DJI’s OM Line is a great handheld gimbal option if you’re shooting videos on a smartphone. If you’re upgrading to a dedicated camera, though, you’ll need to switch to the outfit’s Ronin Series of stabilizers and the DJI RS 4 Mini is the newest version of the line’s entry-level handheld gimbal.
Designed for mirrorless cameras, vlogging point-and-shoots, and smartphones, the handheld gimbal brings a fair amount of professional features in a lightweight and compact package. Whether you make amateur films, YouTube content, or funny videos on TikTok, this thing will give your captured footage a more professional flair.
The DJI RS 4 Mini is a compact handheld gimbal that weighs just two pounds, ensuring it doesn’t add too much heft to your videography setup. It uses the outfit’s tried-and-tested three-axis gimbal, of course, which boasts a mechanical range of 360 degrees on pan, -95 to 235 degrees on roll, and -110 to 210 degrees on tilt, as well as a controlled rotation speed of up to 360 degrees per second. According to the outfit, the gimbal can support camera setups up to 4.4 pounds, so it should handle most common mirrorless camera plus lens combos. New to the Mini line is the automated axis lock previously available only on more advanced Ronin models, which noticeably speeds up the filming, transitioning, and storage workflows.
Once you have your camera on the gimbal and successfully paired them together, you should be able to control recording directly from the gimbal’s buttons, making it possible to shoot your footage without having to reach out to the camera itself. They’re also introducing the new DJI RS Intelligent Tracking Module, which is, basically, a Ronin version of the Multifunctional Module from the Osmo Mobile 7P. When installed, it allows the gimbal to follow subjects on its own, automatically adjusting the pan, tilt, and roll to keep subjects in the frame at all times. DJI says the device supports tracking up to 10 meters away, while working even in complex multi-person environments.
The DJI RS 4 Mini can switch from horizontal to vertical shooting modes in a claimed time of around 10 seconds, although it will require you to loosen a knob, remove the horizontal plate, rotate it manually, and tighten the knob back in place. Yeah, we’re not sure if all that actually fits in 10 seconds, but there’s no single-button automatic mode switching here. There’s an optional briefcase handle available for the Mini, too, so you can hold it comfortably for low-angle handheld shots, as well as integrated tripod legs for hands-free shooting.
The gimbal’s onboard battery is rated at up to 13 hours of operating time, ensuring it can handle even extended shooting sessions, while coming with fast-charging support that lets you plug in for just 30 minutes to get five hours’ worth of operating juice. Other features include a new Responsive mode that improves the gimbal’s reaction time for capturing fast-moving subjects, a new Teflon coating that smoothens the gimbal’s balancing motions, a 1.4-inch LCD, and Bluetooth zoom control using the gimbal’s joystick.
The DJI RS 4 Mini is available now.
