The Best Gimbal For Fujifilm XT3 Cameras!

Today we are going to be taking a look at what we feel are the most suitable gimbals for the Fuji XT3 on the market right now and thankfully, as the XT3 is such a lightweight camera body there are plenty of great options! The XT3 camera body without any accessories mounted on it with the battery and SD card in the camera comes in at around 1.18 pounds.

This ensures that all of the modern gimbal stabilizers designed for use with mirrorless cameras are able to easily support your Fuji XT3 with pretty much any combination of lenses, external microphones or any other accessories that you may need to mount on the camera rig. Due to a number of developments in the gimbal tech space over the last year or two, the latest generation of gimbals is actually cheaper than the previous generation while offering better load capacity and battery life than their predecessors.

This puts you in a great position to snatch up some bargains and add a great quality gimbal to your collection of XT3 camera accessories and ensure you get all the image stabilization you need without breaking the bank. We have decided to feature three gimbals as shown in the comparison table below and we will then cover the gimbals in full throughout the rest of the article.

Comparison Table

Last update on 2023-09-26 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

As you can see above, we rate the Zhiyun Crane Plus as the best gimbal for the Fujifilm XT3 and although we do love the DJI Ronin SC and think it is a solid gimbal stabilizer, its price tag is too high to rate it higher than the Zhiyun Crane Plus in our opinion. The Zhiyun not only has a lower price tag than the DJI but the Zhiyun also has a better battery life duration as well as a larger maximum load capacity.

Although the Feiyutech AK2000 is from the same generation of gimbals as both the Zhiyun Crane Plus and the DJI Ronin SC it has a few issues that hold it back. If Feiyutech is able to correct these problems, we feel that it can be a great gimbal and compete with the Zhiyun and DJI products.

The Zhiyun Crane Plus

Moving on to cover the Zhiyun Crane Plus in more detail, as you may know, Zhiyun has been one of the two constantly dominant forces when it comes to gimbals for around a decade now and they never fail to disappoint with their products. The Crane Plus is the follow up to the Zhiyun Crane V2 that is a very popular gimbal stabilizer that has been the dominant product for mirrorless cameras since its release until the Crane Plus came out.

With the Crane Plus having a number of upgrades to ensure that it offers the best possible performance for the lowest possible price it is no surprise that it has managed to quickly and rightfully earn an excellent reputation within the community. At the time of writing, the popularity of the Crane Plus is constantly increasing month to month as the word spreads that Zhiyun have a new gimbal on the market and more videographers are choosing to check it out.

Performance And Functionality

As we mentioned earlier, the Crane Plus has gone through a number of upgrades and will be able to provide your Fujifilm XT3 with all of the image stabilization that it could ever require no matter what camera accessories you mount to it. The 5.5-pound maximum payload on the gimbal ensures that the Crane Plus will have plenty of load capacity spare after mounting your 1.18-pound camera body on the gimbal.

Off the top of our head, we are unable to think of any lens, external microphone, or lighting unit that would be able to take up the remaining 4.32 pounds and come close to overloading the gimbal. This ensures that no matter what you have to mount on your camera for your job, the Crane Plus handheld gimbal stabilizer will support it and help ensure you get the best possible image quality via its excellent image stabilization.

In addition to the increase in payload, the Crane Plus also offers you up to 18 hours of battery life per full charge! This should be plenty for any Fujifilm XT3 to ensure that you are able to get out and record all the video footage you need before being able to charge your gimbal back up. Zhiyun have also upgraded the charging technology in the gimbal so that you are able to quickly and easily take it from empty to full in only three hours of charging.

The video above was recorded using a Fujifilm XT3 mounted to the Zhiyun 3-axis gimbal and shows you exactly what type of image quality you can expect from the combo. As you can see, the pair provide some excellent quality video footage with the excellent image quality of the XT3 being enhanced by the excellent image stabilization of the Zhiyun gimbal.

We are confident that the pair will be able to provide you with the best possible video footage and ensure that you are able to keep your clients happy with the work you capture for them. If you are planning to use your Fujifilm XT3 and Crane Plus for vlogging or other YouTube work then your viewers are sure to appreciate the smooth, flowing video footage that you are able to capture for your channel.

