Crane M3 Gimbal 3-Axis Handheld Stabilizer All in One Design for Mirrorless Cameras,Smartphone,Action Cameras For Gopro Hero 10/9/8 5/6/7 Sony A7M2,A7R2,A7M3 GX85 iPhone 13 12 Pro Max 11

Epic journey beginning with something seen on amazon. A product unheard of. The very idea of being able to carry a movie camera smoothly without shake or tilt I looked into years ago and got nowhere. Hand held dolly shots are now not only possible they are also affordable. I gave myself a £200 limit and also quickly decided that big, awkward ones were out. It seems Zhiyun are the main contenders. But which model? An early front runner M2S seemed ideal. Light and small and exactly £200. But not available. Whilst waiting stock a special offer on the M3 had me delving into its specs. I could see it is 150g heavier but significantly different model to the M2S. I liked the screen, the higher weight carrying limit, the joystick and other buttons and it was available for just £219 which I presumed was last year’s model territory. Correct. Yet the huge leap of faith required to purchase one of these gimbals is due to my camera not being on any Compatibility List. But my Fujifilm X-T200 has a Remote control and I figured most of the controls on this gimbal device are to control the movement of whatever is placed on its arm. Correct. I took the plunge. It took exactly two hours to charge from a cheap usb on the end of an extension lead. Day one is unpacking and charging. Day two is seeing if any control possible of camera and balancing the camera. Tried leads supplied but they are only if you wish to drain the gimbal battery into your camera battery. Silly. Eventually balancing is sussed and quite easy except for still undone Pan Axis. Eventually. Then the M2S became available. But that screen, the auto calibration had me just about very happy. And moving it around is a definite other string to your bow when it comes to movie making. You can even move in on a shot Cecil B. De Mille style. And you have a floodlight, adjustable for brightness and colour, at your fingertips. The Instructions supplied are very poor and the QR code can’t be scanned as its too small. I photographed it and then scanned the back of my camera. Done for 44 page A4 print-out instructions and video tutorials downloadable. I now have a movie making rig. It has 16mm XF lens which is great glass for close-ups and wide shots. The Remote control is mainly for being able to focus when you change distance from lens to subject. I don’t believe I could ever better my still image collection of ‘Every Stone is Government’ film. Now I must make a movie. Coming Soon.

I never got the hang of the gimble so I sold it on. It's only suitable if you can leave the same camera attached all the time, that way you avoid resetting it up everytime

Likes: -Small and portable -well designed - gimble balancing is quick and easy Dislike -battery doesnt last as advertised so,forget about charging the camera with it. basically continous use of 2/3 hours drains out the whole battery. - universal small quick release plate would be great instead what’s provided.

Really disappointed for my Crane M3 to have stopped working on its very first use. Took it to Kenya to record a holiday of lifetime and experienced a complete hardware fault (screen kept saying “upgrade” then “failed). Tried to update the firmware using the ZY Play app but was unable to connect to the gimbal using Bluetooth. Contacted the manufacturer hoping they could help, but they told me to return to the seller so I suspect this is a known issue. Incredibly frustrated to have lugged this around on the whole trip (taking up valuable luggage space) and not be able to use it. Even more annoyed I haven’t been able to film the holiday video I had planned. Debating wether to bother replacing it or just get my money back.

This is not a good gimbal. Though I feel mine may have been defected. over heated when on for only a couple of moments to the point of burning to touch. Touch display didn't work so couldn't access settings Sent back still awaiting refund. I will update on how good their customer service is

Really unhappy about this it only works for video but won't take photos which for £369 i expect it to do that is just stupid why would you design something to do one thing and not the other such a shame

The Zhiyun Crane M3 is a smart and ergonomic way of capturing your film or movie project. It is capable of carrying the heaviest and largest of DSLR or DSLM cameras - which can be controlled through an easy to use touch screen gimbal handle. The M3 is a multi-functional, user friendly gimbal stabilizer capable of capturing those special moments, no matter the occasion. Wanting to start your own videography studio with something small, light-weight, cost-effective and subtle? Then the M3 allows you to unlock all of those possibilities in one body. Featuring an extremely simple design with numerous accessory screw threads for screens, microphones and more; the M3 is everything you need to become the videographer you imagined

For those after an all-in-one professional gimbal, the Zhiyun Crane M3 is a must buy! Not only does it offer support for smartphones, action cams, and mirrorless cameras; it also features integrated lighting and audio options. And all this is squeezed into a device that weighs as much as a water bottle! Build quality is excellent and touch scenery is great for adding precision to your final photo and video captures. Charging takes about 2 hours and this provides 6-8 hours of usage. Brilliant device