DEFINITION February 2022 – Newsletter

GE AR RE V I EW. DJI RONIN 4D

memory space and battery power. The camera takes large DJI TB50 batteries, which we used up in about 90 minutes. You would need spares for an all-day shoot. The same batteries are used in Ronin 2 and Inspire 2 drones, and are designed for jobs in extreme weather; for this, they have auto-heating tech. INTERNAL AFFAIRS To record all formats and codecs, the camera accepts DJI’s new ProSSD 1TB drive. This costs £659/$799, plus £149/$229 for the mounting kit. The camera also records to CFexpress Type B cards and USB SSDs, but not all codecs are available this way. If there is any slight let-down, it’s with the audio, recorded via built-in mics in two-channel 24-bit. These are fine for a scratch track, but to record decent audio, there is a 3.5mm jack on the body and a coldshoe to mount a DSLR-type external mic. But the DJI’s internal gain circuits aren’t very good, so there can be some hiss; the mic’s position means you can pick up

This delivers an internal 8K Raw codec, designed for precise colour reproduction, offering natural skin tones and consistency, as well as low-latency monitoring and image processing. For best results, the camera records full-frame 6K ProRes Raw HQ. This could be seen as overkill, due to the big file sizes, but that’s the price you pay for incredible quality and flexibility in post. The D-Log setting gives up to 14 stops of dynamic range and noise is well-controlled. The 6K tops out at 60p, while 4K is up to 120p, but is a Super 35 crop in ProRes Raw. This is still a very good setting for when you need super slow-motion. Drop to ProRes 422 HQ, and you get 6K and 4K full-frame up to 48fps, plus the 2.39:1 crop at 50- 60fps. Essentially, any setting faster than 60p gives a Super 35 crop. For the best quality, 6K up to 48fps in ProRes Raw HQ is just stunning. At up to 48fps in ProRes Raw or 6K ProRes 422 HQ, it’s 17:9 full-frame – but in 50-60fps there is a 2.39:1 aspect ratio crop. Such processing power uses up

the noise of the servomotors. DJI says there will soon be XLR ports on an expansion plate for external mics, but these still won’t be in an ideal position. It is best to go with a separate recorder unit – much as everyone did in the infancy of DSLR video. But that’s a minor gripe, especially for a camera that offers so much new technology at a relatively affordable price.

HANDS ON The grips are adjustable and offer great control (top), but the weight does take its toll

Conclusion With such a huge amount of exciting tech in a radically different package, it’s difficult not to get excited about the DJI Ronin 4D. It’s a brave departure from the norm, bringing full-frame quality and Steadicam-style performance to the independent filmmaker. Focusing is next-level stuff, mixing the best-yet MF with advanced LiDAR technology. But the camera is not without its issues, such as its not inconsiderable weight, limited use of heavy lenses and lacklustre audio. It probably can’t replace everything you own. But as a short-range, stabilised, handheld camera, there is simply nothing else that gets close.

“Internal 8K Raw codec is designed for precise colour reproduction, offering natural skin tones and consistency”

58. DEFINITIONMAGAZINE.COM

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