Comparison Zhiyun Crane 2 vs Zhiyun Crane M

— For smartphone. Mount for using a smartphone as a camera. Most often it is a kind of clamp, in which the body of the device is tightly clamped. Such clamps usually have a fairly wide range of adjustment for the width of the phone, which allows you to use this type of stabiliser with most modern smartphones, regardless of the diagonal. And some models can even work with compact digital cameras.

— For camera. Attachments designed for use with full-size cameras — SLR and mirrorless (MILC). Such cameras are quite large and have a thread mount for a tripod. All these features are taken into account in the design of the stabiliser.

— For action cameras. Stabilisers designed for action cameras — compact cameras used mainly for shooting dynamic scenes like sports, skiing, cycling, etc. Such devices, by definition, are designed for use in rather extreme activities, including surfing, skiing, paragliding, etc. However, the specific features of different stabilisers may be different, so before buying it's ok to clarify this matter separately. Note that instead of the general name “for action camera”, the stabiliser specifications may contain the names of specific models of action cameras for which the device is designed.

— With camera. Stabilizers equipped with their own cameras. These are integrated directly int...o the stabilizer's construction, eliminating the need for external devices for filming. Moreover, such models are inherently optimized for working with the built-in camera — at the very least, the user doesn't have to deal with balancing the load on the stabilizer's head. Note that the ability to remove and replace the camera with another is usually not provided, although there are occasional exceptions to this rule.

— Phone mount(like a screen). The ability to use your smartphone as your stabiliser screen. The device's camera is not used in this case: filming is carried out either on the built-in camera of the stabiliser or on the action camera attached to it. Note that the smartphone can be used not only as a viewfinder but also to control the camera; specific features depend on the stabiliser model.

— Focus control mechanism. A device that allows the stabiliser controls to focus the lens on the installed camera. It simplifies the use of manual focus lenses greatly.

— Two-handed handle. The two-handed handle increases agility, stability and precision.

— Quick release plate. This element makes it possible to quickly install and remove the camera from the stabiliser without using third-party tools.

— Tripod. The presence of a small tripod in the stabiliser kit — a tripod, which allows you to use the device in a stationary position, setting it on a flat hard surface. Usually the tripod is detachable.

— Remote control. The presence in the kit of a small remote control. It is convenient when the device is installed at a remote distance, for example, in a car.

— Bag / Case. The pre...sence of a bag or case in the standard package of the stabilizer. Bags often come with handles or a strap for convenient carrying, while cases are somewhat simpler — they don't have handles and are designed to be carried in a travel bag, backpack, etc. A bag or case protects the device from dust and other contaminants and to some extent shields the contents from damage in case of bumps or falls. Additionally, bags or cases can often be used to store extra accessories.

The maximum weight that the stabiliser is designed to carry.

This is the maximum weight of the camera with all accessories allowed for this model.

The range of forward-backwards tilt angles relative to the vertical position supported by the stabiliser.

It can be written in different ways.

The simplest option is when one angle value is indicated in the characteristics. This may mean that the camera can deviate from the neutral position in both directions by the same angle, which is half the range.

Another option is used when the angles of tilt forward and backward are not the same. In such cases, the horizontal position of the camera on a vertical steadicam is taken as zero, the “-” sign indicates the maximum angle of camera deflection back, lens up, and the “+” sign — forward, lens down.

Model of the battery used in the stabiliser. This information is not very important when choosing: if you wish, knowing the battery model, you can find detailed information about it. However, the key characteristics of the battery are usually given in general information about the stabiliser. Nevertheless, model information can be useful if you plan to purchase an additional battery, or if you already have a battery and you need to evaluate its compatibility with the device.

The capacity of the battery used in the stabiliser.

In theory, a higher capacity allows you to work longer without recharging, but the battery life of the stabiliser also depends on its power consumption. So, only models with similar performance characteristics can be compared with each other according to this indicator; and when choosing, it is better to focus not on the capacity, but on the directly claimed battery life.

The maximum length of time the device will work before it needs its battery to be recharged. It is worth considering that the manufacturer indicates the maximum time, which does not correspond to real indicators due to the conditions and intensity of use.

The ability of stabiliser to work steadicam in power bank mode — an external battery for various portable devices. It allows the device to share its energy with the phone, and the recording is not yet over.

— Time lapse. The ability to use a stabiliser for shooting video in time-lapse mode. In this mode, shooting is carried out at a very low frame rate (one frame every few seconds, or even minutes), due to which the effect of fast movement is achieved in the finished video (for example, a day from sunrise to sunset can fit in several minutes). However, this is the general principle of time lapse; but the specific ways of its implementation may be different.

— Selfie shooting. The presence of a separate mode for shooting selfies.

— Sports mode. It allows you to use the stabiliser when shooting in extreme conditions, on the go and even while running. If you turn on the sport mode, the stabilizer begins to compensate for even deep and sharp frame deviations. Of course, an increase in the potential of the stabilizer affects the charge of the battery pack — the sport mode significantly speeds up the process of discharging the battery.

— Panorama. The presence of the mode of automatic shooting of panoramas in the design of the stabiliser. In this mode, the camera attached to the device automatically rotates, taking a series of shots, from which the finished panoramic image is then “glued together”. Most often, this function involves the creation of horizontal panoramas, but it can also provide the movement of th...e camera vertically.

— Fixing camera position. The ability to fix the position of the camera mounted on the stabiliser. Fixation means such a mode of operation in which the camera remains constantly directed in the same direction, regardless of the position of the stabiliser itself.

— Axis lock. The presence of an axis lock in the design of the stabiliser — in such a way that when turning along this axis, the camera will follow the movement of the stand. Such an opportunity is necessary in cases where there is a need for precise and operational control over the movement of the camera.

— Tracking mode. The presence of an automatic tracking mode in the stabiliser. By the name, in this mode the device automatically follows a certain object, turning the camera so that this object is constantly in the centre of the image, or at least in the frame. In this case, the subject for tracking can be set by the operator himself.

— Inversion mode. The presence of the inversion mode in the design of the stabiliser. This function, as the name suggests, allows you to turn the device upside down, keeping all its functions and the position of the camera.

— The control wheel allows you to speed up and simplify the setting of the stabiliser operating modes. The wheel is designed to complement the keypad, but in some cases, it can replace the buttons completely. Typically, the control wheel is used to adjust the sensitivity of the gimbal, as well as rotate and lock the camera mounting pad. If the optics are fully compatible with the stabiliser, then the control wheel can be used to adjust both focus with zoom and many other filming parameters.