FUJIFILM has been working in the background with Gudsen, DJI, and Zhiyun. Now, they have announced an upcoming firmware update that boosts the X-T3 gimbal controls through USB. If you own a Ronin S or a Crane 2, you’re going to want to read this. Image Credit: FUJIFILM Catching up to the Competition In our review of the X-T3, we named it “the BEST camera FUJIFILM have ever presented when it comes to video performance.” Then, we awarded it the title of Best Mirrorless Camera of 2018. And in a guest post, filmmaker Florian Gintenreiter reviewed the X-T3 and Ronin S in combination, asking specifically for start-stop and focus control through the Ronin S. It should come as no surprise, then, that we are very excited to see the FUJIFILM X-T3 updated with exactly that. FUJIFILM has come from relative obscurity to be a serious competitor in the video space alongside Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Panasonic. This update removes one more barrier between them. This will officially make the X-T3 gimbal-compatible. FUJIFILM X-T3 – DJI Ronin S combo (Image Credit: Florian Gintenreiter) What’s in the Update This update allows a significant number of features on the X-T3 to be controlled via USB. Before, you could trigger the shutter to take a photo. Now, with the update, the palette of options is a lot bigger. You can now stop and start video recording, as well as manually control focus on electronic lenses. The DJI Ronin-S and the Zhiyun Crane 2 both feature knobs that can act as digital follow-focus controls by interfacing with, and precisely controlling, the AF systems of various cameras via USB. FUJIFILM also promises control of exposure settings, such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture, etc. There will be a few higher-end drone users who this will affect, but by and large, this update is most meaningful to gimbal owners. Image Credit: Fujifilm Bonus Update:  FUJIFILM has also announced an update coming in early 2020 that will improve eye- and face-detection AF, especially in complex situations. This is just icing on the cake, as their autofocus system is already superb. via fujifilm.com Do these new features make you consider buying the X-T3? What do you usually use with your gimbal? Let us know in the comments!

DJI released new firmware update for their gimbals DJI Ronin-S and Ronin-SC. These updates can be downloaded now for free from DJI update websites (links are below). They add new features, improve existing ones (like the 3D Roll 360), and fix some minor bugs. Perhaps the most exciting new update is that the Ronin-S now supports both ActiveTrack 3.0 and Force Mobile features. Both gimbals also now support Force Mobile on Android phones. DJI released firmware update for Ronin-S and Ronin-SC When DJI released their compact gimbal Ronin-SC, a smaller brother of the Ronin-S, it introduced two new smart features called ActiveTrack 3.0 and Force mobile. They utilise smartphone with DJI app to control the gimbal and keep desired objects in the picture. Many users were requesting this feature to come to the larger Ronin-S as well. It seems DJI has listened as they released new firmware update which, among other improvements, brings these features. For more information about the Ronin-S please check Nino’s ultimate review, if you haven’t already. DJI Ronin-S Firmware Update V2.0.0.90 The new firmware V2.0.0.90 for DJI Ronin-S was released on the 26th September. Here is the full list of improvements and new features: Added ActiveTrack 3.0 (requires Ronin app v1.2.4 or later). ActiveTrack 3.0 can make the Ronin S accurately follow selected subject using a mobile device. The new algorithms include deep learning and optimized calculations for human figures. Similar to the technology found in some DJI drones and the Osmo Series, ActiveTrack 3.0 uses the mobile phone’s camera view and sends this information to the Ronin-SC. Users can mount the mobile phone to the top of the camera’s hotshoe with the included phone holder mount, open the Ronin app and select the subject to follow automatically. Ronin-SC Gimbal – Active Track Feature. Source: DJI Added Force Mobile (requires Ronin app v1.2.4 or later). Force Mobile (similar to Force Pro) synchronizes the movement of the connected mobile device with the Ronin-S gimbal. This works at a max distance of 82 feet (24.9 m – tested in an open unobstructed environment) using the new Bluetooth 5.0 connection. Ronin-SC Gimbal – Force Mobile feature. Source: DJI Added quick switch to 3D Roll 360 mode. (Press M button three times to enter, and press three times again to exit.) Added Auto 3D Roll 360. (When the gimbal is in 3D Roll 360 mode, push the joystick left or right twice to enable Auto 3D Roll 360. The gimbal rotates continuously without needing to hold the joystick. Press the trigger twice to stop Auto 3D Roll 360.) Added video recording, autofocus, and focus pull support for Sony a7R IV cameras with supported E-mount lenses using a Multi-Camera Control Cable (MCC-C). To use autofocus on the A7R4, press halfway down on the camera control button of