SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod brings distant details within reach and keeps them steady. Zoom in from far away while the 3-axis gimbal holds the picture still, and keep getting bright, detailed images when the light fades. Quick to mount, easy to connect to your flight controller or SIYI link, and at home on drones, boats and ground robots, it turns every mission into clear, usable footage.
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod — Unshakable Stability, Day and Night
The SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod is a 3-axis gimbal camera with 30x optical and up to 180x hybrid zoom. A 1/2.7-inch Sony CMOS sensor with 8MP effective resolution records 4K video at 25fps and takes 4K photos onto a microSD card (Class 10, up to 128GB). The yaw axis turns through 540 degrees and the camera mounts on a quick release board. It sends video over Ethernet and Micro-HDMI and is controlled via S.Bus, UART (SIYI SDK, ArduPilot and PX4 over MAVLink) or Ethernet UDP/TCP. It runs on 11-25.2V (3S to 6S), draws 5W on average and 12W at peak, weighs 668g and measures 132x100x180mm, quick release board included. SIYI designs it for drones, unmanned boats and ground vehicles.
180X Hybrid Zoom, 30X Optical Zoom
4K Ultra HD Video and Photos
8MP 1/2.7-Inch Sony CMOS
540° Yaw Rotation, Quick Release
Nose Mode
Upside Down Mode
Compatible with ArduPilot and PX4 (MAVLink)
Ethernet and HDMI Video Output
High-Accuracy Control Algorithms
30x Optical Zoom, Up to 180x Hybrid
The ZR30 carries a 1/2.7-inch Sony image sensor, an 8MP CMOS with remarkable sensitivity to light, for 4K video and photos. It zooms up to 180x in hybrid mode, 30x of it optical. The focusing algorithm is fast and accurate and the viewpoint is focused automatically, so distant scenery comes within reach with smooth zoom and steady movement.
Without zoom the field of view is 65.4° diagonally. At full 30x optical zoom it narrows to 2.5°, enough to pick out a single detail far away.
A Sharp Picture in Any Light
Point to Focus
Point anywhere on the screen and the zoom camera focuses on that part of the image, for a clear view of exactly what you selected.
Focus Tracking
The zoom camera stays in focus while you zoom in and out, so the video stays smooth.
Starlight Night Vision
The ultra-sensitive starlight CMOS keeps images bright in low light.
HDR
HDR (High Dynamic Range) captures the details of highlights and shadows in dynamic scenes, for true colors and natural brightness.
AI Recognition and Tracking
With the optional SIYI AI tracking module, the ZR30 tracks and captures targets in real time, focusing and zooming so that the selected object always stays in the centre of the picture at a clearly visible size.
If the target is briefly blocked or leaves the screen, the module recognises it and continues tracking as soon as it comes back.
Available in our shop: SIYI AI II 10T tracking module
540-Degree Yaw Rotation and Quick Release
The yaw axis of the ZR30 rotates through 540 degrees, so hanging below a VTOL drone or a plane it captures 360 degrees around. The SIYI quick release structure lets you mount the camera and switch payloads fast.
Many Ways to Control the Gimbal
Control the ZR30 the classic way with an S.Bus signal from switches and dials, over Ethernet from a touchscreen or with UDP/TCP commands from the SIYI gimbal SDK, or over UART with the SIYI gimbal SDK or the open-source ArduPilot and PX4 protocols (MAVLink). That makes it easy to integrate into many kinds of drones and robots.
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod Gimbal Modes
Nose Mode
When the gimbal is mounted at 90 degrees to the horizontal plane, it enters nose mode automatically. That makes it easy to fit in the nose of a fixed-wing drone, with a friendlier mounting angle and a wider field of view.
Upside Down Mode
Mounted upside down, the gimbal activates upside down mode automatically, so it fits many kinds of vehicles such as unmanned ground vehicles, boats and robot dogs.
Follow Mode
Horizontally, the gimbal follows when the aircraft turns.
FPV Mode
The gimbal rotates together with the aircraft as it rolls, giving an FPV view with enhanced, stable images.
Lock Mode
Horizontally, the gimbal does not follow when the aircraft turns.
High-Accuracy Control and Stabilization Algorithms
SIYI has put a lot of work into the control and stabilization algorithms behind the gimbal.
IMU Calibration
Corrects errors of the inertial measurement unit such as zero bias, scale factor, inter-axis error, temperature drift and noise. The gimbal stays stable through large temperature differences, wide steering and strong vibration.
Attitude Fusion
Combines data from accelerometers and gyroscopes through mathematical models and filtering to get the pitch, roll and yaw angles of the gimbal, which improves performance, stability and robustness.
