The Zhiyun CRANE 3S is a heavy-duty professional camera gimbal built for cinema cameras, large rigs, and fast-moving productions. One of its biggest strengths is the wide range of intelligent shooting modes, allowing filmmakers to switch instantly between smooth, stable shots and high-intensity action movements.
Below is a clean breakdown of every major mode and its real-world use case.
🎬 Main Shooting Modes
1. Pan Follow (PF)
- What it does:
- Pan follows your movements.
- Tilt and Roll are locked.
- Best for:
- Smooth horizontal movements
- Following a subject across a scene
- Walking shots
- Landscape pans with a level horizon
- Shot style:
- Stable, controlled, cinematic pans.
2. Full Follow (F / Follow Mode)
- What it does:
- Pan, Tilt, and Roll axes all follow your handle movements.
- Best for:
- Active movements where the camera needs to respond naturally
- Tracking subjects moving up/down or diagonally
- Freestyle camera operation
Shot style:
- Dynamic, fluid, and responsive—great for run-and-gun filmmaking.
3. Lock Mode (L)
- What it does:
- All three axes are locked and the camera stays pointed at one fixed angle.
- The gimbal compensates for every movement you make.
- Best for:
- Push-ins / pull-outs
- Dolly-style shots
- Crane-like vertical moves
- Scenes requiring precise framing
- Shot style:
- Perfectly stable, locked-off movement—even while you move.
4. POV Mode (Point of View)
- What it does:
- All axes follow your movement, including Roll, up to approx. 45°.
- Adds natural, slight rolling movement to the frame.
- Best for:
- Immersive “in the scene” perspectives
- Music videos
- Action sequences
- Handheld-style look with controlled roll
- Shot style:
- Energetic and immersive—captures the operator’s motion naturally.
5. Go Mode
- What it does:
- Same as Follow Mode, but motors respond at maximum speed.
- Extremely sensitive to fast movement.
- Best for:
- Sports
- Running shots
- Car-to-car filming
- Sudden, rapid direction changes
- High-speed chases
- Shot style:
- Ultra-responsive and fast—great for intense action.
6. Vortex Mode
- What it does:
- Tilts the camera upward
- Unlocks the Roll axis for full 360° rotation
- Enables continuous barrel-roll effects
- Best for:
- Creative transitions
- Music videos
- Abstract cinematic shots
- Visual disorientation effects
- Shot style:
- Dramatic, stylized rotational shots with a futuristic look.
⚙️ Why These Modes Matter on the CRANE 3S
The CRANE 3S is built for demanding filmmaking environments—film sets, commercials, action sequences, and heavy cinema rigs. The ability to switch modes instantly via the handle controls means you can:
Start in Pan Follow for a stable walk-through,
Jump into Go Mode to follow sudden action,
Hit Vortex Mode for a creative transition —
all within the same continuous take.
This flexibility makes the CRANE 3S a top-tier tool for cinematographers who need speed, power, and creative freedom.
