And I hope that your biceps double in size. ;-) Wait a minute, I thought you were more a fan of the good old-fashioned glidecam/steadicam gimbals. In fact, you had me convinced to add one to my kit and it is still on my list.

[@whoismatt]

Hahaha! I still use my Glidecam for every wedding (and love it), but the lack of Manfrotto compatible QR plate and limited weight capabilities kept me away from these smaller pistol grip gimbals. This is the first one that seems to fix most of those issues. We'll see how I like it!

[@AdonisArias]

great review and extremely useful information on this gimbal. i own the v2 but after watching this review I'm considering purchasing this one. thanks for all the info

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@colinanthony4505]

Great review. Thanks for this. Simple info presented without frills. very useful

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Colin.

[@LaneMcCall]

How can anyone dislike this video?! It was perfect with a ton of great information! Awesome video Curtis!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Lane!

[@MAPLEMEDIA]

Excellent review, thank you keep up the great work

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Peter!

[@user-vs5rj7gy8t]

Perfect! So many details on the topic, thats great

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@FirstSpokenOfficial]

Very helpful content and just the right amount of info. Thank you so much man! I'm sold...

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@LevAshin]

Thanks Curtis ! Superb as always ! =)

[@curtisjudd]

+Lev Ashin 👍

[@ArpadAmbrus]

Thanks for another great review!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Arpad!

[@d.nicolaevsky]

This is a great video. I started skipping to the good parts but everything was good so I let it roll. First time I do that on a review, got a new subscriber!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Daniel!

[@TorusDigitalCinema]

Great review, and great look!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@AVUltra]

Wow- didn't even know a new one was out! I've got the 2nd edition of the v1- and love it. This one looks even better.

[@curtisjudd]

Same here - love the V1. This one is definitely beefier and better suited for the big cams.

[@YusufOnder]

i have the crane 3 and i love this product... my latest vlogs look so smooth love it... thanks for the great review

[@curtisjudd]

+Yusuf Onder thanks! Yes, I've been very pleased with the cranes!

[@MotionArt_Films]

Great review. Thanks so much for putting this together.

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@drewkocak]

This was super helpful. Just got this today for vlogging (a bit overkill but I'm also likely going to use it to film weddings). Thanks again!

[@curtisjudd]

+RAGEfit congrats! Happy smooth shooting!

[@tamersakr3668]

Thank you for the great review

[@curtisjudd]

+Tamer Sakr thanks and you’re welcome!

[@TOKYObrah]

At 1:23, is E-stabilization also on? I always keep E-stab and Dual IS on when using that lens (with the crane v2)

[@TOKYObrah]

One more question: When the GH5 is balanced, do the motor still hit the side of it when you want to quickly invert it (I'm sure you know what I mean).

[@curtisjudd]

e-stabilization was not on, just the dual IS. The motor did not hit the side when moving to inverted mode.

[@VideoUpskill]

Great details I use the Crane v1 and love it. Interesting the updates.

[@curtisjudd]

+Video Upskill same here, I really liked the v1 too

[@StasComoestas]

\ Curtis Judd Amazing review like it very much, thank you for sharing. did you get some problems with this gimbal? because lots of negative videos on youtube about this gimbal if search "Zhiyun Crane 2 problem" I'm thinking to buy this gimbal to gh5 and hope not to be wrong with this gimbal

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, the only issue I have experienced, and it is not a big issue for the way I shoot, is that the gimbal gets confused if you invert it and then turn it on. It works fine if you turn it on while oriented in it's usual position with the camera on top and then move the handle so that it goes to inverted mode. Everything else has worked perfectly for me with the Crane 2.

[@StasComoestas]

Curtis Judd Thank you 😊

[@prairieskycam]

Thank you for another great review Curtis. I am currently researching these and this review couldn't have come at a better time. Just wish they were available now. :( Can you control the zoom on a GH5 (with appropriate lens) from the gimbal handle? Thank you.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi and thanks! I just ordered the cable to see what can be controlled on the GH5. I'll be back with more info on that.

