Good comparative review. Over time, I've learned from using gimbals that they are also a pain in the butt to lug around, set up, and stow away. In a set situation like a wedding, a gimbal does not always come into play, as there are extended periods when a steady mount like a tripod or monopod are better, not to mention ease of zooming, when needed. Gimbals are best utilized when camera movement is expected, but not when stationary. If you are a hybrid shooter (photo and video), they become a hindrance as pressing the shutter button can adversely affect the video being shot.
Out of several videos and articles, this was by far the best, most comprehensive, easy to follow and clean comparison between these! I got a Fuji x100v recently, because I realised that my DSLR is a little too bulky to carry around on the daily - now I want to try out a little bit of video shooting with it too, and for that thought that a gimbal would be good. M2S definitely looks like the prefect fit all round (except maybe the build quality being worse than with the M3, but that I'll have to live with)
Seriously amazing review! Gone are the days of me using a full frame camera for anything really. My preference is to rock compact cameras now and still get insanely good video. The M2S arrives to my house tomorrow morning! I’m excited! I’ve switched to mainly using my GoPro 10 and my iPhone 13 pro max for everything. I may get an aps-c camera again in the future but at this point I just couldn’t stand lugging around a full frame body with several lenses and batteries and chargers and everything anymore. I want a full system that can fit in one pocket of my backpack. The phone GoPro combo does that for me!
A very informative point-to-point comparison video. For a constant traveller like me, CRANE M2S should do thr trick with me for its compact design and decent payload. Beside, the price beats.
Thanks a lot for the great comparison between the two! The quick-release design is definitely my favorite part of the M3, glad that the M2S also has it. Love them both, but the M2S got me in terms of price haha.
Thank you for the thorough review. You saved me from a lot of headache. I originally planned to buy the M3, but I wouldn't have known without your review that it wouldn't support my Fuji X-E4 natively. It seems my only option is M2S.
Great vid! I just decided to pick a gimbal up today and doing some research, your video popped up. It was exactly the kind of information I wanted to know. Thanks for making it.
I like this gimbal comparison that makes everything clear! The white design on M3 is eye-catching and perfectly fits my ZV-E10. M2S has an aggressive price range over M3, so I believe it is an ideal option for beginners.
@@producersproducing Dude, M3 works really well with my ZV-E10 in most gimbal movements. M3 is solidly built to match my compact camera. I believe ZV-E10 deserves a better gimbal like M3
This review has covered all the points that would matter to an everyday user like me: the mounting and balancing problem, the cable control, payload, priceetc,. Liked and subscribed!
Great comparisons very thorough much better than mine haha. LIKED! and for those who want a bigger camera, zhiyun also sells an universal extended quick release plate , works for both m3 and m2s!
I think is ideal for solo vlogger , Very lightweight, built-in fill light is very convenient.There are many special effects with different light cover.
Very helpful video. I’m a professional photographer and I’m looking to get into video but I didn’t want to spend a lot. I’m going to go with the M2S since it’s compatible with my Fuji bodies right out of the box. Ordered one on Amazon for only $159 (Cyber Monday special). I get it at tomorrow. I can’t wait to play with it!
Thanks for the comparison! Both gimbals look good, I particularly like the TOUCH screen design of the M3, but for my budget, I'll probably go with the M2S.
I love the breakdown and explanation of the gimbals you hit key points that would allowed me to make an informed decision. Thanks 🙏🏼 for a job well done.
Prices have come down since her review. Six weeks ago I got the M2S at Best Buy for 209 USD. I've just ordered the M3 from Walmart for 264 USD. Todays date is April 14, 2023.
Thanks for the comparison. Zhiyun as a general rule has no quality control. Their M2 had numerous reports of the pan / tilt knob falling off instantly. The software / apps that they put out are barely functional. This is a perfect example of a company that lets it’s engineers design software and hardware without any regard for how end users might want to use it. They seem to always be playing “catchup” with other gimbal manufacturers , and not very well at that. Their firmware updates in the past have been non existent or very few, mostly to try and fix an issue that the device shipped with. Only once have I seen a feature added via firmware and that was way back for POV mode. Camera control has always been a weak point with Zhiyun gimbals. I have owned 3 Zhiyun gimbals in the past ( all purchased myself) and have finally learned my lesson and will never buy another Zhiyun product no matter what! The influencers do a pretty good job of pushing their products, buyer beware.
