DJI RONIN PRO SUPPORT

[Dave Blackham]

Ronin is set up with Epic and TLS 80 200mm lens. Seems to be set up and is balanced well it stays put when motors are off. There is some slight wobble on the end of the lens, its imperceptible at 80mm and 135 is fine too.

My question is this must be at the edge of capability, would a lighter lens help stabilisation or is the focal length a challenge.

I read in the threads setting stiffness lighter may affect the set up rather than using auto tune.

Any suggestions how to get best out of the system with long lenses and also any infer on what the longest lens practicable is would be interesting.

thanks

 

[Matt Ryan]

https://vimeo.com/102792637

This video does a great in depth look to fine tuning the Ronin. 30 minute breakdown.

It's not balancing info that I need, it's the fine tuning adjustments of the controls. I know how to balance it properly. Just want to see what settings are best for different setups. I would do an auto calibration first, then go from there. But I need to know where to go from there haha

Thanks for the video though.

 

[Adam Levins]

I can't seem to get the pan to work in follow mode. It seems to just float freely as I turn. What setting do I tune to make it follow me more tightly? so far I have tried to reset to defaults, calibrated centre, auto tuned. Many Thanks

 

[Peter Majtan]

I can't seem to get the pan to work in follow mode. It seems to just float freely as I turn. What setting do I tune to make it follow me more tightly? so far I have tried to reset to defaults, calibrated centre, auto tuned. Many Thanks

Turn on your remote controller and make sure the upper right switch is not in the top position. Switch it to the middle position and try again. As I have said guys - please follow the instructions in the first post and the firs thing you all should do (even before you have received the unit) is to read the User Manual from start to finish. It is not that long and you really need to familiarise yourself with the equipment you are trying to use. This is not a toy...

:sifone: Peter

 

[Peter Majtan]

Ronin is set up with Epic and TLS 80 200mm lens. Seems to be set up and is balanced well it stays put when motors are off. There is some slight wobble on the end of the lens, its imperceptible at 80mm and 135 is fine too.

My question is this must be at the edge of capability, would a lighter lens help stabilisation or is the focal length a challenge.

I read in the threads setting stiffness lighter may affect the set up rather than using auto tune.

Any suggestions how to get best out of the system with long lenses and also any infer on what the longest lens practicable is would be interesting.

thanks

Dave - the focal length is definitely an issue. With every doubling of focal length you are increasing the optical movements by 4 folds.
Normally you should not expect to use focal lengths above 100 mm on this type of gimbal. For telephoto lenses there are specialist gimbals that cost above 6 figures.
The fact that you are fine with 135 mm tells me you are doing things right...

:sifone: Peter

 

[Peter Majtan]

It's not balancing info that I need, it's the fine tuning adjustments of the controls. I know how to balance it properly. Just want to see what settings are best for different setups. I would do an auto calibration first, then go from there. But I need to know where to go from there haha

Thanks for the video though.

Matt - the following firmware and app update will introduce new function that will address your issue in the best possible way and make our lives that much more easier.
But using presets or settings from other users is not the best way. It might help you in some situations - but it can also make your life more difficult.
You owe it to yourself to properly analyse every adjustment and understand what it does to the behaviour of the rig.
You need to intuitively feel what adjustments you need to make for the gimbal to respond in the way you need.
Only then you can truly benefit from other people settings and use them as starting point.

:sifone: Peter

 

[Adam Levins]

Turn on your remote controller and make sure the upper right switch is not in the top position. Switch it to the middle position and try again. As I have said guys - please follow the instructions in the first post and the firs thing you all should do (even before you have received the unit) is to read the User Manual from start to finish. It is not that long and you really need to familiarise yourself with the equipment you are trying to use. This is not a toy...

:sifone: Peter

'I have looked at all the instructions and tried all the setting on the remote, no luck. The pan motor defiantly works as I can use it with the remote but it does not respond in follow mode. Any other ideas what it may be? I am thinking its a setting in the app that I need to play with or something?

A hardware issue I noticed is that the "Quick Release Mount" never fully locks down no matter how hard I twist. Has anyone else noticed this issue? It makes the entire gimbal clunk around when operating.

Thanks again for the support, Adam

 

[Peter Majtan]

'I have looked at all the instructions and tried all the setting on the remote, no luck. The pan motor defiantly works as I can use it with the remote but it does not respond in follow mode. Any other ideas what it may be? I am thinking its a setting in the app that I need to play with or something? Thanks again for the support, Adam

Hi Adam. The only two settings that affect the follow mode is to enable it in the iOS app and to make sure the remote's top right switch is in the middle position.
If both of these are correct - the follow mode (SmoothTrack) should work.
The only other setting is the deadband - if you have it too large it will take a very big turn before the SmoothTrack responds and follows your lead...
This setting should be in the range of 0~15 for the pan axis...

