By Yadira B. Arnold 
DJI’s announcement of the Ronin 4D last year turned things upside down with features that have never been seen on a movie camera before. It had a full-frame sensor, raw video with UP to 8K, one of the first vertical stabilization arms and a LiDAR system that not only takes over the focus, but also the gimbal control.
However, recently things have changed a little. More importantly, now that the Ronin 4D is on sale, it is no longer available with Apple ProRes RAW video. For this reason, DJI has also lowered the base price of the 6k model from 7,200 to 6,800.
The Ronin 4D is not without other shortcomings, such as overweight and roller shutter. Nevertheless, there is nothing else that can remotely compete with its technology and design. DJI may be best known for its drones, but is it actually the most innovative camera manufacturer in the world?
Design
The Ronin 4D is a complex product, so let’s take a look at the features and design. The first is the mirrorless “Zenmuse X9 ” camera, which was developed exclusively for the R4D. I’m testing the 6k version, but DJI plans to release an 8K model after.
It has a 24-megapixel full-frame sensor and three set ups to choose from: DJI’s DL set up, a Sony E set up and the M set up for Leica rangefinder/mirrorless cameras.
DJI has three native lenses, including 24mm, 35mm and 50mm models, all with maximum apertures of 1: 2.8. They are all quite light at 180 grams each, as they are designed for gimbal use and cost 1,199 each – very expensive for lenses with 1: 2.8 fixed focal length.
You can also set up Sony and M lenses, but the lenses must be relatively small or you will not be able to balance them properly. This is not a big limitation, since it would be quite unusual to use a telephoto lens on a gimbal
DJI Ronin 4D Review
You can even set up manual lenses and get autofocus through DJI’s optional focus module, which is controlled by the LiDAR system. Finally, it has an awesome nine ND filter levels that give you maximum exposure control and allow you to open the iris even in bright sunlight.
The main gimbal of the camera has three axes of movement with quick locks for quick compensation. But the most notable feature is the Z-arm, which gives it the name “4D”-one of the first on a gimbal, according to DJI. It uses an internal balancing system in combination with several motion detection sensors on the front panel and catch’s that can be used to smooth walking, running or other annoying vertical movements.
On the right side of the matter there are HDMI, time code and DC power connectors. On the left side there are switches for controlling the power supply, recording, main cardan and Z-axis, as well as a multi-wheel, which controls the focus by default. However, it can also be programmed for other functions such as the cardan control.
For storage, you can use a CF express card, an external SSD via the USB-C port (similar to the newer Blackmagic cameras) or DJI’s prosed module. The latter is a paid upgrade for 799, but it is necessary for high video frame rates. It’s nice to have all three options, especially the external SSD, but you can only record on one of them at a time – so there’s no way to make a backup while recording.
The Ronin 4D has several removable modules, starting with the solid upper handle. This is a good way to hold the camera if you want a low angle, so it is equipped with a toggle switch for adjusting the gimbal (height only) and a catch to put it in the “sport” mode for quick movements. What it really needs is a record catch so that you don’t have to lean to the side.
On this handle is the 5.5-inch display with 1,000 nits, which can mainly be used to change the camera and gimbal settings. Thanks to the pretty friction set up, the viewing angle is easily adjusted and has a super logic menu system similar to that of the Blackmagic cameras.
It can be operated by touch or with the 14 manual catch’s and the control dial. Camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed are located at the top and bottom of the screen. Power supply, media, cardan and other controls are located on the left side.
Next come the camera grips. Both are fastened by a quick-release lever, and you can adjust the angle to your working style with another smart lever, even if you hold on to it.
The left handle has a joystick for moving the main gimbal up and down or from side to side, as well as catch’s for focusing and tracking the gimbal. The exposure catch displays the waveform, zebra and other tools, depending on what you have selected, while the shutter catch locks the gimbal or the center with double pressing. Finally, there is another sport mode catch in the handle.
The right handle has a large adjustment dial, which is mainly used for focusing, but also changes camera settings such as ND filter, shutter speed and iris when you press the “Mode” catch. It also ingeniously changes the functioning of the wheel from smooth to “clickable” with significant relaxations. It also has a focus support catch and an AF lock catch, while the trigger locks the Z-arm or turns it on and off with double pressing.
You also have the option of set upping an optional 399-inch transmitter on the back, which transmits the video to the 7-inch remote monitor with high brightness and 1,500 nits, which is also optional ( 1,699). With it, you can not only watch videos, but also control many camera and gimbal functions for up to 20,000 people. To do this, you can remove the left and right handles, which are usually used on the camera, and attach them to the screen.
It can also record proxy videos up to 1080/60P through the built-in microSD card slot, although this feature was not enabled in my review unit. However, I was able to record video via the HDMI port on an Atomos Ninja V recorder.
There is also the battery patter on the back, which uses DJI’s TB-50 batteries. These offer 1-2 hours of powering depending on the operation, according to DJI, but I have generally found that they are suitable for just over an hour with active use of the gimbal.
Finally, the LiDAR focus module is attached above the camera and connected via a lockable USB cable. With supported lenses, you will get both autofocus and tracking – more on that soon.
Operation was quite intimidated by all these features at first and thought it would be a bear to learn the Ronin 4D. however, it was surprisingly easy to master the basic operations, and then gradually learn the more detailed commands. My photographer friends who helped me strike the video found the same thing.
Balancing the camera is easier than any gimbal I’ve tried, because everything is in front of you. You just need to unlock each axis individually, unlock it with the quick release controls and slide the gimbal until it is balanced. Once this is set, the DJI “autotune” function takes care of the fine balance.
You can then activate the 4D-Z arm for walking or in other situations where the gimbal may bounce, but this is by no means necessary for easy hands-free operation. If you don’t need it, save battery if you leave it off. When using it, you need to balance for optimal operation, but this is easily done through an on-screen instruction.
The gimbal can be set to always point in the same direction or (“locked”) or put into the “follow” mode to smoothly track the operator’s movement. In the latter mode, you can set it to only pan, pan and tilt or pan, tilt and roll (FPV) tracking. The camera can be tilted or swiveled manually with the joystick and then centered with the C1 catch or by pressing the left trigger twice.