The Weebill 3 gimbal from Zhiyun is a compact but highly effective gimbal, able to stabilizing mirrorless and DSLR cameras with giant, quick lenses for video utilization.
I’ve spent the previous couple of weeks testing the Weebill 3 stabilizer on numerous video shoots, evaluating it towards my previous experiences with different gimbals from Zhiyun and DJI.
On this assessment, I’ll be exploring what units the Weebill 3 other than the competitors, in addition to showcasing a few of the progressive options.
Should you’re on the lookout for a smaller gimbal for capturing video, maybe to stabilize a compact digicam or smartphone, you possibly can try our guide to the top 8 video gimbals on the market, which explores a wide range of different gimbal product traces.
Desk of Contents
- Why You Need a Gimbal
- Gimbal Hardware
- What’s in the Box
- Available Accessories
- Weebill 3 in Use
- Stabilization Quality
- Ergonomics
- Other Features
- Verdict
Why You Want a Gimbal
Should you’re filming video together with your DSLR or mirrorless digicam, a gimbal is crucial for getting {smooth} handheld footage.
Due to the usage of motors, a video gimbal can maintain your digicam regular and reduce most digicam shake.
This can assist you get regular footage when standing nonetheless, in addition to delivering buttery-smooth pan and tilt actions.
Gimbals additionally make a wide range of specialty pictures potential, permitting you to place or transfer the digicam in ways in which simply wouldn’t be potential in any other case.
Whereas a gimbal gained’t robotically make your footage excellent, unsteady footage tends to be instantly off-putting.
Should you’re capturing actual property, occasions, weddings, or filming for business or inventory use, a gimbal is crucial.
I’ve been utilizing a gimbal for numerous years now, and in that point have upgraded as my video rig has grown heavier.
The Weebill 3 sits on the high finish of the mirrorless digicam weight class, in a position to accommodate the most important cameras and heavy lenses just like the 24-70 f/2.8.
In case your equipment is smaller, constituting lighter our bodies and f/4 or slower lenses, you might be able to avoid wasting cash with a gimbal just like the Crane M3 or M2-S, which work with medium and light-weight mirrorless cameras respectively.
Gimbal {Hardware}
What’s within the Field
The Weebill 3’s commonplace gimbal equipment contains all of the fundamentals: the gimbal itself, plates to attach the digicam to the arm, and the cables vital for communication between the gimbal and digicam.
The Weebill 3 additionally has some filters for the sunshine that’s constructed into the gimbal (extra on that later within the assessment).
There’s additionally a combo equipment that upgrades the usual carrying case right into a extra deluxe nylon bag, together with including a sling grip and wrist relaxation.
On the time of assessment, the wrist relaxation is being provided as a free add-on to the usual equipment, as properly.
With both equipment, every part you’d must get began filming is out there within the field. When my gimbal arrived, I used to be unpacked and able to shoot in just some minutes.
This ease of setup is because of a few elements, together with the mounting mechanism, sensible cable placement, and the stunning inclusion of a mic and lightweight constructed straight into the gimbal.
Obtainable Equipment
In fact, it wouldn’t be a chunk of digicam gear with out further equipment accessible for buy. Within the case of the Weebill 3, these equipment embrace a picture transmitter and wi-fi controller, for wi-fi operation at vary.
Equipment like these actually come into play in specialty conditions, like capturing with the gimbal mounted on a automotive, or in bigger productions.
They’re a pleasant improve path however not one thing most videographers will want instantly.
Weebill 3 in Use
My major use case for the Weebill 3 is capturing actual property movies.
A gimbal is a superb possibility for filming walkthroughs, and I’ve now shot numerous movies on the Weebill 3 utilizing my Nikon Z7, usually with the 24-70mm f/4 and f/2.8 lenses, together with the 14-30mm.
Earlier than the Weebill 3, I used to be utilizing DJI’s Ronin SC, which targets a decrease payload determine.
The distinction in payload capabilities between the 2 gimbals is instantly obvious, with the Weebill 3 higher in a position to accommodate sloppy balancing (together with simply the extension of the 14-30mm because it zooms).
The Weebill 3 does nonetheless require balancing, like several gimbal. However at the very least with my payloads, it didn’t require millimeter-level precision, because the motors nonetheless had loads of torque left in them.
One other massive issue for my scenario is the resistance of the motors to overheating.
Like every electrical motor, the gimbal motors produce warmth in operation. Having a heavier load (or a poorly-balanced one) produces extra warmth. Along with the scorching temperatures in Arizona’s summers, overheating the motors generally is a fear.
I’ve not skilled this on the Weebill 3, regardless of capturing in 105+ diploma circumstances and the pretty heavy 24-70mm f/2.8.
Stabilization High quality
An important job of a gimbal is to stabilize your footage. That is one other space the place the Weebill 3 delivers.
Footage has been completely steady, throughout an entire vary of digicam strikes. To check efficiency, I let the Weebill 3 “auto-tune” the motors to match the payload.
This course of takes about 10 seconds, and might be carried out straight from the gimbal’s controls, with no app wanted.
I shoot most of my video with the 14-30mm, which doesn’t pose the most important problem to a gimbal. For this assessment, although, I did check particularly with the 24-70 zoomed in, and continued to get nice stabilization.
