Dji ronin 4d experience?

[zerocool22]

Hi,

Who here has used an dji ronin 4d? Whats your experience? What are the cons and pro's?

 

(The weight seems a big con. 5kg..) maybe also its size is an issue, as its quite the setup. And it might not fit in places where an mirrorless might fit. 

But I never used or seen one, so I am not sure.

 

Cheers

[eatstoomuchjam]

I own one.  It's a fantastic second camera.  There's no way I would want one as my primary camera.

Pros:
- Image quality is brilliant
- Integrated gimbal and 4th axis (the whole reason for the camera to exist)
- Very flexible to use in many scenarios with options like the Flex unit
- Raw license is now $1 (too bad I didn't wait!)
- The 8k is one of the best low-light cameras on the market
- Probably matches really well with the S1R II
- Lidar autofocus works really well (within its limitations)
- Subject tracking mode is really fantastic
- Integration with high bright remote monitor is amazing
- Swappable lens mounts means you can use DJI's DL lenses, Sony E mount lenses (I had infinity calibration problems and sold the E mount unit), L mount, M mount, and thanks to third parties, EF mount and PL mount lenses

Subject tracking, in particular, is great for stuff like vehicle mounting.  The high bright + flex integrations also allow for some really cool creative stuff if the flex unit is mounted on a monopod, for example (think jib/crane shots, zooming into spaces, etc)

Cons:
- A really awkward camera to use for non-gimbal stuff
-  Weirdly inflexible (like if you choose ProRes, it'll be ProRes HQ, if you choose PRR, it will be PRR HQ except in hfr modes where it will be PRR standard)
- To get the better recording codecs (ProRes 4444/PRR), you need to use DJI's special media ($800/TB + $300 reader)
- Lidar autofocus doesn't work past around 10m
- Flex unit is expensive
- High bright remote monitor is also expensive (plus needs transmitter for more $)
- A bit heavy (I use mine with Ready Rig most of the time so I don't think of the weight much)
- 6k model has fairly poor RS, 8k model allows choosing really bad RS or less DR
- Even though many lens mounts are available, lens selection is very limited by gimbal capacity, if you don't want to use the 4th axis, you can use more lenses if you add a counterweight, but the 4th axis is really one of the big selling points
- TB50 batteries, though you can get third-party battery plate replacements for v-mount or TB51 (I just have 3 TB50's - when they crap out, I'll switch to the Alvin's v-mount plate which I ordered early on, but didn't end up using (yet))

 

There are probably more of both that aren't coming right to mind.  Glad to answer any specific questions.

[MrSMW]

3 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

It's a fantastic second camera.  There's no way I would want one as my primary camera

I considered getting one as my primary video unit but the cost plus the weight, but mainly the weight, put me off. Big time.

3 hours ago, eatstoomuchjam said:

Probably matches really well with the S1R II

I decided that for my needs, this would be a FAR better option full stop.

And that is where it started and stopped for me, ie, massive overkill in so many ways…but for my specific use case which is a hybrid shooter.

If I was pure video, it would be different and actually, I could see myself using one as a principal unit along with something static or semi-static.