Everyone has their own unique experiences. We purchased 3 Zhiyun gimbals with our money prior to being sent review copies, and we have never had problems with Zhiyun. We have tried switching to other brands and encounter many of the problems you mentioned. But that has never been the case with Zhiyun.
Just subscribed and want to congratulate you on such an informative vid Suzi. I want to use my canon m50, go pro 10 and iPhone 11 Pro so am I right in thinking the Crane m2s with a seperate phone mount would be best ?
Thanks for the great video! I would only need the gimbal for my Hero 10 (for low light shooting). If you can't control the Hero 10 with the Crane M2S, does it make sense to buy the Crane M2S? The Crane M2 gimbal also cannot control the Hero 10. This means that only the light and the longer battery life would speak for Crane M2S, as you already said in your video. Do you think that the motors are also better than in the Crane M2 gimbal? So the stabilization is also better than Crane M2? Thank you for your help!!
Sure wish the M2S came out before buying my inkee falcon plus...I hate the mount and balance process on the falcon. Looks like I'll be getting another gimbal thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your video Suzy, I would got the Crane M2s, I like the quick realese plate and thr fill light, and I want a smaller gimbal, I have less strength
Hey Gemini Connect, Thanks for the comparision. I mostly use GoPro and my phone for shooting videos, I was originally going for Inkee falcon plus as it allows media mod and control Gopro through gimble and take motion timelapse, downside I can't mount my phone on it. Crane M2S seems to solve problem for both but in your opinion how hard is it to have to manually operate Gopro while its mounted on M2S ? How would the motion timelapses work ?? Has any software upgrade or support extended since you made this video 1 year ago ? Thanks again and have a great weekend.
While I prefer the M3, I believe the expansion base is only with the much more expensive Pro kit, and that is necessary to use the Bluetooth dongle (sold separately) with cameras, if we want to avoid usb cable that may get entangled in gimbal use.
*I bought the Crane M2 because of my a6400 but Since I also use the Sigma 16mm Neither choices would work for it as I would have to use my Then Ronin SC but It's too Big. But Since I'll be getting the A7C and using it with the Sigma 18-50mm with the A7C and Keep to my 16mm on a6400, but until then I just My ZV-1 on the My Crane M2, but it's a Shame the Max weight makes it just 27g more as 720 is the Max But this a more informative video, nice review.*
Thanks for this great comparison of the new gimbals from Zhiyun. Before seeing this I really had no idea what the differences were. They have a somewhat confusing gimbal product line, compared with DJI. Thanks for sharing Suzy.
Hello what did you put to the attachement of gopro to the baseplate? Is it to add weight? Because my zhiyun m3 okay with heavier slr camera but for phone it will vibrate and off. The gopro is ok at first but now it always vibrate though I have balanced it well.
Hi dear I need your help choosing one.i have a canon m50 with kit lens so which one gimbal is better for me because I'm traveling to different countries and making vlogs for RUclips. Which one is better M2 S or M3 ?
Hi Suzy, I plan to buy the Crane M2S to use with Gopro 10 + media mod for an oversea trip. Will this combination work? How difficult to balance? Thank you in advance for your reply. Tri
I'm using the media mod with the DJI Mic and I need a gimbal. I'm trying to figure out between the Inkee Falcon Plus and the M2S. could you please give me your experience on those two?