[@sultanreviews4183]

Amazing review

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@esunayg]

Thank you. I hoped it had a lens mount follow focus motor :/ It seems very promising.

[@ASChin]

Nice review. Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@ZhiyunTechGlobal]

Hi Curtis Judd, this is cool video, very professional and informative, can't love it more. FYI, the APP showcased here is the old version, for better experience, you can upgrade ZY Play ;) Thank you so much for featuring Zhiyun.

[@curtisjudd]

Great to know about the app, thanks for that!

[@Jsfilmz]

Zhiyun-tech yea hey how bout you send me mine i preordered it asap thanks lol

[@mohamshaban]

Does it have the moving timelapse function both of tilting and panning?

[@curtisjudd]

It has a time-lapse function but I'm not clear on how to program the movement. Need to look more into that...

[@jbiz3]

Super good video. I'll be getting this for my 5dII and III! Question: is it possible to use this with a battery grip attached to your camera? Or best to have that off when using the gimbal?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Justin, thanks! I would think it would be better to keep the camera lower profile for longer battery life. You'll have to experiment to see if it will work with the battery grip. I bet it will but will prevent some movement since the arm will collide with the camera at some angles. Good luck!

[@MylesDavid]

Thanks Curtis! Any quicks thoughts on the crane 2 verses the moza air? I have a 5DMK4. Looking to do a lot of Vlogging and would like to attach a SmallHD monitor and a better microphone to the setup!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi mylestube5, I haven't used the Moza Air but had good luck with the Crane 2 with bigger DSLRs the same size as the 5D (Nikon D750). You'd also get the follow-focus feature with the 5D so that'd be nice. Good luck!

[@PawelChyrowski]

Awesome! Thank you. Great as always!

[@curtisjudd]

+Pawel Chyrowski thanks!

[@3TAAROfficial]

Hi Thank you for a wonderful informative video. Could you please suggest the best gimbals to use with my phone. Bcoz this one seems better for camera. Thanks again.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, yes, the Smooth 4 is a good option for phones: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rn7ce51oZslopZY

[@SYZ]

Curious if it can handle a gh4 with sigma 18-35mm and speedbooster with a rode mic attached? The payload says it supports it but I'm concerned about the balance

[@curtisjudd]

I don't have the Sigma and speed booster on hand to test. Hopefully at some point in the future I can add those to the kit here.

[@formattester6]

great review and thanks! do you think the 1DXmkII would work on this? maybe with either the sigma 8-16mm or the canon 16-35mm? thanks

[@curtisjudd]

If the combo fits under the 7 lb limit, it should work great.

[@Jsfilmz]

i preordered this soon as its announced of course these guys get ot first

[@curtisjudd]

+Jsfilmz I hope it works well for you, congratulations!

[@user-uy3fz3ee4h]

Thanks for your Extra info about this topics

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@t.murphyphotography5272]

Great video as usual Curtis, I really enjoy your channel. Though you've got me thinking, do you know if the follow focus works on a Canon 7D mark ii? Everything I've found online implies that it should, though of course there doesn't appear to be an official compatibility listing.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Tim, I'm not sure but you might check over at Zhiyun-tech's Facebook page. They actively monitor that and answer questions there. Good luck!

[@t.murphyphotography5272]

Curtis Judd thanks I'll have to try that out.

[@jjasherasher1517]

Hi, thanks for a great review. One question. It appears that due to the design of this gimbal that the lcd screen of the camera will be obscured somewhat. And that the bigger the lens, the further back the camera will have to be to balance, and the worse the screen will be obscured. Therefore making it harder to use especially with follow focus etc. In thinking of using it with a canon 5D. Curtis would you mind commenting on this based on your testing please?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi JJAsher, I haven't found that to be a problem with my GH5 but admittedly, I'm generally just focusing at infinity at a wide angle setting. I'd like to get my hands on a 5D to test it along with the follow focus feature...

