DJI Ronin S - Unboxing, Test, and First Impressions

The Ronin S is DJI’s answer to the exploding market of “pro-sumer” camera gimbals, a market thick with so many nearly identical devices that no one could be blamed for being overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of options. The question is, does the Ronin S do enough to stand out from the pack?

Joystick, mode button, record button, and indicator lights

For those who might be confused as to what a gimbal actually is, let me explain. Smooth footage doesn’t come easy, or (historically) cheaply. Film companies will spend as much or more money on various methods to achieve stable cinematic footage as they will will on the cameras themselves. One of these methods is known as a gimbal - a series of (usually) 3 motors on 3 axis of motion controlled by a computer to react to and counteract unwanted motion, thus keeping a payload (the camera) from moving in an unwanted fashion.

Until recently, such devices were too expensive for many amateur filmmakers or internet video creators to afford, but now that costs have fallen to a relatively affordable level, these devices have become available to a much wider pool of creators. Compared to companies like Moza and Zhiyun, DJI is quite late to the table, but they bring with them a lot of experience in creating their own high end gimbal systems, as well as experience in creating miniaturized gimbals for drones.

Trigger and USB port

The Ronin S was at its release a fearsome competitor, possessing a level of quality and a feature set that would drastically outpace the competition for months to come. However, a number of factors have recently conspired against DJI’s dominance in the market. Moza and Zhiyun just released their newest generation of gimbals, gimbals that include all or more of the features found in the Ronin S. DJI also promised many functions with compatibility with many cameras, but unfortunately that compatibility has yet to be patched in with many advertised camera models.

So why should you buy the Ronin S over other brands offerings? I did, and so far I am quite satisfied with my decision. The Ronin S just works. Right out of the box, once you have calibrated it (a process that with this or any gimbal takes time and practice), it runs like a charm. So far I have yet to encounter a serious issue with the hardware or software, and the system seems robust. My only complaint (aside from the camera compatibility issue) is that it’s incredibly heavy once I’ve mounted a DSLR and lens! Carrying it around for more than an hour is a serious and literal pain in the back. If you’re thinking of using a gimbal like this, start lifting weights now!

Battery/grip

Detachable tripod/handle 

I appreciated the modular nature of the system, with the detachable tripod base that doubles as a stand for the gimbal, an extra grip, and can even do extra duty as a mini tripod for another camera. One thing that confused me at first is the fact that the handle is the battery, and to swap batteries you have to swap the whole handle. However, upon further consideration I can appreciate this design choice as removes the need for an extra battery slot or compartment that would compromise durability. A downside here is that the Ronin S does not come with a battery charging station, instead only including the option to charge internally.

Follow Focus

The included and attached follow focus knob is really cool in theory, but sadly it would only work with my Canon 80D if I purchased the optional follow focus motor, as integrated follow focus is one of the features not yet implemented with that camera.

Overall, my initial impressions of the Ronin S are extremely favorable, if tinged by minor complaints (most of which could be solved by a future promise firmware update). I plan to continue my coverage of it as I continue up the learning curve with this awesome device.

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