The video above shows the range of motion that you are able to capture when using the Crane Plus with your Fujifilm XT3 mounted on top of it. As you can see, the gimbal has no issues with the range of movement that it can support and keeps the image stabilization levels perfect throughout the various sharp position changes without issue.

This is due to the gimbal motors in the Crane Plus being brand new for the latest generation of Zhiyun gimbals. Not only are they stronger but they also require less power to stabilize heavier payloads for a longer period of time. In addition to this, the Zhiyun balancing algorithm in the Crane Plus is also the latest that Zhiyun has to offer with all of their most up to date tech ensuring that the gimbal is quick to respond to any movement and stabilize it accordingly.

With the Zhiyun range being so popular within the gimbal community, they also receive a ton of constructive feedback from videographers and they have decided to take this opportunity to improve on some of their most popular modes. The Crane Plus and Crane 3 have updated point of view modes, night lapse modes, motion memory technology, and the best intelligent object tracking system that we have seen to date on any gimbal by far.

All in all, we think Zhiyun has lived up to all the hype surrounding the release of the Crane Plus and then taken it to the next level and delivered the undisputed king of mirrorless camera gimbals. When it comes to performance we really can’t fault the gimbal and feel it is the perfect partner for your Fujifilm XT3.

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User Interface And Control System

Although the user interface control panel shown in the image above has been slightly updated when compared to the design of previous models Zhiyun gimbals, they have essentially kept to the same design philosophy of keeping their control system as easy to use as possible. If this will be the very first gimbal that you purchase then this is great as it makes it very easy for you to pick up and control without having any previous experience.

On the flip side of this though, if you are an old hand when it comes to using gimbals, you will easily be able to mount your Fujifilm XT3 to the gimbal and get out and use it while still getting all of the advanced customizations and control you will be used to. As you can see from the image above, the control system for the Crane Plus is all neatly placed together on the handle of the gimbal. This allows you to control the performance of the gimbal with just your thumb cutting down on the amount of faffing that is required to get the most out of the gimbal and get the best possible performance for your XT3.

The Smartphone App

The image above shows the Zhiyun smartphone app and when it decides to work it is a solid bit of kit and well worth downloading considering that it is free. It can provide some decent wireless remote control capabilities for your Crane Plus and let you place your gimbal and Fujifilm XT3 in one location and then move to another location while offering you full control of the gimbal via your phone.

That said though, the app does have its problems and is probably the only weak spot for the Crane Plus. It can be a pain to pair with any of the Zhiyun gimbals though so this is not a specific problem for the Crane Plus. Zhiyun is apparently planning to totally overhaul the app but at the time of writing, we have not seen any official confirmation of this and it is just rumors from the community.

We feel that the poor performance of the Zhiyun smartphone app can be overlooked though as the gimbal is such a great bit of kit. Let’s just hope that the rumors are true and an update for the app is just around the corner.

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Build Quality And Design

If you are familiar with the reputation that Zhiyun have managed to earn over the years then you are probably aware of them being known for producing great gimbals with a sleek yet functional design that have an excellent build quality. Keeping to form, the Zhiyun Crane Plus ticks all of these boxes and both the build quality and design of the gimbal are excellent.

Additionally, if you know that you are going to be traveling around with your Fujifilm XT3 to get footage from various locations, the Zhiyun Crane Plus is robust enough to take any bumps that it might land when in transit and not take damage or have an effect on its performance. This helps to give you peace of mind that your gimbal is safe and secure and won’t be useless when you get to your destination.

Although we wouldn’t say that the Crane Plus is lightweight, it definatley is not heavy and with the Fujifilm XT3 being such a lightweight camera, we doubt you would have problems holding the rig for those long sessions. Some of the heavier gimbals out there can become a right pain when it comes to longer sessions as your arm may ache or your hand may cramp up but this should not be a problem with the Crane Plus.

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Our Verdict

There is no doubt in our mind that the Crane Plus is the best gimbal for your Fujifilm XT3 on the market right now. It will make an excellent addition to your XT3 camera accessories and help to improve the image quality that you are able to capture with your camera due to the great image stabilization that it will provide you.

