The aforementioned grips can be attached to the side of the monitor, giving another member of the camera team control over basically all of the major camera settings. This is where your focus puller will thank you, as they sit down (up to 20,000 feet away, if needed) and effortlessly pull focus without having to run around next to you. Make sure the SSD is running within an appropriate temperature range. It is recommended to use it in a cool and well-ventilated environment and to use a metal frame with adequate heat dissipation performance to fix the SSD. Overheating can reduce the write performance of the SSD. For recommended operating temperature of the SSD, please consult the manufacturer. DJI empowers creators with accessible and intuitive devices to capture and share the world exactly how they see it,” said Paul Pan, DJI Senior Product Line Manager. “With DJI Ronin 4D, we use the power of technology to make cinema-standard production more affordable, cinema cameras more flexible, and cinematic imaging available to a boundless array of filmmakers. DJI Ronin 4D draws on our expertise in both aerial and ground-based cinematic innovations to enable the next generation of professional content creators to amaze and inspire us.” What does that mean? On a typical handheld DJI stabilizer (other brands are available), the system counter-balances the camera's pan, tilt and roll movements with electronically-controlled motors. But something that isn’t properly accounted for in this set-up is the up-and-down motion that’s created by the operator when they walk, jog or run.

Excellent filmmaking begins with the perfect shot, which is why DJI developed its most powerful cinematic imaging platform to date. A flagship proprietary chipset fuels an intelligent image processing system, CineCore 3.0, which delivers an internal 8K RAW codec with precise color reproduction, advanced assistive functions with a high-performance AI engine, and multi-link monitoring and control with low-latency image processing.

Build Quality and Design

The headline feature of the Ronin 4D is exactly what the '4D' refers to, and that's the stabilization of the Z-axis. Or more specifically, what DJI refers to as “the industry’s first active-vertical 4-axis stabilization system”. Here, things are different. There’s the option of a 6K or 8K full-frame sensor. My preference is the 6K one for a few reasons; better low light performance, smaller, more manageable file sizes, and cost. Other points to highlight are all to be expected at this level. The Dual ISO, 14 stops of dynamic range, and built-in ND filters are always welcome – some comparable systems have this, some don’t. There’s no meaningful sound inputs on the camera body itself (it has a built-in mic, but this will only ever be useful for reference audio). However, you can add XLR connections with an expansion plate. Something that self-shooters will have to do. A leap forward Original weight includes the Ronin 4D 6K Combo, Ronin 4D Video Transmitter, PROSSD Mount, PROSSD 1TB, and DL 24mm lens.

I know this camera isn’t going to be for everyone and isn’t designed to be, but I think it means something when I say that I wish everyone could try it out at some point because they will enjoy it for what it manages to accomplish. Combine all of these elements and you’ve got a recipe for some potentially exceptional video quality, albeit at the cost of massive amounts of disk space and the need for a fair amount of processing power. There aren’t many editing machines out there that can handle multiple streams of 8K ProRes. On the storage front, to give you an idea, a minute of ProRes HQ video in 8K is going to require about 25GB-30GB of disk space. Expensive bargain DJI didn't stop there when bringing new tech to the Ronin 4D either. The camera system also has new O3 Pro transmission tech, which can push a 1080/60p video feed to remote monitors that are up to 20,000 feet away. This means a focus puller can tweak the focus without needing to run around next to the camera operator. Building on DJI’s years of leadership in aerial and handheld stabilization, DJI Ronin 4D achieves this unprecedented fluidity with an advanced new algorithm that processes inputs from a set of downward ToF sensors, forward and downward dual-visual sensors, built-in IMU, and barometer. Even with the additional Z-axis, DJI Ronin 4D is lighter and smaller than most cinema cameras mounted on a professional three-axis stabilizer, reducing the size and complexity of a professional camera setup into an ideal form that never existed before. Press the HOME button once to enter the menu, tap Display and then LUT File Settings under the LOOK tab.In addition, X9 is equipped with an interchangeable lens mount design allowing connection to DJI’s proprietary DL mount, Leica M mount, and other mounts with short-flange focal distances. This provides cinematographers the opportunity to use ultra-large aperture lenses, anamorphic lenses, and vintage manual lenses, creating their desired style. Capable of shooting in 6K ProRes RAW and ProRes 422HQ up to 60 frames per second and up to 120 frames per second in 4K, the Ronin 4D is no slouch in its video performance. At specific high frame rate thresholds, the camera will force a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. On the top, there's also a 1,500-nit, 7-inch monitor that has a built-in gyro sensor, which turns the monitor into a motion controller if you fancy controlling the camera with movement. And to hoover up all of your footage, there's a 1TB SSD drive inside alongside a CFexpress Type-B slot.