What would be a good one for gopro 10 ? Crane m2s .. I have a horhem i steady pro 4 bit doesnt seem to really pan left to right and vice versa as smoothly or as accurately with hand movements and my videos beg and end of clips are like struttering
M2 is now to be had at 99 .... i am soooo happy with my M2 ... and these new ones are just way to expensive....for what they do more.... wishing they would do another design one day...so not a stick, but a frame like the Moments gimbal one... that would easily be stored much smaller afterwards as well, without even removing the cameras
the camera is ok but the lens not sure. because it is not in the compatibility list. Here is the link for checking: zhiyun-website-shenzhen.oss-cn-shenzhen.aliyuncs.com/instruction/20230131/1675150993060-fK5cKjBQ.pdf
Hello there, I have Nikon D7100 camera to do video with gimbal DJI Ronen RS 2. Now I'm thinking and to buy GOPRO 10. this design is easier to use in cities and fast moving with Gimbals Ronin SR 2. My question is if it is a bad choice to buy GoPro 10 action camera and to be able to use for Gimbal Ronin SR2, maybe is this Hohem iSteady Pro 4 is better choice
Amazing comparison, Suzy! I’m planning to get the M2S for my Sony a6400, but the Lens I use is a sigma 16mm f1.4. Do you think the M2S will support this lens nicely?
My camera of choice IS a smartphone. But I purchased the M3 anyway just to give me some growing room. All of these are overkill for a smartphone. Even one with a lens and cage. You'd really have to load up a smartphone for it to be an issue here. At least in terms of weight. The other issues is clearance.
Nice review. Zhiyun's gimbal product line is so much more categorized and customized to different groups of users, compared to DJI. If you think DJI's product is too expensive and professional, you can always find a good substitute from Zhiyun's.
Good comparative review. Over time, I've learned from using gimbals that they are also a pain in the butt to lug around, set up, and stow away. In a set situation like a wedding, a gimbal does not always come into play, as there are extended periods when a steady mount like a tripod or monopod are better, not to mention ease of zooming, when needed. Gimbals are best utilized when camera movement is expected, but not when stationary. If you are a hybrid shooter (photo and video), they become a hindrance as pressing the shutter button can adversely affect the video being shot.
Out of several videos and articles, this was by far the best, most comprehensive, easy to follow and clean comparison between these!
I got a Fuji x100v recently, because I realised that my DSLR is a little too bulky to carry around on the daily - now I want to try out a little bit of video shooting with it too, and for that thought that a gimbal would be good. M2S definitely looks like the prefect fit all round (except maybe the build quality being worse than with the M3, but that I'll have to live with)
Also, I didnt even know you could use a Gimbal to do timelapse stuff, that is a huge plus for me! :D
Your reviews are the absolute best! Thanks for your time and effort.
Just bought the m2s and its on its way. I'm excited since I've always wanted a light set up!
Seriously amazing review! Gone are the days of me using a full frame camera for anything really. My preference is to rock compact cameras now and still get insanely good video. The M2S arrives to my house tomorrow morning! I’m excited! I’ve switched to mainly using my GoPro 10 and my iPhone 13 pro max for everything. I may get an aps-c camera again in the future but at this point I just couldn’t stand lugging around a full frame body with several lenses and batteries and chargers and everything anymore. I want a full system that can fit in one pocket of my backpack. The phone GoPro combo does that for me!
It's amazing how light M2S is! I have many stuff in my backpack when I'm out vlogging, so a lighter gimbal really helps making less extra weight!
It's such a great travel gimbal.
A very informative point-to-point comparison video. For a constant traveller like me, CRANE M2S should do thr trick with me for its compact design and decent payload. Beside, the price beats.
This was a great review answering a question many people may have. I know i did, cheer🍻
Thanks a lot for the great comparison between the two! The quick-release design is definitely my favorite part of the M3, glad that the M2S also has it. Love them both, but the M2S got me in terms of price haha.
Thank you for the thorough review. You saved me from a lot of headache. I originally planned to buy the M3, but I wouldn't have known without your review that it wouldn't support my Fuji X-E4 natively. It seems my only option is M2S.
Thank you for being 1 of 2 youtubers to address camera compatibility in depth!!!
Great vid! I just decided to pick a gimbal up today and doing some research, your video popped up. It was exactly the kind of information I wanted to know. Thanks for making it.
You have done a great job in making this comparison. Clear and concise explanations. Thank you very much for your efforts.
