User Experience

The Crane 3 seems well-designed, ergonomic, and durable. Its plastic parts appear to be durable enough for regular use and the passage of time. This gimbal is definitely for users with heavy rigs. However, it is already heavy on its own, so do consider purchasing the monopod as well if you want to mount a large camera to the Crane 3 as it definitely helps with balancing the weight properly and avoiding fatigue.


Since the gimbal is quite large, its ability to fold for easy storage and transportation is a tremendous advantage. Mounting a camera is easy. While it might take some time and effort to balance everything properly, you will eventually get the hang of it. Mounting a Sony or Lumix camera and utilizing the image transmission system and ZY Play app requires a few additional adjustments as well, which makes going through the user manual or watching a good tutorial video a must.

The company states that the batteries last 7.5 hours, but that depends on many things, including which ports are used. Also, the better-balanced the mounted camera-lens combo, the longer the batteries will last since less stress is put on the motors.


Since this is a professional tool, make sure to spend some time on familiarizing yourself with the grip's buttons and rotary dial, as well as other functionality. As has already been mentioned, there is more than one handle, which means there is no right or wrong way to hold the gimbal. A filmmaker can choose based on circumstances. The low hand grip is also the gimbal's tripod and can be held with one hand, especially if the mounted camera is not very heavy, and the tripod is covered in PU pleather for a more comfortable grip. The horizontal grip is mostly for lifting the gimbal from a standing position and also houses the batteries. Since there is enough space between the battery compartment and mounted camera, we found it very easy to remove and insert the batteries without removing the camera from the gimbal. The hand grip at the front helps balance out front-heavy camera-lens combos.


The PF/L mode trigger appears too far away and awkwardly positioned at first. However, with a bit of practice, it becomes pretty easy to reach and use.


The hand grip at the top has a design akin to a flight joystick and houses most of the buttons (where is that missile launch button?), which means most adjustments are done with just two fingers, though it again takes some practice to do so. It is designed for a stable grip and can definitely make taking low-angled shots much easier. It does seem awkward at first, but you will get used to it quickly once you start utilizing its functions while moving around. Shooting in sling mode becomes a breeze, and the transition to high-angled shots is fluid as well. Vortex and POV modes also offer more shooting options for abstract angles, which promotes translating one's imagination into action. Finally, the PhoneGo button offers a sportive mode for a more aggressive and fast filming result. The way in which the gimbal supports both shooting modes allows for professional and artistic results that are not held back by boundaries.


The TransMount monopod offers great flexibility for jib shots, especially with a smartphone mounted to the gimbal. Furthermore, the monopod can even be used with the Crane 2 gimbal and is really useful since its height is easily adjusted with its three latches.


The TransMount phone holder mechanism is capable of a 360° view point as it operates as a second monitor through image transmission. Another close-by device, such as a tablet, can be used for the same purpose as well. While images transmitted to the mounted device from the camera are delayed by nearly a second, they are of great quality, which makes this feature even more remarkable.


The multifunction camera belt fits almost everyone, and you can easily attach lots of accessories, such as the monopod, or the camera with the quick-release base plate, which is another accessory.

We tried the gimbal with two different cameras and noticed a delay of approximately three seconds between when we hit the stop button and the camera actually stopped recording. Additionally, «USB connecting» sometimes appeared on the camera's display as we were shooting, which meant we couldn't use the rec/stop button or any other functions in the interim. Thankfully, it did not happen often, which makes this a minor issue in our eyes.


We have used the ZY Play app in the past, with another Zhiyun gimbal. Anyone accustomed to using a smartphone will find the ZY Play app user interface (UI) pretty easy to navigate and use. There are many useful features, but a particularly interesting feature in addition to the image transmission function is Object Tracking, which is a really cool option if you follow someone around out in the open, or track a pet or animal. However, Object Tracking cannot be used if the target moves quickly.