Zhiyun recently released a new compact and affordable ($249 before discounts ) gimbal stabilizer—the Zhiyun Cinepeer Weebill 3E —and asked if we would like to review it, to which we happily agreed. My past experiences with gimbal stabilizers have been mixed; competing brands' products were either too large and heavy but offered good stabilization, or lightweight and compact but with limited payload capacity and subpar stabilization. The Weebill 3E, with its compact size, lightweight design, and generous 3kg (6.6 lbs) payload capacity, seemed to hit the sweet spot based on its initial specs.
Disclaimer: Zhiyun sent us the Cinepeer Weebill 3E to review, but no money was exchanged, and Zhiyun had not seen the review before it was published.
Cinepeer Weebill 3E Fully Folded
Size
Size is a more important factor in choosing a gimbal than many people realize. While some gimbals offer excellent features and stabilization, their size and weight make them impractical for non-professionals to carry. Fortunately, the Zhiyun Cinepeer Weebill 3E is not one of those. When fully folded with all three axes locked, the Weebill 3E is roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper. This compactness makes it easy to carry in a backpack and use in public without drawing too much attention.
Cinepeer Weebill 3E comes in a hard foam case
The included foam case offers excellent protection but is bulky, making it inconvenient for carrying the gimbal around. In my opinion, a padded pouch would be a better solution.
Weebill 3E Vertical Orientation - Sony A6700 and Zeiss 16-70mm F4
Vertical Video
Good news for social media content creators! One of the major selling points of this gimbal is its native vertical orientation support. Changing the camera's orientation from horizontal to vertical is easy and straightforward. The quick-release system allows you to switch orientations in just less than a minute. However, don't forget that you will need to readjust the balance after changing the orientation
Cinepeer Weebill 3E Fully with Sony A7R V and Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II In-hand
Build, Controls and Ergonomics
The Weebill 3E boasts a solid build, particularly for its price point. The rubber grip is comfortable, and the gimbal is easy to hold, even for those with larger hands. When fully locked, the movement of its parts is minimal, with only slight play at all three connection points. Importantly, it doesn’t make annoying sounds during transportation, unlike some competing products.
0.96-inch OLED Screen
The Weebill 3E features a 0.96" OLED color screen that allows you to view and change settings, and it's bright enough to read in direct sunlight. Although the screen is small and not touch-sensitive, you get used to it over time and, and the rocker wheel that also acts as a button makes the browsing the menu very intuitive. Once familiar, it becomes easy to adjust settings on the go.
Joystick, Mode button and Record button
The controls on the unit consist of a joystick, record button, mode button, menu button, power button, and jog wheel for menu navigation on one side, and an adjustment wheel and a trigger button on the opposite side. The controls are plentiful, well-placed, and easy to reach in most situations.
Trigger button and Adjustment Wheel
Features and Connectivity
The 3E is not the most feature-rich gimbal on the market, but at under $250, it covers all the basics and more. Zhiyun removed some features found in the more expensive Weebill 3S , like the built-in microphone and integrated fill light. Personally, I don't miss these features, but preferences may vary. Additionally, the Weebill 3E lacks the type-C port used for follow focus and video transmission control found on the Weebill 3S.
ZY Play Device Connect and Shooting Mode Selection Screens
The Cinepeer 3E features Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, allowing you to connect your mobile device via the ZY Play app. I have been using the iOS version of the app, it is also used by other Zhiyun gimbals and is quite refined. The initial connection to your device is seamless, and once you add your gimbal, it automatically connects when the app is open. The app provides numerous options to control your gimbal wirelessly.
Camera Connection via USB-C cable enables Extra Control Options with Supported Cameras
In addition to connecting to your mobile device, the Weebill 3E can connect directly to your camera and act as a shutter button to start and stop recording and take photos with supported cameras. I tested this with my Sony A6700, Sony A7R V, and Canon EOS R8 without any issues. If you connect your camera via the included USB-C cable, you can control additional settings from the gimbal, including shutter, ISO, and aperture.
Weebill 3E - What is in the Box
Set up and Balancing
The Weebill 3E comes with a Manfrotto-type quick release plate and a tabletop-style tripod that can also be used as an extension handle. The extra handle space helps manage heavy setups with two hands, reducing fatigue compared to using one hand. Additionally, the 3E can be used in Sling Mode 2.5 with the optional attachable wrist rest and adjustable handle ($139 ). I didn't have this setup during my review, so I can't comment on its real-life use, but from the provided photos, it seems like a good way to reduce fatigue on your wrist.
