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C**N
One of the Best Gimbals for its price point
I just received the Feiyu AK-2000 a few days ago and have been playing with it for a couple days. I haven't yet had the chance the shoot professionally with it yet, so I might update the review as I shoot more with it.So far, I'm very pleased with what I see, feel & have experienced with the Feiyu AK-2000.As a professional videographer shooting events/documentaries/commercial works with lighter mirrorless cameras, I've had a few gimbal for the past 2-3 years from the Filmpower Nebula 4000 Lite to the Zhiyun Crane v2 and Crane Plus. I wanted to upgrade to a nicer yet light gimbal with the slanted design but didn't want to drop too much money into it as I know that the technology evolves very fast (I wanted an alternative to the Ronin S and something lighter than the Ronin). And the Feiyu AK-2000 was the perfect gimbal for my needs spec-wise as I wanted something light that could handle a GH5 + a speedbooster adapter + lenses like the 18-35 F1.8 Sigma lens.I own a lot of Panasonic gear (GH5, GX85, G85) and a Canon 5D Mark IV. So far, I've tried it with the GH5 and a couple LUMIX Lenses (12-35 F2.8 primarily) and it balances nicely and easily.* Balancing:Unlike the Zhiyun Cranes, I can balance the AK-2000 much faster as soon as I understood how to slide it into the plate (watch for an arrow that's fairly hidden on the side of the attaching plate).* Payload settings Note:At first, in the default factory mode for payload settings (Auto Adapt mode), the vibration feel/sound seemed slightly more pronounced than on my Zhiyun, but after looking online as recommended by the Feiyu support team following the Feiyu Tutorial youtube video, I was able to set the Payload according to my camera+lens appropriate weight (Level 3). The different payload settings seem to be similar to the AK-4000 tutorial from lowest weight setting to highest though they differ in terms of naming convention (Level 1 was too light for my setup, Level 2 seemed a bit just, so I settled on Level 3 for my payload which was a little less than 1Kg).In order to change your payload settings, you need to be aware that the LCD touchscreen allows you to access an extra camera/payload/gimbal settings menu by swiping your finger to the right on the LCD. There are many settings you can tweak with it. Note that you need to power off & back on after for the payload settings to take effect.If you don't want to change, you can swipe back left to return to the previous menu and one more time left to go back to the default menu at power on.* First Impressions:Overall, the moves are clean and I can get a lot of degrees of liberty that I couldn't get before with my Zhiyun cranes. It's like having a Ronin-S at half or 2/3rd the cost depending on when you buy it.I love the display and touch functionality of the AK-2000 - something I didn't have with my Crane Plus, which is so helpful when you shoot.I also like the fact that it's not too heavy. Slightly heavier than the Crane Plus (and v2) but lighter than the Crane 2.I also really like the controls on this Gimbal, they are responsive and do what you want it to do.The overall product is very well made and feels professional with nice materials. The only thing is that I wished the handle at the bottom had a bit more grip to it so it doesn't feel as slippery as it currently feels. It still feels decent in your hand nevertheless.I wished it had come with the extra extension bar so that you could use it without having to pay extra, though you can easily attach a monopod at the bottom of the handle. Also, I haven't had the chance to test the follow focus (which is to be bought separately) yet but I can't wait to do so as I'm waiting for its delivery.Overall, the AK-2000 seems to be able to handle hours of shooting no problem (although I haven't played with it long enough to see how long it can work, but it should work well all day long) as well as handle the advertised paylod.The gimbal comes with a carrying case that I wished was made of hard plastic in lieu of the styrofoam like casing but overall it seems to protect it well.It also comes with all kinds of accessories and even a detachable plate that comes in handy to remove your camera without losing your balancing settings.So in conclusion, I'm very satisfied with the AK-2000 thus far, and can't wait to work with it more on my upcoming shoots. It seems to tick all the needs I have for a gimbal and works very nicely so far. If you're in the market for a gimbal for your Panasonic GH5, Olympus OMD, or Sony mirrorless cameras, this gimbal to me is one of the best bang for your buck without breaking your wallet. Being able to handle 6lb payloads while having the 360 degree rotation functionality and a touchscreen display as well as the tilted design to allow for seeing what you film is