DJI Ronin-MX

[Patrick Grossien]

You wouldn't happen to have a larger version of that picture you uploaded, as I would really like to see how you rigged it up? Pleeeeeaaasssssse

Björn , I hope this is ok with you...
Love this setup. Just 2 cables and off you go. though it seems there's no wireless video attached.

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

I love the extended weight capacity of MX and even two batteries is OK, but how do you design a product that needs two different types of batteries that need two different chargers?

 

[Mike P.]

Does DSMC2+RVXL weigh about the same as just an DSMC1 without power?

Also, does anyone know how long does a DSMC will roughly run for when powered by the Ronin/Ronin-M battery using that p-tap breakout box accessory?

While I love the idea of having the 4th axis taken care of by an Exo or steadycam arm, it'd literally double (if not triple) the cost of the setup and make rigging it that much more of a pain in the ass. It's not in the cards for me yet, so I'm just curious if I can get by with an M in the meantime.

 

[Peter Majtan]

I love the extended weight capacity of MX and even two batteries is OK, but how do you design a product that needs two different types of batteries that need two different chargers?

The product doesn't need two different batteries and chargers - only one. Only the front-top battery position is connected to the R-MX, the rear position has no live contacts - it's just a cradle to hold the second battery that purely powers the payload (camera) via the D-tap cable.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

So for jib, car use, what's the best process for attaching a Ronin-MX? Is there a straight forward way to get it connected to a mitchell mount?

 

[Uros Zuraj]

Peter - in a video from nab they said its two different batteries and two different chargers

 

[Abiodun Shote]

The product doesn't need two different batteries and chargers - only one. Only the front-top battery position is connected to the R-MX, the rear position has no live contacts - it's just a cradle to hold the second battery that purely powers the payload (camera) via the D-tap cable.

Peter, are you implying that the same charger will work for both the RoninMX battery and the payload battery, which to my understanding is the 4350mAh capacity battery? Besides, on the Ronin-M, once you upgrade to the Battery power distributor a single 4350mah battery powers the gimbal and the payload. I guess Paramon is half right in his observation

 

[Peter Majtan]

The point I was making was that the Ronin MX only uses ONE battery and ONE charger (same as Ronin M).
The second battery is for the payload. For RED you are best served with the larger battery from the original (larger) Ronin - and that battery needs its own charger. Basically if you have another power solution for your camera that can fit in the Ronin M / MX - you don't need the second Ronin battery and therefore second (different) charger. Smaller cameras can even be powered from the Ronin's base break-out box via the onboard P-Tap. So I am just clarifying that the Ronin M / MX does not need two different batteries and two different chargers to work. The second set is for the payload (camera) and the connector on the back of the Ronin MX is just a dummy cradle shaped as the normal "live" cradle - minus the electric contacts...

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

The point I was making was that the Ronin MX only uses ONE battery and ONE charger (same as Ronin M).
The second battery is for the payload. For RED you are best served with the larger battery from the original (larger) Ronin - and that battery needs its own charger.

That makes TWO chargers, right?
the whole new design of MX with the increased weight capacity and ability to power camera and possibly even some accessories from the onboard battery obviously wasn't intended for smaller cameras that usually have light and small batteries that run for hours.
It was made with the DSMC in mind, maybe UrsaM, and here my question again : how do you design . . .
never mind

 

[Note Suwanchote]

The point I was making was that the Ronin MX only uses ONE battery and ONE charger (same as Ronin M).
The second battery is for the payload. For RED you are best served with the larger battery from the original (larger) Ronin - and that battery needs its own charger. Basically if you have another power solution for your camera that can fit in the Ronin M / MX - you don't need the second Ronin battery and therefore second (different) charger. Smaller cameras can even be powered from the Ronin's base break-out box via the onboard P-Tap. So I am just clarifying that the Ronin M / MX does not need two different batteries and two different chargers to work. The second set is for the payload (camera) and the connector on the back of the Ronin MX is just a dummy cradle shaped as the normal "live" cradle - minus the electric contacts...