[@fayssalajouzsanhaji3090]

Hi Curtis! I was wondering if during the review you had the latest firmware (2.0) on the GH5 that could maybe make the usb follow focus work? that would be so amazing... Greetings from Morocco! I love your channel!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Fayssal, no, the firmware came out after the review. I don't believe the firmware changed anything related to USB focus control, unfortunately.

[@mattcarlson12]

Wonderful review Curtis! I am on the fence between this and the V2. I almost always use a Sony A7Sii/A7Rii with a 16-35mm lens and a variable ND filter here and there as well. I have a PilotFly H2 and it vibrates ALL the time and the SimpleBGC software is a NIGHTMARE to navigate. Which gimbal would you recommend for my setup to travel with? Thank you!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Matt. The Crane 2 is probably better suited to the full-frame Sony A7 cameras. My friend did fine with the A7SII on the V2 but bigger lenses and especially when you add more weight in the form of ND, probably best to go with the Crane 2. Good luck!

[@JeffSpeers]

Any idea if it will support Canon's Cinema EOS line like the C100, C200 or XC10 for the follow focus and exposure controls?

[@curtisjudd]

Good question, I don't know. Another critical question is whether the center of gravity would be too high or the body too wide. I'll give it a try next time I'm working with a friend or acquaintance with one of the Canon C cams.

[@raredreamfootage]

Can this control the follow focus on the GH5 without needing the add-on motor (i.e. via the camera control usb)?

[@curtisjudd]

No, unfortunately Panasonic has not enabled that ability. You'll need to the add-on follow focus for the GH5. It only works with Canon 5D cameras without the add-on.

[@ted_nemeth]

Great video thank you. I will buy thru your link. Subscribed! Great channel.

[@LearnLightAndSoundSessions]

Thanks and I hope the Crane 2 works well for you!

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@bradhotdog]

any issues balancing with a mic attached to the camera? i got the crane before this that had the software update to let it handle heavier cameras, so it was able to hold my Nikon D750, lens, and Rhode VideoMic. But even though it was able to hold the weight of all these items, adding the microphone on the top just made it impossible to balance properly.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Brady, I'll test this when I get a moment. Fortunately I have each of the parts to do this.

[@GabrielZaidan]

Thanks man, it helped a lot :)

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@SymonSaysTV]

Good as always!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@mike-mintz]

great video. i plan on preordering because of this! am curious what shutterspeed you filmed those 60fps shots with?

[@curtisjudd]

180 degrees or roughly 1/120th of a second.

[@AlfaRomeoFox]

Hi, Do you know if the Zhiyun has an "auto follow" for the GH5, able to follow me while I am shutting myself?

[@curtisjudd]

Not on this one as that would require the camera and crane to communicate to a level that they don't at present.

[@MatthewChenDirector]

Is it possible to balance this with the Nikon D750 when using heavier lens like a 24-70 zoom?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Matthew, I don't have the 24-70 on hand to test but perhaps others here know. Does the combination fit within the weight limit? There is quite a lot of room with the quick release place to move the camera fore and aft...

[@richmondcorporatevideo8331]

Hey Curtis, great video! I'm having trouble getting total control of the camera with the cable ...for example I can't get the camera to record from the record button on the Crane 2... is there a link that goes over this comprehensively? Thanks

[@richmondcorporatevideo8331]

whoop...nevermind, I just watched your video again and found it on 3:57.... whatta bummer... I own a sony and it won't talk to it...

[@curtisjudd]

Unfortunately, you're right. 😟

[@catalinbalasaa]

What settings can I change on the Panasonic GH5? I do not understand from the chart (camera control cable function), it says photo, video and standard camera control line.

[@curtisjudd]

According to the chart, it doesn't support GH5 (which has a USB-C input), but another commenter said that they use the Crane V2 with their GH5 via USB cable so I have some more research and testing to do to figure this out. More to come!

