Zhiyun Crane M3 review

The Zhiyun Crane M3 is compact gimbal with a lot of handy features – but balancing it is a nightmare

Zhiyun crane m3 pro
(Image: © Hannah Rooke)

Digital Camera World Verdict

The Zhiyun Crane M3 gimbal at first seems like an impressive bit of kit – it's smaller and more lightweight than most other gimbals for mirrorless cameras, and it benefits from a stylish white finish. The buttons and joystick are perfectly placed so that you can easily control the gimbal, and the handle fits nicely in your hand. However, it isn't the easiest gimbal to balance and it has some difficult adjustment points. So if you want to frequently change lenses you'll spend a lot of time a) getting frustrated and b) trying to balance it.

Pros

  • +

    Small and lightweight

  • +

    Looks stylish

  • +

    Suits a variety of devices

Cons

  • -

    Hard to balance

  • -

    Fiddly to adjust

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The standout feature of the Zhiyun Crane M3 (aside from the fact that it's white) is its compact design. When you first take it out of the matching carry case it comes in, the size of the gimbal is quite exciting.  It's a lot lighter than the DJI RSC 2 so you'll be able to hold it for much longer without getting an achy wrist – a massive plus if you've ever had to use a gimbal for an extended period. 

We also loved the fact that it's able to take a mirrorless camera, a phone or an action camera, which makes it the perfect all-rounder especially if you want it for traveling. It also means that no matter what device you choose to shoot on, you'll always achieve smooth, professional-looking video. 

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Hannah Rooke
Freelance contributor

Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. Hannah spent three years working at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant, using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With eight years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.