Zhiyun's latest professional three-axis camera gimbal keeps your shooting stable.

In Yuntai World, a year is a long time. Last summer, we reviewed Zhiyun’s Weebill S and found that it has a lot to appreciate. More than 12 months later, Zhiyun launched Weebill 2, the successor to S-review here.

If you are considering buying a gimbal for mirrorless or DSLR cameras, you will find yourself spoiled. It is not only Zhiyun's own wide range and almost dazzling update speed, but also similar products from established competitors such as DJI, Feiyu Technology and Manfrotto. What features of Weebill 2 will surprise you?

First and foremost, Weebill 2’s new integrated flip-type touch screen has attracted attention. This 2.8" variable angle color touch screen can be used as a monitoring device, and can also be used to adjust parameters through touch. There is no need to perform multiple physical controls on the pan/tilt handle, and there is no need to frequently refer to the Zhiyun application on the smartphone. The screen is not It can be neatly stuffed into the fuselage when needed, making the gimbal more streamlined in appearance and feel.

The built-in screen is a natural and obvious upgrade to Weebill S. It can use smartphones and tablets to monitor your shots, but it involves an awkward combination of additional clips and cables. 2 Cleaner.

Most of the daily functions of the gimbal can be used on the screen, which will display information about the battery life of Weebill 2, the active gimbal mode selected, and whether the camera is currently connected. You can also adjust the parameters of the pan/tilt.

The display quality of the screen is good enough, even if it is not true tones or exposure feedback, you can have a clear understanding of the framing, composition and lighting of the shot. You can still view your images on a larger screen using the Zhiyun app and connected smartphone, so it is the horse of the course. If you want to shoot from the hip, trust the visual feedback from the display in a thick line, just flip the screen. If you want macro control of the image, you may prefer to use a separate viewing device.

In addition to the "tap" operation function, Weebill 2 can also be paired with Zhiyun's optional TransMount video transmission transmitter AI (it should be noted that it does introduce more cables), allowing users to view the lens and monitor SmartFollow objects in real time track. This additional purchase is also the only way for you to view camera images on the gimbal screen. The touch screen is mainly used as a one-way device, a real-time setting assistant, which can control the pan/tilt while you are shooting. Using the touch screen to view images is a secondary function. You might want it to be more like a digital video camera, displaying capture and playback at the same time, but this is not the case. The screen also does not rotate 180 degrees, so there is no "selfie" mode, although this may be due to the neat folding design and making the overall stronger.

If you purchase TransMount Transmitter, or purchase a spring that automatically includes the Pro packaging option, you will have complete viewing capabilities. The transmitter also allows you to send a wireless video signal from the camera so that you can view the output on a separate device. Other early adopters have noticed that Zhiyun himself said very clearly: the previous Weebill image transmitter cannot be used with Weebill 2. 2. It's a bit like finding out that the hard drive you bought last year is not suitable for your new computer. Its outdated speed will be an understandable source of frustration.

2 What else is new? The overall design and controllability of the gimbal has been improved. Not only in terms of the new silicone grips on the grips, it not only makes them feel more tactile, but also safer in the palm of your hand, and there are options for ordinary or sling shots, which are perfect for low-angle shooting. The mini tripod that comes with the gimbal can be attached to the handle for remote shooting tasks, or the legs can be folded up as an extension of the handle in two different directions.

The main handle of Weebill 2 is combined with the touch screen, which has been optimized and optimized the arrangement of core controls. Except for the trigger button on the "front" of the handle (that is, facing the user), all other physical controls-joystick, power button, recording button, mode switch, control wheel-are located on the left, and the thumb is at your fingertips on the right. This helps avoid too many accidental nudges while still keeping them easily accessible.

The pre-trigger button allows the user to single-click to enter SmartFollow mode; double-click to reposition; triple-press to enter the Selfie mode, or simply hold and press to maintain the viewing angle (POV) mode.

This natural control layout (at least for right-handed users) makes Weebill 2 easier to operate with one hand. The control wheel also supports customizing functions based on your specific camera model-Zhiyun website provides a long list of supported camera models. Customization options include control of electronic focus, zoom, aperture, ISO and shutter speed.