Peter I have a separate question.
During NAB I asked the guys there but someone gave me conflicting info about whether the M600 has SDI or HDMI? Online it says mini hdmi and sdi.
Would I be able to say use lightbridge 2 (live video monitoring) with a camera out of the box with the m600 + ronin mx kit?

So camera (sdi out) + m600 + ronin mx + ipad = flying + live monitoring?

Thanks!

 

[Mike P.]

So I'm guessing you can't use lightbridge/live video monitoring with *just* the Ronin-MX and the (optional) lightbridge remote, huh? Guess we've gotta wait for next year's Ronin-MXL.

 

[Peter Majtan]

Peter I have a separate question. During NAB I asked the guys there but someone gave me conflicting info about whether the M600 has SDI or HDMI? Online it says mini hdmi and sdi. Would I be able to say use lightbridge 2 (live video monitoring) with a camera out of the box with the m600 + ronin mx kit? So camera (sdi out) + m600 + ronin mx + ipad = flying + live monitoring?vThanks!

So I'm guessing you can't use lightbridge/live video monitoring with *just* the Ronin-MX and the (optional) lightbridge remote, huh? Guess we've gotta wait for next year's Ronin-MXL.

Mike - Ronin on it's own never sends video signal. There was never any input for video in and don't see that coming any time soon. You were always required to use your own wireless video system like the Paralinx or Teradek.
When you fly the R-MX on the M600 - the wireless video is facilitated by the LightBridge2 (LB2) - which is built into the M600. The stand-alone LightBridge always worked with the Ronin(s) - the original Ronin case even has the cut out for the LB...

What is interesting with the M600 combo is how they facilitate the endless 360˚ panning. The signal from the RED's HDMI port is sent to a ultra-short-range wireless transmitter (SRW-60G) that sends it to receiver mounted on the M600. This is then fed into the LB2 and shown on the DJI "GO" app.
Please note that (as stated on the DJI website) the SRW-60G is not permitted for use on aerial platforms in North America...

Note - the handheld remote has both mini-HDMI and 3G-SDI - but only one of them can be active. They support formats up to 1080-60P and can feed live switcher. The quality of the video will of course depend on the strength and quality of your wireless video downlink...

P

 

[Note Suwanchote]

Mike - Ronin on it's own never sends video signal. There was never any input for video in and don't see that coming any time soon. You were always required to use your own wireless video system like the Paralinx or Teradek.
When you fly the R-MX on the M600 - the wireless video is facilitated by the LightBridge2 (LB2) - which is built into the M600. The stand-alone LightBridge always worked with the Ronin(s) - the original Ronin case even has the cut out for the LB...

What is interesting with the M600 combo is how they facilitate the endless 360˚ panning. The signal from the RED's HDMI port is sent to a ultra-short-range wireless transmitter (SRW-60G) that sends it to receiver mounted on the M600. This is then fed into the LB2 and shown on the DJI "GO" app.
Please note that (as stated on the DJI website) the SRW-60G is not permitted for use on aerial platforms in North America...

Note - the handheld remote has both mini-HDMI and 3G-SDI - but only one of them can be active. They support formats up to 1080-60P and can feed live switcher. The quality of the video will of course depend on the strength and quality of your wireless video downlink...

P

So you do need to use srw-60 to get lb2 video to the DJI app?

 

[Peter Majtan]

So you do need to use srw-60 to get lb2 video to the DJI app?

You could run a cable directly from the camera to the M600 - but that would limit your panning. This might be a good option for a single operator where you lock the pan into follow (the M600) mode...

Alternatively you can just mount any other wireless system directly onto the camera - but then you won't get the feed inside the "GO" app. In this case you can mount a fixed camera on the M600 for pilot's PoV reference (which will show inside the "GO" app) and give the camera op the feed from the 3-rd party system...

P

 

[Note Suwanchote]

You could run a cable directly from the camera to the M600 - but that would limit your panning. This might be a good option for a single operator where you lock the pan into follow (the M600) mode...

Alternatively you can just mount any other wireless system directly onto the camera - but then you won't get the feed inside the "GO" app. In this case you can mount a fixed camera on the M600 for pilot's PoV reference (which will show inside the "GO" app) and give the camera op the feed from the 3-rd party system...

