Content creators’ access to professional-level gear has become so easy that, for a price, anyone can create truly breathtaking videos. The only thing that may stop someone from taking that leap into the pro realm is just how intimidating the products can be sometimes. Enter the DJI RS4 Pro, a high-end gimbal that I would describe as being “as intimidating as you want it to be.” There can be an ease of use to it, or you can double down on the accessories and see how far you can push your content.
In the box for the DJI RS4 Pro is the gimbal, a grip, which also contains the battery for the unit, a tripod/grip extension, lens-fastening support, 2 USB-C multi-camera control cables, a USB charging cable, a screw kit, a FIZ (Focus, Iris, Zoom) sticker and DJI logo sticker. That’s not all for the Pro Ki; however, it comes with a carrying case, a briefcase handle to allow you to carry the gimbal from above, the Focus Pro Motor and Rod Mount kit, and a focus gear strip.
Looking at this kit all laid out in front of you for the first time is a lot if you don’t have experience with this level of gimbal. So many pieces… how do they even fit together? If you think the instructions that come in the box will provide you with any guidance, they will not. It is a 2-page document made up of four diagrams that explain how to charge the handle, how to connect it and the tripod to the gimbal, where the power button is, and info about the app.
“The DJI RS4 Pro is a high-end gimbal that I would describe as being ‘as intimidating as you want it to be.'”
The good news is that, now that this gimbal has been released, there will be a wealth of tutorial videos as well as a full manual. That is where you want to go to really learn how to use this thing, so you shouldn’t have an issue. As for me, I just had to hold my breath and dive in.
Use of the base gimbal without all the flashy toys is fairly straightforward if you have ever used one before. You need to secure your camera to the appropriate mount (there are shorter ones, but also a longer one that supports a longer lens. You adjust various parts of the gimbal so that it can naturally balance with the camera in place, and then you turn it on. You are able to determine how much of the gimbal you can control so that you don’t accidentally rotate the camera when you are trying to tilt forward. Using the trigger will let you re-center the camera or even set it to selfie mode.
The DJI RS4 Pro is capable of vertical shooting with the use of the included horizontal plate that will allow you to effortlessly switch back and forth. The gimbal can connect to your camera via Bluetooth (if applicable) to control the camera shutter and zoom control. It can support up to 10 lbs on the gimbal thanks to the 20% increase in motor torque, letting it easily move around without struggling with the weight of your gear.
The DJI RS4 Pro connects to your camera via the Ronin app and gives you a lot of controls from your phone. It will give control over the gimbal’s basic controls to the phone in a couple of different ways. You can use a virtual joystick to control the gimbal without touching it or, even cooler, you can use Force Mobile, using the gyroscope on your own phone to move the camera with the simple move of your wrist. If that isn’t enough for you, you can connect a PS4 (and maybe PS5, but the app specifically says 4) or Xbox controller to the gimbal and control it with that instead.
From the app, you can set up special photo/video projects, including a panorama, where it will move the camera around and snap the photos; pre-programmed video tracking, which will move the gimbal across a set path for you, and time-lapse, which will do the same as the tracking, but move it in increments that will line up with the time-lapse on your camera, making the movement smooth for the time lapsed video.
Then, there are the accessories that help the DJI RS4 Pro step up to the next level. First, you have the Focus Pro Motor, which can control the focus on your lens when connected to the gimbal. There is a focus wheel built onto the gimbal, which, when turned, turns the wheel of the Focus Pro Motor for a much more user-friendly system of controls when using a large gimbal.
“The gimbal can support up to 10 lbs on the gimbal thanks to the 20% increase in motor torque, letting it easily move around without struggling with the weight of your gear.”
Then, there is the RavenEye Image Transmitter, which will let you send the video to an external device, be it one of their monitors or even your own phone, via the Ronin app. In the app, you can even select someone in the video by drawing a box around them, and the gimbal will follow the subject as they move around.
Next up, you have the Lidar (sold separately but provided by DJI to showcase its abilities), which takes that tracking ability and turns up the volume. The Lidar is able to determine depth, knowing how far you are from the screen. You can bring up the video that the Lidar sees on the gimbal’s 1.8” touch screen.
You can use the Lidar on the DJI RS4 Pro to let it automatically track your subject, much like you were able to with the use of the RavenEye Transmitter, but without the use of the transmitter or your phone. To take it even further, connecting the Lidar and Focus Pro Motor will give you a gimbal that tracks you and autofocuses your lens for you, giving solo creators their own personal robot-camera operator.
At $1099 USD, it is a professional-level price point for sure, but with the $149 Focus Pro Motor and $159 RavenEye Transmitter included with this excellent gimbal provides a lot of extra value. With that stuff alone, combined with the ability to control the gimbal from your phone, I can’t say enough how much it is worth the cost.
If you want the Lidar, it’ll run you $699 USD, but for what it can actually do, essentially automating the entire kit, it is worth its price. The RS4 Pro, with its complete lineup of accessories, gives you virtually unlimited control over your camera and does it in a way that makes the DJI RS4 Pro a godsend for creators at all levels.