Weebill S has a reputation for the stability of the shots it captures. Now Weebill 2 takes this to a new level. The motor of 2 is controlled by the Infineon chip and improved core algorithm, which increases the upgraded motor torque, so that this model has greater stable performance. A camera weight of up to about 4 kg seems to be an acceptable upper limit that the motor can handle without problems-it's a good payload.

The tilt, pan and roll range of this gimbal should be large enough (the pan is technically 360 degrees, although it depends on the size and weight of your camera) and the range of modes is also comprehensive: pan follow, lock, point to View, Follow, Go and Vortex, as well as new portrait modes designed for fast vertical shooting (videos such as TikTok and Instagram Reels), without the need to rebalance or reorient the camera.

Correctly balancing your camera on the gimbal is an essential first step, which is a relatively simple matter for Weebill 2. Everything can be slid into place smoothly and easily, so just trial and error can find the best balance point for each axis, locking each one while walking.

Useful is that Weebill 2's redesigned and easy-to-engage shaft lock keeps the arm aligned and fixed in place, so the universal joint should be ready whenever it is. If you want to change the camera, the unlocking is also quick. As we walked around with Weebill 2, we noticed that there was no "chatting"-the motor was constantly trying to stabilize the gimbal, which was welcome. In this respect, the motor appears to be reliable and stable. The arm and motor housing are also made of metal, so the entire body has a reassuringly solid construction quality.

In terms of camera payload, Zhiyun suggests that Weebill 2 can handle mirrorless and SLR cameras, such as Sony A7 III and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, although this may be the best overall performance The best choice is to use this universal joint a bit smaller and lighter. For larger camera settings, Zhiyun does provide a lifting plate, in case the size of the lens sees it resting on the mounting plate of the gimbal.

Obviously, the bigger the camera and the heavier the lens, the higher the accuracy of the balance shaft. With a larger camera, the overall operating space in all directions will be smaller—especially if there is no touch screen—so these warnings should be kept in mind. The gimbal itself is not wrong, it is more about the details of each use case.

When properly set up, Weebill 2 can capture excellent, stable shots and handle all but the most excessive movements. Whether to walk; run; up and down stairs, move outdoors on uneven terrain, the resulting images are smooth, viewable and very useful. If you at least try to keep the camera and gimbal in your hands stable, you can almost guarantee good results.

It is worth noting that Weebill 2 is much heavier than its predecessor S, weighing approximately 1.47 kg including the internal battery. This is about 500 grams heavier than S. This will not feel too much at first, but after a long day, you will start to feel it.

In terms of endurance, the life time of the built-in battery powered by fast charge and USB-C is estimated to be 9 hours (YMMV of course, depending on usage). Some people may prefer replaceable batteries so that they can change the battery during long-term shooting, or extend the life of the gimbal by replacing the aging battery with a brand new battery. Weebill 2’s battery is built-in, much like the iPhone, so replacing it is not as simple as the S. At least you can charge the 2 built-in battery from a portable power bank while still using the gimbal and battery, and it will be fully charged in two hours.

In the end, the exact full scope of delivery depends on the Weebill 2 version you purchased. We tested the Combo version, which is equipped with a particularly beautiful shoulder bag with full pockets, which can accommodate the universal joint and all accessories, cables, etc.

Weebill 2 is an excellent universal joint, which is a significant improvement over last year's S. Some long-term users may lament the loss of certain features, just as they celebrate the launch of new features, but this is the essence of product upgrades.

No matter what you think about the speed of Zhiyun's development or the relentless promotion of accessories and packaging versions, there is no denying the core performance and key user functions of Weebill 2. As a high-performance gimbal for stabilizing the camera lens, making it a stress-free experience in the process-and obviously considering the user experience-it scores high in all important areas. If Weebill 2 fits your specific camera and shooting needs, you will not be disappointed with the results achieved.

Sign up for E&T news email and send such wonderful stories to your inbox every day.

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire

From £55,097 to £64,821 per year (range to £74,545, as appropriate) depending on skills and experience

© 2021 Engineering Technology Society. The College of Engineering and Technology is registered as a charity in England and Wales (No. 211014) and Scotland (No. SC038698).