Verdict
The DJI RS 4 strikes the perfect middle ground between the RS 4 Pro and the RS 3 Mini . There are also a good telephone number of update over the RS 3 , though perhaps not enough to warrant an rise if you already own the 2022 example .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
In April 2024 , DJI update its RS line of gimbal with the new DJI RS 4 and RS 4 professional .
While the RS 4 Pro is designed for professional shoots and video yield teams , the RS 4 remains marketed toward solo content Almighty and those looking to shoot small - plate event , such as wedding ceremony or performances . This make water the RS 4 the more approachable and affordable alternative for the immense legal age of creators .
TheDJI RS 3 Minialso has n’t gone anywhere , with DJI yet to announce a Mini adaptation of the DJI RS 4 . This means the RS 3 Mini remains a cheaper option for anyone just starting out and more lightweight for those looking for something more travel - friendly .
Keep translate to learn more about my experience with the DJI RS 4 .
Design
A gimbal is n’t typically the most flashy piece of tv camera equipment and the DJI RS 4 is no exception . The RS 4 share the same minimalistic , functional excogitation as the other gimbals in DJI ’s RS scope , with a matt black plastic finish and very little in the direction of ornamentation aside from the large Ronin logo across the side .
The gimbal is well - built and sturdy - feeling , with all three of the axis arm made from carbon character and now surface in Teflon for smoother balancing compared to the DJI RS 3 .
The RS 4 is able of keep going a full payload of 3 kg ( 6.6 lb ) , which should be more than strong enough to plump for your choice of camera , lens and accessories . It ’s also more than the 2 kg ( 4.4 lb ) supported by the DJI RS 3 Mini , though not quite on par with the 4.5 kg ( 10 lb ) load offered by the DJI RS 4 Pro ready the R 4 less suited to professional sets with impenetrable cameras than its Pro twin .
Of naturally , you ’ll also want to consider the weight unit of the gimbal itself as you wo n’t just be carry the camera and lens while you film . The RS 4 comes in at 1269 g including the bobby pin , or 1452 g with the extended grip / tripod . Again , this specification sit down correctly in between the 1507 g RS 4 Pro ( without the extended grip / tripod ) and the 850 g RS 3 Mini .
The RS 4 is design to be paired with mid - range mirrorless cameras , such as theSony A7C , Canon R6,Nikon Z7 II , Panasonic GH6 , andFujifilm X - T4 . I paired it with an old Canon 100D DSLR as this was what I had on hand and it fit absolutely hunky-dory . I did find the gimbal to be noticeably heavier than the RS 3 Mini , but not so heavy that I could carry it around town for several hours .
at last , the DJI RS 4 is fitted with DJI ’s 2nd - generation automated axis lock to mechanically shut up or unlock the axis ignition lock when the gimbal powers off . This I found very commodious whenever I took a break or wanted to move from one locating to another .
Controls and Features
I found the setup and balancing process to be improbably confusing , but this is also something I see with theDJI RS 3 Mini .
Thankfully , balancing the gimbal is not something you ’ll need to do often unless you splay between two or more cameras on the regular , though if this is the case , I can also see the operation being something you ’d get used to more over time . gratefully , DJI has uploaded several setup tutorial to both its app and YouTube to guide you through the process footprint - by - pace .
As far as control go , the DJI RS 4 boast a small but sharp 1.6 - inch OLED touchscreen . This is paired with a small act of forcible controls , including a joystick , M button , and record button on the front , a gimbal mode switching on one side , a joystick mode switch on the other , and a trigger and dial on the back .
The joystick mode switch , in particular , is a new plus that allows you to move between the zoom and gimbal control joystick modes quickly and seamlessly .
There ’s also the 3D Roll 360 feature article which slowly rotates the tv camera , allowing you to charm a liquid spin movement .
There are a range of feature of speech found in the DJI Ronin app , including different ways to control the gimbal with the virtual joystick , the Force Mobile characteristic , or a gaming controller , as well as access to shooting mood , like vista , timelapse , and tracking , though these can also be found on the gimbal itself .