It is not difficult to see why the gimbal is so popular in the community and has the reputation it does. Zhiyun have just done an excellent job at producing an excellent gimbal and the best part is, for what you are getting, it is pretty budget-friendly! Additionally, if you would like an even more in-depth look at the gimbal, we have our dedicated Zhiyun Crane Plus review online.

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The DJI Ronin SC

 

Next up on our list of recommended gimbals for your Fujifilm XT3 is the DJI Ronin SC, the new boy when it comes to gimbals for mirrorless cameras at the time of writing as it has only been available for a few weeks. That said, as you would expect from a DJI gimbal, it has quickly managed to earn itself an excellent reputation with the community that only shows signs of growth in the future.

Now, we want to be clear, even though we are placing the Ronin SC as our second-best gimbal for your XT3, we absolutely love this gimbal, it is a great bit of kit and offers some excellent performance. The only reason we feel that the Ronin SC is second to the Crane Plus is the fact that it the Crane Plus is not only cheaper but it also provides you with longer maximum battery life as well as larger maximum load capacity. For the majority of our readers, we just feel the Crane Plus is the better option.

Now, on the flip side of this, we know that DJI has a massive fan base and that there are a number of people who like to stick with the DJI brand. With a lightweight camera like the Fujifilm XT3 the additional payload of the Crane Plus may not be needed. Additionally, the 11-hour battery life on the Ronin SC could be enough for your needs and as we mentioned, its performance is excellent. Due to this, if you do prefer the DJI brand over Zhiyun and you have the budget available, the Ronin SC will make an excellent addition to your XT3’s camera accessories and will serve you and your camera well.

Performance And Functionality

The Ronin SC has a maximum upper payload limit of 4.4 pounds but with your XT3 coming in at 1.18 pound, chances are, even with a heavy lens mounted on your camera body, you will never get near the 4.4 pound load capacity limit. Additionally, the Ronin SC can support a maximum battery life of 11 hours meaning it is highly likely that you are able to capture all the video footage you require between your chances to recharge your gimbal as required.

Just like Zhiyun, DJI has also included their latest quick charge technology into their Ronin SC and you are able to charge the gimbal from totally empty to full in only two and a half hours! This can be excellent if you are busy and have to quickly top the juice up in your gimbal during breaks.

The cinematic test footage in the YouTube video above does an excellent job of showing exactly what you can expect from the Ronin SC when you use it with a camera like the Fujifilm XT3. As you can see, these modern handheld gimbal stabilizers are great bits of kit that do an awesome job of providing you with the best image stabilization possible to keep your video footage looking as professional as possible.

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User Interface And Control System

It is no secret that DJI likes to keep their gimbal control systems as easy to use as possible as shown in the image above. This ensures that anyone, even if you have never used a gimbal before can pick their gimbals up and use them efficiently without having any problems. The joystick and LCD panel on the control system performs perfectly and allow you to control the gimbal and your camera rig easily.

The Smartphone App

Unlike the other two brands in this article, the DJI smartphone app shown in the image above is one of the few gimbal apps that has been flawless and consistently performed well ever since it was initially released. DJI really do take the time to ensure that the app performs well and allows you to pair up with your gimbal as required for that wireless remote control functionality.

Build Quality And Design

The design and build quality of the Ronin SC are second to none and DJI have done a great job of putting the gimbal together in a way that it offers the maximum range of motion possible even when using a larger camera with a longer lens. The Ronin SC is also pretty lightweight in all fairness to it so if you usually have problems supporting the weight of your Fujifilm XT3 mounted on any other gimbals you may have used, the lightweight of the Ronin SC may help push it ahead of the heavier Zhiyun Crane Plus.

Our Verdict

As we mentioned, the Ronin SC is an excellent gimbal and as we explained above, there are some situations where you will want to be taking this over the Crane Plus. The performance of the gimbal is outstanding as shown in the cinematic sample footage shown above and it will make a great addition to your Fujifilm XT3’s camera accessories.

Like we said though, with the Crane Plus being a cheaper gimbal with a longer battery life and a higher load capacity, we would recommend it over the Ronin SC for the majority of our readers who own the XT3. Both gimbals provide a very similar level of image stabilization so we see no reason to spend the additional money for the Ronin SC.