:sifone: Peter

 

[Adam Levins]

Thanks! Will check it now.

 

[Sebastian Moretto]

Hey Sebastian,

Thanks for your comment! Could you please try to see if your pan Axis can be balanced really well or not?
It's best if you hold it on briefcase mode and rest one side of the handles on the gound to make it straight vertical. Do you see any balancing issues like it returning to a horizontal position when turned, suggesting the axis may not be dead centered?

Hi Frederic,

thanks for the tip. I just wanted to try that but actually the problems with my unit are getting so severe that it's becoming difficult to actually get it into briefcase mode, or any other mode for that matter.

Take a look at what happens with a rig I would at least call reasonably balanced when I power the Ronin up:

http://youtu.be/kSrCLxR1eLA

This strange rocking on the roll axis sometimes during startup is sometimes enough to shut down the motors before I even pick the unit up! I don't think it's supposed to do that...

 

[ignacio guzman]

Hi Frederic,

thanks for the tip. I just wanted to try that but actually the problems with my unit are getting so severe that it's becoming difficult to actually get it into briefcase mode, or any other mode for that matter.

Take a look at what happens with a rig I would at least call reasonably balanced when I power the Ronin up:

http://youtu.be/kSrCLxR1eLA

This strange rocking on the roll axis sometimes during startup is sometimes enough to shut down the motors before I even pick the unit up! I don't think it's supposed to do that...

Sebastion I've had issues with my ronin in a similar fashion. I found that you need to just take the battery out then put it back in and recalibrate on the phone app. Hopefully that will work for you.

 

[Matt Ryan]

Matt - the following firmware and app update will introduce new function that will address your issue in the best possible way and make our lives that much more easier.
But using presets or settings from other users is not the best way. It might help you in some situations - but it can also make your life more difficult.
You owe it to yourself to properly analyse every adjustment and understand what it does to the behaviour of the rig.
You need to intuitively feel what adjustments you need to make for the gimbal to respond in the way you need.
Only then you can truly benefit from other people settings and use them as starting point.

:sifone: Peter

Peter - I'm not looking for presets. Again, I'm just looking on info as to what settings in the app do for the unit and how do I know what is best for my setup? That is all. I don't want a pre-built setup... I just want info on what each of the controls does and how increasing levels in one control affects the others...

 

[Frederic Sturm]

Hi Frederic,

thanks for the tip. I just wanted to try that but actually the problems with my unit are getting so severe that it's becoming difficult to actually get it into briefcase mode, or any other mode for that matter.

Take a look at what happens with a rig I would at least call reasonably balanced when I power the Ronin up:

http://youtu.be/kSrCLxR1eLA

This strange rocking on the roll axis sometimes during startup is sometimes enough to shut down the motors before I even pick the unit up! I don't think it's supposed to do that...

Hey Sebastian,

I actually meant getting it in "briefcase mode like orientation" while its off to check pan axis balance - that shouldn't be an issue, right?

The wobbling I see here is very weird and totally different from the shutoff issue. I have seen weird behaviour similar to this on mine, but it was gone after a power cycle and occured only once. Are you absolutely sure this setup was perfectly balanced and the gimbal will stay put in any position? It really looks weird though! Are you in touch with DJI support about this?

 

[Wayne Mann]

My Ronin showed up today. It took about thirty minutes to get it balance and synced up to the assistant. Everything works great on it with no complaints. The quick release for the top handle tightens up just fine. I installed my GH4 with the Voigtlander 17.5mm lens just to see how it worked with a very light set up. If I rotate the handle bar in the roll axis rather quickly the pan axis will get upset, BUT this is something that you will probably never ever do in a real life shooting situation so I consider it a non issue. With the GH4 I am able to run all three of the stiffness settings at 60 with no motor buzz unless I rotate the handle bar to flip the camera upside down, then one of the motors will buzz a little bit. I can't see any reason to run the stiffness that high so I just set them at 35%. Next stop; attachment to one of my big Octocopters.

I do have one issue that really isn't an issue, I can't seem to turn off control of the roll axis with the R/C transmitter. In the Assistant it does not give me the option to turn roll control off.


Wayne Mann

 

[Peter Majtan]

Peter - I'm not looking for presets. Again, I'm just looking on info as to what settings in the app do for the unit and how do I know what is best for my setup? That is all. I don't want a pre-built setup... I just want info on what each of the controls does and how increasing levels in one control affects the others...