The grips that attach to the body are well designed and feel good in the hand. There are various buttons and controls that allow you to operate the key settings at your fingertips. One grip comes with a wheel that you operate with your thumb. It’s beautifully designed and weighted and is great for manually controlling focus, but can also be customized. There's no doubt about it – the DJI Ronin 4D is an exciting entry into the world of cinema cameras. It’s bold, different and produces imagery that no other camera in this category can, or certainly not without additional third-party equipment. Of course, we'll have to see if the Ronin 4D lives up to its grand promises (we're in the process of testing one now) and it won't suit everyone. Many filmmakers will be perfectly happy with the quality produced by cameras from the likes of Red, Arri, Sony and Canon, and have been able to live without 4-axis active stabilization until now. Before using the USB-C SSD to record, make sure you have formatted it on DJI Ronin 4D. If the SSD is already storing many files written by other devices, the write performance may decrease significantly as affected by wear leveling and garbage collection algorithms of the SSD. Handheld weight includes the Ronin 4D Flex gimbal connector module, X9-6K Gimbal Camera, X9 Counterweight (106 g), and DL 24mm lens.Like Ronin 2 and Inspire 2, DJI Ronin 4D uses the TB50 Intelligent Battery, which offers up to 2.5 hours of shooting time. Even in extreme weather conditions, the TB50 battery is still reliable with the help of auto-heating technology. Not all ranging points can reach 10 m. Outside 3 m, vertical FOV of the ranging point cloud will narrow, while the horizontal FOV is not affected. DJI High-Bright Remote Monitor with Ronin 4D handgrips. A Stunning Display of Technological Craftsmanship Ronin 4D supports reading and display of up to 16 LUT files. Tap Exit to exit LUT settings. The custom LUT files have been imported to LOOK. Tap LOOK and select the LUT file you need. Use the provided USB-A to USB-C data cable to connect the USB-C port above the storage card slot of the main body with a computer. Then, Launch DJI Assistant 2 (Ronin Series).

Measured with a fully charged TB50 battery in a 26° C (78° F) environment with the gimbal balanced, equipment in a level and stationary state, the Z-Axis disabled, and continuously recording in RAW. Operating time will be reduced when Ronin 4D is in motion or the Z-Axis is enabled.It did seem like a step forward in terms of the various autofocusing systems that are out there, and it’s almost certainly something that you’re going to rely on if you’re operating without a dedicated focus-puller. Especially if your manual focusing skills are as average as mine. But we’re still not in a world where professional DOP’s are going to trust an electronic system for focus. The reason being, any drop in focus on a big production could cost you a lot of money and annoy a lot of the cast and crew. DJI Ronin 4D offers three focusing modes to suit the needs of every creator: manual focus, autofocus, and DJI’s unique Automated Manual Focus (AMF). In manual focus, DJI Ronin 4D provides LiDAR Waveform, an assistive tool that allows cinematographers to locate focus points and pull focus with extreme precision. Autofocus keeps a sharp focus on the subject in more dynamic and unpredictable situations like documentary filmmaking. Automated Manual Focus combines the best of both modes to automatically rotate the focus wheel while following the focus point, allowing the operator to intervene manually at any time for an intuitive experience. DJI Revolutionizes Filmmaking With World’s First 4-Axis Cinema Camera Ronin 4D Puts DJI’s Unparalleled Technology Expertise at the Service of Today’s Filmmakers Complementing the imaging system is a brand-new, full-frame Zenmuse X9 gimbal camera – available in 8K and 6K versions – that allows cinematographers to capture footage in full cinematic quality. In addition to the commonly used H.264 codec, both X9-8K and X9-6K can internally record Apple ProRes and ProRes RAW, leaving more latitude for editing in post. Zenmuse X9-6K supports up to 6K/60fps and 4K/120fps, and Zenmuse X9-8K up to 8K/75fps, giving creators multiple options for capturing cinema-quality footage. So the DJI Ronin 4D is a unique camera, but how good is its image quality? This is where DJI has taken another big leap forward.