I like this gimbal comparison that makes everything clear! The white design on M3 is eye-catching and perfectly fits my ZV-E10. M2S has an aggressive price range over M3, so I believe it is an ideal option for beginners.
Hey C K - how does your M3 work with your ZV-E10? Was thinking on picking one up some time myself and have the same camera
@@producersproducing Dude, M3 works really well with my ZV-E10 in most gimbal movements. M3 is solidly built to match my compact camera. I believe ZV-E10 deserves a better gimbal like M3
This review has covered all the points that would matter to an everyday user like me: the mounting and balancing problem, the cable control, payload, priceetc,. Liked and subscribed!
Great comparisons very thorough much better than mine haha. LIKED! and for those who want a bigger camera, zhiyun also sells an universal extended quick release plate , works for both m3 and m2s!
I've seen also your before and was also nice to me. different points of view help us choosing what is good for us, specifically.
Have a M2, buttons failed, moved to the M3 and love it.
Just the video I needed to see! Thank you so much! You did a great job with the video!
I think is ideal for solo vlogger , Very lightweight, built-in fill light is very convenient.There are many special effects with different light cover.
Watching this is fueling the anticipation I have for my M2S to arrive, my first 3 axis gimbal!
Woo-hoo! I hope you enjoy it ❤️
Thanks for this! The M2s is currently on a Lightning Deal on Amazon for $229 which I just jumped on.
Nice find! Hope you enjoy it.
thanks for the comparison ,i would like to have the M2S instead of my M2.the quick release plate and small size surprised me .
Very helpful video. I’m a professional photographer and I’m looking to get into video but I didn’t want to spend a lot. I’m going to go with the M2S since it’s compatible with my Fuji bodies right out of the box. Ordered one on Amazon for only $159 (Cyber Monday special). I get it at tomorrow. I can’t wait to play with it!
Excellent review, I use the M2s with an A6700 and 10-20mm, very light and small.
Thanks for the comparison! Both gimbals look good, I particularly like the TOUCH screen design of the M3, but for my budget, I'll probably go with the M2S.
Yes, the touchscreen on the M3 is pretty slick.
What is the name of the round mount that you connected to the camera with the gimbal??
Super helpful videos for first time gimbal buyer for GoPro and iPhone
Crane M2S with white color is compact and light, I bought it as my sister's birthday gift. the best gimbal for a vlogger,
I love the breakdown and explanation of the gimbals you hit key points that would allowed me to make an informed decision. Thanks 🙏🏼 for a job well done.
M2S really knocked this out of the park. Phone, mirorless camera, action camera on one gimbal!!! Sheeeeesh
Great video and your comparisons were spot on. Salute
Thank you exactly the review and comparison I was looking for! Amazing!
Prices have come down since her review. Six weeks ago I got the M2S at Best Buy for 209 USD. I've just ordered the M3 from Walmart for 264 USD. Todays date is April 14, 2023.
Finally found the review i needed! Thank you!
New sub. Thanks for the great and useful comparison!
I'm excited that DJI came out with the RS3 Pro. Finally, something I can put my monsters on without pushing the envelope!
This helps decide what I will get next
The extended quick release plate is really good design, save much my time. Zhiyun always creative.
Great information, I always like your channel and learned a lot.
Thanks for making this video! Very helpful info!
Great information. Love your blog too.
Thanks for a very comprehensive review and run thru:) Very helpful!
Cool gimbal! This is the gimbal I've been waiting for.
Thanks for the comparison. Zhiyun as a general rule has no quality control. Their M2 had numerous reports of the pan / tilt knob falling off instantly. The software / apps that they put out are barely functional. This is a perfect example of a company that lets it’s engineers design software and hardware without any regard for how end users might want to use it. They seem to always be playing “catchup” with other gimbal manufacturers , and not very well at that. Their firmware updates in the past have been non existent or very few, mostly to try and fix an issue that the device shipped with. Only once have I seen a feature added via firmware and that was way back for POV mode. Camera control has always been a weak point with Zhiyun gimbals. I have owned 3 Zhiyun gimbals in the past ( all purchased myself) and have finally learned my lesson and will never buy another Zhiyun product no matter what! The influencers do a pretty good job of pushing their products, buyer beware.
