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Looking at the features of the Ronin RS3 Pro and the first thing you notice is the enhancements in design. The longer carbon arms and large touch screen OLED make mounting the camera and navigating settings that much easier. Fewer wires with Bluetooth shutter control The DJI LiDAR Range Finder (RS) uses Ronin 4D’s acclaimed LiDAR focusing technology. Compared with conventional focusing technology, the LiDAR focusing system does not need to rely on the surface texture of the subject. This is especially useful in low-light environments or complicated scenarios with multiple subjects and results in exceptionally stable focus. One of the instantly notable features in the new larger 1.8 OLED full-colour screen. This is 28% larger than the one on the RS2 and allows you to switch settings, with the optional RavenEye plugged in, you can also get a live view stream.
Ultimately in isolation, the DJI Ronin RS3 Pro is an excellent gimbal stabiliser with so much potential, especially once you add the Focus motor, Raven Eye or High Bright control monitor, which I will look at in a separate review. Don't get us wrong, the LiDAR focus system is cool and the carbon fiber construction is a nice touch, but unless you need to take advantage of those extras, or the RS 3 Pro's 10-pound payload capacity, the regular RS 3 makes more sense, retaining our Editors' Choice award.
The RS 3 Pro was easily able to support our Canon EOS 650D with a Canon Zoom EF 24-70 lens attached. Our kit’s weight of 1.484kg was a lot lighter than the gimbal’s maximum payload of 4.5kg so the stabiliser had no trouble supporting our set-up. By long pressing the gimbal’s trigger and M button simultaneously we could calibrate the stabiliser to make it happier with its payload. Like balancing, calibration helps improve the gimbal’s performance and reduces wear and tear on the motors. The DJI High-Bright Remote Monitor supports live feeds with audio and one transmitter with multiple receivers. In Control mode, two receivers can be used at the same time to collaboratively control RS 3 Pro’s gimbal, focus, and camera parameters for an integrated reception, monitoring, and control experience. The RS 3 Pro matches up with the mid-range RS 3 in form, concept, and basic features. The powered support uses brushless motors to smoothly and silently balance a camera along three axes. Once set up, the gimbal provides Steadicam-level stabilization with the flexibility of handheld operation, along with powered pan, tilt, and roll movements.
The performance of the Ronin RS3 Pro in isolation is excellent. Other manufacturers don’t, as yet, match the build quality; the fact that it will equally easily balance a Sony A7 III or Sony FX6 without issue means plenty of scope for all levels. The RS3 Pro is all about saving effort for the filmmakers; in use, it’s there to assist and make difficult shots easy, as well as having wide camera compatibility. To that end, DJI has extended the carbon fibre arms to give more space to the mounted cameras. This means that professional bodies and lenses such as the Sony FX6 and Canon C70 with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens can now be fitted. The payload limit is still 4.5kg which is quite substantial.
Gimbal DJI RS 3 PRO
Staying with the axis and the carbon arms, these have been extended slightly to enable the mounting of some of the new midweight professional cameras, such as the Sony FX6 and Canon EOS C70. For a gimbal of this size to take the weight of either of these cameras is impressive. While I don’t have access to either of these cameras, a Canon C100 MKII comfortably sat on the DJI Ronin RS3 Pro without issue and with plenty of clearance. RS 3 Pro can pair with the all-new DJI Transmission to offer a customized shooting solution. The DJI Video Transmitter can be powered directly by RS 3 Pro and mounts conveniently on the bottom via the cold shoe without the need for an additional battery, reducing the burden for handheld setup. The RS 3 Pro’s new Mode switch provides a more ergonomic way of changing the gimbal’s shooting modes. (Image credit: George Cairns)
What I also really like is the expandability of the system. For myself, I don’t need the optional High Bright Remote Screen, but it’s nice to think that one day I may be running a production that requires more than just myself monitoring what’s going on! Once the camera balance has been found, a cable can be plugged into the camera’s USB-C port and directly into the side of the gimbal. The shutter can easily be activated from the direct control button on the grip.Imaging modes such as panoramic and timelapse, along with a few others, can be accessed and, with the automatic shutter release, are all simple enough to use, with the App taking control of most of the difficult features. You can use the gimbal completely on its own, smartphone free, but you will need to load up the DJI Ronin app on an Android or iOS handset to activate the gimbal before first use. The app does some other things, like firmware updates, and works as a monitor for the wireless video transmitter included with the Combo bundle. We would prefer the app weren't necessary to get going with the gimbal. DJI RS 3 Pro: It is recommended to use a charger with PD or QC 2.0 fast charging protocol with charging power ≤ 24Wto charge the DJI RS 3 Pro battery grip, which takes about 90 minutes to be fully charged. The camera’s OLED is clear and used as a straightforward gimbal, with the camera mounted high above the rear arm. Even dropping the camera down to ground level, there’s enough arm clearance to pull out the screen so you can see what’s happening. The only time seeing the screen becomes difficult is when using the 3D Roll 360. There’s also compatibility with the LiDAR AF system that will transform this small gimbal into a complete filming rig for those using manual focus Cine lenses.
For some cameras that are BlueTooth enabled, the Ronin RS3 Pro now has BlueTooth connectivity. At launch, this works with a series of Canon cameras, and the compatibility list will inevitably expand at speed to cover most cameras with BlueTooth. While the small RavenEye is an ideal solution for most, DJI has also added Pro-Grade video transmission and monitoring compatibility. The DJI RS3 Pro is equipped with DJI O3 Pro video transmission technology. This enables video transmission to a distance of up to 6km and full compatibility with the High-Bright Remote Monitor that was launched alongside the Ronin 4D. This monitor supports 1080p/60fps live feed to multiple receivers. Most gimbal grips attach beneath the mounted camera so that it can be held upright and moved around with ease. To afford more creative flexibility, the DJI Briefcase Handle (2022) attaches above the mounted camera, so users can hold their gimbal from above. This makes it easier for your camera to get closer to the ground and achieve some impressive low-angle shots. How does the focus motor work?Taking a step up from the RS 2, the RS 3 Pro comes equipped with a 1.8-inch OLED full-colour touchscreen display that is 28% larger than its predecessor. With support for most Ronin app settings, users can intuitively navigate through the redesigned interface to set their parameters as desired. It's an expensive add-on, nearly the price of the gimbal itself, but you may find it worthwhile if you use manual-focus cinema lenses and are after automatic focus pulls. There's some setup required to bridge the gap between it and fully manual lenses. You'll need to calibrate focus points at 1 and 4 meters prior to use, on a lens-by-lens basis. The Range Finder stores up to three profiles. You can use the touchscreen to switch between modes such as PF (Pan Follow), PTF (Pan Tilt Follow) and FPV (where the gimbal rolls as well as pans and tilts). It can be a bit of a fiddle to change modes on a touchscreen while you’re operating the gimbal, so the RS 3 Pro has new gimbal Mode Switch that lets you toggle between modes in a more ergonomic and tactile way. A Bluetooth shutter button enables you to start/stop recording on compatible cameras without the need for a cable.
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