Excellent gimbal for content material creators on the go

DJI has been constructing high-end gimbals for cellular {and professional} photographers for a while now. Whereas the DJI Osmo collection will get a lot of the eye, it’s the Ronin collection of stabilizers that may actually add some versatility to your setup — and even show helpful for cellular customers who merely need smoother footage. The DJI RS 4 Mini is the most recent within the collection, serving as a less expensive different to the RS 4 and RS 4 Professional whereas nonetheless retaining superior options and even debuting some new ones.

However the DJI RS 4 Mini does nonetheless, in a method, go up towards the likes of the also-new DJI Osmo Cell 7 Professional, which is a lighter choice constructed particularly for cellular customers. And, that’s to not point out the truth that it has to compete with the higher-end RS 4 fashions for professionals. So, what makes the DJI RS 4 Mini so particular, and who precisely is it for?

DJI RS 4 Mini specs

DJI RS 4 Mini assessment: Design

The aim of the DJI RS 4 Mini is to offer skilled stabilization in a bundle that’s somewhat extra budget-friendly and far lighter in weight. Certainly, the RS 4 Mini is fairly mild in comparison with different professional-level gimbals. Whereas professionals might want one thing extra superior, that doesn’t imply that the RS 4 Mini doesn’t have a spot in a professional arsenal — although, to be truthful, it’s clear that the gimbal is focused particularly at content material creators who need somewhat extra from their setup.

By way of numbers, the gimbal is available in at round two kilos, which could appear to be quite a bit, but it surely’s really fairly a bit lighter than the opposite RS 4 fashions, just like the RS 4 and RS 4 Professional.

Like with different skilled gimbals, you’ll must get the settings of the gimbal dialed into your digital camera earlier than you get began. The method of doing so is comparatively easy, and the gimbal presents a collection of each detailed and extra main changes that may aid you get issues completely set. It additionally has a fine-tuning knob that can aid you completely steadiness the alignment of the digital camera.

One notable addition to the RS4 Mini over earlier DJI gimbals is improved gimbal stabilization that gives higher assist for creators who wish to movie vertically. The stabilization is DJI’s 4th-generation stabilization tech, and it’s constructed to steadiness the digital camera in each horizontal and vertical modes. In different phrases, whether or not you’re filming for YouTube or TikTok, try to be set.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

On the principle deal with of the gimbal may be discovered a 1.4-inch full-color show with a collection of controls round it that assist you to management your photographs. There’s a joystick for each zoom and gimbal management, together with a set off on the again and a scroll wheel that you should use together with your pointer. All of the controls are comparatively easy to entry, and the buttons and switches all really feel tactile and durable. That’s useful for on-the-go management.

In the direction of the highest of the gimbal is the place you’ll connect probably the greatest new options within the type of the Clever Monitoring Module. It’s a small digital camera that magnetically attaches to the gimbal and is used together with your digital camera and the built-in software program to trace objects for a extra simplified filming course of. We’ll get into what it does somewhat later, however the module is comparatively refined, but a massively useful characteristic for many who need somewhat extra assist in preserving their topics within the shot.

Observe, we’re reviewing the DJI RS 4 Mini Creator Combo, which comes with the Clever Monitoring Module and a briefcase deal with, together with a telephone mount for the gimbal. The RS 4 Combo consists of the whole lot besides the telephone holder, whereas the bottom bundle does away with the Clever Monitoring Module and the briefcase deal with. All packages include a mini tripod, which is useful.

DJI RS 4 Mini assessment: Options

There are many similarities between the RS 4 Mini and the opposite RS 4 fashions, although. Notably, the gimbal nonetheless presents automated options that make it very simple to stand up and working inside a couple of seconds. The gimbal routinely folds up when powered off and unfolds when powered on. So when you’ll want a couple of minutes to first set it up together with your digital camera, as soon as that’s performed, you’ll be able to go away the settings kind of in place and get capturing comparatively shortly. It’s a neat characteristic, and whereas it would make you somewhat nervous in case your digital camera occurs to be connected, it labored safely whereas I used to be testing it.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

There are another helpful modes and options too. There’s a gimbal lock characteristic that retains the digital camera in a set place regardless of how you progress the gimbal, and there are a collection of gimbal modes to select from.

The ActiveTrack characteristic can severely come in useful too — although it’s not with out limitations. The characteristic is actually set as much as solely monitor human topics, which implies that it’s not as helpful for somebody like me, who largely shoots merchandise. That mentioned, if you happen to do wish to shoot human topics, for instance whereas strolling, it may assist assist you to movie higher footage by taking a few of the multitasking out of the equation.

There are additionally computerized gestures that you may to regulate monitoring and capturing. For instance, you should use gestures to regulate the composition of your shot and to start out and cease monitoring.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

The gimbal has a 13-hour battery life, which is strong. The battery isn’t detachable, so if you happen to’re planning on an extended capturing session, be sure you cost up earlier than you begin.

The gimbal is appropriate with an enormous vary of various digital camera fashions, and I examined it with my Fujifilm X-T3. Sadly, the X-T3 doesn’t permit for zoom management utilizing the gimbal — nevertheless it does assist issues like zooming, pulling focus, auto focus, and extra.

DJI RS 4 Mini assessment: App and software program

The DJI RS4 Mini works with the DJI Ronin app, plus you’ll work together with the software program constructed into the gimbal. Frankly, you don’t essentially have to make use of the app all that a lot. It lets you register your gimbal, and it presents entry to some settings, however most of these settings may be accessed on the gimbal itself. The principle factor that you may’t do on the gimbal itself is replace the firmware, so the app can nonetheless come in useful if you happen to want to take action.

Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

Maybe extra necessary is the software program constructed into the gimbal, which is comparatively easy to make use of. On the principle interface, you’ll be able to entry steadiness settings and run a calibration for the gimbal. You can too tweak monitoring speeds — between sluggish, medium, and quick — in both of use two modes: clean and responsive. From that display screen, swiping proper will carry you to the ActiveTrack settings, whereas swiping up offers you joystick velocity and smoothness settings. Swiping down will carry you to fast settings like Bluetooth, audio, and a button to dive into the total settings menu, which incorporates issues like computerized locking, the flexibility to disable selfie mode, and extra.

Once more, the software program is simple to make use of, and when you get arrange with the settings you want, you possible gained’t must work together with all of it that a lot besides to see the battery standing, which is all the time on the display screen.

Conclusions

The DJI RS 4 Mini bridges the hole between skilled gimbals and people created for content material creators. Content material creators on the lookout for a smoother capturing expertise with some computerized options will love issues like ActiveTrack and the Clever Monitoring Module. Whereas it’s most likely overkill for creators who solely use their telephones, those that need smoother footage from their mirrorless cameras can’t do significantly better than the DJI RS 4 Mini with out upgrading to a costlier DJI Ronin mannequin. And, even professionals who need one thing light-weight will love what’s on supply right here.

The competitors

The most important competitors for the RS 4 Mini comes from the opposite fashions within the RS 4 lineup. The RS 4 Mini often is the least expensive within the collection, but it surely isn’t essentially the worst. It’s constructed to be light-weight, and it helps a decrease payload, however if you happen to don’t want it for issues like full-size cinema cameras, that shouldn’t matter. Should you’re shopping for a gimbal for a mirrorless digital camera, for instance, the DJI RS 4 Mini needs to be greater than sufficient gimbal in your wants.

Ought to I purchase the DJI RS 4 Mini?

Sure. It’s a superb light-weight gimbal for content material creators.