Our verdict
The Weebill S is an older design, but it's still ZHIYUN's best-selling gimbal on its official store, and it's easy to see why. For $279 you get a compact sling-style gimbal that ZHIYUN says can balance combos like a Sony A7 III or Canon 5D Mark IV with a 24-70mm f/2.8, an OLED display for on-handle settings, electronic and mechanical focus/zoom control, a Manfrotto/Arca-Swiss quick release and up to 14 hours of battery. It lacks the touchscreen, built-in fill light and native vertical mode of newer Weebills, and image transmission needs extra TransMount accessories, but as a no-frills workhorse it remains good value.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Compact sling design, about 895 g
- ZHIYUN says it balances full-frame bodies with 24-70mm f/2.8 lenses
- Up to 14 hours of battery (12 h minimum rated)
- Two-in-one Manfrotto/Arca-Swiss quick release plate
- OLED display lets you change gimbal settings without the app
- Wide camera compatibility list (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Blackmagic and more)
Cons
- Older model with no touchscreen, fill light or native vertical mode
- Image transmission and focus/zoom motor are extra TransMount accessories
- The store doesn't spell out which package the $279 listing includes
- No customer rating shown on the ZHIYUN store page
Overview
The ZHIYUN Weebill S is a compact 3-axis camera gimbal with an underslung "sling" handle. It first launched several years ago and has since been followed by the Weebill 2, 3E, 3S and 5, yet it still sits at #1 on ZHIYUN's best-seller list at the time of writing, priced at $279.
This review covers the Weebill S's design, payload, features, battery life and box contents, based on ZHIYUN's official specifications. We haven't tested the gimbal ourselves, so we stick to what ZHIYUN publishes and flag what to check before buying.
Design: compact and built for sling mode
ZHIYUN says the Weebill S is roughly the size of a sheet of A4 paper when folded down, at 190 × 140 × 298 mm and about 895 g. Its underslung handle lets you hold it like a briefcase for low-angle shots, or tilt it up for a standard grip, which can take some strain off your wrist on longer shoots.
The two-in-one quick release plate fits both Manfrotto and Arca-Swiss systems, so moving the camera between gimbal and tripod is quick without having to rebalance.
Payload and compatibility
ZHIYUN rates the Weebill S at up to 3 kg and says combos like a Sony A7 III + FE 24-70mm f/2.8 and a Canon 5D Mark IV + EF 24-70mm f/2.8 can be balanced on it. Its compatibility list includes:
- Sony: A9 II, A9, A7R IV, A7R III, A7 III, A7S III, A7C, A6600, A6400, A6000 series and more
- Canon: 5D III/IV, 6D/6D II, 80D, 90D, EOS R, RP, R5, R6, M50
- Nikon: D850, D780, Z5, Z6/Z6 II, Z7/Z7 II, Z50
- Panasonic: GH5, GH5S, S1, S1H, S5, BGH1
- Others: Fujifilm X-T3/X-T4/X-T30, Blackmagic Pocket 4K/6K, Z CAM E2, Sigma fp, Olympus E-M1 Mark II
Because the Weebill S is an older model, newer camera bodies may not be on the list. Check ZHIYUN's full compatibility list for your exact camera and lens before ordering.
Features
- Upgraded motors and auto tune: ZHIYUN says a self-adaptive algorithm recognizes the load's weight and tunes the motors to match.
- On-handle OLED display: adjust motor strength, follow speed, smoothness, deadband and button customization without opening the app.
- Focus and zoom control: electronic focus control, plus mechanical focus/zoom with the optional TransMount Focus/Zoom Control Motor.
- ViaTouch 2.0: connects your phone, camera and gimbal so you can adjust settings like follow speed, aperture, ISO and shutter speed from the app.
- Optional image transmission: the TransMount transmitter (sold in the Image Transmission package) sends 1080p30 video up to 100 m with monitoring tools like LUTs, false color, focus peaking and zebras, and enables SmartFollow 2.0 object tracking.
Battery life
ZHIYUN rates the Weebill S at 12 hours minimum and up to 14 hours, which is enough for a full day of shooting for most people. Runtime depends on your camera's weight, balance and settings.
What's in the box
ZHIYUN lists three packages:
| Item | Standard | Zoom/Focus | Image Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weebill S gimbal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tripod | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB-C cable + camera control cables | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Storage case | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TransMount Focus/Zoom Control Motor 2.0 | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| TransMount Image Transmission Transmitter | — | — | ✓ |
| TransMount Phone Holder with Crown Gear | — | — | ✓ |
The store currently sells the Weebill S as a single $279 option and doesn't state which package that is. If you need the focus motor or image transmission, confirm the box contents with ZHIYUN before ordering.
Who should buy the Weebill S?
Buy it if you:
- Want a capable, compact gimbal for a mirrorless or lighter DSLR rig.
- Like shooting low angles in sling mode.
- Value long battery life and a simple on-handle display over newer extras.
Look elsewhere if you:
- Want native vertical shooting, a fill light or Bluetooth shutter control: consider the Weebill 3E or 3S.
- Want a large flip-out touchscreen: consider the Weebill 2.
- Shoot with a small camera and want the lightest option: consider the Crane M3.
Buying from ZHIYUN
The ZHIYUN store offers free shipping on US orders of $99+ (and EU orders of €99+), with delivery in 7–15 business days after dispatch, and a 1-year limited warranty. ZHIYUN doesn't provide return labels and the buyer pays return shipping for non-quality returns, and its return window is stated inconsistently, so read our ZHIYUN review before ordering. For more options, see our best ZHIYUN gimbals guide.
The verdict
The Weebill S isn't ZHIYUN's newest gimbal, but its compact sling design, 3 kg payload, long battery life and $279 price keep it popular. If you can live without a touchscreen and the newest extras, it's a solid choice. Just check your camera's compatibility and the package contents first.
Specifications
| Type | 3-axis handheld gimbal with sling mode |
|---|---|
| Payload | Up to 3 kg (mirrorless and DSLR camera-lens combos) |
| Net weight | About 895 g |
| Size | 190 × 140 × 298 mm |
| Mechanical range | Tilt 314°, roll 314°, pan 360° |
| Battery runtime | 12–14 hours |
| Display | OLED display on the handle |
| Quick release | Two-in-one Manfrotto/Arca-Swiss plates |
| Focus control | Electronic focus control; mechanical focus/zoom with TransMount motor |
| Image transmission | Optional TransMount module, 1080p30, up to 100 m |
| Standard box | Gimbal, tripod, USB-C and camera control cables, storage case |
| Price | $279 |
