The Zhiyun Crane 4 offers a compelling blend of payload capacity and portability, supporting up to 4kg while weighing just 1.7kg. Digital Camera World praised its motor warning lights for speeding up balance adjustments, while Tim Nicholls of Gimbal Buyers Guide highlighted the integrated LED fill light and improved ergonomics. The gimbal's 12-hour battery life and quick Auto-Tune calibration are noted as strengths, though reviewers caution that the non-swappable battery and LED power drain may impact extended shoots. It's ideal for event filmmakers and documentary shooters needing robust performance beyond 3kg, but those prioritizing vertical shooting may prefer DJI's RS 4.
Strengths
- +Built-in 3200 Lux fill light with adjustable color temperature (2700K-5500K) for low-light shooting
- +Motor warning lights on each axis help quickly diagnose balance issues and reduce setup time
- +Adjustable sling grip and wrist rest enable comfortable single-handed carry and low-angle dolly shots
- +Supports up to 4kg payload with a 1.7kg body, offering good torque for full-frame rigs
Watch-outs
- −Non-removable battery with no hot-swap option limits extended use
- −LED fill light drains battery faster at full power, reducing runtime to ~9.5 hours
How it compares
The Zhiyun Crane 4 surpasses the Zhiyun Weebill 3E in payload capacity and includes a built-in fill light, but it's heavier and lacks the 16-hour battery runtime of the Weebill 3E. Compared to the FeiyuTech SCORP 2, it offers better portability and more stable handling, but lacks the dual-grip design and AI tracking features.
Who this is for
At a glance: event filmmakers needing robust performance.
Why you’d buy the Zhiyun Crane 4
- Built-in 3200 Lux fill light with adjustable color temperature (2700K-5500K) for low-light shooting.
- Motor warning lights on each axis help quickly diagnose balance issues and reduce setup time.
- Adjustable sling grip and wrist rest enable comfortable single-handed carry and low-angle dolly shots.
Why you’d skip it
- Non-removable battery with no hot-swap option limits extended use.
- LED fill light drains battery faster at full power, reducing runtime to ~9.5 hours.
Rating sources
“The Zhiyun Crane 4 steps in. Weighing roughly 1.7 kg yet supporting up to 4 kg, this three-axis gimbal sits neatly between DJI's RS 4 and RS 4 Pro—at a more palatable price.”
Our 4.4 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
