This professional level gimbal unleashed the filmmaker in me with its invaluable features

ZDNET Key Takeaways

• of DJI RS4 Pro The gimbal is currently on sale on Amazon for $1,099. B&H Photo And that DJI Store.
• The RS4 Pro has a weight limit that can accommodate bulky cinema cameras, making it easier to balance the camera for smoother footage.
• The RS4 Pro doesn’t have a true pan lock feature, which makes capturing more complex shots difficult.

A few years ago, I DJI Ronin I bought a gimbal thinking it was the piece of equipment I needed to take my photography to the next level. Unfortunately, I had some issues with it and it ended up gathering dust.

However, I had a big project coming up and I needed a reliable gimbal that I could actually use. I was hesitant to buy again, but I took the risk and bought it. DJI RS4 Pro.

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Wow, I’m glad I did. The difference between the Ronin and the RS4 Pro is like night and day. The RS4 Pro is perfection (More on that later), you can achieve this same kind of footage without spending tens of thousands of dollars. This gimbal is a must-have for filmmakers and content creators looking to capture silky smooth footage and do serious creative work.

Before I get into my experience, let me talk about the specs.

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DJI RS4 Pro Gimbal Technical Specifications

• Can withstand up to 10 pounds
• OLED touchscreen with auto-lock function
• 2nd generation native vertical shooting
• Automatic Axis Lock
• Supports wireless transmitters and LIDAR
• Battery: 1950 mAh, 15.4V, 13 hours operating time on a full charge
• Switching between Joystick and Bluetooth modes
• Teflon coated axe
• Controlled Rotation Speed: Pan/Tilt/Roll 360 degree
• Mechanical Range: Pan 360 degrees continuous rotation, Roll -95 degrees to +240 degrees, Tilt -112 degrees to +214 degrees
• Operating frequency: 2.400-2.4835 GHz
• Operating temperature: -4 degrees F to 113 degrees F
• Dimensions: Folded: 271×283×75 mm (L×W×H, camera, grip, extended grip/tripod excluded) / Unfolded: 416×223×202 mm (L×W×H, height includes grip, excluding extended grip/tripod)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C (charging port)
• App availability: Android (8.0 and above) and iOS (11.0 and above).
• Fee: $1,099 at Amazon (For combos including Focus Pro motors, etc.)

My experience

The first thing that impressed me was the balance. The DJI RS4 Pro was the easiest gimbal I’ve ever used to balance. Even with a payload that was over its limit, I was able to balance the ZCAM E2 F6 in about 2 minutes. It’s that easy.

Balancing the DJI RS4 Pro is so easy that I don’t hesitate to change lenses or setup configurations. With my previous Ronin, the difficult balancing process made me hesitate to make changes. What was once a serious frustration is now a simple task.

Please note that it is absolutely important to balance the gimbal correctly or you may damage the motors, so take the time to get it right and be sure to run a balance test and auto-tune (which can be initiated on the gimbal itself or through the app).

Once the balancing was done, I went out to see how the RS4 Pro performed in the field. I immediately had no regrets after purchasing it. This equipment is truly a game changer. With just a little practice, I was able to capture incredibly smooth footage.

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With some more practice, I was even able to pull off some orbital shots – shots like that would be nearly impossible to capture without a gimbal, but this is just scratching the surface of what the RS4 Pro can do.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that due to the increased payload support, gimbals can get quite heavy. The RS4 Pro weighs just 0.27 lbs, but once you attach a heavy camera and lens, LiDAR (which is what I use), focus motor, battery, and whatever else you need for your shoot, the weight can get quite heavy.

For example, after two shots with all the aforementioned gear, my arms were exhausted, and while I have a vest and arm combination that I can attach a gimbal to, which makes it much easier to carry and operate, I wanted to do this test with just the gimbal.

Also, the camera I would recommend to most new photographers is not a Sony or a Nikon (and it’s $100 cheaper).

With that in mind, and understanding that loading it with gear will put your arms through it, you’ll probably want to consider buying a side handle. Neewer Dual Hand GripA handle will not only reduce arm fatigue, but also give you better control over your gear.

important point

Overall, the RS4 Pro is an impressive piece of engineering, but it does have one issue – pan lock. To get great orbital shots, you need to be able to lock the pan axis of the gimbal, and the RS4 Pro doesn’t quite do that.

Although it allegedly has a locking feature (by squeezing the trigger), it doesn’t actually fix the pan axis, so the camera will stay pointed in the same direction no matter how you rotate the gimbal, which isn’t very useful for orbital shots.

Also, the Sony camera I recommend to most people isn’t the model you’re thinking of.

To capture this shot with the RS4 Pro, you need to focus on your subject and slowly move the joystick in the opposite direction while walking around it. This is probably the most difficult type of shot I’ve ever captured, but it’s certainly worth the effort. In a future firmware update, DJI should consider adding a true pan lock feature to make shots like this less difficult to capture.

ZDNET BUYING ADVICE

Even with that one caveat, DJI RS4 Pro This is an absolute must-have gimbal for anyone looking to improve their cinematography but don’t want to spend over $10,000 on equipment. With a payload that can handle a cinema camera and greatly simplified balancing, this gimbal is hard to beat.

The $1,000 price tag might put some creators off, but if you’re serious about improving your camerawork, this product will serve you well.