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The Feiyutech AK2000

The final gimbal stabilizer that we would say you could consider for use with your Fujifilm XT3 is the Feiyutech AK2000 that was meant to be the flagship of the new Feiyutech range and help them compete with Zhiyun and DJI on a serious level. Although the gimbal can perform well and does have a decent reputation within the community, it also has some issues and for this price tag, we would recommend you save your self the bother and just go with the Zhiyun or DJI gimbal instead.

Although we will be going into more detail on these issues below, we will just be skimming over our coverage of the AK2000 due to it being our third option for an XT3. if you want a more in-depth overview of the problems the gimbal has then our dedicated Feiyutech AK2000 review goes into much more detail. That said, the majority of the AK2000 gimbals in circulation do perform well and can make a great addition to your camera accessories so we decided to include the gimbal in our list.

Performance And Functionality

When working correctly, the Feiyutech AK2000 is able to support a payload of up to 6.17 pounds without issue ensuring that it will be able to take your Fujifilm XT3 as well as any accessories you mount to your camera without issue. The battery life of the AK2000 is around the 12-hour mark when using with a light mirrorless camera like the Fujifilm XT3 to making it easy to keep the gimbal powered even when on that longer session.

The footage above gives a decent idea of what the AK2000 is able to provide you when it is functioning correctly and as you can see, it does a solid job of stabilizing your camera rig to ensure you get nice smooth video footage.

Now, onto two of the main problems with the gimbal. The first one is that the head of the gimbal has a confirm hardware fault that Feiyutech has uploaded a fix video for. Unfortunately, as the fault is with the hardware of the gimbal and not the software, you have to do the fix yourself and although it is quick and pretty easy to do, a firmware update can’t fix it. Additionally, we have also seen a number of people reporting that they have to do the fix multiple times as well as a small number of people saying that the fix did nothing for them.

The second issue is that the gimbal will constantly pan to the left at a very slow speed when used in smooth mode. If you were planning to do any static timelapse work with your Fujifilm XT3 then this is not the gimbal for you as it will pan to the left and ruin your timelapse. Although Feiyutech has not confirmed this fault yet, there are multiple videos on YouTube from a number of people showing it so it does seem to be an issue with the AK2000 rather than a one-off.

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User Interface And Control System

The AK2000 control system shown in the image above is actually our favorite control system out of all the latest generation gimbals. It is just a shame that the gimbal has so many issues with it that overshadow this great little touch screen system. We feel that anyone will be able to get to grips with the AK2000 easily and get used to its innovative touch screen navigation panel without issue too.

The Feiyutech Smartphone App

The Feiyutech app is another gimbal smartphone app that is known to have issues with it and although it can work well, the main problem is just syncing it up with your gimbal and getting that initial connectivity. We are hoping that Feiyutech will be able to patch the issues out in a future update as it is a nice little app that offers some solid functionality.

Build Quality And Design

Although the majority of the gimbal is well put together, the final issue that we have with the AK2000 is that the grip on its handle slides and ends up touching the tilt button on your control panel. This then causes the gimbal to randomly tilt during use and ruins your footage. That said, you would have to be using a pretty heavy lens on your Fujifilm XT3 for it to be an issue for you as it only seems to happen when using a heavier camera rig on the gimbal.

Although you would think it would be easy to slide the grip back in place, it’s not and takes a surprising amount of time and effort. Additionally, gluing the handle in place only seems to be a tempory fix for the issue and the grip soon starts to slide again.

Our Verdict

Although the Feiyutech AK2000 has plenty of potential, in its current state both the  DJI Ronin SC and the Zhiyun Crane Plus mop the floor with it. We see no reason to risk spending this much money on a gimbal that will definatley have two of the issues that we highlighted and has around a twenty percent to also have the vibration issue too.

As we see so many people reaching out on a regular basis about it, we also have a Zhiyun Crane Plus v Feiyutech AK2000 article online where we do a head to head for both of the gimbals.

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Wrapping It Up

Well, we hope that you have found our article on the best gimbal for your Fujifilm XT3 helpful and that you now better understand the three main gimbals that will suit your XT3 well. We also have a massive article on the best gimbal for mirrorless cameras online where we compare the leading five mirrorless cameras to each other too.