The manual clearly describes what each of the control does.
And to see how they affect each other - you just need to experiment and learn. This is no different to learning Steadicam... ;o)

:sifone: Peter

 

[Matt Ryan]

The manual clearly describes what each of the control does.
And to see how they affect each other - you just need to experiment and learn. This is no different to learning Steadicam... ;o)

:sifone: Peter

I read the manual, but I'm coming from a rental perspective, I don't own. So I want to be able to dial things in pretty quickly without messing around with settings for hours. That's why I ask.

 

[David Baur]

Hey Sebastian,

I actually meant getting it in "briefcase mode like orientation" while its off to check pan axis balance - that shouldn't be an issue, right?

The wobbling I see here is very weird and totally different from the shutoff issue. I have seen weird behaviour similar to this on mine, but it was gone after a power cycle and occured only once. Are you absolutely sure this setup was perfectly balanced and the gimbal will stay put in any position? It really looks weird though! Are you in touch with DJI support about this?

Hi Frederic,

actually i have the same issue that the motors are shutting down while fast rolling. And the gimbal is really good balanced. When balancing the gimbal in the stand the pan axis is staying put when rotating the handle or lifting on side of the handle up. But when going into briefcase mode with motors off, the gimbal is not balanced anymore, the pan axis is off center.
The question is if you have to balance the gimbal in briefcase mode again, or to make more precise balancing while in this mode? What happens for example when you balance in briefcase mode and then go back to regular mode?
Mabye Peter can give us more insides since he has deep knowledge in Ronin already

 

[Sebastian Moretto]

Hey Sebastian,

I actually meant getting it in "briefcase mode like orientation" while its off to check pan axis balance - that shouldn't be an issue, right?

The wobbling I see here is very weird and totally different from the shutoff issue. I have seen weird behaviour similar to this on mine, but it was gone after a power cycle and occured only once. Are you absolutely sure this setup was perfectly balanced and the gimbal will stay put in any position? It really looks weird though! Are you in touch with DJI support about this?

Hey Frederic,

will try that today, I was just thrown off by all the new problems yesterday and didn't get around to doing it.

I also noticed that sometimes it will go away after a power cycle or removing and re-inserting the battery, but at this point, the wobbling happens more often than not. :-( The rig is definitely balanced, I have a bit of experience there as I work a lot with purely mechanical balance systems like my Actionproducts Raptor or the Flowcine Gravity One. Strangely enough, the wobble happens less often when the balance of the rig is on the bottom heavy side but obviously that's not an ideal way to work. And the Ronin will still go absolutely crazy when trying to switch into briefcase mode.

I shot off an email to DJI support but haven't head back from them yet. Will report when I do.

 

[Frederic Sturm]

My Ronin showed up today. It took about thirty minutes to get it balance and synced up to the assistant. Everything works great on it with no complaints. The quick release for the top handle tightens up just fine. I installed my GH4 with the Voigtlander 17.5mm lens just to see how it worked with a very light set up. If I rotate the handle bar in the roll axis rather quickly the pan axis will get upset, BUT this is something that you will probably never ever do in a real life shooting situation so I consider it a non issue. With the GH4 I am able to run all three of the stiffness settings at 60 with no motor buzz unless I rotate the handle bar to flip the camera upside down, then one of the motors will buzz a little bit. I can't see any reason to run the stiffness that high so I just set them at 35%. Next stop; attachment to one of my big Octocopters.

I do have one issue that really isn't an issue, I can't seem to turn off control of the roll axis with the R/C transmitter. In the Assistant it does not give me the option to turn roll control off.


Wayne Mann

Hey Wayne,

sounds like you have a rig like mine and are lucky enough the pan wobble issue is not too severe. It is very problematic on some units and less on others, and some (probably) are fine.

 

[Frederic Sturm]

Hi Frederic,

actually i have the same issue that the motors are shutting down while fast rolling. And the gimbal is really good balanced. When balancing the gimbal in the stand the pan axis is staying put when rotating the handle or lifting on side of the handle up. But when going into briefcase mode with motors off, the gimbal is not balanced anymore, the pan axis is off center.
The question is if you have to balance the gimbal in briefcase mode again, or to make more precise balancing while in this mode? What happens for example when you balance in briefcase mode and then go back to regular mode?
Mabye Peter can give us more insides since he has deep knowledge in Ronin already

Hi David,

you only need to balance your gimbal once. During that, to balance the pan axis, it is better to put it in a briefcase mode orientation and make sure it stays put in every position rather than just lifting one handle on the stand somewhat as the manual suggests - it's a more thorough way of balancing it and will yield more precise results. If you did everything right and it still cannot hold balance in different orientations, i.e. you feel you'd need to rebalance for briefcase mode as you said, it is a strong indication that one or more axes are off center as you already noted. The principal of a gimbal means you never need to rebalance for different orientation like regular or briefcase mode on the Ronin, if you have to, something is wrong with the axes.