P

Gotcha!! Thanks Peter!

 

[Brent G Miller Jr]

I hate to be the guy that chimes in on a completely different plug, but you should really look at the Letus Helix. We have tried out the Jr model and own 2 regular versions (both aluminum and magnesium) and it's hands down the best gimbal on the market in terms of flexibility, size, weight and ease of use while on set. You don't have to relocate your field monitor or set it down on a stand in between takes etc... The design is genius and so small, we transport via an airline carry-on (FAA pelican case) so we don't have to worry about theft or damage. you can also get a RED to Helix power cable so you run everything off of the Helix batteries.

 

[Abiodun Shote]

I hate to be the guy that chimes in on a completely different plug, but you should really look at the Letus Helix. We have tried out the Jr model and own 2 regular versions (both aluminum and magnesium) and it's hands down the best gimbal on the market in terms of flexibility, size, weight and ease of use while on set. You don't have to relocate your field monitor or set it down on a stand in between takes etc... The design is genius and so small, we transport via an airline carry-on (FAA pelican case) so we don't have to worry about theft or damage. you can also get a RED to Helix power cable so you run everything off of the Helix batteries.

At $3,810 for basic operational 3 axis Helix with battery and charger vs $1,600 for R-MX, I think the Ronin campers are more than delighted to be in that camp,... I guess thats why the R-M has such high market penetration. The price point is just right for alot of people.

 

[Mike P.]

Thanks for the clarity Peter!

Yeah, I knew LB hasn't been integrated into a Ronin yet, but figured it'd would've been a great time to include it (in the MX). Hence why I said it looks like we'll have to wait for the *next* ronin to have that functionality built-in. After using it on drones, I think including it in their gimbals would've been a huge boon/no brainer for them over the competition... I mean, they already own the tech and could implement it so easily.

At $3,810 for basic operational 3 axis Helix with battery and charger vs $1,600 for R-MX, I think the Ronin campers are more than delighted to be in that camp,... I guess thats why the R-M has such high market penetration. The price point is just right for alot of people.

I kind of agree with this for people considering DJI's instead of others, if only because gimbal tech is still in its infancy. I think a lot of people don't want to invest too much money in a tech that is still evolving. ~$1500 vs $4k is a pretty gnarly price difference -- better off buying the 2016 MX for $1500, then buying the 2017 "MXL" for $1500, then the 2018 "MXL+" for $1500 (selling off the old ones as you go, to further recoup costs and widen the price gap) then blowing an almost-equivalent $4k on one model in 2016 and hoping it'll still be functionally relevant in 2018... When gimbal tech's progress plateaus a little more, then it'd be worth investing in a "quintessential" (albeit more expensive) model.

(That said, the Helix definitely seems to be one of the more well-thought out gimbals currently available.)

 

[Brody_B]

I hate to be the guy that chimes in on a completely different plug, but you should really look at the Letus Helix. We have tried out the Jr model and own 2 regular versions (both aluminum and magnesium) and it's hands down the best gimbal on the market in terms of flexibility, size, weight and ease of use while on set. You don't have to relocate your field monitor or set it down on a stand in between takes etc... The design is genius and so small, we transport via an airline carry-on (FAA pelican case) so we don't have to worry about theft or damage. you can also get a RED to Helix power cable so you run everything off of the Helix batteries.

Plus every bit of sample footage ive seen of the Helix jr had shakes all over the place. Thats why I decided ronin instead.

 

[Brent G Miller Jr]

Plus every bit of sample footage ive seen of the Helix jr had shakes all over the place. Thats why I decided ronin instead.

Undersood regarding the Jr but we find that the "regular" model doesn't suffer from those issues. The Helix does indeed cost more $$ but there are so many benefits over the Ronin that make it worth it. Like shooting at eye level without having to raise your arms over your head like a monkey

...and FYI: I'm pretty sure most of that Ronin footage has more stabilization added in post :wink5:

For example, watch our trailer for The Coming Convergence (.com). It has a lot of Helix shots in it... Zero bounce... And we didn't add any post production stabilization.