Everyone has their own unique experiences. We purchased 3 Zhiyun gimbals with our money prior to being sent review copies, and we have never had problems with Zhiyun. We have tried switching to other brands and encounter many of the problems you mentioned. But that has never been the case with Zhiyun.
Is the M2s compatible with the sony Zv E10?
Yes💯
Very nicely explained video, subbed!
After comparison I prefer to buy Crane M2S, it totally meet all my demand, thank you
You're welcome 😊
I am fascinated by this video because I love the way it, is ideal for any filmmaker, thank you very much !!
Thank you for watching 🙏
Very good comparison of these. I just ordered the Crane M3 for use with an A6600 hoping it will hold the Sony 70-350mm G lens!
Great comparison. Helped me to make my decision. Thank you. 🙏😊
You are so proficient in gimbalism. Thank you
Do these include the tripod?
Yes, mini tripods are included. The M3 tripod is higher quality (rubber) while the M2S is smaller and all plastic.
@@GeminiDiscover Thanks!
Excellent review! Thank you!
Just subscribed and want to congratulate you on such an informative vid Suzi. I want to use my canon m50, go pro 10 and iPhone 11 Pro so am I right in thinking the Crane m2s with a seperate phone mount would be best ?
Thanks for the great video! I would only need the gimbal for my Hero 10 (for low light shooting). If you can't control the Hero 10 with the Crane M2S, does it make sense to buy the Crane M2S? The Crane M2 gimbal also cannot control the Hero 10.
This means that only the light and the longer battery life would speak for Crane M2S, as you already said in your video. Do you think that the motors are also better than in the Crane M2 gimbal? So the stabilization is also better than Crane M2?
Thank you for your help!!
nice review.. very informative. thank you!
Thank you much glad I came across ur page
Lovely thanks for the review
Sure wish the M2S came out before buying my inkee falcon plus...I hate the mount and balance process on the falcon. Looks like I'll be getting another gimbal thanks for sharing.
Whether it will suit for dji osmo action 3? If so which one is perfect? Thank you
Great comparison video
Thank you for your video Suzy, I would got the Crane M2s, I like the quick realese plate and thr fill light, and I want a smaller gimbal, I have less strength
Great view of the Space Needle!
Great video! Thanks
Thanks a lot for this comparison.
Hey Gemini Connect, Thanks for the comparision. I mostly use GoPro and my phone for shooting videos, I was originally going for Inkee falcon plus as it allows media mod and control Gopro through gimble and take motion timelapse, downside I can't mount my phone on it. Crane M2S seems to solve problem for both but in your opinion how hard is it to have to manually operate Gopro while its mounted on M2S ? How would the motion timelapses work ?? Has any software upgrade or support extended since you made this video 1 year ago ? Thanks again and have a great weekend.
While I prefer the M3, I believe the expansion base is only with the much more expensive Pro kit, and that is necessary to use the Bluetooth dongle (sold separately) with cameras, if we want to avoid usb cable that may get entangled in gimbal use.
Awesome review.. thanks
Thanks for the info on the Sony compatibility on the 3!
*I bought the Crane M2 because of my a6400 but Since I also use the Sigma 16mm Neither choices would work for it as I would have to use my Then Ronin SC but It's too Big. But Since I'll be getting the A7C and using it with the Sigma 18-50mm with the A7C and Keep to my 16mm on a6400, but until then I just My ZV-1 on the My Crane M2, but it's a Shame the Max weight makes it just 27g more as 720 is the Max But this a more informative video, nice review.*
Great comparison. Thx a lot.
Great review, well done! I'll be going with the M3 to match up with my SONY ZV-E10 ...thank you:)
Thanks for this great comparison of the new gimbals from Zhiyun. Before seeing this I really had no idea what the differences were. They have a somewhat confusing gimbal product line, compared with DJI. Thanks for sharing Suzy.
You're welcome 😊
I just purchased the M3 today, I hope I made the right choice.
M3 is amazing. Great choice!