the gimbal. Added photo capture, video recording, zoom, and focus pull support for Sony a7R IV cameras using a Multi-Camera Control Cable (Multi USB). Optimized 3D Roll 360. Added Track mode settings for Command Unit. Optimized follow experience in Flashlight mode. Optimized the Profile LED display by changing the pulsing frequency when gimbal in sleep mode, and the LED will become red to indicate low battery warning when battery level is less than 20%. Sleep mode can be enabled by pressing once or twice of the gimbal power button. Optimized zoom adjustment when using Sony cameras’ multi-port with Power Zoom lens, The zoom speed can be set from 1 to 100 (requires DJI Ronin v1.2.4 app or later). Fixed other minor bugs. DJI Ronin-SC Firmware Update V1.2.0.10 DJI’s smaller gimbal Ronin-SC also received a new firmware update. It brings support for the new Sony a7R IV camera, FUJIFILM cameras, Force mobile for Android phones, and other improvements. Full list of new features is here: Added video recording, autofocus, and focus pull support for Sony a7R IV cameras with supported E-mount lenses using a Multi-Camera Control Cable (Type-C). To use autofocus on the a7R IV, press halfway down on the camera control button of the gimbal. Added photo capture, video recording, zoom, and focus pull support for Sony a7R IV cameras using a Multi-Camera Control Cable (Multi USB). To use autofocus on the a7R IV, press halfway down on the camera control button of the gimbal. Added photo capture, video recording, and autofocus for FUJIFILM X-H1, X-T2, X-T3, X-T20, X-T30, X-E3 cameras using a FUJIFILM camera control cable (RSS-F). Added a quick switching function to Portrait mode. Press M button twice to enter/exit Portrait mode. Portrait mode requires using Ronin-SC in Flashlight mode and the joystick control is not available. Portrait mode can be disabled on the Ronin app Status page (requires Ronin app v1.2.4 or later). Note that the tilt axis will rotate 90° when switched to Portrait mode. Make sure the camera will not collide with the gimbal. Added Force Mobile when using with the Android version of the Ronin app (requires Ronin app v1.2.4 or later). Added disable 3D Roll 360 feature in the Ronin app (requires Ronin app v1.2.4 or later). Fixed issue where the roll axis occasionally drifts after exiting sleep mode. Optimized zoom adjustment when using a Sony camera’s multi-port with a power zoom lens. The zoom speed can be set from 1 to 100 (requires DJI Ronin v1.2.4 app or later). Ronin-SC Gimbal is compatible with various accessories. Source: DJI Active Track 3.0 and Force Mobile Support It is worth noting, that not every smartphone can be used for the new Fore Mobile and ActiveTrack 3.0 features. Below are current lists of supported phones for both features. DJI says these lists are being updated as more mobile phones are tested and verified. ActiveTrack 3.0 Supported iOS and Android Phones: Apple – iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6S Samsung – Galaxy S10+, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy S5, A9 Note 9 Google – Nexus 6P Huawei – P20 Pro, P10, P9, Mate10, Mate 9 Pro, Nava3e, MT7-TL00 Honor – Honor V10, Magic2 vivo – X21A, vivo X 27, NEXS OPPO- Find X, oppo R15 MI – MI8, max2, max3, MIX3, MIX2S LG – V20 Force Mobile Supported iOS and Android Phones: Apple – iPhone XS Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 6S Samsung – Galaxy S10, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy S7, Galaxy Note 8 Google – Google Pixel 2 Huawei – P30 Pro, P20, Mate20 Pro, Mate20, Mate20X, Mate10, Mate7, P9 Plus, 8X Honor – V20, Magic 2 vivo – X21, X27, X21A, Nex A OPPO – Find X, R15, A3, R9m MI – MI8, MIX3 Redmi – Note5 OnePlus – 7Pro, 6T LG – V20 Nokia – X5 How to Update? DJI made a Youtube videos to guide users through the updating process specific for each gimbal. Here is the manual for the Ronin-S: Make sure that the DJI Ronin App is the latest version when updating the firmware. Make sure Ronin-S is powered off and update the firmware through the DJI Pro Assistant for Ronin by connecting the USB-C port on Ronin-S to your computer. Do not disconnect the gimbal from the computer while updating. After the update is complete, unplug the USB-C cable from Ronin-S and proceed to power on the gimbal. If Ronin-S has a camera attached and is turned on while updating the firmware, make sure to protect the camera and lens as the motors will shut off during the update. If the firmware update fails, restart the Ronin-S and retry. Here is the second video and manual for the Ronin-SC: Update the firmware through the DJI Ronin app. Make sure that the DJI Ronin app is the latest version when updating the firmware. If Ronin-SC has a camera attached and is turned on while updating the firmware, make sure to protect the camera and lens, as the motors will shut off during the update. If the firmware update fails, restart Ronin-SC and retry. What do you think of the new firmware for DJI Ronin-S and Ronin-SC? Do you use DJI products? Are you satisfied with them? Let us know in the comments underneath the article.

