So, the main contenders to the title of the best gimbal of the year are quite clear. After the first couple of years where DJI held the crown with no contenders in sight, in the most recent years, many have approached and have sometimes surpassed what DJI had to offer.
With no doubt, these three, the Zhiyun Crane 3, DJI Ronin-S, and MOZA Air 2, have been generating a lot of buzz in the community, each of them with its pros and cons, different functions, different ergonomics and such, so one of the most asked questions around seem to be – Which one should I choose? Well, here to give us the answer with his final triple comparison is Mauro of MAURO’S FILMS.
As you can see, there is a lot of footage here that we can examine to judge the results. It seems from these images that the Brand keeps loyal to its name, and DJI is the best gimbal in horizontal stability, followed by the Zhiyun Crane and finally by the Moza Air 2.
This roll instability is not as hard as you would think and it could also be improved with a future firmware update, since its quite sure that the motors have enough power to do that.
Design-wise a huge shout goes to Zhiyun-Tech and their Crane 3. The side handle that allows carrying the gimbal in low mode shots is a godsend.
Not only that, it also allows to distribute the weight in a better way, leaving you less exhausted at the end of the day, and that is a great plus that adds up to the fact that the device has dual motors for focus pulling and zoom, and finally you have a built-in capability to use your cell phone as a monitor. Where the Crane loses is on the weight side of things.
The Moza Air 2 is the lightest setup of the three, but at the same time, it’s not modular so it has a bigger footprint making it less comfortable to travel with.
The Ronin is the oldest product on the market of the trio and misses the function screen the other two have, but makes for the difference once disassembled. When you remove the battery pack, it becomes the easiest to pack.
The Crane, on the other hand, comes back on the top with the biggest payload, an impressive 4.6kg, and has as the Moza removable and rechargeable batteries, unlike the Ronin-S.
So trying to sum up, which is the best one was the question, right? And the answer is, as it always is, it depends. If you’re looking for great payload, more accessories, and functions, you have the Crane as a winner.
If you’re on a budget and want a no-frills, down on business, cheap gimbal, you have your Moza. And finally, if you want portability, do not need many accessories, and want the best stabilizing performance, you can opt for the Ronin-S.
[source: MAURO’S FILMS]
Order Links:
Zhiyun-Tech CRANE 3 LAB Handheld Stabilizer (B&H, Amazon)
DJI Ronin-S Handheld Gimbal (B&H, Amazon)
Moza Air 2 3-Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer (B&H, Amazon)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
Claim your copy of DAVINCI RESOLVE - SIMPLIFIED COURSE. Get Instant Access!