Popular Chinese handheld gimbal maker Zhiyun Tech started 2018 with a bang! After teasing the new gimbal for a week on their Facebook and Instagram, Zhiyun Tech kept true to their word and unveiled their latest Zhiyun Crane Plus or (Crane +) handheld gimbal stabiliser aimed at videographers, who use DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
You may recall that Zhiyun Tech are still hot off the heels of releasing their Crane 2 gimbal just two months and change ago – check out my post about the Crane 2 here. Naturally, the announcement of the new Crane Plus just two and a half months after the Crane 2, wasn’t to the liking of many Zhiyun Crane 2 owners, who’ve just received their new toys to say the least.
And while there are differences between the 2 gimbals (from what I can tell by the limited information available on the Crane Plus), there are some similarities as well.
The new Zhiyun Crane Plus can hold up to a 2.5kgs maximum payload (about 5.5 lbs) and also features a 6th generation Instune Algorithm System to power the motors. This appears to be the same algorithm systems as on the Crane 2, which can hold a slightly bigger payload of 3.2kgs max.
However, the new Crane Plus appears to be missing the follow focus wheel and the OLED screen from the Crane 2, and shares more of the design of the Crane v2, than the Crane 2.
The new Zhiyun Crane Plus also comes with a camera control cable, which allows for advanced timelapse, photo or zooming functions. Looks like the Crane Plus is focused more on more advanced moving timelapse functions such as panoramas etc. All this is done via their smartphone app – ZY Play.
via Zhiyun Tech
The Crane Plus also features a POV (Point of View) mode, which allows for additional camera movement by providing up to 45 degrees of synchronous motion on the roll axis, which is helpful when you want to grab shots like in the photo above.
Intelligent Object Tracking is yet another new feature for the new Crane Plus. Object-tracking is supported via the smartphone app, which allows users to draw a box around the object they want to track on the phone screen, then the Crane Plus can easily track the moving object.
Zhiyun Tech have also included a bunch of accessories with the purchase of every Crane Plus, including an Anti-Slip sweatband (for extended use), Camera Cables, aluminium tripod for setting your Crane Plus down on a flat surface and/or using as an extended grip.
The Crane Plus does seem like an exciting new gimbal for those Panasonic GH5 shooters or (Sony a6500 / A7s II such) who are also into advanced timelapse techniques and more creative uses of a handheld gimbal. Plus, that new GH5 model that’s supposedly being announced next Monday at CES 2018 will definitely sit comfortable in the new Crane Plus.
Pricing and availability for the Crane Plus have not been revealed yet. I couldn’t find any footage from the new gimbal, although Zhiyun’s website does have a thumbnail for one, I cannot get it to play on three difference browsers and both PC and MacOS, so if you can, do share in the comments below.
[via Zhiyun Tech]
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