Benro Gear has just announced their new Benro X-Series of five gimbals. These are ranging from the 3XS Lite ($99) and 3XS ($119) smartphone gimbals to the 3XM ($399) and 3XD ($499) DSLR and all the way from these mirrorless single-handed gimbals to the 3XD Pro ($699) dual-handle professional gimbal. Benro X-Series: Lineup (product images, © 2019 Benro) With this product range, Benro tries to attack the whole market of gimbals, which is currently occupied by other well-established brands such as DJI, Zhiyun, TILTA and others. The most critical question for our readers probably is: Do we need more gimbals within that range and why? Unfortunately, this is only an news post, and we cannot make a statement on the quality of those newly announced products. But the question we can take a look at is, “So many different gimbals, what’s the difference”? One of the things mentioning upfront: In terms of payload, there are only three different categories among those five gimbals. 1) The smartphone gimbals 3XS Lite and 3XS carry only regular iPhone, Android or similar smartphones. 2) The 3XM gimbal carries up to 3.9 lbs (ca. 1,77 kg). 3) The other gimbals (3XD and 3XD Pro) each hold up to 8.3 lbs (ca. 3,76 kg). Just for reference: In comparison, the DJI Ronin S has a payload of about 3,6 kg, and the DJI Ronin SC  up to approx. 2 kg (according to specs). Benro X-Series gimbals (credit: Benro) Smartphone Gimbals: 3XS Lite ($99) and 3XS ($119) The 3XS and 3XS Lite are very similar. Their key features are: foldability (easy to bring along, stow away and travel with) automatic rotation (one click) various filming modes a mic jack connector (built-in) battery life (in use): 24 hrs (manufacturer claim! This would be especially interesting to test independently) 3-axis gimbal (additional Z-axis not available with any of the Benro products) custom keys (the user may choose their functionality) Benro companion application universal adapter (worldwide use) comes with a pouch to stow away the product ¼” hole on the bottom to attach to tripods or monopods These are the differences between the two products: Benro 3XS allows wireless charging in addition to wired charging Benro 3XS Lite only comes with a drawstring bag and mini tripod, while the 3XS comes with an additional audio cable, iPhone charging cable (lightning) and android charging cable (micro-USB). The weight they can carry is just a phone, and it seems to be the same for both products, although the company does not explicitly state that the payload is identical. Benro X-Series: 3XS and 3XS Lite (product images, source: Benro) DSLR and Mirrorless Gimbals: Benro 3XM ($399) and 3XD ($499) When just looking at the specifications of the products, both  of these gimbals seem to be very similar as well. Specs for the 3XM and 3XD: automatic rotation 45 deg offset (just 3XD) various filming modes 12 hr battery life carry-weight: ideal carry-weight of up to 3.9 lbs (ca. 1,77 kg) for the 3XM and up to 8.3 lbs (ca. 3,76 kg) for the 3XD foldability 3-axis gimbal custom keys universal adapter Benro app carrying-case audio cables two carry positions directional control ¼” hole (3XM) and 3/8″ hole (3XD) The real difference here lies within the accessories package that comes with each product. The cheaper 3XM gimbal ships with the following content: two batteries, Sony camera cable, Panasonic camera cable, charger, a USB cable and a lens support adapter. For $100 more with the 3XD, in addition to these accessories, you will receive a carrying case, a Canon camera cable and a small direct connect tripod stand. The tripod stand only comes with the 3XD. The website confusingly presents the tripod stand in the picture next to the list of included components for the 3XM as well, while the bullet point list doesn’t mention the tripod stand. The images above on the 3XM one-pager show that there wouldn’t be  enough space to fit the tripod stand properly in this set. It is also worth noting that the 3XD seemingly comes with a different carrying-case than the 3XM. Benro X-Series: 3XM and 3XD (product images, source: Benro) Dual-handle DSLR Gimbal: 3XD Pro ($699) Now let’s take a look at what you can get with their top-of-the-line gimbal. All of these features are practically the same as with the 3XD and 3XM above: automatic rotation various filming modes 45 deg offset up to 8.3 lbs (ca. 3,76 kg) (3XD only!) 3-axis gimbal custom keys universal adapter Benro app carrying-case (looks like the 3XD case but will come with the dual handle additionally inside) Aspects that are different/enhanced characteristics: internal audio cabling 13 hr battery life dual handle / adjustable swivel handle tripod three batteries 3x Mini HDMI cables to Mini, Micro, and Full HDMI The app features include such aspects as motion lapse, panorama function and remote start/stop of the camera (depending on whether the camera is supported and of course connected or not). Benro – X-Series 3XD Pro (product images, source: Benro) Benro X-Series Gimbals: Final Notes The Benro products websites did include several evident errors as of the writing of this article. These made it tough to find out and delineate the exact differences and features of the devices. The mistakes include seemingly copy & paste errors of some of the attributes of their products, which makes their specialities less distinguishable. Some of our colleagues from other news sites have – as far as I can see – also included some of the errors. Author’s note: Due to several mistakes on the company website and product subsites, I’d like to highlight that we tried our best not to include any of the errors in the article. If you still find anything worthy of remark, please let us know. We highly encourage everyone willing to buy any of the gimbals to check their particular specs according to their own needs. We will update this post if any information changes.

