GEAR MINI TESTS
DJI RS 4 PRO COMBO £949/$1099 dji.com
If you’re after the best, most feature- packed gimbal that won’t break the bank, and your camera payload is 4.5kg/9.9lb or less, look no further than the DJI RS 4 Pro Combo. It builds on the success of the massively popular RS 3 Pro but takes the tech further. The biggest changes are more powerful motors and faster swaps to vertical camera positioning for social media video. But there are many other improvements that might make a difference to your workflow. What hasn’t changed is the seamless integration with the DJI Pro ecosystem, which adds monitoring, focusing, wireless video transmission and full remote control. And it works with the optional DJI Focus Pro, plus the Automated Manual Focus (AMF) lens control system, which combines the LiDAR focusing system allied to any manual focus lens. This brings accurate AF to all-manual cinema lenses, which can be speedily over- ridden to take manual focus control. Even if you don’t want to rig it up with lots of accessories, instead using it as a slimmed-down gimbal with, for example, a mirrorless camera and AF lens or even a cinema camera like the Sony FX6, then the RS 4 Pro makes loads of sense. The carbon-fibre arms look the same as the older model, but the tilt axis is extended by 8.5mm. This makes it easier to balance with camera/ lens combinations that might not be particularly close to the maximum payload, but carry their weight far away from the centre of gravity. Think of a cinema camera with a 70-200mm lens fitted with a matte box and filters, for example. The RS 4 Pro will handle this better than the RS 3, and the extra
torque of the motors keeps things running smoothly. And if you need a long period of non-stop shooting, adding the optional £129/$149 high- capacity battery grip gives a staggering 29.5 hours from a 2.5-hour charge. It even supports power delivery to cameras and accessories up to 18W via USB-C. Without the extra battery, the standard runtime of 13 hours and a 90-minute charge time is perfectly adequate for most users. DJI claims the motion-control algorithm is an improvement, and it was controlled and smooth in use. We couldn’t discern any improvements over the older model, but we had no gripes with that version anyway. The RS 4 Pro is simple for anyone that’s used a gimbal before, and excellent at doing its main job of controlling movement with the standard First Person View, Pan Follow and Pan Tilt Follow options. No grumbles there. Of course, the RS 4 includes intelligent features such as Motionlapse, Track and Panorama. A new addition is Car Mount mode, where the stabiliser if often mounted upside-down to a moving vehicle. DJI says that it has optimised its algorithm for vehicle shoots like this, providing steady capture in shaky conditions. We
BACK SHOT Remote control capabilities make this gimbal great when paired with a remote camera
didn’t have a suitably high-end mount to try it on the back of a car, though. The redesign of the RS 4 Pro makes it easier to change from conventional horizontal video to social-media vertical as its refreshed horizontal plate detaches easily and slots back on with your camera in upright mode. For most mirrorless cameras with AF lenses, you might not even have to rebalance and auto calibrate. But it’s better if you do. To get things going, upgraded automated axis locks make for a fast set-up, which minimises the dreaded gimbal shakes. DJI has used a Teflon coating on all three axes for smoother balancing, with a fine-tuning knob for precise adjustments. And the roll axis now has proper roller bearings for smooth adjustments. It’s not a massive change, but it makes a big difference in “The kit also comes with the DJI Raveneye wireless transmitter that slots under the camera plate”
USEFUL AF The optional Focus Pro system turns manual lenses into autofocus versions
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