[@curtisjudd]

Update: just learned that this is the cable which works with the Crane V2 and GH5. Turns out that it is not the USB port on the GH5 that it uses but the remote port which is usually used for remote shutter release modules: amzn.to/2wkNg06

[@stophersecher7563]

Hi Curtis, when pushing/ activating 'calibrat' in the OLED menu on crane 2 (just after 'joystick'), it starts on STEP1 - stays for a while, changes to STEP2 - and kind of just stops there? Not sure I do/ use this correct, and can't really find any good explanation anywhere? Can you help me understand when and how to use 'calibrat' in the OLED menu on Crane 2? Cheers Stopher

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Stopher, it stays in position 2 until it senses that it is there and records the position. So if it stay there, the gimbal believes that it is not yet in the correct position. It can take some tweaking it around. If you're still having trouble getting it to register, probably best to contact Zhiyun support. Best wishes!

[@kenyee88]

Looks like there's enough rear space to handle a GH5 + SB + Sigma 18-35?

[@matthewb9776]

I have the same question - gh5 + metabones + sigma 18-35. Please let us know :)

[@curtisjudd]

Happy to as soon as I get my hands on them. :)

[@curtisjudd]

But my guess is that it should work fine!

[@RaheesGarage]

I have mine with my 18 -35 and speed booster, it works just fine, there is half an inch space left after balancing it. with a Cage on

[@lucaercolani6797]

Just got my new Zhyiun Crane 2 , guys...It works! Perfectly! Thank you very much Curtis for this video. I really hope Panasonic would upgrade GH5 to change focus manually. (I apologize for my english =D )

[@alienempaces1850]

is it possible to balance the crane 2 with canon 80d mounted w/ a gopro? i really had a hard time balancing it. please help.

[@curtisjudd]

I'm not sure as I don't have that combination but I will say that all of the gimbals I've used are pretty sensitive to adding weight to the top of the camera which then changes the center of gravity (e.g., I tried to put a RODE VideoMic Pro on top of my Panasonic GH5 and it did not work well). If on the other hand you mount the GoPro to the handle of the gimbal, that would work but the GoPro would not be stabilized.

[@kipling1957]

Thanks, Curtis. It looks to be a solid piece of kit. I wonder if this would work with a C100 without the handle and lightweight lens - about 5lb I would guess. Thoughts anyone?

[@rayafahreza]

kipling1957 would like to know the same too.

[@curtisjudd]

Good question. Next time I'm working on a project with one I'll give it a try. 5 lbs should be within the limits as long as the body isn't too wide for the plate.

[@YoungBlaze]

kipling1957 i know for a fact it works with that, its a guy on youtube that balanced it

[@charleswilkinson8167]

It works fine with our C100 Mk I using the 50mm 1.2 and even the longer 24 - 105

[@DrLang-qf3fk]

I am really impressed from your channel. Great work. In this video you talk in front of a blue background that look great. Can you make a short video about your setup? How you get such a beuatiful blue backgroud? Once again great channel!

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Erkan, will do!

[@BrentRivers]

Fantastic overview, always a great channel to get to the point information. Now I just need to find a buyer for my V2 so I can get this one. With a full cage on my A6500 and any decent lens, it's a bit much for the V2 topping out the weight max

[@curtisjudd]

👍

[@xperiencevisuals3894]

Do you know if i is possible to power on the gimbal when its being used in inverse mode?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, but it gets confused so not recommended.

[@Taurai]

Got the v2 a month ago for my GH5 and loving it. The focus feature on this one is a game changer. If Panasonic releases an update to allow focus pulling from the crane, i'll be upgrading for sure.

[@curtisjudd]

+Taurai M V2 and original are great with the GH5. I just ordered the cable to see which features work with the GH5. Somebody else posted here that they got at least the exposure settings and autofocus trigger working...more to come.

