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Zhiyun Launches Crane 4 and LED lights

Zhiyun is a market leader in designing camera gimbals for all types of camera systems, from compact smartphone gimbals to full-sized DSLR and video camera stabilisers. In an exciting development during July 2023, Zhiyun launches Crane 4 and LED lights to help solo creators, moviemakers and photographers elevate their craft with a new generation of features alongside a trio of new LED lights for video.

The all-in-one Zhiyun Crane 4 Combo features a new wrist rest and handle for improved grip, while both the combo and Zhiyun Crane 4 include balance indicator lights to let you know when its time to balance your equipment.

Our review highlights Crane 4’s new features and what’s included with the next-generation professional gimbal stabiliser, which is made for heavier mirrorless cameras, Digital SLR and even smaller pro video cameras like the BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro.

What is the Zhiyun Crane 4?

Zhiyun Crane 4 is a 3-axis gimbal stabiliser for full-frame cameras and compact cinema cameras. It has a payload of 6kg, weighs 1.67 kg (without tripod), and offers a long runtime of 12 hours on a single charge, which takes around 1.5 hours.

The gimbal will be familiar to existing users of other Zhiyun gimbals, and offers native landscape shooting with easy switching to vertical mode for content suitable for various social channels. Bluetooth shutter control is compatible with most cameras, and an extended grip to support bodies with larger full-frame lenses.

The balance indicator light provides a useful alert when you need to balance equipment and Crane 4 also features a built-in fill light, with a 3200 lux output to highlight your talent in darker environments. The light also offers adjustable and accurate colour temperature (CRI 95+), reducing the need for additional fill lighting in the studio or while on location.

This forth generation gimbal sees the addition of an extended arm length and stronger internal motors, allowing it to support a system such as the Canon C70 (1170g) with an RF 24-70mm F/2.8L IS USM Zoom Lens attached (900g). This is brilliant news for solo creators and filmmakers who need to support heavier gear from a lightweight stabiliser that can achieve extremely smooth motion and automated effects like timelapse, remote control and monitoring via accessories.

How much does Crane 4 cost?

The Zhiyun Crane 4 costs £649.00 and the Zhiyun Crane 4 Combo is priced at £729.00. The Combo’s additional price adds a Sling Grip and Wrist Rest, which are essential accessories that take the strain out of longer shooting sessions with extra support, as well as facilitating Sling Mode.

Do you need a gimbal stabiliser?

You may question whether a gimbal is worth it and when to use one, and the short answer is yes, a gimbal is a vital video accessory, which is essential for capturing certain types of shots. When recording handheld, a gimbal/stabiliser is effective regardless of any camera or lens stabilisation, helping capture smooth motion without bumpy, unstable footage, which can ruin a scene.

Crane 4 Vs Combo kit

Crane 4 offers all of the same features as the combo, aside from a Sling Grip and upgraded Wrist Rest, which are required for Zhiyun’s effective and innovative Sling Mode. Adding these also allows you to mount an accessory thanks to a 1/4" screw hole on the grip. Both versions benefit from these features:

• Colour touchscreen (1.22”)
• 12h runtime
• 10W fill light built-in
• Simple switching between landscape and portrait mode
• Bluetooth shutter control for most modern cameras
• Customisable trigger button and front dial
• Remote monitoring with TransMount Image Transmission system
• 1 hour 50 minutes PD fast charging
• Intelligent balance indicator

What comes with Zhiyun's Crane 4?

The package contains everything needed to start using the gimbal including rechargeable batteries inside the chassis:

What are the new LED lights from Zhiyun?

Having gained an extensive following in video and movie industries for their pioneering gimbals, it was a natural step for Zhiyun to move into photo and video lighting for the same audiences. Their professional gimbals include fill-lights and now they have added dedicated LED light wands plus a high-powered Molus G200 video light.

The light wand joins the Fiveray Series as a standalone Fiveray V60 LED Light Wand and as the Fiveray V60 Combo, which adds barndoors, a diffuser and a grid to modify the light. Light wands have become popular for their versatility and portability, enabling videographers and photographers to illuminate a scene or subject in novel ways.

Adding continuous light allows both photo and video creators to change the mood, adjust colour and light intensity in any scene more creatively and elevate production values with affordable lighting.

Fiveray V60 features

Key Fiveray V60 includes easy-to-use features, which ensure the light wand is versatile, portable and emits controllable light, which you can experiment with in your shots. Key features include:

• Portability for creators who shoot in the studio and on-the-go
• Built-in cooling system developed by Zhiyun
• 60W light output which can boost to 100W when powered by mains outlet
• Adjustable brightness and colour with simple controls
• Fast PD charging in just 1 hour 21 minutes
• At full light output the battery lasts for around 24 minutes
• Works while charging

What is the Zhiyun Molus G200 COB Light?

Zhiyun’s new Molus G200 COB Light draws on all of the benefits of COB lighting, in order to combine a smaller size with bright output. A COB light differs slightly from an LED in that continuous light output is more uniformly spread and COB lights don’t get as hot as traditional studio lights or LEDs.

COB lighting can be used for photo and video recording, with the benefits of being able to shoot what you see, and the Molus G200 includes adjustable CCT and DMI, offers extremely accurate colour and comes with a reflector, which increases standard light output of 9460 Lux to 61,500 Lux, or higher when using the boost feature.

As with the Fiveray Series you can boost light output, which in the case of the in the Molus G200 is from 200W peak to 300W. There are plenty of one-touch settings to experiment with, including the ability to add special effects, audio synchronising and you can also incorporate standard Bowens mount accessories to shape and modify the light.

With the launch of the Crane 4 and new LED lights, Zhiyun is taking their product line to a new level with significant upgrades to the gimbal and excellent features across the LED and COB lights. They cater for hybrid creators as well as traditional photography or filmmaking needs, helping keep Zhiyun one-step ahead and ensuring today’s content creators have the tools they need to raise production values quite affordably.

Get the Zhiyun Crane 4 Combo if you want maximum versatility and comfort over extended periods of filming, or the standard Zhiyun Crane 4 if the handle and wrest aren’t needed for your style of work. For lighting the Fiveray V60 Combo offers the greatest versatility for handheld shooting, while the Molus G200 video light gives you high light output and excellent features in a studio based environment.

If you’re upgrading from a previous generation stabiliser, or have unwanted equipment, why not grab a free quote and use our easy camera gear trade-in service to offset the cost of upgrading.

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By Nick Dautlich on 19/07/2023