By Damiane van Reenen
Let me start off by admitting that I’m a “super rookie”, which means that I’m not a pro… right. So, with the pressure off my shoulders to impress you with my immaculate skills and wisdom, here are some of my thoughts on using the DJI Ronin-S Gimbal over the past few months.
Before purchasing the DJI Ronin-S, I had done a lot of research into the product. Create modes like time-lapse, tracking and panorama intrigued me and I looked forward to using them. Thanks to new compatibility updates for Fujifilm X-T2 and X-T3 camera bodies, these modes are even better to explore when your camera “speaks” to your DJI Ronin-S and definitely added value to my creations.
I was also very optimistic about the Ronin-S’ ability to help me stabilise my Fujifilm X-T3, which does not come with an internal image stabiliser. And yes, I can confirm that the Ronin-S really does stabilise my X-T3 body, so you can run around crazy and still have smooth shots. But, this feature does not work without some effort and patience as you have to calibrate the gimbal first. Unfortunately, you have to recalibrate the gimbal if you want to change your lens, which can become frustrating if you’re relying on it to do all the stabilising work. Luckily, I figured out a non-googled solution to this problem: Use the measuring increments on your Ronin-S to remember at which increments you set your camera and lens up and then refer to these the next time you need to do your setup. This saves you a lot of time and effort and makes using the gimbal more enjoyable.
Probably one of the coolest features I was excited to explore was the DJI Ronin-S’s ability to rotate 360 degrees while keeping your subjects perfectly centred.
Lastly, DJI is really good at offering support on any of their product features and services. I was easily able to find tutorial videos showing me the ins and outs of the initial setup. Overall, I am really happy with the DJI Ronin-S and I think it’s a valuable tool to add to your kit. For me, it has become very important in that I prefer using it to film and shoot at angles I wouldn’t have been able to reach with my usual handheld rig.
This is my DJI Ronin-S setup: A Fujifilm X-T3 mirrorless digital camera with an XF 35mm f/1.2 lens, a Lilliput 5.5″ monitor and an extra handle for support.
Thank you for taking the time to read this review. I hope it has helped you in some shape or fashion. If you have some tips or tricks or questions, please don’t hesitate to DM me on Instagram at @damianedidit or mail me at damianevanreenen@gmail.com
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