So I finally upgraded to the Sony a7S III for my travel videography work, but my old stabilizer just can't handle the weight once I throw on a zoom lens. Right now I'm torn between the DJI RS 3 and the Crane 4—I watched a ton of YouTube reviews (most seem super sponsored though) and read through some Reddit threads, but people are so split on payload balancing and battery life. My budget is around $600 max and I need something that packs down decent in a carry-on (got a trip coming up next month and I'm stressing out about airport weight limits lol).
Forgot to mention, I mostly shoot fast-paced street stuff and low-angle B-roll.
Between the RS 3 and Crane 4, which one actually sucks less to balance when you're in a rush?
> Look. Forget the YouTube reviews. Most of those kids don't know how to balance a load I've been through three of these gimbals over the years, and tried Zhiyun Crane 2 years ago and it was garbage, but things may have changed. For your $600 budget and travel needs, get the DJI RS 3 Standard 3kg at about $549. It weighs 1.3 kg and packs down tighter than the Pro version. Street shooting requires speed, not unnecessary 4.5kg weight.
Look. Forget the YouTube reviews. Most of those kids don't know how to balance a load under pressure. Listen to someone who deals with tolerances and weight distribution all day. Buy the DJI RS 3 Pro Combo 4.5kg payload. It handles up to 4.5 kilograms, which gives you overhead for that zoom lens. The standard RS 3 maxes out at 3 kilograms. That is too close to your camera and glass weight. You need a safety margin. Balancing is about friction and axis lock. The DJI RS 3 Pro Combo 4.5kg payload uses Teflon-coated components on all three axes. That reduces sliding resistance. You can adjust the fine-tuning knob with one hand while the other holds the rig. It takes under ninety seconds once you practice the sequence. Travel size matters. The unit folds down to 276x268x68 millimeters. It weighs 1.5 kilograms with the battery grip attached. That fits inside a standard carry-on without blowing your airline weight limits. The battery lasts up to 12 hours. Charge time is 2.5 hours with a 18W PD charger. Zhiyun Crane 4 has a 3.2 kilogram payload. It also has a built-in wrist rest that makes it bulkier in a bag. The quick-release plate system on the DJI is tighter and does not slip during fast street pans. Get the DJI. Torque the plate screws down firmly.