really great at that price point. I haven't tried the Android app much yet apart from upgrading the firmware thus far which worked (after turning on and off the gimbal twice).Pros:- Solid build quality & Great price point - Much cheaper than the Ronin S, on par with Zhiyun gimbal quality- Works nicely with heavier mirrorless cameras up to 6lbs- Nice Slanted design (for the price point it's rarer) so you can easily see the LCD monitor on your camera- LCD touch screen with Smartphone App control capabilities- Many degrees of freedom & control via the handle & knobs & touch screen- Easy to balance - faster than Zhiyun Crane in my experience- Very Smooth footage after you have chosen the appropriate payload settings for your payload (camera/lens/setup) weight.Cons: For the price point, it's hard to give the gimbal too many faults- Bottom Handle feels a bit slippery- The Auto-Tuning settings for vibration is not ideal and so it requires the operator to go into the "right menu" and setup the appropriate payload settings according to your camera/lens weight. I wished the settings showed the actual weight as shown in the youtube tutorial for the AK-4000 (the bigger brother) as opposed to Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... But it works much better once you have chosen the appropriate payload weight Level. And you dont have any vibrations anymore. Maybe a firmware upgrade will change those levels to indicate the approx optimized weights for each Levels.
W**T
The perfect all around gimbal.
The media could not be loaded. After using this gimbal for the past 2 weeks, I am very happy to report that it has met and exceeded all of my expectations. Buttery smooth footage, handled my Canon T5i without a hitch, even my Canon M50 and Lumix G7. Love the touchscreen, super responsive and love the long battery life. Would definitely recommend.
T**T
Absolutely quality construction for an affordable price!
I was worried I wouldnt be able to find an affordable gimbal that could still handle the payload of my Canon M50 with a larger zoom lens.Then I found the AK2000...As soon as you remove it from the box you'll notice the quality of the build. It's all aluminum alloy and feels fantastic.The setup takes a little practice but once you get it down, it's no issue.I had some slight issues figuring out the balancing until I changed some settings, but there are plenty of YouTube videos to help you with this.The touch screen works great.The movements are smooth and the motors are quiet. I could not hear them in any video playback.The grip is already rubber and firm.The box it comes with is actually really nice. My only issue with it is that you have to reset all balancing points before you can store the gimbal back in the box.All in all, thanks to Feiyutech for a stellar product and I look forward to learning the ins and outs of this gimbal soon.
C**.
AK2000 an absolute Alpha!
Based on my personal hands on of the AK2000, so far here's what I can share with you guys.Construction and Design+ Not limiting the functionality of the camera. Easy access to camera's screen. Thank you for the 45-degree angle design style.+ Ergonomic handle, smooth and perfect feeling of the grip on your hand. Comfy soft material around the handle.+It is lightweight in a way that I am able to manage to hold and carry for long periods.Attaching camera and Balancing Gimbal+ With a max payload of 2.8KG or 6.17lbs when it comes to balancing your device it varies of on how heavy your camera is.+ I use mirrorless EOS M50 and it just took me less than a minute to manually balance it satisfactory to the best I could tell.+ Again, going back to Construction and Design. The quick release plate and its holder has a locking mechanism to prevent your unit from accidental fall off while performing manual balancing of your gimbal. So, don't be anxious about sliding the camera quick release plate back and forth as it has a security feature.lock and unlock Quick release screws are fantastic. These handle the adjustments a lot easier.Rooms for expansion+ 1/4 inch threaded hole on the side(for external "5-display)+ 1/4 inch threaded hole at the bottom (for longer reach by adding an extension pole like carbon fiber Feiyu-tech stick or a monopod)Features and Technology+ The LCD touchscreen makes it alot easier to navigate through menus and other bunch of configurations. Fair enough to say it is responsive.+ There is also a mobile app for those who prefers to control the device through phone via wifi.+ USB port to charge your phone or update firmware through flash drive+ Battery life is absolutely phenomenal that gives you life for more than 10hrs of operation.+ Last but not the least is the price point compare to other gimbals.with all these features and well thought design. For me it is definitely more bang for your buck!
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