I really try to keep it simple when it comes to my camera gear.
I like to keep my setup light weight to carry to my destination and easy to use to quickly
get up and running.
And all of that without sacrificing the performance I need to get the shot I want.
While I don’t always carry a camera gimbal on me.
They can be really nice to capture those specific shots with some added motion.
But most of the time I’ll just leave them at home because they’re inconvenient to
carry and don’t setup fast enough for a quick shoot.
Intro the Zhiyun Weebill Lab, the most simple and convenient gimbal I’ve used to date
but that isn’t without its downsides.
Hi I’m David and here are my impressions on the Zhiyun Weebill Lab
First thing let’s quickly talk about performance.
Because I think that was the biggest criticism when this first launched with it being a little
wobbly in footage but I’ve read they’ve since resolved that in the latest firmware.
And from my testing I see the weebill lab performing no worse than the rest of my gimbals.
Next let’s also address the size.
While the Weebill lab is pretty small and lightweight it’s not really any smaller
or lighter than their original Crane.
The big difference though, upgrading from that Crane to this Weebill Lab are all these
new features that do make it much more convenient to grab and go.
These locking switches on all the axes keep the brackets from spinning around during transportation.
They’ve changed how you adjust the roll balance so the arms will never overlap and
interfere with each other for a more compact fold.
The tripod built into the handle is perfect for resting the gimbal or aiding during setup.
If you buy the optional quick release plate for the handle, which I highly recommend getting
that lets you quickly swap back and forth from this underslung mode which is nice for
getting those low to the ground shots, gives you an alternative way to stabilize the gimbal
upright, and is the most comfortable way to carry the whole setup when not being used.
The controls are also much simpler to use now with dedicated function buttons, a screen
that tells you exactly what mode you’re in, and a quick double tap of the trigger
to recenter the gimbal, which I use all of the time.
You can even manually adjust the pitch and pan without needing to fiddle with the joystick.
The arm bracket is lower so you can easily see the screen on the back of your camera.
The quick release system supports these manfrotto or arca swiss plates, but if you use this
included plate it has a dual release function, so when you need to change your batteries
or swap out the SD card, you can quickly take off and pop it back on exactly in the same
spot every time so you don’t need to worry about rebalancing.
All of those changes make for a significant upgrade in convenience and usability in my
opinion.
And are well worth upgrading for.
But there are also some downsides to consider with this new compact design.
Gripping the handle at the top to access the trigger button.
Means putting your hand over the joystick where you can accidentally touch it.
This really isn’t an issue for me with my hands and my loose grip, since I prefer to
rest the lip on the back of my hand.
But this may be a concern for others.
The plastic construction of the handle doesn’t scream high quality but it’s very comfortable
with the rubberized grip, seems durable enough from my usage and at least the gimbal motor
section is mostly built from metal construction.
The biggest concern when considering this gimbal is whether it will support the shape
and size of your camera.
To keep this gimbal compact, the brackets are pretty small and don’t adjust as far
as the original Crane, which means if your camera is too long or too wide it could hit
the arm bracket during operation.
Or not even be able to balance.
I’m using a Panasonic GH5 with a 12-35mm lenses which works perfectly fine but longer
or heavier lenses might not work.
And I if try adding my own Manfrotto 323 quick release, since this is what I usually use,
there’s just no way to balance it with this configuration.
And finally I’m not a fan of the app.
You’ll need the app for timelapse, wireless transmission, adjusting the motor speed and
smoothness, and updating the gimbal.
But it’s not very reliable over wifi connection and I don’t find it very user friendly so
I don’t depend on it.
So those are my quick thoughts on the Zhiyun Weebill Lab.
This is definitely the most convenient gimbal I’ve used.
It’s not perfect for all situations and it’s not super portable to always carry
with me.
But it is the one I would grab for a quick shoot, or a trip with its simple to use design.
But hope you guys enjoyed this one.
You know what to do.
And I’ll see you in the next video.