[@catalinbalasaa]

Nice video as always! Can you tell me what are the dimesions of the gimbal, length (without the tripod) and width. Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Catalin, 210*118*450mm

[@ekolfotografcilik3086]

I linked mark 2 on zhiyun crean 2. everything is normal. but when I record video I set the iso snapshot not working. Does it have to be said or is there something I'm missing? If you could help with this situation, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

[@curtisjudd]

I'm not sure I understand your question but it sounds like you may want to contact Zhiyun tech support: www.zhiyun-tech.com/support_en/

[@rudytorres6559]

Curtis great video. I just bought it. It came in yesterday. I can't figure out inverted mode or what Zhiyun calls bottom up mode. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Rudy, you turn the gimbal on with the handle under the camera. Then once it is powered on and working, you can rotate the handle around the side of the camera until the camera is below the camera. The gimbal will act confused for a second while the handle is horizontally off to the side, but will figure it out as you continue to move the handle around the camera. I hope that helps!

[@JuanKis]

Thank you Curtis, great review! Which would be your gimbal option for the Sony A 6000 camera?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Juan, I'd go with the Zhiyun Crane V2: amzn.to/2gTtm5S

[@JuanKis]

Curtis Judd thank you so much!

[@paulfehrenbach9207]

Can the Crane 2 function as an automatic leveler? I have an unusual requirement to auto level a still camera for use of still shot with a tilt shift lens. Zhiyun says “Press mode button four-time and the tilt axis and roll axis will be horizontal”, only with latest firmware 1.72. The reason I want to know is that communication with China can be dicey. Also, do I have press the button each time I move the tripod or is this mode continuous?

[@curtisjudd]

Hello Paul, I’m not sure this or any gimbal will achieve the critical leveling that you need with tilt shift still photography, but this one is good at keeping things level if properly balanced well enough for video (to achieve horizontal horizons). You do not need to continuously press the button. One time per session should do the job. Good luck!

[@JobGreg]

Great review. Any chance you have come across a suitable handgrip for the Crane 2

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks! No, I haven't yet, still looking.

[@Justadityaraj]

An Excellent Review ! 💯🔥

[@curtisjudd]

+AR Tech thanks!

[@travelwithkeshavchhabra7765]

I'm having nikon d850 will it support everything or what are the limitations I will face with these crane 2 and nikon d850 combination

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, I don't have a D850 to test it but based on the camera's spec, this should work with most of the small to medium sized lenses.

[@tamersakr3668]

Thanks for your great review. Did you test it in inverted mode and are there any issues you find in using it upside down ? and what about dual handle ? Thanks for your time

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Tamer, Yes, the asphalt path shot was done in inverted mode as was the gravel walkway shot. The Crane 2 does well in inverted mode with one caveat: The Crane 2 must be powered on in upright mode and then move to inverted mode while it is already one. If you invert the Crane 2 and then power it on, it gets confused the gimbal points the camera at the vertical arm motor. I have not used the add-on dual handle so I'm not sure how well that works. Good luck!

[@jnn01972]

Hi Curtis. Is your Panasonic cable works with the GH5? Mine can't trigger photo nor video. It starts de video recording and it stops immediately. I have seen same problem in forums. Are you experiencing that? Thanks

[@curtisjudd]

I bought this cable and it allows me to start and stop recording as well as trigger the camera to auto focus (does NOT allow use of the follow-focus knob): amzn.to/2xPPLIn

[@wayneh521]

Awesome review, very informative, if you have a 5d mark III, could you test the camera controls and follow focus on the gimbal, and see if it plays nice while shooting magic lantern raw. The reason i'm requesting this is that magic lantern has had problems shooting raw while using the USB slot to control camera settings in the past. many thanks Wayne.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Wayne, unfortunately I don't have a 5dmkIII or IV but if I encounter one, I'll revisit this. Thanks!

[@wayneh521]

thanks

[@leonsview]

Great review! What do you thing is the minimum weight of camera and lens you need to use the crane 2 in its best way? Would be great if you could answer

[@curtisjudd]

I'm not sure but can say that my Sony a6000 with the 50mm f/1.8 was too light for the Crane 2 but did great on the original Crane.