Of course , some feature might depend on your television camera model and accouterment . The DJI RS 4 includes a new RSA communication port that makes it potential to link the DJI Ronin Tethered Control Handle , as well as third - company control handles and removed control ring handgrip . For example , the former allow you to commemorate , focus , and enter sleep mode in a twofold - grip configuration , as well as mount a remote monitor or add a focus wheel on the side of the gimbal .
There ’s also financial support for the new DJI Focus Pro Motor , which when summate allows you to insure the camera focus via a dial and aline the rapid growth with a control stick .
The RS 4 does n’t support as many accessories as the RS 4 Pro , nor does it include the LiDAR focusing organisation establish on the higher - end example .
Handling and Performance
The DJI RS 4 is powered by DJI ’s fourth Gen RS Stabilisation Algorithm , which DJI claims strikes a balance between stabilization intensity and the tactile look of tv camera motion . More specifically , the gimbal is designed to propose importantly improved constancy when shooting vertical content , specially when shooting bleed nip and low - slant perspectives .
I prove the gimbal on a in particular windy 24-hour interval and while there was the occasional jitter , I establish the gimbal to generally be very smooth in both horizontal and vertical orientation . My footage remained stable even when my arms begin to feel a bit weak later on in the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. from lift the combined weight of the gimbal and photographic camera .
There are three fixed follow speeds – slow , medium and fast – along with a custom circumstance for finer ascendency of the pep pill . There ’s also a Sport Mode for increased sensitivity and speed during fast - moving shots which is not bad for eliminating any delay in the movements of the gimbal .
This is muse in the swift move of the gimbal . Reviewing my own footage in which I quickly shifted from one subject to another , the transition is immobile but still remains smooth throughout , cause the event appear more professional and polished than it would had I antecede the gimbal .
Thanks to 2nd - Gen Native Vertical Shooting , the horizontal subdivision also no longer require to be detached to flip the orientation course of the photographic camera the way it did with the DJI RS 3 ’s Native Vertical Shooting . This answer makes it much more convenient to switch between recording horizontal content for YouTube and perpendicular for TikTok or Instagram Reels during the same session , and I found that exchange the predilection was faster and more commodious than it was with the DJI RS 3 Mini .
Battery life
The DJI RS 4 is power by a 3000 mAh battery for a 12 - hour runtime while the gimbal is stationary , or less when in motion . This can also be extended to 29.5 hours with the High - Capacity Battery Grip , though this cost another $ 149/£129 .
I test the battery and found that the share shake off by 1 % around every 7 minutes , drop by 10 % in just over an 60 minutes . At this pace , I would expect the battery to last just over 11.5 minute in total . While this is below DJI ’s 12 - minute flesh , I tested the battery with the gimbal in constant motion so it seems my findings do match DJI ’s claims of a slenderly reduced runtime .
The DJI RS 4 supports 18W USB - carbon charging , making it possible to reach 100 % battery in 2.5 hours of charging . you may also employ the RS 4 to charge up other devices , such as your camera or accessories , though you unhappily can not institutionalize your camera while the tv camera and gimbal are in cognitive process .
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Should you buy it?
The DJI RS 4 features several improvement in this field including smoother vertical TV and 2nd - Gen Native Vertical Shooting .
If you ’re contented with compromising on some features , a brusk barrage fire lifespan and your payload does n’t surpass 2 kg , the RS 3 Mini remains DJI ’s Mini gimbal and is more lightweight and low-cost than the RS 4 .
Final Thoughts
The DJI RS 4 is the ideal mediate earth between theRS 3 Miniand theRS 4 Pro , work it perfect for contented creators and those looking to memorialise humble - graduated table issue .
While many of the improvements and upgrades over the RS 3 are venial , the RS 4 is design to feel smoother and better equipped for vertical video than its herald .
If you ’re someone who frequently locomote between horizontal and upright shots , you ’ll chance the RS 4 a great melioration . Others might desire to hold out on upgrading their RS 3 ’s or upgrade to the RS 4 Pro for a more satisfying upgrade . Even downgrade to the RS 3 Mini could have its perks if you ’re look for a more lightweight pick .
Trusted Score
How we test
We try out gimbals thoroughly , shoot in a variety of conditions to give us the good possible trial run results .
FAQs
No , the DJI RS 4 is designed to stabilise mirrorless camera .
Yes , you may download the DJI Ronin app for more features , such as panorama and timelapse .