Hello what did you put to the attachement of gopro to the baseplate? Is it to add weight? Because my zhiyun m3 okay with heavier slr camera but for phone it will vibrate and off. The gopro is ok at first but now it always vibrate though I have balanced it well.
great insights. thank you
Thanks great review. I have just bought the m2s to use with the sony zv e10. Hoping they work well together.
Hi dear
I need your help choosing one.i have a canon m50 with kit lens so which one gimbal is better for me because I'm traveling to different countries and making vlogs for RUclips.
Which one is better M2 S or M3 ?
The M3 has a touch screen, I think it's awesome.🤩
Will they eliminate the annoying up down movement in the gopro 10 when walking? don't see a up down servo on any on them.
Hi Suzy,
I plan to buy the Crane M2S to use with Gopro 10 + media mod for an oversea trip. Will this combination work? How difficult to balance? Thank you in advance for your reply.
Tri
Do you recommend Crane M2S for sony a6400? Heard there is a problem with bluetooth connection and controls. Regards!
Can you recommend an inexpensive gimbal for my GoPro 10?
I'm using the media mod with the DJI Mic and I need a gimbal. I'm trying to figure out between the Inkee Falcon Plus and the M2S. could you please give me your experience on those two?
niceeeeee...having a hard time to choose which one.
What would be a good one for gopro 10 ? Crane m2s ..
I have a horhem i steady pro 4 bit doesnt seem to really pan left to right and vice versa as smoothly or as accurately with hand movements and my videos beg and end of clips are like struttering
Hey will you kindly make a video how to balance phone & gopro in crane m3 .
M2 is now to be had at 99 .... i am soooo happy with my M2 ... and these new ones are just way to expensive....for what they do more.... wishing they would do another design one day...so not a stick, but a frame like the Moments gimbal one... that would easily be stored much smaller afterwards as well, without even removing the cameras
Hi, can the Crane M2s handle my old Leica V Lux 4 weight wise?
Does the M2S work with Sony ZV-E10 and Sony 11mm F1.8?
the camera is ok but the lens not sure. because it is not in the compatibility list.
Here is the link for checking:
zhiyun-website-shenzhen.oss-cn-shenzhen.aliyuncs.com/instruction/20230131/1675150993060-fK5cKjBQ.pdf
Hello there, I have Nikon D7100 camera to do video with gimbal DJI Ronen RS 2. Now I'm thinking and to buy GOPRO 10. this design is easier to use in cities and fast moving with Gimbals Ronin SR 2. My question is if it is a bad choice to buy GoPro 10 action camera and to be able to use for Gimbal Ronin SR2, maybe is this Hohem iSteady Pro 4 is better choice
Amazing comparison, Suzy! I’m planning to get the M2S for my Sony a6400, but the Lens I use is a sigma 16mm f1.4. Do you think the M2S will support this lens nicely?
Can you control gopro 11 with m3. I,am referring to stop/start function. I also have a7iii so I can use both cameras
Nice comparison...
Please suggest me budget all in one gimbal other than moza mini p
Zhiyun Crane M2
Are these good for Smartphones if were to shoot mainly with them and fewer times with Mirrorless cams and Action cams.... what do u recommend please
My camera of choice IS a smartphone. But I purchased the M3 anyway just to give me some growing room. All of these are overkill for a smartphone. Even one with a lens and cage. You'd really have to load up a smartphone for it to be an issue here. At least in terms of weight. The other issues is clearance.
I assume a DJI Action 3 will fit, functionally will it work well with this?
Hi Suzi, would the M2S support A6500 + the heavier 16-55mm f2.8 lens?
I cant seem to balance gopro 11 with mod and the ulanzi quick release on m3… possible to do a video to show how you set it up?
very useful review
When GoPro came out with its killer stabilization software, I ditched my gimbals. Just another piece of tech to charge and haul around. Sayonara.
Nice review. Zhiyun's gimbal product line is so much more categorized and customized to different groups of users, compared to DJI. If you think DJI's product is too expensive and professional, you can always find a good substitute from Zhiyun's.
Totally agree. We've always loved Zhiyun gimbals and this one did not disappoint.