DJI RS4 Review: Pro features are decentralized, and DJI blurs the boundaries between personal and commercial gimbal devices
Tencent Digital Text/Wu Bin
DJI today officially released a new generation of handheld stabilizers, one called DJI RS4 and the other called DJI RS4 Pro. As you can see from the model, the RS4 series is a smooth upgrade from the previous RS3.
If two years ago, when DJI released RS3 and RS3 Pro, it was an upgrade of the core functions of the camera stabilization system, then two years later, the RS4 series was released, and DJI did not make greater structural and functional adjustments, well, it is a generation of minor repairs and small repairs, but it makes up for some small shortcomings on the RS3, and after nearly a month of experience, I think it may be that by the RS 4 generation of products, DJI's vision of transforming the single-person camera stabilization system is completed.
From 3 to 4, the smooth design is upgraded
At first glance, there are no obvious differences in design between the DJI RS4 and the previous generation RS3, but in fact, there are quite a few detailed tweaks hidden here.
Close-up of Teflon-coated handle
This generation of RS 4 still uses aluminum alloy as the main material of the fuselage, and its weight is exactly the same as that of the previous generation, 1.3KG, and its maximum load is still 3KG. The difference is that the RS 4 uses a three-axis Teflon layer that was previously only available on the Pro, which means that the RS 4 can be leveled more smoothly than the RS3 with this special layer after adding a camera load.
If you set up a camera with a large lens like me on the previous generation of gimbal devices, the axis arm on the RS3 may appear to be pivoted at certain angles. On the RS4, DJI has increased the length of the tilt axis by 8.5mm.
Don't underestimate the increase in length of less than 1cm, but the requirements for the camera are actually relaxed a lot, before the RS3 Pro's long axis arm can be mounted on a professional-grade cinema player like REDKOMODO, RS4This time the length of the pitch arm is extended, which means that its attributes are a step forward towards a professional-grade stabilization system like Pro, which may also be a state that DJI hopes to achieve, that is, spend less money, so that you can experience products close to Pro.
RS4 has a new contact interface
The interface part on the side of the fuselage has been unified in the RS4 generation, and the interface on the side of the RS3 has no contacts before, so the device cannot be expanded enough ecology, and this benefit is exclusive to RS3 Pro. But on RS 4, the contact interface came along, which meant that on the cheaper RS4, you could also use extensions for more functionality.
You see, these seemingly subtle changes, in fact, are pointing to one thing, DJI in this generation of gimbal devices, further blurring the line between individual users and professional users, RS4 inherited a lot of settings that were originally only available on the Pro, allowing you to spend less money to experience better technology. So you say that it is the good people of DJI who do it to the end, whether it is to decentralize the technology, you say that DJI opens a supermarket, whether it is to involve ordinary users, anyway, the changes in this new stabilizer now seem to be inclusive.
New addition of zoom paddles
On the RS4, it may be one of the few non-decentralized, but new functions, on the right side of the fuselage, there is a new two-choice module, this module allows users to quickly switch the control of the gimbal angle when using the joystick, or the adjustment of the lens zoom. Obviously, DJI added a physical paddle for stable mode switching to the RS3, and after tasting the sweetness, it has made one more in this generation to continue to simplify the operation.
Joystick operation zoom
The function of this zoom does not conflict with the zoom motor, and its function is limited to connecting the camera via Bluetooth and turning on the camera's internal zoom function. For traditional mirrorless or cinema cameras, the motor can solve most scenarios for daily use, while for cameras with built-in electronic zoom or cameras that require digital crop zoom, this joystick can greatly simplify the original operating logic.
There is also a very subtle adjustment, on the RS3, there are 3 USB-C ports in the longitudinal position next to the hinge, this time DJI adjusted an interface to the back of the hinge, the function of the three ports is exactly the same, RS4 is only adjusted in the design of the position.
In this RS 4 kit, you still have a matching handle for the pot, an autofocus motor and a storage case, which are exactly the same as the previous generation.
The safety of the handle of the jug is still underneath
However, a rather strange design emerged. The DJI RS4 has a handle that still has a safety buckle underneath, which means you can only use it with safety protection if you place it on the left side of the body.
Handle mounted on the left side
However, the expansion port on the left side is a new contact, which means that you can only choose between expanding and using the handle safely, which is a bit of a design that I don't understand.
This time, the standard version is equipped with the same BG21 battery as the RS3, if you use it alone, the RS4 can last up to 12 hours, it supports 18W fast charging, you can fully charge this battery with a capacity of up to 3000 mAh in 2.5 hours. The battery handle can be removed, which continues the important design improvements on the RS3.
However, this is not the point I want to say, DJI this time in order to solve the problem of the battery life of the gimbal system, came up with a new BG70 battery handle, just by looking at the size you know that its battery life level is not ordinary.
This brand new battery grip has a capacity of 4800mAh, and according to DJI's official statement, it can provide up to 29.5 hours of battery life for the RS4.
Its calibration voltage ranges from 11.2V-16.8V, so this battery is compatible with both RS4 and RS4 Pro, but because the overall voltage is relatively high, there will be incorrect voltage prompts on RS4, but the actual measurement is basically in addition to the prompt, there is no problem in use.
This means that after purchasing this battery separately, it will not cause the RS4 and RS4 Pro batteries to be mixed, resulting in the RS4 Pro misusing the low-voltage BG21 and not being able to drive the motor normally.
Of course, the calibration value is always just a theoretical abnormal use case, and the data after the actual test will be more meaningful. RS4 is equipped with a standard BG21 battery grip, and the measured intermittent battery life is about 9 hours, which can basically meet the day's shooting work.