The gimbal can accommodate even longer lenses, like an 85mm prime. The outcomes maintain up, however cautious balancing performs an even bigger position at longer focal lengths.
One final attribute of stabilization that I feel is ignored is how the default values translate into precise footage.
Gimbals have a variety of controls for issues like motor speeds, and whereas these can usually be adjusted by way of the accompanying app or gimbal controls, having a very good place to begin makes an enormous distinction.
I assumed the Weebill 3’s defaults labored properly, but when it’s essential change them you might have entry to hurry, smoothing, deadzones, and monitoring choices within the menu.
Ergonomics
It’s clear from Zhiyun’s advertising supplies that they really feel the most important differentiator of the Weebill 3 is its ergonomic operation.
The advertising closely promotes the sling grip, in addition to the benefit of use of the wrist relaxation.
In actual world use, I agree with these claims: the gimbal actually is comfy to make use of, even over lengthy intervals of time.
The sling grip unlocks with only a twist, letting you lengthen or retract it to probably the most comfy top, whereas remaining securely connected with a separate thumbscrew.
The wrist relaxation is adjustable by way of a wide range of positions, though the precise discrete stops are enforced by a locking tooth and plate system.
Whereas this makes the wrist relaxation really feel safer, it interprets to solely about three or 4 precise “positions” that work for a way I maintain the gimbal, lowering a few of the adjustability.
As a aspect word, I feel it’s a bit odd to base a lot of the advertising across the ergonomic equipment, however then to lock the equipment behind a separate buy.
Whereas the wrist relaxation is at present being bundled into the usual equipment at no cost, it’s not clear if this can be a restricted time promotion.
Both means, I’d contemplate these equipment so as to add a variety of worth to the setup, so contemplate choosing them up in case your equipment doesn’t embrace them.
One final ergonomic and usefulness profit is the short launch plate setup.
Most gimbals have a plate that simply mounts to the digicam, requiring you to steadiness the digicam every time you connect it to the gimbal.
The Weebill 3 handles issues in a different way, with a two-plate system. With this method, one plate might be locked on the gimbal in the fitting spot for excellent steadiness with a specific digicam/lens combo.
Then the opposite plate (connected to the digicam) at all times leads to the fitting spot. Granted, you continue to must rebalance the primary plate every time you alter lenses, however that is nonetheless an enormous time-saver.
Different Options
Apart from the ergonomic equipment, the Weebill 3 additionally has a novel mild and microphone.
Constructed proper into the arm of the gimbal, the sunshine might be managed straight from the grip, whereas the mic connects to your digicam by way of 3.5mm cable.
The sunshine has an adjustable colour temperature, ranging between 2600K and 5400K. Moreover, even the usual equipment comes with a blue, purple, orange, and yellow filter, which mount on to the sunshine.
To allow the sunshine, you simply should press and maintain the side-wheel, which then opens an interface for controlling brightness and colour temperature.
Based mostly on the situation and output, I feel this mild is most helpful for brief distances like vlogging, and it’s only a good inclusion that may be useful in some situations.
The mic is a bit more versatile. Like the sunshine, it too is mounted on the arm, and within reason insulated from motor or digicam noise.
The mic is a transparent improve over the built-in mic on most cameras. Whereas I’d nonetheless follow an exterior or wi-fi mic, the Weebill’s mic can supply higher high quality for a scratch or security monitor.
Verdict
For stabilization, the Weebill 3 is a superb possibility. Regardless of being smaller and cheaper than a few of the massive gimbals, it’s nonetheless able to dealing with f/2.8 zooms with nice outcomes.
Usability is excellent, however not excellent. Thankfully, the few points I’ve with the gimbal don’t have an effect on the core usability.
One concern is a poorly-designed cell app, which requires customers to leap by way of numerous hoops, together with organising a separate account and offering location entry, simply to make use of the gimbal.
After seeing that, I gave up on the app, and evaluated the gimbal simply on the premise of built-in controls, which it happily nonetheless provides.
The aspect wheel for controlling the gimbal’s extra superior features and menus is positioned in an odd place.
To control it with my index finger requires bending it far again, whereas utilizing my thumb leaves me greedy the gimbal with far much less confidence.
As an enchancment, I’d like to see these controls transfer over to the left hand, maybe above the document button and panning thumbstick.
Whereas the choices coated by these controls aren’t wanted continually, they need to be extra accessible.
One final grievance is concerning the documentation. Whereas gimbals don’t want a large guide, the small bodily dimension of the included guide makes a few of the diagrams troublesome to learn.
For brand spanking new gimbal customers, getting correct steadiness is vital to a very good expertise, and these steps within the guide could possibly be simpler to comply with.
Apart from these management quibbles, the gimbal’s different points are all fairly good.
Construct high quality, battery life, and the included equipment are all very properly accomplished, with the gimbal providing a variety of efficiency for the value.
The twin-plate setup and cozy add-ons (the sling grip and wrist relaxation) are nice usability options.
For smaller-scale productions, having a built-in mild and mic can doubtlessly be helpful, too.
The Weebill 3 is out there from B&H as each the standard kit and as a combo with the sling grip.
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