Right now, DJI introduced their newest gimbal to stabilize your video: the RS 3 Mini. It joins the RS 3 and RS 3 Professional, however enters as a lower-cost and lighter-weight various made to be used with mirrorless cameras just like the Canon R5. I’ve had the RS 3 for a number of days now, and I have already got a number of issues that I like and some that I don’t about DJI’s newest product.

Video: Fingers-on with DJI’s RS 3 Mini

DJI RS 3 Mini specs

• Weight: 1.7 lb.
• Most load: 4.4 lb.
• Charging: USB-C, full cost ~2.5 hours
• Battery: As much as 10 hours
• Native vertical and horizontal taking pictures

DJI RS 3 Mini digicam compatibility

With a give attention to remaining light-weight for cellular creators, the digicam compatibility listing focuses on mirrorless cameras. It helps high fashions from a number of producers, similar to Canon’s R5, which is able to 8k uncooked video, Sony’s A7S III, and Fuji’s X-H2S. These might be accompanied by a spread of quick glass, with DJI particularly calling out their respective 24-70mm F2.8 lenses. You may see a extra full listing of appropriate gear over on DJI’s web site, however I have to admit I used to be a tad dissatisfied after I tried to connect the quick-release plate to my Z-Cam E2 M4 cinema digicam and it wouldn’t match because of the curved placement information.

The Z Cam is a small, boxy video digicam that I take advantage of for many of my taking pictures, and it might be properly throughout the gimbal’s 4.4-pound weight restrict had been it not for the lack to attach the plate. The E2 line of cameras is listed as appropriate with DJI’s bigger RS 3 gimbal although. However with the give attention to mirrorless cameras, that addition of the location information is sensible. Most stills cameras solely have one threaded mount on the underside to connect to a tripod, which might develop into a difficulty if you’re mounting your digicam vertically. The information helps forestall your digicam from turning in any respect when mounted vertically – and the RS 3 Mini makes it extremely straightforward to mount your digicam both vertically or horizontally so you possibly can shoot in no matter format is correct in your content material.

iOS and Android app integration

DJI has loads of expertise with app management due to their quite a few drones and gimbals to return earlier than this. Whereas I haven’t made in depth use of the software program but, its app is essentially the most seamless expertise I’ve had with a gimbal to this point. By means of the app, you should utilize a digital joystick to goal the gimbal, arrange time lapses, program a observe for the gimbal to comply with, seize panoramas, and even cross by means of a gaming controller to make use of bodily controls which can be remoted from the gimbal itself. That’s along with all of the person customization choices.

The one draw back is that utilizing the gimbal requires you to attach it to the app at the very least as soon as. Whenever you energy on the gimbal for the primary time, you might be prompted to obtain the DJI’s Ronin app and activate the machine. You’ll be able to skip the display a complete of 5 instances earlier than it doesn’t allow you to skip it any extra, and you must join it to your DJI account to proceed to make use of it. Whereas I like all of the cellular options, I want the activation wasn’t a requirement to only use the RS 3 Mini as a easy gimbal.

Good for day journeys

The RS 3 Mini’s inner battery takes about 2.5 hours to totally cost, however relying in your digicam, that cost can final for as much as 10 hours of use. I’ve solely charged up the RS 3 Mini as soon as within the time that I’ve had it, and I used to be impressed with the battery life for such a small gimbal. It actually is sort of small. You may realistically match one hand on the gimbal itself, and wish to make use of the folding legs to carry on with a second hand to get extra stabilization. Whereas DJI touts the power to make use of it with only one hand – and I did fairly a little bit of that whereas attempting to movie my very own use of the gimbal – I feel a two-handed grip is a much better choice every time attainable.

To offer the RS 3 Mini a attempt, I rode on my bike to a couple comparatively pure locations. I simply turned off the RS 3 Mini, locked the motors in place, after which tossed the entire meeting into my backpack. Every time I obtained someplace I wished to get a shot, it was so simple as unlocking the motors and turning again on the gimbal – which booted up shortly and was virtually instantly prepared to make use of. I loaded and unloaded it out of bag at the very least 10 instances, so I actually see how a small, mild gimbal might be extra sensible in lots of use instances.

Balancing and motors

Balancing gimbals is usually a ache. For those who don’t have it good, the motors consistently must work simply to carry your digicam in positions. Conversely, you probably have stronger motors, it’s (a bit) much less essential to get your balancing good. I did a reasonably crude job balancing my DSLR on the RS 3 Mini, spending only a few seconds on every axis. Nonetheless, the gimbal dealt with it properly. To return and excellent the balancing, the app enables you to take a look at your steadiness by holding the gimbal at a slight angle after which it strikes every of the motors. Whereas not strictly essential to run the take a look at to know you might have the gimbal correctly balanced, it supplied some further peace of thoughts. Not that I actually wanted it. The RS 3 Mini’s motors are meant to have the ability to preserve the digicam regular at the same time as you alter the main target of the lens and even zoom out and in. Doing so will change the steadiness of the digicam, however the motors had been capable of compensate for the change simply discover.

DJI RS 3 Mini: Preliminary takeaways

Whereas I had my gripes with the gimbal’s requirement for activation and incompatibility with my Z-Cam, the RS 3 Mini looks like a superb addition to DJI’s lineup. It slots in completely beneath the RS 3 Professional and RS 3 to supply an choice that’s mild within the hand with out lightening your pockets. I’ll actually want some extra time with it to check out all of the options (with extra cameras) and formulate my full opinion, however the truth that I’m trying ahead to spending extra time with DJI’s RS 3 Mini ought to converse for itself.

You may buy the RS 3 Mini right now for $369.

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