With DJI making waves with its new release, Zhiyun wasn't just gonna sit around and watch the magic. A competitor to the gimbal and drone juggernaut, Zhiyun hasn't shied away from making small yet feature-rich gimbals. So with the DJI RS 3 and DJI RS 3 Pro out in the wild, what did Zhiyun bring to the table?
The Zhiyun Weebill 3, of course—the next iteration of its DSLR gimbal line.
But in a market that's growing a bit overcrowded, what has Zhiyun done to stand out? Let's check out what's new with this one gimbal.
New Ergonomics, Uncertain Payload
Gimbals can start to get pretty heavy when you start attaching cameras, lenses, and accessories to them. This is why we're seeing such a focus on the Zhiyun Weebill 3 being more ergonomic friendly.
For starters, it's super lightweight at only 2.4lbs. This puts it closer to the Weebill-S (2.04lbs) than the Weebill 2, which was a whopping 3.15lbs. The weight reduction is probably why the rotating screen is gone, replaced with a 0.96" OLED touch screen.
0.96" OLED Touch ScreenCredit: Zhiyun
The Weebill 3 also has a new SLING 2.0 design that incorporates a restructured L-shape handle that’s more stable when self-standing, as well as a new wrist rest and an extendable sling grip. All of this extra support should reduce fatigue and allow for more comfort when shooting.
But here's the strange bit—we don't have a payload capacity. At least, not one that we can find.
If we had to ballpark it, it would be between 7.3lbs and 7.7lbs, which is what the previous two gimbals we mentioned could hold. At least we got a camera compatibility list.
Credit: Zhiyun
Moving on, the grip of the Weebill 3 also comes with thumb buttons for controlling settings and a mini control stick for movement. There's also a customizable finger trigger and wheel that you can adjust to your preferences, such as being able to change camera parameters, control movement along a specific axis, or pull a follow focus unit. These are all super nice additions, but seem pretty par for the course with a gimbal of this size and estimated payload capacity.
But with a focus on content creators, Zhiyung has a few tricks up its sleeve.
Audio and Light, Built Right In
With most content creators being solo shooters, it's difficult to find audio and light help. This is why the Weebill 3 offers a built-in Hi-Fi microphone and 1000-lumen fill light.
The light does seem a little small but is dimmable, will provide a color temperature of 2600K to 5400K, and have a CRI of 90+. Audio-wise, the built-in mic will have noise cancellation, and you can run the mic straight into the camera.
We don't think these extra accessories are going to replace dedicated equipment, but they're nice to have in a pinch and you won't have to deal with a bunch of wires tangling you into a mess.
Built in microphone and fill lightCredit: Zhiyun
Expanded Battery Life
So this is kind of a nice addition. In comparison to the previous version, the Weebill 3 provides up to 21 hours of all-day filming.
This is done by combining three 18650-standard 2600mAh batteries. PD fast charging is also included, so you can keep your gear powered for longer or recharge from 0-100% in 2 hours. At least according to Zhiyun. Your camera might even run out of juice before your gimbal does.
Thankfully, creatives will get pass-through charging for their cameras at 5V/1A, which should cover most of your DSLR/mirrorless camera needs.
Should You Buy It?
Well, it depends on what you're using it for. The Zhiyun Weebill 3 is extremely affordable for what it does. It's light and has long battery life and some cool little features that may make your vlogging life a whole lot easier.
Should you rely on it for your upcoming indie feature? Probably not, but it would be a nice piece of kit to have around, especially with such a low entry point, price-wise. At the very least, it'll get you learning more complex camera composition.
Zhiyun WEEBILL-3
- Optimized 2.0 Sling Structure
- Integrated Microphone and Fill Light
- Up to 21-Hour Runtime
- 0.96" OLED Touchscreen
- Dual Quick Release Plate System
- Two Rosette Mounts with 1/4"-20 Threads
- Tripod Extension
- Control Wheel, Trigger Button
- Various Control Cables for DSLR Cameras
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Capabilities for App
The Zhiyun Weebill 3 is now available for $449 or with a combo that includes a backpack, wrist rest, and extendable sling grip for $529. It's a bit more expensive than the previous models, but it's still cheaper than the DJI RS 3.
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