Zhiyun Crane 2 Review: Is It Better Than Glidecam?

TL;DR

The Zhiyun Crane 2 is well-built and offers easy camera balancing, but it struggles with stability, especially with heavier cameras like the 1D X Mark II. While it produces smooth footage, it ultimately does not replace the Glidecam for users who prioritize reliability and ease of use.

Transcript

• Hey guys, how's it going? Welcome to another very unscientific review, this time of the Zhiyun Crane 2. (upbeat music) And now before we get into it, if you didn't get a chance to see the last video I posted, the channel name has been changed to Matti Haapoja. It's no longer Travel Feels, and I explained a little bit about why it is. The content ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ The Zhiyun Crane 2 offers a well-built design with a large cradle area for easy camera balancing.
• ❣️ Stability issues with heavier cameras like the 1D X Mark II may hinder the Crane 2's performance for some users.
• 👏 The Crane 2's smooth footage capabilities were praised by Matti Haapoja during his review.
• 🧑‍🦼 The inclusion of a focus wheel on the Crane 2 for adjusting camera focus without touching the lens was noted as a useful feature.
• 💁 Matti critiques the conventional form factor of gimbals, suggesting a need for innovation to enhance user experience.
• 🌒 The scent of the carrying case for the Crane 2 was mentioned as a drawback by Matti during his review.
• 📶 Despite the Crane 2's strengths, it was not deemed as a suitable replacement for Matti's Glidecam due to stability issues.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some of the standout features of the Zhiyun Crane 2 that appealed to Matti?

Matti appreciated the large cradle area for easy camera balancing, the inclusion of a stand for convenience, and the unique focus wheel for adjusting camera focus without touching the lens.

Q: Why did Matti ultimately decide that the Zhiyun Crane 2 was not a suitable replacement for his Glidecam?

Despite the Crane 2's capabilities, Matti faced stability issues, especially with heavier cameras like the 1D X Mark II, leading him to prefer the reliability of his Glidecam for his filming needs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Matti Haapoja reviews the Zhiyun Crane 2, noting its well-built design and the ease of balancing different cameras and lenses on the gimbal.

• Despite its features, the Crane 2 fell short in terms of stability with heavier cameras like the 1D X Mark II, leading Matti to stick with his Glidecam.

• Matti appreciates the Crane 2's smooth footage capabilities but critiques the conventional form factor of gimbals, suggesting a need for innovation.