[@MookMan]

Hi Curtis, hoping you can offer some advice. I have just bought the Crane 2 and have a Sony A6000...it hasn't been shipped yet so I could cancel and go for the V2 but how difficult do you think it would be to add weight and use the Sony A6000? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[@davebelcherguitar]

Wondering about compatibility with older Nikon cameras like my D600. I realize it won't follow focus, but otherwise compatible? Thanks for the review.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Dave, good question. I don't have a D600 on hand anymore (sold it to help fund my D750) but if I encounter one in the future, I'll try to test it out. Anyone else out there have a chance to confirm? You can, of course, use the gimbal without the USB cable if you just need basic stabilization.

[@davebelcherguitar]

Thanks for the reply, Curtis. Gimbals are still a bit out of my budget but I'm shopping around for near future. Thanks again.

[@RobbyHuang]

The battery life is very surprisingly good. That is probably the biggest reason I haven’t bought one of these yet but with battery life like that I definitely want to give this a try

[@curtisjudd]

I agree, incredible battery life.

[@ParadigmImagesVideoPhotography]

Thanks, it would be difficult to use the follow focus while holding the gimabl anyway.

[@curtisjudd]

A little. Probably workable, but if you're using a heavy camera, I agree.

[@neilagonoy3541]

Hello! :) Great video. :) I was just wondering if Zhiyun Crane 2's Follow Focus will work with Canon EOS 6D Mark 2? :)

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Neil, I don't know for sure but you might ask over on Zhiyun's Facebook page. They actively monitor questions there. Good luck!

[@alloneword154]

Hi. Would this allow the flip out screen on the 80D to be swung out?

[@curtisjudd]

Yes, I believe so. I am able to use the flip-out screen on my GH5.

[@derrickvision9547]

Also do you set it to light medium or heavy for the gh5?

[@curtisjudd]

+Derrick Vision I've settled on medium.

[@EcBaPr]

hi Curtis.. do you know if this gimbal was attached upside on a roof (looking down towards the floor) could it work like a regular pan/tilt head when used with the ZW-B02 remote ? would you have all the normal movement and control like any other (budget) pan/tilt head would offer ? also would it work ok with Panasonic G85 ? do you think that camera would be heavy enough to achieve proper balance ?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, yes, I think it would work as a pan/tilt head with remote control from the phone app or remote. The G85 is 200g lighter than the GH5. That's a touch more than the Sony a6000 I tested which did not work well (G85 is ~500g, a6000 with kit lens is 468g). You might be better off with the Crane V2 which does work well with lighter cameras and can also be controlled remotely: amzn.to/2zlJ6mf

[@EcBaPr]

awesome, thanks for the reply.. I'll check out V2.

[@Domerfly]

Hi Curtis, how would the GH5 flip out screen function with is? Can I use popped out or would you keep it in place? I'd like to avoid adding on a small hd focus on this rig. Any tips would help. Thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

+Domenico .P yes, confirmed, I balanced it with the screen out with the 12-35mm and no problem. Need to flip the screen back to move to inverted mode but otherwise works well.

[@Domerfly]

Curtis Judd thx so much. I’ve been contemplating getting one. It would be paired with my GH5 + Voightlander 17.5 but I’m thinking about getting an auto focus prime with it.

[@madebythebird]

Fantastic pice of kit. Mine's been in steady (!) use for 4 weeks with SonyA7II and 24-70 lens. Pop a monopod and strap on the bottom of this and it's perfect for longer shoots. I recently ran alongside a football match for 2.5 hours and in APS-C mode, too - this is probably at it's limit but generally… Perfect.

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks madebythebird, great to hear!

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Great review as usual Curtis. And...now we're telling everyone to click the bell. :)

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks to your recent video!

[@tuomaskoskialho]

Great video! Do you know how this gimbal works with Canon xc10, which is considered as a camcorder?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Tuomas, I haven’t tried the combination but having used the XC-10 a couple of years ago, I would think it would work with most small to medium lenses.