The DJI Ronin-S is designed in a way that adding accessories makes it even more useful. Let me share my first impressions of the DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor — an accessory that opens up many creative possibilities. DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor Box In an article published a while ago, I have reported about my Ronin-S setup and shared my thoughts with you (also watch Nino’s extensive Ronin-S video review and tutorial here, in case you missed it). Now I have added the DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor to my kit, which remedied the last gripes I had with the gimbal. What’s in the Box? The motor comes in a nice cardboard box, which includes the motor itself, a connection cable, the Ronin-S rod-mount, a short rod, a long rod, four hex screws and two .8-pitch rubber focus gear strips. These allow lenses without .8 focus gears to be used with the motor. The build-quality of the device is very high as we have gotten used to with DJI gear. I could not detect any play on the motor’s gear and everything feels solid and neatly put together. DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor Contents Setup & Balancing The rod-mount bracket is screwed to the small camera base-plate that comes with the Ronin-S with two of the hex-screws from the motor-kit. The hex-key that came came with the Ronin-S fits. No extra tools are needed. Very nice! Depending on your camera you can mount the rod to the left or right of the lens. With my camera — a FUJIFILM X-T3 and the XF 16-55m f2.8 lens — I mounted the motor to the right of the lens for easier balancing. DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor attached to Gimbal The included focus strips are made from a rubbery material that can be cut to the desired length easily. The fastening mechanism of the strips just engages into the teeth of the gear and there is no way of tightening. In order to fasten the strips around the lens barrel, they must be applied with some tension. That is not ideal, but with a rubberised focus-ring on the lens I could not detect any slippage between the lens barrel and the gear strip. DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor .8 pitch Focus Strips I also tested a few Samyang/Rokinon EF cine lenses. (24mm, 35mm and 50mm). These lenses have .8 pitch gears already built-in. Using them with the motor worked like a treat. By the way I’m using a simple mechanical X-mount to EF adapter by K&F Concept which works great because the Samyang/Rokinon lenses are fully manual.   DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor works fine with Samyang Lens A supplied cable connects the motor to one of the 12V/2A ports underneath the sled where the camera sits. Without further configuration the motor just works: you can now pull focus using the focus-wheel that came with the Ronin-S. When the motor is not calibrated it does not turn indefinitely but has preprogrammed stops. A little tip at this point: when you press and hold the little button next to the LED on the thumbwheel, you can reverse the direction of the focussing. Ronin-S Focus Motor Calibration If you are working with a lens that has hard-stops on its focus ring, calibrating the motor is a breeze. Double-press the button on either the thumbwheel or the motor itself and the motor will find the hard-stops and calibrate itself automatically to them. Things are a little bit trickier with lenses — such as most photographic focus-by-wire AF lenses — that have no hard-stops. To calibrate where the motor’s cog should stop turning the focus-ring one has to initialise auto-calibration by double-clicking the multi function button on the motor or on the thumbwheel. The motor starts turning the focus-ring in one direction and one has to stop it by hand to »fool« the motor into thinking it hit a hard-stop. When it starts turning the other way you need to hold the focus-ring and again »fool« the motor. Of course it’s tricky to stop the motor exactly where the lens is set on infinity or close-focus before it stars »slipping«. I did not manage to calibrate the FUJIFILM XF 16-55mm precisely after a couple of tries. I really doubt it’s possible to calibrate any focus-by-wire lens to a degree that makes repeated precise focussing feasible. When shooting using a handheld one-man-gimbal distances tend to »float« anyway, so there’s really no point in having precise focus points marked out. Operators need to rely on peaking, eyeballing (and using the Force) to nail focus. Motor Noise The motor does create some noise that definitely will be picked up by a microphone attached to the camera. However it’s silent enough not to pose a problem on set, when dual-system sound is recorded with a boomed- or lav-mic in most situations. Size One thing to keep in mind is the fact that the DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor is rather heavy and will add considerable weight to the rig. Its also quite thick which could potentially pose a problem, if used on smaller lenses. Conclusion Autofocus on mirrorless cameras has come a long way in the last couple of years. Nevertheless it’s often necessary to have manual control over where exactly you are focussed and when. If you are flying a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K on your Ronin-S you are out of luck with autofocus anyway. The DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor is a great benefit in this case. When you are using manual-focussed photographic or cine-lenses on the Ronin-S — especially ones with hard stops — the DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor really shines. Operating the Ronin-S and pulling precise focus with the thumb-wheel at the same time requires a lot of practice by the operator. One should not be fooled into thinking the DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor is some magical gadget that makes a good wireless-focus operated by an experienced focus puller obsolete! No tool can replace an experienced focus puller. Hopefully DJI will be able to improve on the calibration-procedure of lenses with no hard stops. Considering the low price of currently $169, I think the DJI Ronin-S Focus Motor is a no-brainer to have in your Ronin-S kit.