Sling Mode 2.5 comes with an optional purchase
Use of an extra Quick-release system on top of the Manfrotto Plate makes Camera Swap Process much easier
The initial setup of the gimbal took only a few minutes, and I believe even the least experienced users will not have much difficulty with it. However, I recommend first-time users watch a YouTube video on how to set up and balance a gimbal for better understanding. The Weebill 3E also features an auto fine-tuning function that makes fine adjustments to ensure your setup is perfectly balanced.
Weebill 3E stabilizes Sony A7R V and Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GM II without a sweat
Performance
The Weebill 3E can stabilize my Sony A7R V (723g) and the Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II (695g) pair without any issues. The total weight is approximately 1,420g, and even with a camera cage and a few small accessories, it stays under 2kg, well below the 3kg max rated payload. However, I prefer to keep my gimbal setup as light and compact as possible. I mostly use my Sony a6700 paired with small, fast primes like the Sony Zeiss 24mm F1.8 or the Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN , or a compact zoom like the Sony E Zeiss 16-70mm F4 which is much easier on the wrist and arm, especially during prolonged video shoots.
The 3E offers Pan, Lock, Follow, POV, and Vortex modes. You can manually pan and tilt the camera using the joystick and jog wheel. If you explore the menus on the OLED screen, you’ll find additional settings to further fine-tune the system to your liking.
Timelapse mode can be set from the built-in screen as well as via the ZY Play app
Overall, the stabilization I achieved with this setup was very effective, with smooth and natural-looking transitions. No matter how good your camera's or lens's built-in image stabilization is, it won't match what you can achieve with this gimbal. But this doesn't mean your camera stab will be useless, infact it will help the gimbals to achieve a better overall result when combined.
Each axis can be locked separately
The gimbal's motors felt strong enough for my setup. For optimal performance, it's best to keep the total weight below the max payload; my personal rule of thumb is to keep it at 50% of the max payload.
Portrait Mode with Sony A6700
I am not a vertical video shooter myself, but I tried it on the 3E with my A6700, and it worked as effectively as the horizontal setup.
ZY Play App Timelapse and Sync Motion Modes
The ZY Play App control is really easy and fun, offering many new creative shooting opportunities. I especially liked the panorama, timelapse, and slow-motion modes, which turn the 3E into a useful tool for photography as well. The gimbal switches to selfie mode with one click, which is helpful for vloggers.
Charging and Battery
The 3E has a built-in 2650mAh battery with a maximum operation time of 16 hours according to Zhiyun. Although I haven’t tested it for that long, during my usage, the battery charge did not deplete faster than expected. The battery can be charged via the USB-C port on the gimbal body and supports continuous power supply if you leave the cable plugged in. It took just over 2 hours to charge from 0% to 100%, which is reasonable. Since the battery is not removable/swappable, ensure it has enough charge before leaving home or carry a power bank to be safe.
Zhiyun/Weebill3 Charged by a Power Bank
Who is it for?
The Cinepeer 3E is an excellent gimbal for beginners due to its easy setup, reliable performance, and affordable price. However, it is not limited to beginners. It also offers a lot for advanced users looking for a compact solution with a high max payload and effective stabilization. Social media content creators will appreciate the upgrade from smartphones to mirrorless cameras for better video quality, and this gimbal will give them perfectly stabilized footage. Additionally, app-controlled modes such as panorama and timelapse will attract still shooters.
Conclusion
The Cinepeer Weebill 3E doesn't have the bells and whistles of some more expensive gimbals, but it works effectively and reliably. If you're into videography and often shoot handheld, this is an excellent tool that you can easily throw into your backpack or larger shoulder bag and carry all day. Setup is easy, and the build quality is durable enough to take some wear and tear. The battery life lasts for a full day of shooting. The control app works seamlessly, and the connection is reliable.
Pros and Cons
+ Compact size and lightweight
+ High max payload of 3kg covers most enthusiast and pro camera & lens combos
+ Very affordable price
+ Effective stabilization
+ Easy switch from Horizontal to Vertical Mode
+ ZY App works without problems and has a reliable connection
- Long lenses can block the movement in some cases
- Optional attachable wrist rest and adjustable handle (Sling Mode 2.5) are a bit pricey
- Foam carrying case is large
Price
You can buy the Weebill Cinepeer 3E for $249 at Zhiyun Official Store and Amazon . In addition, there are 10% discount running both on the official store and Amazon which brings the proce to $224 which makes it an even better deal!
