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Zhiyun’s Crane series ships with its own baseplate, but that plate is what pins you to one camera and one gimbal. A Manfrotto 501PL-style quick release plate lets you pull the camera off the gimbal in seconds — onto a tripod, a shoulder rig, or a second gimbal — without re-balancing every time. Here are the plates that actually fit the Crane family (2, 3 LAB, and the M2/M3 series), from Zhiyun’s own accessory to the aftermarket options that add Arca-Swiss compatibility on top.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zhiyun TransMount Quick Release Baseplate | $25-$35 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | FocusFoto Quick Release Plate for Zhiyun Crane 2 / Crane 3 LAB | $20-$30 | Amazon |
| 3 | Proaim Quick Release Plate for Handheld Gimbals | $15-$25 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Niceyrig Universal Arca Quick Release Base Plate | $18-$28 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | SmallRig Quick Release Extension Bracket 3006 | $25-$35 | Amazon |
| 6 | ANDYCINE Quick Release Plate (Arca/Manfrotto Type) | $16-$24 | Amazon |
| 7 | Ulanzi Falcam F38 Quick Release Plate | $20-$30 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Zhiyun TransMount Quick Release Baseplate
Zhiyun’s own accessory for the Crane-2, Crane 3 LAB, WEEBILL LAB, and WEEBILL-S — snaps the camera straight from the gimbal onto the TransMount camera belt or gimbal bag without re-balancing.
- Official Zhiyun TransMount system part
- Fits Crane-2 and Crane 3 LAB baseplates
- Doubles as a belt/bag quick-mount
- Guaranteed fit on supported Crane models
- No re-balance needed when swapping
- Narrower compatibility than third-party Arca plates
FocusFoto Quick Release Plate for Zhiyun Crane 2 / Crane 3 LAB
Built specifically for Crane 2, Crane 3 LAB, WEEBILL-S/2/3, and cross-compatible with Manfrotto 501PL/503HDV and MH055M0-Q5 tripod heads.
- Manfrotto 501PL-compatible dovetail
- CNC-machined aluminum
- Sized for larger camera/lens combos
- Works across both gimbal and tripod ecosystems
- Handles heavier camera setups
- Bulkier than the stock Zhiyun plate
Proaim Quick Release Plate for Handheld Gimbals
A compact CNC aluminum plate built for Crane 2 and Crane 3S, with both 3/8″-16 and 1/4″-20 mounting screws.
- High-grade CNC aluminum
- Dual thread sizes (3/8″ and 1/4″)
- Compact low-profile design
- Lighter than most Manfrotto-style clones
- Dual threading fits more camera baseplates
- Smaller locking lever than some rivals
Niceyrig Universal Arca Quick Release Base Plate
An Arca-type plate for Ronin-S, Zhiyun Weebill, and the Crane series, with degree markings so you can return to the same balance point after removing the camera.
- Arca-Swiss dovetail
- Degree markings for repeatable balance
- Compatible across Ronin S / Weebill / Crane / MOZA
- Arca compatibility opens up tripod heads beyond Manfrotto
- Markings speed up re-balancing
- Arca clamp sold separately on some gimbal mounts
SmallRig Quick Release Extension Bracket 3006
SmallRig’s bracket for the Crane 2S adds an integrated Manfrotto 501-style plate plus two 1/4″-20 threads and a cold shoe for a monitor or mic.
- Integrated Manfrotto 501-style plate
- Two 1/4″-20 accessory threads
- Cold shoe mount
- Adds accessory mounting, not just quick-release
- SmallRig build quality
- Specifically sized for Crane 2S, check fit on other Cranes
ANDYCINE Quick Release Plate (Arca/Manfrotto Type)
A dual-standard plate with a built-in 38mm Arca-Swiss base plus Manfrotto-type compatibility, sized for Ronin-S/RS2/RSC2 and Zhiyun Crane 2/3 and Weebill S.
- Built-in 38mm Arca-Swiss base
- Manfrotto-type compatible
- Thumbscrew quick-lock
- Works on both Arca and Manfrotto tripod heads
- Thumbscrew needs no tools
- Thumbscrew can loosen under heavier lenses — check periodically
Ulanzi Falcam F38 Quick Release Plate
Falcam’s F38 quick-release system, sold in versions sized for the Crane M2S and M3/M3S, giving those smaller gimbals the same fast-swap mounting bigger Cranes get from Zhiyun’s own plate.
- Falcam F38 magnetic-assist locking
- Sized for Crane M2S/M3/M3S
- Compact for lighter mirrorless setups
- Fastest lock/release of this group
- Purpose-built for the smaller Crane M-series
- Not sized for the larger Crane 2/3 LAB bodies
Buying tips
- Match the plate to your Crane model first — Crane 2/3 LAB, Weebill, and the smaller Crane M2/M3 series use different plate sizes, and a plate sized for the wrong one won’t seat correctly.
- If you also own a tripod with a Manfrotto 501PL head, pick a plate that’s explicitly 501PL-compatible so one camera baseplate serves both the gimbal and the tripod.
- Arca-Swiss plates (Niceyrig, ANDYCINE) are worth the small premium if you already have Arca clamps elsewhere in your kit — one dovetail standard across gimbal, tripod, and slider saves re-balancing time on set.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.