2018 is almost over and these lines were supposed to summarize the almost 365 days behind us and provide a glimpse of 2019. But instead of listing each and every major tech product of 2018, I’ll take a slightly different approach. What is the future of indie filmmaking and how does modern gear technology in mirrorless cameras helps to shape that future? image credit (cropped): Lucas Favre via Unsplash.com FUJIFILM X-T3, Canon EOS R, Nikon Z6 and Z7, Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (BMPCC4K), Sony A7 III or the Panasonic GH5 / GH5s to name just a few (make sure to read Johnnie’s article about best small cameras of 2018). All these cameras are tiny in comparison to proper digital cinema cameras. And all of these cameras are very potent filmmaking devices which were impossible to think of just a few years ago. Video Technology The one key spec which impacts the resulting video quality the most is bit-depth and chroma sub-sampling. There are more factors, but the ability of recording 4:2:2 10-bit is one of the most important factors that sets a pro camera apart from a consumer camera. Guess what: this barrier is about to collapse. The GH5, released in early 2017, is already capable of recording 4:2:2 10-bit internally but it sports a micro four thirds sensor “only”. Many of the mirrorless cameras of 2018 either record 4:2:2 10-bit internally or at least output it via HDMI. The BMPCC4K records raw as a cDNG stream (Blackmagic RAW seems to be around the corner) but –again– it “only” uses a micro four thirds sensor. The Sony A7 III tops out at 4:2:0 8-bit (internally) and 4:2:2 8-bit (externally) but it sports a full-frame sensor. Wait and see what the upcoming a7S III will offer! The FUJIFILM X-T3 does 4:2:0 10Bit internally and steps up to 4:2:2 externally, all with a super35 (APS-C) sized sensor. With cameras like the Panasonic Lumix S1 and S1R and the aforementioned Sony a7S III, which are anticipated for an 2019 release, the number of 4:2:2 10-bit capable devices with large sensors will grow but the compactness of the camera bodies will remain the same. Pro technology trickles down to more affordable gear, that’s a trend which started earlier of course but in 2018 we got to a point at which the transition from mega-bucks cameras to very affordable gear is in full swing. The point is: These less and less bulky cameras don’t compromise on quality any longer. To me, 2018 marks the year in which the equation small device = poor quality is no longer valid. This opens a door to a new thinking and new concepts for indie filmmakers. Other Gear It’s not only cameras, obviously. Everything regarding indie filmmaking gear gets smaller, more lightweight yet super capable without compromising on quality. The good ol’ V-mount / Gold mount batteries for powering your (big) pro camera are now available in tiny sizes. Bebob offer their V-micro line of batteries, CoreSWX have the Hypercore 9 Mini and the Power Base EDGE (even as a specialized model for the BMPCC 4K). Building a decent rig becomes a whole lot simpler if the battery is not the bulkiest part of it! External video recording is still a thing, for obvious reasons. But even solutions for full-fledged external recording become smaller and yet as feature-packed as full-sized gear. The Atomos Ninja V fits a mirrorless rig perfectly while the larger Shogun Inferno might seem a little bulky on such a camera. The BMPCC4K renders an external recorder obsolete and to be honest I’d be happy to see more (smallish) cameras with such potent recording options, including high frame rates, in 2019. Stabilizing Shots Internal sensor stabilization is another buzz word of 2018. Not every camera has it and it’s one of these things which might tip your buying decision to one or the other make and model. If you, like me, chose a non-stabilized body such as the superb FUJIFILM X-T3 you might want to get a gimbal for certain smooth tracking shots. In 2018, grabbing a powerful yet decently priced one, is not a problem anymore (here’s our review of the X-T3). The gap between huge devices such as the MōVI Pro or the DJI Ronin 2 and smaller single handed gimbals is no longer very big. Sure, a bigger device can handle (way) higher payloads but the single handed Ronin-S is indeed a very capable gimbal for all of the aforementioned mirrorless cameras (here’s our review of the Ronin-S)! It’s actually kind of overpowered for such a camera which ensures very good reliability and performance even for demanding movements. Other options are the Tilta Gravity G2X or the new Zhiyun Crane 3 Lab. DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Source: DJI Wanna film things from above? The new DJI Mavic 2 Pro is a pocket-sized drone which packs lots of punch for its tiny size. You can carry one of those along with your other gear all the time. If you need it: it’s there waiting to lift off. If you don’t: no worries, maybe next time. Compared to that bringing an Inspire 2 to set is a bit of a hassle. The Inspire 2 is the better drone, sure, but for many use cases the Mavic 2 will be just fine without comprising too much on image quality. Packing Stuff You see where this is heading, right? In late 2018 you can pack a whole truckload worth of filmmaking gear into one reasonable sized backpack. Useful options would be the new Peak Design Travel Backpack complete with packing cubes in various sizes (2018) or the WANDRD PRVKE (from 2016). Peak Design Travel Backpack (with folded away straps). It’s all about portable, versatile, customizable and modular gear. Everything gets smaller, yet more powerful. Being a one-man band is not an obstacle anymore but an opportunity. Grab your bag and go. Camera, on-board monitor, lenses, gimbal, drone, travel tripod, batteries, media, it’s all in there! All of the above-listed gear would leave the technically savvy guy (or gal) of 2015 with an incredulous look and a strong craving reflex. Just because the specs seem to be way too good to be true for such smallish pieces of gear. State of Mirrorless Cameras You could easily employ a recent mirrorless camera as a B-cam next to a proper camera such as a Canon C300 mark II. Depending on the job, you could even replace the bigger camera without being left behind with bad image quality. You can use a Mavic 2 Pro instead of a Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 or Inspire 2. Sure, there are differences in terms of image quality but the point is: The Mavic 2 Pro is not bad – at all! The aforementioned gear is not inferior just because it’s