If you are new to cinematography, the name Zhiyun may not be familiar to you. But don’t be mistaken. This is a brand you want to pay attention to.
I say this because I’m relatively new to the video space, and until recently the only real player in the handheld gimbal game that I knew of was DJI. Obviously I’ve seen others, but for me it’s hard to distinguish between cheap knockoffs and real players in the space. That is, until I got my hands on Weebill 3.
Espy, Weebill 3 looks quite similar to the new offerings from DJI. But when you take a closer look, this gimbal actually has things that aren’t available on DJI. In fact, it has features that are not available on any other gimbal on the market.
First, this gimbal has a built-in fill light with an adjustable color temperature. This light has a maximum output of 1,000 lumens and the color temperature can be adjusted from 2,600 K to 5,400 K. If you need more range than this color, the gimbal also comes with several color filters that can be quickly attached lamp. From here, the gimbal also has a built-in microphone for recording audio directly to your camera.
While these two features can only be found on this gimbal, the real question is: are they useful? And the answer is, absolutely. However, the usefulness of these features does not necessarily make them worthy of use. So while the microphone on the gimbal is better than what you have built into your camera, it certainly won’t be as good as a shotgun or dedicated lav mic. This also happens with fill lights. While this light is absolutely useful in difficult situations, having a dedicated light off-camera will always yield better results. But for running and gun shooting, this light can definitely get you through. So while there are better options than what’s built into this gimbal, these features can be a lifesaver in case you need them.
Still working on the smoothest tracking, but as you can see here, even with the basic and unstable understanding in the post, the footage looks smooth while chasing a four-wheeler.
But what about taking a break? New and innovative features are great, but they mean nothing if the basic functionality of the device isn’t great. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. Weebill 3 has an incredible set of traditional gimbal features, some on par with or better than the competition, one of which is the algorithm Zhiyun uses for stabilization. The algorithm is now in its 10th generation, which Zhiyun says increases its computing power by 30%, helping to “precisely remove subtle shakes in footage by re-adjusting running curves.” based on real data, delivering revolutionary stable performance.” And although this is my first time entering the gimbal world, so I have no basis for comparison, I have seen amazingly smooth footage. Especially when combined with the camera’s built-in services. But one thing I feel is missing are the complete instructions for this particular model. As a new user, the balancing act was a bit confusing and it took me a while to figure it out. It goes through the steps in the manual, but a visual diagram isn’t really enough to get the hang of it and it took me a while to figure out that the process is fairly common. So it would be great if they had some step-by-step videos showing the exact model in use (they probably have this now, but when I first got it, there wasn’t even a tutorial) use PDF online).
From here, one of my favorite features is the upgraded express release system. This system uses a dual-plate design, allowing you to remove your camera as many times as you like without having to re-balance. So you no longer have to worry about the time and hassles of setup when changing batteries or in situations where you need to set up the camera on a tripod or for handheld use only. The only rule here is that this only applies if you continue to use the same lens. Obviously, if you change your setup’s center of mass, then you’ll need to rebalance. But if you’re like a lot of shooters who use something like 24-70mm for all their gimbal clips, then you may never have to balance this gimbal beyond the initial setup. But if you do, this gimbal even has a built-in magnetic wrench, so you won’t have to look for a tool or a coin to spin everything.
Other useful features of this gimbal can be found in the wrist plate and suitcase handle. While this was my first gimbal, I would never really want to use another gimbal without a wrist plate. It supports and really helps reduce fatigue. With this wrist plate, you can use the gimbal much more loosely, especially when using the gimbal at arm length or back. For situations where you want to be even lower, setting up a suitcase handle will relieve your back strain so you don’t have to bend over as much. Its handle is also adjustable, so you can even use it to bring the rig higher than your head if you need to.
For ease of use, this gimbal also features things like a removable tripod, app controls, a 0.96-inch OLED touchscreen, customizable wheels and triggers (for those things like scrolling, focusing, changing modes, camera settings, etc.). You also won’t have to worry about running out of battery as this gimbal has a stated 21 hour battery life with PD fast charging support. So even if you need to shoot for longer than 21 hours, you can charge from 0 to 100% in just two hours. One downside to this though is the non-removable battery. Although with a runtime of 21 hours, I don’t find that to be an issue for many people, and in my usage I never got close to running out of time.
What I like
- Support wrist and suitcase handle
- Customizable wheels and triggers
- Quick release of dual plate with magnetic tool
What I don’t like
- Confusing setup for beginners
Inference
In short, you absolutely do not want to sleep on the Zhiyun brand. The Weebill 3 is as good or better than its higher priced competitors. They are also creative with their design and feature set. It gives you what no other brand can offer while giving you the stability and control you expect with today’s handheld gimbal.
