Product Review: ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 Pro
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Product Review: ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 Pro
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Overview
Specs
Reviews
Features
FAQ
Accessories
Research
Rent or buy
Crane M3 Pro
ZHIYUN
4.0
Based upon3 reviews from Wedio members
Effectiveness
4.0/5
Usability
4.5/5
Value for money
4.0/5
Overall rating
4.0/5
What creators like
See all reviews
Is it worth it?
Yes
Performance-wise, CRANE–M3 Pro has impressive motor power, smooth footage, it’s also incredibly easy to use, small and compact. It’s mighty in its sophisticated motion stabilization and steadiness beyond the entry-level smartphone gimbals on the market.
No
The direct camera control from the grip doesn’t work for just any pro camera out there, so be sure to check the compatibility with your particular model.
Specs
Battery Capacity
1150mAh; 8-Hour Runtime
Charging Time
5H; Charging Current: 180mA – 4700mA
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.0; Operation Voltage: 9.6V – 12.6V
Touch Screen Size
1.22inch
Touch Screen Brightness
420cd/m2
Camera Charging
Able to charge for 5V/1A cameras
Operation Frequency
2.4GHz
Adjustable Color Touchscreen
1.22" OLED
Operation Modes
6
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Community reviews
Gabriel Miranda
ZHIYUN Crane M3 Pro: The Ultimate Review by Gabriel Miranda
See Gabriel go through the Crane M3 Pro's key specs, connectivity features, microphone input, integrated LED lights, and more.
Trailer
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Intro
1
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Overview
54
Unboxing
82
Testing
135
Modes
160
Key features
243
Ending
243
Why rent?
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Community appreciation
DK
I really like the LCD screen and motor balance function to see on detail how is working each motor axis. The versatility to use with phones and almost all kind of cameras in the market, the light weight. In combination with a phone in my opinion this can be the ultimate traveller content creator gear setup.
DK
It’s ergonomically and aesthetically clean and amazing, a nice and user friendly digital menu and accessories for extra creativity (like colour gels).
UK
Its small size, light weight and locking arms makes it super useful for run and gun setups or travelling where carrying heavy equipment around isn't ideal. My favourite feature has to be the balancing measurements in the menu when the gimbal is turned on, it shows exactly where the adjustments need to be made to balance it.
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Community critique
DK
The weight capacity is deceiving as it can’t take a standard size small camera body + any zoom lens. It has to be a small prime which is slightly irritating if you like to run and gun without the hassle of changing lenses.
UK
It's a little small and light for the best footage, sometimes balancing heavier lenses can be difficult and doesn't have the most clearance space so it doesn't always perform great sometimes blocking the screen. It does have the occasional wobble or vibration.
DK
I don't like the non removable battery and the white color (gets dirty so easy).
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Best features
Excellent connectivity
The CRANE–M3 Pro kit can proudly offer excellent Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity and very handy app control. Over built-in Wi-Fi, the gimbal can sync up with a Wi-Fi-enabled camera that supports remote zoom, shutter, and video start/stop control. Through the built-in Bluetooth, the camera connects with a free-to-download ZY Play mobile app for iOS and Android.
Further app control
The app provides remote control for many functions of the gimbal and has features that filmmakers will find especially useful – time-lapse, panorama, and slow-motion capture. There is also a Sync Motion that comes in the kit which allows the iPhone or iPad's gyroscopes to decide the direction in which the camera points. This feature is a great control method for those who don't want to deal with an on-screen joystick.
A self-powered mic
An upgrade from the standard kit of ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 Pro is a self-powered microphone with a full-size XLR connection. The mic can be switched from a cardioid pattern to a hyper-cardioid, and thanks to the XLR cable that connects it to the expansion port can make up a complete package for ambitious filmmakers.
Integrated LED lights
The integrated LED lights in the CRANE–M3 Pro kit let you use a fill light for your subject without needing external lights. It can even adjust to dark environments and keep the noise levels low. You can control the power of the light manually as well as the temperature – between 2600K and 5400K. You can also enjoy five different color gels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the payload of ZHIYUN Crane M3?
Around 2.2 kg / 4.8 lbs.
Does Crane M3 work with iPhone?