Industry-Level 3-Axis Stabilization
Integrates 3-axis gyroscopes, 3-axis accelerometers, PID controllers, motors and magnetic encoders to keep the gimbal steady and output a stable HD picture while moving.
High-Precision FOC Motor Control
Controls the torque and magnetic field components of the motor current separately, which decouples the brushless motor control and greatly reduces picture jitter.
Frequently asked questions - SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod
Yes. The Micro-HDMI port outputs 1080p video. The camera also streams video over Ethernet.
There are four ways: tap any point on the screen in the SIYI UniGCS app for autofocus, use an S.Bus channel for manual or autofocus, or send SIYI SDK commands over the serial port (UART) or over Ethernet.
SIYI names drones, unmanned boats (USV) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV). Nose mode and upside down mode make it easy to mount on fixed-wing aircraft and ground robots.
Zoom works when recording in 2K, 1080p or 720p. With the recording resolution set to 4K, zooming is not available. If you control the camera over S.Bus, also check that a zoom channel is configured.
A rolling shutter. The shutter speed is automatic and cannot be set separately.
Only for firmware upgrades and parameter adjustment. Power the gimbal on before you connect it to a computer for an upgrade.
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod Interfaces
- Power input (3S to 6S)
- Control signal input and output (S.Bus / UART)
- Control signal input and output (S.Bus / UART)
- Ethernet (video stream and SDK protocol control)
- Micro-HDMI (video output)
- Type-C (upgrade and configuration)
- TF card slot (file storage and copying)
- Status indicator
The power connector is an MX1.25mm 4-pin plug and the network port is a GH1.25mm 9-pin plug. Pinouts of the video and protocol, gimbal control and power connectors:
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod Wiring Diagram
A: Ethernet protocol control, ZR30 to a SIYI link air unit such as the SIYI HM30. B: UART control, ZR30 to a flight controller.
C: S.Bus signal control.
D: S.Bus control with the S.Bus signal forwarded to the flight controller.
E: AI recognition and tracking, ZR30 to a SIYI link through the SIYI AI tracking module.
Manuals, firmware and software for the ZR30 are on the manufacturer website: SIYI ZR30 downloads
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod Specification
General
Video Output Ports | Ethernet, Micro-HDMI |
Control Signal Input Ports | S.Bus, UART, Ethernet UDP/TCP |
3-Axis Stabilization | Yaw, pitch, roll |
Working Voltage | 11-25.2V (3S to 6S) |
Power Consumption | Average 5W, peak 12W |
Connectors | Power: MX1.25mm 4-pin; network: GH1.25mm 9-pin |
Waterproof Level | IP4X |
Working Temperature | -10 to 50°C |
Dimensions | 132x100x180mm (quick release board included) |
Weight | 668g (quick release board included) |
Gimbal
Angular Vibration Range | ±0.01° |
Controllable Pitch Angle | -90° to +25° |
Controllable Yaw Angle | -270° to +270° |
Roll Angle | -45° to +45° |
Camera
Lens | 30x optical zoom (180x hybrid zoom) |
Image Sensor | 1/2.7" Sony CMOS, 8MP effective resolution |
Aperture | F1.3-2.8 (±5%) |
Focal Length | 4.5-148.4mm (±5%) |
Field of View | Without zoom: 65.4° diagonal, 58.1° horizontal; 30x optical zoom: 2.5° diagonal, 2.1° horizontal |
Shutter | Rolling shutter, automatic speed |
Video Recording Resolution | 4K (4096x2160) at 25fps, 2K (2560x1440) at 30fps, 1080p (1920x1080) at 30fps, 720p (1280x720) at 30fps |
Video Storage Bitrate | 12Mbps (H.265) |
Still Photo Resolution | 4K (3840x2160) |
Still Photography Mode | Single |
Image Format | JPG |
Video Format | MP4 |
White Balance | Automatic |
Metering Mode | Evaluative |
Supported MicroSD Cards | Class 10, up to 128GB, FAT32 |
Quick Release Board
Dimensions | 82x65x20mm |
Weight | 38g |
SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod Package Includes
- 1x SIYI ZR30 Optical Pod
- 1x Power Cable
- 1x SIYI Video Transmission Cable
- 1x Video and Communication Cable
- 1x S.Bus Y-Splitter Cable
- 1x RJ45 Male Cable with Strain Relief
- 1x UART Cable for ArduPilot / PX4 Flight Controllers
- 1x 5-Pin Control Data Cable
- 6x Hex Flange Machine Screws (TM3x8)