not playing in the premier league of filmmaking. All of it is very decent indeed. Nice cam.. but it’s huge! Image credit: Jakob Owens via Unsplash.com Being in this business for more than a decade (15 years to be exact) I know that cutting edge gear always was kind of the minimum requirement for most jobs. And I think these times are over for good. Cutting edge gear will always be a thing but for the average indie filmmaker it’s not only OK but very reasonable to employ average prized gear for their jobs. As I’ve stated before: Average doesn’t mean inferior any longer. Just like with audio gear, video gear doesn’t need to be cutting edge anymore in order to perform at a very decent level. Pro cameras will always play their role and depending on the job they are worth the bulk and cost. On many other jobs, however, a smaller package will do just fine. Just grab your tiny yet super powerful mirrorless camera and off you go! Post on the go And when you’re done shooting, recent developments transform your laptop into a pro workstation: Just connect a portable eGPU and edit / grade / export away. Everything in a traditional post production pipeline can be achieved using a laptop right there in the field. Again, full-fledged post suites are still a thing of course but you can do it on the go. This was impossible in 2015 but here we are on the brink of 2019… This is the future and it will evolve in 2019 and beyond. As I stated in the beginning, this article was meant to sum up 2018 and in a way it did. My approach is putting together a one-bag solution with 2018 tech for all my indie filmmaking needs for 2019 and I will write up a dedicated post once I’ve finished building it. Let’s cut some bulk while remaining confident that we are employing state of the art technology! What are your thoughts about this? Is 2018 a turning point or are we not there yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

DJI just announced new accessories for the DJI Ronin-S, their one handed gimbal that took the market by storm since its release earlier this year. We’ve covered and extensively reviewed the DJI Ronin-S, with its before. The accessories DJI is releasing right now promise to make the gimbal even more useful than it already is. Let’s have a look. So let’s recap a little: the DJI Ronin-S came out earlier this year and kind of redefined what one handed pistol-grip style gimbals could and should do. With a load capacity of 7.9 lbs / 3.6 kg, 12 hours of battery life, first in class build quality and the whole ecosystem and know-how of DJI’s tracking and time-lapse features behind it, it left little to be desired. DJI had actually announced that they would expand the gimbal’s ecosystem of accessories very soon and this is their first batch of accessories to come out: DJI Focus Motor The Focus motor fills a need many users may feel among the currently available accessories for the DJI Ronin-S. While the Ronin-S comes with a great focus wheel attached to it, the support by camera manufacturers hasn’t been overwhelming. At this point the GH5 was the only camera to reliable be able to utilize it. Not only will the Focus Motor change that, it will also open up options for using manually focussing lenses with the Ronin-S. The DJI Focus Motor comes with a cable that attaches to the Ronin-S’s base, a rod mount attachment, two 15mm rods of different lengths and to focus gear rings, as well as a few screws to secure all that.  DJI Command Unit The Ronin-S packs a lot of functionality. As is the case with the DJI drones, support through DJI’s apps is needed to utilize the more complex functions (like motion time lapses) the Ronin-S offers. The Command Unit however somewhat alleviates that dependance on the smartphone application. It consists of a small display and a 5 direction pad. Users can change parameters, even while recording, you can switch between modes and access the Create functions. The DJI Command Unit can be mounted on either side of the Ronin-S’s hand grip, either with the Focus Wheel attaching to the Command Unit itself, or having one of them on each side. DJI Ronin-S BG37 Battery Grip Some have criticized the fact that the Ronin-S doesn’t have removable batteries. Practically of course that won’t be a problem in most cases with the battery lasting 12 hours. Now with the release of the new accessories, like a the Focus Motor, Command Unit and GPS attachment being releases, DJI has done the next best thing to having interchangeable batteries: the Ronin-S BG37 is a battery grip that can be swapped with the standard grip, to give you the same capacity of 2400mAh, for a runtime of another twelve hours. DJI GPS Module The Ronin-S can sustain stabilization at speeds of up to 43 mph / 70 kmh. If that isn’t enough for you and you absolutely need to go faster or bumpier, the GPS Module promises to help. It’s supposed to increase stability particularly during those gnarly phases of acceleration or deceleration and make the Ronin-S less reactive to sudden movements or bumps. DJI Ronin-S Universal Mount Want to mount your Ronin-S to a car, crane, jib, cable cam system? The Universal Mount is here for you. It can be attached to any kind 1/4“ mounting point. With the grip gone, you can power the Ronin-S via two independent DC-IN ports with a Dual TB50 Battery Mount, a high performance DJI battery system sold separately or any 12-17V power source. DJI Extended Lens Support and Top Hotshot Bracket etc. The Ronin-S suffers the same fate most gimbals do when you attach a really long lens. Suddenly the high overall load capacity doesn’t matter, because you have to move the camera so far back, that balancing comes at the cost of decreased tilting mobility. The Lens Support and Hotshoe Bracket could help that situation (within reason of course – you’ll probably still not be able to attach an really long cine zoom). Additionally you will be able to purchase the Rod Mount for the Focus Motor as well as a Focus Gear Strip separately as well. Pricing and availability All accessories are available now, through DJI’s online store, DJI Flagship Stores and authorized resellers. Get them here: Focus Motor: $169.00 Focus Motor Rod Mount: $20.00 Focus Gear Strip: $20.00 Command Unit: $129.00 BG37 Battery Grip: $99.00 Top Hotshoe Bracket: $49.00 Extended Lens Support: $20.00 External GPS Module: $69.00 Universal Mount: $179.00 In case you missed it, here’s our full review and tutorial of the Ronin-S How do you like DJI’s new accessories? What would you use them for? Let us know in the comments!

