Cody Casey
The Zhiyun Crane is a popular camera stabilizer gimbal that can help you capture smooth and stable footage. While the Crane is known for its ease of use and innovative design, achieving perfectly smooth pans can sometimes be challenging. In this article, we'll explore tips and tricks to achieve seamless panning with your Zhiyun Crane, troubleshooting common issues, and utilizing advanced features for the best results. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, mastering the art of smooth panning with the Zhiyun Crane will elevate your filmmaking to the next level.
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What You'll Learn
- Use the gimbal settings to adjust the pan degree of smoothness and the pan dead zone
- Avoid using the joystick for panning, instead use the 『follow』 setting
- Ensure the camera is balanced on the gimbal by adjusting the height handle
- Use the ZY play app to access automated features like time-lapse and motion time-lapse
- Try using a different gimbal, such as the Glidecam, for smoother panning
Use the gimbal settings to adjust the pan degree of smoothness and the pan dead zone
To pan smoothly with the Zhiyun Crane gimbal, you can adjust the gimbal settings to change the pan degree of smoothness and the pan dead zone.
The gimbal settings can be adjusted through the Zhiyun Crane app. To smooth out jerky movements when panning and stopping, increase the pan degree of smoothness to 200 and set the pan dead zone to 12. These settings can be saved as a profile in the app, allowing you to switch between different profiles for various shooting situations.
The gimbal should have three settings: Lock, Pan Follow, and Follow. To achieve a smoother pan, it is recommended to use Pan Follow or Follow instead of controlling the gimbal with the joystick. This allows the gimbal to follow your movements, resulting in a more natural-looking pan.
By adjusting the gimbal settings and utilizing the Pan Follow or Follow modes, you can achieve smoother panning with the Zhiyun Crane.
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Avoid using the joystick for panning, instead use the 『follow』 setting
To pan smoothly with the Zhiyun Crane gimbal, avoid using the joystick. Instead, use the 'follow' setting. This will allow the gimbal to follow your movements, resulting in a much smoother pan.
The Zhiyun Crane gimbal should have three settings: Lock, Pan Follow, and Follow. If you use Pan Follow or Follow mode instead of controlling the gimbal with the joystick, you will achieve a more natural-looking movement. Using the joystick will result in artificial-looking movements, no matter how good your finger skills are.
To set up the 'follow' function on the Zhiyun Crane 2, first balance the gimbal without any of the follow-focus equipment. Then, attach the follow focus rail connector onto the gimbal head, using a hex key to tighten it. This may be the trickiest part, as you need to hold the gimbal with one hand and tighten with the other. Next, connect the servo to the pitch motor using the included power cable. Then, tether the camera control cable from the camera to the follow-focus unit.
Since you have now altered the weight of the system, you will need to rebalance the gimbal's head until it is stable. You can test if the interlocking teeth of the motor and follow focus cable are gripping by putting the lens in manual focus mode and twisting the lens by hand. If the teeth are gripping, you will see them move simultaneously. Finally, check the Zhiyun website for any firmware updates for both the gimbal and the follow-focus system.
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Ensure the camera is balanced on the gimbal by adjusting the height handle
To ensure your camera is balanced on the gimbal, you must first adjust the height handle. This is an important step to get right, as it will impact the tilt and roll axes.
Firstly, place the gimbal on a steady, flat surface. You can use the tabletop tripod attachment for this. Loosen all the switches and adjust the camera so that it is facing you, and tilt it upwards. Now, make micro-adjustments to the height handle until the camera stays horizontal.
Next, you will need to balance the camera on the top/bottom. To do this, make small adjustments to the camera's positioning, sliding it back and forth until it is balanced. This may take a few attempts, but once you are happy, lock the tilt and test the camera to see if it moves.
You can also balance the camera horizontally and vertically by adjusting the horizontal and vertical arms. The placement of the screw plate will help with balancing the front and back weight of the camera and lens.
Finally, you can test the gimbal by turning it on and checking if the camera is still balanced. If not, you may need to make some small adjustments to the height handle and axes.
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Use the ZY play app to access automated features like time-lapse and motion time-lapse
The ZY Play app offers comprehensive camera controls for photo and video shooting, with a range of intelligent functions, including time-lapse and motion time-lapse. It is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
To access the time-lapse and motion time-lapse features, open the ZY Play app and select the "Moving Time Lapse" option. You can then use the joystick to register the movement of your crane by moving it and adding a "key" within the app.
The motion time-lapse settings allow you to set and adjust points, and see the gimbal moving. However, some users have reported issues with starting the motion time-lapse, which may be due to camera incompatibility. To troubleshoot this issue, go into the "Settings," click on "Information," and then select "Switch to Normal Camera" to use the motion time-lapse controls with the set points.
Additionally, you can use the ZY Play app to control the speed of your pan. Set the joystick to the slowest pan mode and tape it to one side to achieve a smooth, controlled pan movement.
The app also offers other functions like long exposure and slow motion, providing a range of creative options for your video and photography projects.
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Try using a different gimbal, such as the Glidecam, for smoother panning
If you're experiencing jerky movements with your Zhiyun Crane gimbal, you might want to try switching to a different gimbal for smoother panning. One recommended gimbal is the Glidecam, which is known for producing smooth and professional results.
The Glidecam offers a range of products that cater to different camera weights, so you can choose the one that best suits your setup. For example, the Glidecam HD-4000 gimbal stabilizer is perfect for lightweight camera systems, weighing only 3.3 lbs with counterweights and supporting up to 10 lbs of camera equipment. It provides an extremely smooth shooting experience, thanks to its "floating" system.
The Glidecam DEVIN GRAHAM Signature Series is another excellent option, capable of supporting cameras weighing from 2 to 12 pounds. It features a dynamic base platform that allows for easy adjustment of the system's dynamic balance and rotational pan inertia. With its ergonomic control knobs, you can quickly fine-tune the horizontal and vertical balance of your camera setup.
Additionally, the Glidecam X-45 and Glidecam Gold Sled are lightweight and rugged options, designed for cameras weighing up to 4.53 kg. They promise to transform shaky footage into hypnotically smooth, professional-looking shots.
When using a gimbal, it's important to understand the different settings available. Most gimbals have three settings: Lock, Pan Follow, and Follow. By using the Pan Follow or Follow settings instead of relying solely on the joystick, you can achieve a much smoother and more natural-looking pan.
So, if you're looking for smoother panning, consider investing in a Glidecam gimbal and familiarizing yourself with the various settings and adjustments it offers. This combination will help you capture stunningly smooth footage.
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Frequently asked questions
Grab your camera and attach the quick-release plate under it, securing it in place by tightening the screw with a screwdriver or a coin.
The goal is to avoid the camera leaning too much in the front or back. The weight, or centre of gravity, must be centred on the Crane's arm. Make micro-adjustments to the positioning.
Use the 'pan follow' or 'follow' settings instead of the joystick so that the gimbal follows your movements. This will result in a much smoother pan.
In the app, bump your pan degree of smoothness up to 200 and set the pan dead zone to 12.
The ZY play app has automated features like time-lapse, motion time-lapse, long exposure time-lapse, and panorama. However, panning the camera with the app may be challenging as it moves pretty fast and has a slight lag on image transmission.