The ZHIYUN Crane M3 is a suitable gimbal for your iPhone, other smartphones and small cameras.
What is in the ZHIYUN Crane M3 Pro Package?
There is the Crane M3 gimbal, Mic, Backpack & Phone Clamp.
How much is the ZHIYUN Crane M3 Pro?
The Crane M3 Pro costs around 610 USD or you can rent it for around 30 USD per day.
How long is a ZHIYUN warranty?
There is a 90-Day USA warranty on all their gimbals.
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Accessories
Microphone
Backpack
Phone Clamp
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The ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 Pro kit comes with the gimbal, including the built-in modeling light, filters, Type-C cables for various cameras, handheld tripod, expansion base, microphone, and cables.
The kit is perfectly compatible with a variety of devices – smartphones, action cameras, compact cameras, and full-frame mirrorless cameras with certain lenses.
One thing to bear in mind: you will need an accessory mount if you’re planning to use the gimbal for smartphones and action cameras.
ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 has rightfully earned the title of a gimbal that perfectly fits small cameras.
The kit was released with some great additions to the feature set, now tapping into the smartphone users.
ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 Pro: Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Build quality
- Quick charging, long-lasting battery
- Easy to balance
- Perfect for both smartphones and cameras
- Built-in lights
Cons
- Mileage will vary with full-frame cameras
- Only a few cameras can be controlled via the gimbal
Final verdict: Who should get the ZHIYUN CRANE– M3 Pro?
Performance-wise, CRANE–M3 Pro has impressive motor power, smoothing out the usual handshake and wobble associated with handheld footage. It’s also incredibly easy to use with the direct controls on the handgrip.
The Pro kit can be a perfect fit for a variety of users thanks to its compatibility with a variety of devices and excellent stabilization on all of them. However, the direct camera control from the grip doesn’t work for just any professional camera out there, so be sure to check the compatibility with your particular model.
Overall, the ZHIYUN CRANE–M3 Pro is relatively smaller than other gimbals presented by the brand, but exactly because of its compactness and power it makes an amazing tool for filmmakers and videographers.
For every photographer and filmmaker, having a set of go-to gear is essential. Explore what other equipment you might need.
Rent or buy
Review by Gabriel Miranda and 2 other community members
The research
Why you should trust us
At Wedio, we are on a mission to keep great stories alive. We achieve this by facilitating the sharing of knowledge, tools, and services that help you as a creator craft better stories. Today we help 100,000+ monthly creators become better — together. We believe in the power of the community. Instead of gathering product reviews from one creator, we involve hundreds of creators, and create both video- and written reviews. In that way, we present the essence of the collective rather than one opinion.
How we tested this product
We used a mixed-method design. Our qualitative video reviews, were created by hand-picked Wedio members. We shipped the product to them, they tried it for at least 30 days in real-life projects, and then they did an honest video review. Our quantitative written reviews, were collected from Wedio Renters and Lenders. When renters have rented the product, they have the option to leave a product review. When lenders create a product listing, they have the option to share their thoughts on the product itself.
How we fund this review
In order to keep delivering the best possible reviews for creatives, we have four different revenue streams. This includes (1) commissions from our short-term rentals (10 % from renters 20% from lenders whenever a rental is happening through Wedio), (2) commissions from our subscriptions (we get paid by our retail partners to deliver an order), (3) commissions from brands delivering products, and (4) commissions from affiliate links to other partners (such as retail partners, software, and other creative tools).
Limitations
Even though we try to be as unbiased as possible, we still want to address two limitations of this review. First, our lenders can be affected by the “Endowment effect” when reviewing their gear. They would potentially rate their product higher than they would have done if they rented the product — just because they own the product themself. Second, there is the potential of instructors experiencing “Confirmation bias” when reviewing a product. If they received the product from us, they might have a tendency to look for all the advantages and good things about the product because they want to please Wedio and the product brand. To overcome this limitation, we strictly guide our instructors to be as objective as possible — a low rating is as valuable to us as a high rating. The review aims to guide other creators in the choice of gear.
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Get a Crane M3 Pro
USD
Buy new
https://amzn.to/3QZRejx
649
Rent from
https://www.wedio.com/en/gimbals
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