27 cameras · 13 gimbals · 104 lenses, all manufacturer-verified weights.
How to read the results
- Works means the full rig sits at or under 80% of the gimbal’s tested payload — comfortable balancing, responsive motors, normal battery life.
- Tight means you’re between 80–100% of max payload. It’ll carry it, but expect fussier balancing, slower motor response, and faster battery drain.
- Real-world rig adds 150g for the stuff you actually mount: quick-release plate, on-camera mic, and a filter. Leave it on — bare-camera math lies.
- Payload isn’t the whole story — balance matters too. Long, front-heavy lenses can max out the tilt arm even when the weight fits, and zooms that extend shift the center of gravity mid-shot.
- ⚠ Balance flags come from our own field tests and real user reports on forums — a red “Won’t balance” means people (including us) have tried and failed without counterweights.
- Camera weights include battery + memory card (manufacturer spec). Lens weights are manufacturer specs without hoods or caps.
What This Gimbal Payload Calculator Covers
This free calculator checks camera and lens compatibility against the tested payload of every popular DJI and Zhiyun single-handed gimbal — 27 cameras, 13 gimbals, and 104 lenses, all using manufacturer-verified weights (camera weights include battery and memory card).
Gimbals & tested payloads: DJI RS 5 (3,000g), DJI RS 4 Mini (2,000g), DJI RS 3 Mini (2,000g), DJI RS 4 (3,000g), DJI RS 4 Pro (4,500g), DJI RS 3 (3,000g), DJI RS 3 Pro (4,500g), DJI RSC 2 (3,000g), Zhiyun Crane M3 (1,000g), Zhiyun Crane M3S (1,000g), Zhiyun Weebill 3S (3,000g), Zhiyun Crane 4 (4,500g), Zhiyun Crane 3S (6,500g).
Canon cameras (RF mount): EOS R5 Mark II, EOS R5, EOS R6 Mark III, EOS R6 Mark II, EOS R8, EOS R7, EOS C50, EOS C70, EOS C80. Sony cameras (E mount): a7 IV, a7S III, FX3, FX30, a6700, ZV-E1, a7C II. Nikon cameras (Z mount): Z6 III, Z8, Z5 II, Zf, Z50 II. Panasonic cameras: Lumix S5 II, S5 IIX, S9 (L mount), Lumix GH7, GH6, G9 II (Micro Four Thirds).
Canon RF lenses: RF 24-70mm f/2.8L, RF 24-105mm f/2.8L Z, RF 24-105mm f/4L, RF 28-70mm f/2L, RF 28-70mm f/2.8, RF 70-200mm f/2.8L, RF 15-35mm f/2.8L, RF 14-35mm f/4L, RF 15-30mm, RF 24-50mm, RF 24-105mm STM, RF-S 18-45mm, RF 16mm f/2.8, RF 24mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 24mm f/1.8, RF 28mm f/2.8, RF 35mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 35mm f/1.8, RF 50mm f/1.2L, RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM, RF 50mm f/1.8, RF 85mm f/2, RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro, plus Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8.
Sony E lenses: FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II, FE 28-70mm f/2 GM, FE 24-105mm f/4 G, FE 20-70mm f/4 G, FE 24-50mm f/2.8 G, FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II, FE PZ 16-35mm f/4 G, FE 16-25mm f/2.8 G, FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II, FE 20mm f/1.8 G, FE 24mm f/1.4 GM, FE 35mm f/1.4 GM, FE 35mm f/1.8, FE 40mm f/2.5 G, FE 50mm f/1.2 GM, FE 50mm f/1.4 GM, FE 50mm f/1.8, FE 85mm f/1.8, plus Tamron 17-28mm, 28-75mm G2, 35-150mm and Sigma 16-28mm, 18-50mm, 24-70mm II, 35mm f/1.4.
Nikon Z lenses: Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S and S II, Z 24-70mm f/4 S, Z 24-120mm f/4 S, Z 28-75mm f/2.8, Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S, Z 17-28mm f/2.8, Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S, Z DX 16-50mm, Z 20mm f/1.8 S, Z 24mm f/1.8 S, Z 26mm f/2.8, Z 28mm f/2.8, Z 35mm f/1.4, Z 35mm f/1.8 S, Z 40mm f/2, Z 50mm f/1.4, Z 50mm f/1.8 S, Z 85mm f/1.8 S, plus Tamron 28-75mm G2 and 35-150mm.
Panasonic L-mount lenses: Lumix S 20-60mm, S 24-60mm f/2.8, S Pro 24-70mm f/2.8, S 24-105mm f/4, S Pro 70-200mm f/2.8, S 18mm f/1.8, S 26mm f/8, S 35mm f/1.8, S 50mm f/1.8, S 100mm f/2.8 Macro, plus Sigma 14-24mm, 16-28mm, 20mm f/2, 24mm f/3.5, 24-70mm II, 28-45mm f/1.8, 28-70mm, 35mm f/2, 45mm f/2.8. Micro Four Thirds lenses: Leica DG 9mm, 10-25mm f/1.7, 12-60mm, 15mm f/1.7, 25mm f/1.4 II, Nocticron 42.5mm, Lumix G 12-35mm f/2.8 II, 14-140mm, 20mm f/1.7, 25mm f/1.7, 35-100mm f/2.8, OM System 8-25mm f/4 Pro, 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro, 12-100mm f/4 Pro, 20mm f/1.4 Pro, 25mm f/1.8, 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro.
Gimbal Payload & Balance FAQ
How do I know if my camera and lens will work on a gimbal?
Add your camera’s weight (with battery and card) to your lens weight, plus about 150g for a quick-release plate, mic, and filter. If the total sits at or under roughly 80% of the gimbal’s tested payload, it will usually balance comfortably with responsive motors. Between 80–100% it will carry but balancing gets fussy. This calculator does that math for you across 27 cameras and 104 lenses.
Why won’t my lens balance even though it’s under the payload limit?
Length matters as much as weight. Very long lenses push the center of gravity so far forward that the gimbal’s tilt axis runs out of travel before the rig balances — no matter how much payload headroom is left. Zoom lenses that extend also shift the balance point every time you change focal length. This tool flags known offenders with balance warnings based on our own field tests and real user reports.
How much payload can DJI and Zhiyun gimbals handle?
DJI RS 5, RS 4, and RS 3 are tested to 3,000g; the RS 4 Pro and RS 3 Pro to 4,500g; the RS 4 Mini and RS 3 Mini to 2,000g. On the Zhiyun side, the Weebill 3S handles 3,000g, the Crane 4 handles 4,500g, the compact Crane M3 and M3S handle about 1,000g, and the heavy-lift Crane 3S handles 6,500g.
Should I count accessories in my gimbal payload?
Yes. A quick-release plate, on-camera mic, and filter add roughly 150g to a real rig, and bare-camera math is why so many setups feel underpowered in the field. Use the “Real-world rig” toggle in the calculator to include that automatically.
What are the best lenses for gimbal work?
Compact primes and internal-zoom lenses. Internal zooms keep the center of gravity fixed across the range — standouts include the Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8, Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8, and Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II. Canon’s RF 24/35/50mm f/1.4L VCM primes share identical bodies so you can swap lenses without rebalancing.
Who built this tool?
ApeShot Productions, a video production company in Spring Hill, Florida. We fly these camera and gimbal combos every week on real client shoots, and the balance warnings include our own field-tested results.