It’s now starting to ship in numbers and I already spent A LOT of time learning all its ins and outs: The Ronin-S is the most promising one-hand gimbal ever made. Can it live up to the hype? Learn EVERYTHING about the Ronin-S here! The DJI Ronin-S in the most comprehensive test available yet. Why use a One-hand Gimbal over a Dual-Handle Gimbal? Gimbals – they have invaded every aspect of filmmaking over the last few years. I’ve personally been using them on my shoots for a long time. In fact, I bought the first handheld gimbal, the Freefly MoVi M10 right after it was announced and had one of the first units. I loved its performance, the two-handle design and the fact that I could put my C300 on it. But I also dreaded the total weight with a camera. So I got the MoVi M5 for smaller cameras and to this very day, I end up using mostly this gimbal for my professional shoots, with an a7S II on it, in the upside down mode. It’s the smoothest and most ergonomic gimbal solution I know so far. With the Freefly MoVi M10 and a Canon C300 Of course DJI has been making two-handed gimbals for years too, with the Ronin, Ronin 2 and the Ronin M. Despite their good performance, I’ve never gotten around using them too much because they are so much heavier than my MoVi M10 and M5.  And because I like my dual-handed lightweight setup is exactly why I never understood the reason to use a one-hand gimbal in the first place.  The fact is – they aren’t ever really one-hand gimbals, the name is simply wrong. You always end up having your second hand on it to stabilze and also distribute the weight between both arms. However still, there are TONS of different one-hand gimbals on the market, and DJI is quite late to this game.  DJI Ronin-S Package Contents With the Ronin-S, DJI released a one-hand gimbal that comes in a handy styrofoam case, much like the ones they use for their Inspire or Phantom drones. It’s nice because everything here has its place, but keep in mind that you will have to loosen all the joints in order to fit the Ronin S in there, meaning that you will always loose your balance settings. Ronin-S in its styrofoam case that doubles as a suitcase for transport. It’s very simple to put together all its main pieces – the battery, the gimbal which includes the “brain” and controller of the unit, and this nice little stand which can also double as an extension of the device to hold it better. DJI went for an “angled” design of the roll motor at the back, it’s further down than on most other one-hand gimbals – and that means that it doesn’t block the screen, which is really amazing! I always prefer to use the build-in screen in order not to add any additional weight with accessories. “Angled” motor design at the back. Weight Talking about weight – I already mentioned the weight of the big Ronin rigs earlier – well, let me add that the Ronin-S unfortunately isn’t a lightweight either. At 4.1 pounds or 1.86 kilograms, it’s among the heaviest one-hand gimbals out there, alongside the Tilta Gravity for example. That’s a far cry from the 12.1 pounds or 5.5 kilograms of a Ronin-2 of course, but it’s still a lot for something that you are supposed to hold in one hand. And of course, you need to still add the weight of a camera on top of that! Nino Leitner operating the DJI Ronin-S When I used the Ronin-S on a recent shoot in Italy and Switzerland, I actually didn’t mind the weight so much. I often walked around with it for a full day, resting it on my hip with the stand when I didn’t use it. It’s MUCH less apparent than a two-handed gimbal, which makes it really great for shoots within crowds.  Battery One reason why the Ronin-S is so heavy is its super strong battery. DJI claims that this battery, which also doubles as the grip of the unit, lasts up to 12 hours. And after using it for over a week on that shoot and charging it only 2 times so far, I have no reason to believe that this claim isn’t valid. Very impressive to say the least. DJI is so confident about the performance of this battery that they are currently not even selling it separately. The powerful (yet heavy) battery grip plus the optional stand which doubles as a grip extension. Nevertheless, I would have traded half of the capacity of that battery to shave off some of the weight of the total setup. It’s not like you’ll actually need to ever shoot 12 hours straight even on a full shooting day.  Balancing The Ronin-S uses a long Manfrotto-style camera plate that makes balancing quite easy. Of course it takes some time to get all three axis balanced, but it’s quite straightforward with big levers to move and tighten the payload. After this is done, you can switch it on. Balancing the DJI Ronin-S Advantages of Strong, Oversized Motors Another reason for the weight of the Ronin-S are its extremely strong brushless motors. They are quite big and can take up to almost 8 pounds or 3.6 kilograms of payload. That is, only if your forearm is strong enough, which makes it a very theoretical value. Because of that payload and also the angled design, you can put a Canon C200 or FS5 on this, and we’ve seen it done, but does it mean that you should? Probably not. I personally would go for a smaller camera. BUT, there’s one very big advantage of having motors that strong – the gimbal forgives when it’s not perfectly balanced, or even changing batteries or small lenses while it’s still running. This is a big deal and can save you a lot of time as a lot of other gimbals completely freak out when you do that while they are running. And you can use it in high wind speeds of up to 75km/h. I was hanging out of a helicopter a few years ago with my MoVi M10, and it didn’t really work as the high wind pressure made the gimbal switch itself off. That should definitely work with the Ronin-S, as it does with the Ronin-2 as well.  Powerful motors make a lot of things easier (compared to other gimbals) Having said that, you can pause the motors by tapping the power button twice, so there is no need to completely switch off when you are changing your setup.  