[@move1071]

Great video! does the follow focus knob would work on canon 6d mark ii? and would it also work with the same 6d mark ii gimbal face tracking if you put on tripod, thanks!

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, I don't know whether it works with the 6DII. Perhaps somebody else here has tested?

[@move1071]

Curtis Judd Thanks! Hopefully it does!

[@mylesthompson5804]

So no focus control on 5D mark 2 or GH5? That's a shame. I wonder if they will add support for the GH5?

[@curtisjudd]

+Mark Thompson that would be a job for Panasonic since they have not implemented an open standard for remote focus control (other than autofocus trigger via their proprietary 2.5mm input which is like pressing the shutter button down 1/2 way) I hope that makes sense.

[@FLOODOFSINS]

You lucky dog. That looks like a sweet gimbal. I'm expecting you to have hulk arms in your next video after using this heavy gimbal. I got my rode sc4 cable and it seems to wotk, however I'm unable to monitor the audio back from my phone. Unlike the rode videomic me where I could plug in a set of earbuds into the back of mic to monitor I can't do that with the rode sc4 cable. I have to unplug the cable from the phone in order to play back from the phone speaker. Is there any way to playback sound without having to do that?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi, unfortunately not with the SC4. :(

[@FullTimeEuphoria]

The best review thank you!! Would you recommend this over the Ronin?

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks Claudio. I haven't used the Ronin so cannot say, but there is definitely a place for gimbals with a dual handle which I think is a bit more stable.

[@carsonau]

Thanks for the great video, this is the first review that mentioned this gimbal doesn't work well with a lighter camera such as an a6000, have you tried lowering the motor power to see if that works better?

[@curtisjudd]

I did and it was still jittery. May need to add more weight.

[@carsonau]

Thank you good to know, I will save some money and weight just buy the v2 instead. :)

[@analienundercover8207]

you look so good ! you sound so good too ! i’m shook 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@curtisjudd]

Thanks!

[@sanketss84]

Dont know if this is a weird question but can the Crane 2 with its 3.2kg payload take a Canon C200 Body [remove monitor and handle] + Sigma 18-35 f1.8 ART

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Sanket, that's a fine question. Unfortunately I don't know the answer because I don't have that combination on hand to test it. I have a friend who recently bought a C200 so I will ask if we can try it next time I see him (though I must warn, we only meet up once every few months).

[@TechByteGuy]

In the video it was mentioned that the Crane2 needed to be weighted down for smaller mirrorless cameras. How about GH4 ? Does it need to be weight down also? or would the Crane V2 work better with the GH4?

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Michael, no, it works fine with the GH4. It was the Sony a6xxx series which needed more weight in my testing. You can also use the GH4 very nicely on the Crane V2. The main difference is that if you move to a bigger camera later, the Crane 2 is a better investment. I hope that helps!

[@TechByteGuy]

Thank you Curtis. I appreciate you channel.

[@albertoripol]

Hi, does it really works (I mean the follow focus) with a Canon 60D? Thanks,

[@curtisjudd]

I don't believe so but I do not have a Canon 60D to test it. Maybe there is another Canon 60D shooter here who does?

[@gajenderkumar966]

Thank you Curtis Judd for this video And Hello from India. I have Sony a6300 camera with me and looking for a gimbal but with this, I am also thinking I would like to buy heavier camera (DSLR or Mirrorless) in the future. So keeping that in mind should I buy Crane 2. Please suggest how should I use my A6300 camera on Crane 2.

[@curtisjudd]

Hi Gajender, to make the a6300 balance, you may need to find a quick release plate or any other add-on to help balance the camera since the a6300 is very, very front heavy. It will require some experimentation. Best wishes!

[@gajenderkumar966]

Thanks a lot Curtis. I have made my mind to buy it. Thanks again. Keep posting videos :)

[@joeltrapani9001]

Great review! Do you know if follow focus works with the Nikon D750?

[@curtisjudd]

It does not, unfortunately. This is a limitation of the Nikon.

[@joeltrapani9001]

Thanks for the answer!