After installing this BG70 battery grip that needs to be purchased separately, the intermittent battery life test time can reach about 16 hours, and there is basically no problem with two-day intermittent shooting.
BG21 on the left, BG70 on the right
Another design difference is that the new battery handle of the BG70 has an extra 1/2 threaded hole at the bottom, which allows for a larger size support device.
RS4 supports automatic unlocking at power-on
The design of the award-winning electronic axle lock from the previous generation has been perfectly inherited from this generation of RS4, which will automatically turn on when the power is turned on, and actively retract and lock when the power is off.
To a certain extent, this "small" upgrade from the RS3 era is a "big" breakthrough that I think the Grand Prize has made in the gimbal system, and its appearance perfectly solves the cumbersome operation of manual locking brought by the special session, and the fully automatic design also avoids accidental bumps.
What has DJI done to make RS4 more usable?
Obviously, under the premise that there is no obvious change in the exterior design, the RS4 experience will not have the very obvious change from RSC2 to RS3. But that doesn't mean the DJI RS4 won't have some experience improvements.
In the previous generation, the problem of short grip handles, which was criticized a lot, was solved by the BG70, a long battery handle, in this generation.
This longer battery grip and the triangular bracket that comes standard in the package make the length of the holding part under the gimbal reach about 35cm, which is enough for you to use the RS4 with both hands in a comfortable holding position.
However, because of the overall increase in the capacity of this new battery, the weight of RS4 bare metal has been further increased, and the actual test has increased the weight of the stabilizer after installing R6M2 with red ring 24-105, and its weight has reached 3.5KG.
This number is really not too friendly for some female colleagues in the company who have shooting needs, and the three colleagues put down after lifting for an average of 5 minutes and said that they need to rest, so it is recommended that when you use it, it will be easier to use it with a handle of a pot.
The shaft arm extension is very friendly for camera flipping
In addition, in actual shooting, this extended tilt axis will indeed be more forgiving for the camera, and during the entire operation cycle, my Canon R6M2 with red circle 24-105 and Sony A7R3 with first-generation 24-70G did not appear to be axed.
Compared with the design, the update in use is more implicit, but if you experience it carefully, you can still find the difference between RS4 and the previous generation.
New Focus Pro motor
The first is the all-new Focus Pro, and in the RS4 package, DJI is equipped with a new Focus Pro motor. In fact, DJI has brought a complete set of autofocus accessories to the new product launch, including the Focus Pro LiDAR focusing module, DJI Focus Pro gripper, DJI Focus Pro motor, and a new Focus Pro handwheel.
However, in the packaged version of the RS4, only the focus motor and the focus motor rack are equipped. The official data given by this new focus motor is that its rotational speed is nearly 30% higher than that of the 2022 motor, which means that in the scene where the user moves faster, the speed of this motor is faster.
With the newly added paddles on the RS4, the gimbal can be adjusted to the digital zoom through the body joystick, and DJI will suggest in the instructions for use that users can be equipped with two focusing motors, one motor for focusing, one motor for zooming, and two motors for Hitchcock-style zoom shooting.
But if you only have one motor, you can also use this new paddle and joystick for digital zoom and Hitchcock-like zoom results.
Secondly, on the RS4 generation of gimbal devices, DJI continued to upgrade its stabilization algorithm, I tested the stabilization mode on the camera in the walking and running states, turning on and off the stability mode on the camera respectively, let's see the effect first.
Camera stabilization mode is turned on for walking shooting
Walking shooting turns off camera stabilization mode
Running shooting with camera stabilization mode enabled
Running shooting turns off camera stabilization mode
As far as the stability of the RS4 is concerned, the overall effect is not the so-called visible improvement compared to the RS3 I have used, but the overall algorithm is stable in the process of daily shooting, the probability of overturning is very small, and the overall maturity is much better than when the RS3 was first released.
And I also tested the low-angle shooting stability test of the handle of the one-handed teapot, and I still see the effect first.
The handle of the jug is lowered to shoot the walking shot
The handle of the jug is shot low for running shots
Judging from the actual performance,RS4The stability at normal angles and low angles is also good,There is no obvious change in force changes,The output of the picture is still stable enough。 For a stabilizer that focuses on individual combat, there is no need to worry about the stability shown by the RS4 during the current testing process.
Finally, how to choose the RS4 and who will buy it?
That's the topic I want to talk about when I review almost every DJI product.
In DJI's product system, the RS4 series gimbal and the standard version of the RS4 are designed for small teams and individual combat, which will be lighter and more compatible and expandable than stabilizers like the RS3 mini.
And on this generation of RS4, DJI has obviously delegated some of the technology, design and expansibility that it only had on the Pro to RS4, which makes this generation of RS4 have further potential.
Judging from the results of the actual test so far, the stability of RS4 is not to be said, and the basic ability cannot be discounted a little, which should be regarded as the bottom line for DJI products. At the same time, the additional attributes brought by RS4, such as the new focusing motor, the BG70 battery grip that needs to be purchased separately but I "recommend the wall crack", and the not very clever expansion interface of the design, have improved the playability of RS4 a lot this time.
In terms of price, the price of this generation of RS4 and RS4 Pro, standard version and package version is exactly the same as that of the previous generation RS3 series, which means that for those RS3 users, today's RS4 is a product that does not increase the price but does a better job in terms of completeness.
However, because the overall design and function upgrade will indeed be smaller than that of RS3, it is obvious that DJI focuses on upgrading users, not all of whom were replaced two years ago, but those who hold the older Ronin-SC and RSC2 are the ones who should replace RS4 the most.
Upward approaching design, better scalability, more stable algorithm performance, etc., after experiencing RS4, you will find that it is still one of the best choices in the field of gimbal devices.