Ronin App – Balance Test & Auto-Tune The first great feature of DJI’s Ronin app, which is available for iOS and Android, is the “Balance Test” feature. It will tell you how well you have done your balancing or if you need to change anything. Perfect! Basic User Operation Modes  It has three modes that you can switch between using the M button. With the Ronin app, you can preset different functionality. I set M1 to normal stabilized follow mode which follows your movement slow enough to get rid of unnecessary camera shake when you use it normally. On M2, I set it to the fastest movement possible – basically just to see how fast it really works. What’s really amazing is how quiet it stays during all this, even at the highest speed. On M3, I set it to this infinite roll mode which you can access when moving the gimbal into fleshlight mode like this. It is kind of special because it’s so incredibly hard to pull off with normal camera equipment! To set this up, go into Control Settings in the app and set Channel 3 to Roll, and Channel 2 to N/A. When you are in fleshlight mode, you can then simply perform this infinite roll by twisting the joystick to the side.  Joystick Talking about the joystick, it’s very useful and sensitive enough to perform fast and slow movements with it. You can work with it very intuitively and it allows a number of movements that would be extremely hard to pull off without it.  Trigger Button The Ronin-S has a trigger button that has a variety of functions. Very useful: In whatever position you are in, when you double tap it, it will reset and center the camera. When you triple tap it, it will look at you …. I guess when your phone isn’t good enough for a selfie.  If you keep holding the trigger button, it will lock the pan and tilt axis of the gimbal – which is very useful if you want to keep your camera looking straight into one direction.  Sports Mode – Holding M Button And kind of the opposite happens when you hold down the M button – that’s the sports mode, and the camera will follow every movement in every direction as fast as possible. Very useful if you need to reset to a specific direction as quickly as possible.  Ronin App – Create Functions Let’s look at the configuration settings in the app, and I will touch on some of the most important settings. For more details, please watch my tutorial on YouTube embedded above where I go through all the major app functions.  The user settings up here switch between the three modes and all their settings on the gimbal. I think this could be made clearer by calling it “M” here as well, not “User”.  In motor parameters, you can finetune every motor for all the three axis in great detail if your heart desires. I recommend to use Auto-Tune, which will give you the best results for your current setup, so it’s highly recommended to do at the beginning of a shoot. SmoothTrack is what DJI calls the default function of the follow mode, when the gimbal follows your movement. You can switch this off for any direction and thereby lock an axis.  What’s really cool is the Push Pan function. When this is enabled, you can actually move an axis manually while the Ronin-S is switched on. This is really cool and doesn’t work on gimbals by many other manufacturers because it would freak out the balance.  Panorama mode in the Ronin app – watch the video for details. In Control Settings here in “Motion”, you basically define how quickly and fast the Ronin-S would react to your movements, and how much those movements will be smoothed – for each axis.  This is also where I showed you before you can switch the axis function in order to enable the infinite roll you saw earlier.  Conclusion To summarize, the Ronin-S is definitely the most thought-out one-hand gimbal that I have had my hands on so far. It’s very intuitive and it really does make your footage buttery smooth without a lot of prior knowledge. There is very little you can do to screw it up – something that isn’t true for all gimbals on the market. DJI Ronin-S – definitely a winner in its category. Gimbal technology clearly has evolved quite a bit over the past few years. There are tons of smart functions in this gimbal which I wouldn’t want to miss anymore – and the Ronin app allows you to really dive into all of that. I only wish there was already a dual handle option for the Ronin-S, which is my preferred working mode. They have announced that it’s coming, alongside a dedicated car mount which is great, but no timeframe on that yet.  The Ronin-S gets a clear buy recommendation from me for its low price point, which makes it kind of a no-brainer for professional filmmakers considering the functionality and also the great build quality it provides. If you are starting out, I consider this an investment that will pay off quickly because you will be able to get amazing shots that are just impossible to get handheld.  The music used in the video above is courtesy of Music Vine. Get 25% off your next music license with code C5D25 (valid for one use per customer). What do you think about the Ronin-S, based on my review? Will you be ordering one or do you have one on order already? Let us know in the comments below!

Last week we learned that the DJI Ronin-S gimbal price is set at $699 and will start shipping to the masses later this month. At Cine Gear 2018 our very own Nino Leitner had a chance to go hands on with the feature rich handheld gimbal. Video below:  We should be getting the DJI Ronin-S for a full review soon, but our first impressions at the show were positive. If you’ve used other DJI products or gimbals, you’ll find the usage of the Ronin-S is fairly straight forward. You balance your supported camera on the gimbal and you are off to the races. Ronin app, motion timelapses Tons of fine tuning options are available in the free Ronin app (iOS or Android) and the app has a variety of features you’ve come to expect from past Ronin products and even other gimbals, but the ability to trigger your camera for motion timelapses seems especially useful. Holding a one-hand gimbal Holding the DJI Ronin S is a bit of a workout and I found myself using both hands to operate on the show floor. With 12 hours of battery life the gimbal battery may outlast your arm strength on an average shoot day — especially when using a DSLR like the Canon 1DX MK II. But, I expect we’ll see additional support accessories and dual handlebar versions in the future. Focus wheel A little knob on the side, helpfully labelled with the word “Focus”, allows operators the ability to focus Panasonic lenses mounted on a GH4 or GH5. DJI representatives did mention they are working on supporting focus functionality on the handlebar with other brands, but no word on timing. I’m a fan of the easy to use DJI Osmo platform and the Ronin-S may be an excellent solution to fill the gap between the Osmo line and larger Ronin 2. What do you think? Will the Ronin S be finding a way into your kit? Comment below!