dji Ronin (XL) Multi Test-Shoot/Review!

[constantine Tirintzis]

Hi Alexandre,

It's my pleasure!

The XL arms I tested were of 3" longer then the standard ones, and would definitely fit the fs700, but I actually believe that even the standard arms might be able to balance/fit this camera as well as several others, just need to test, and I will do so as opportunity presents itself, including cameras such as the Alexa, all Canon and Sony flavors too.

Do you mean Alexa M, or Alexa XT, ? because its quite a different case..

 

[alexandre Chailan]

Hi Alexandre,

It's my pleasure!

The XL arms I tested were of 3" longer then the standard ones, and would definitely fit the fs700, but I actually believe that even the standard arms might be able to balance/fit this camera as well as several others, just need to test, and I will do so as opportunity presents itself, including cameras such as the Alexa, all Canon and Sony flavors too.

Hey Ketch ! Sounds really good ! Because I wrote to Willis and he said maybe the FS700 is too longer for the cage, but if you can let us know it's possible without the Arms extensions, I can't wait your feedback for the balance with it )) The FS700 is long and the SDI is on the back of the camera too, so we need to keep space for the cable too (I am waiting some right angle for keep space).

3" should be enough in my case, so it's perfect.

Thanks fort all !

Alex

 

[Demetri Zuev]

When do you plan to give us that colossal review, Ketch?)

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Do you mean Alexa M, or Alexa XT, ? because its quite a different case..

He he... Yeah I know Constantine... And I of course mean the XT, as the M is purely a JOKE...

But I could see the M on a Gimbal and the Alexa XT on the Back Pack...

 

[Ketch Rossi]

When do you plan to give us that colossal review, Ketch?)

Coming Demetri, I have been traveling from US to Italy, and from Italy to Switzerland, and now scheduling other travels all to Test Shoot the Ronin in various locations and scenario and instead of doing several ones I decided that I will compile all Test-Shoots in one and only do one single Video Review once I have had enough time with the Ronin and used it in different set ups and shot different projects.

I might post bits and pieces of the BTS with some bits and pieces of actual Ronin acquired footage here and there till then...

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Hey Ketch ! Sounds really good ! Because I wrote to Willis and he said maybe the FS700 is too longer for the cage, but if you can let us know it's possible without the Arms extensions, I can't wait your feedback for the balance with it )) The FS700 is long and the SDI is on the back of the camera too, so we need to keep space for the cable too (I am waiting some right angle for keep space).

3" should be enough in my case, so it's perfect.

Thanks fort all !

Alex

Based on the first test done, with the XL arms I have no doubt that it will work, however the XL arms were just a prototype sent to test, and might be implemented and built or not, this will be decided by DJI once preliminary tests are done, and a decision will be made by them to see if the XL arms will be indeed work well or not work.

As far as longer camera set ups working with current standard Ronin, it also depends on how the eight distribution is handle, were the camera plate is placed on the camera itself, to make it more front oriented instead of center or back, as you can also do with any camera depending if it is front heavy as when we used the DragonM8 worth the Xenon and Matte Box, with no modules on rear, but just the Brain and side Handle Grip.

As I continue to travel across Europe and possibly even back to Dubai or Abu Dhabi I will take any opportunity to load and test and any camera set up, and report.

 

[Dave Blackham]

Ketch,

Please could you offer your view. What is the upper weight limit of Ronin with the XL arms ? is there a difference in weigh limited between standard and XL arms and any stability issues ? What is the longest focal length practical that is able to be stabilised. Im thinking of 300mm or similar, may be longer if it is practical to do so, for a Ronin on a small jib on a boat so its gentle movement.

thanks,

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Ketch,

Please could you offer your view. What is the upper weight limit of Ronin with the XL arms ? is there a difference in weigh limited between standard and XL arms and any stability issues ? What is the longest focal length practical that is able to be stabilised. Im thinking of 300mm or similar, may be longer if it is practical to do so, for a Ronin on a small jib on a boat so its gentle movement.

thanks,

Dave,

the XL arms Kit only add length to the system, but the motors remain the same therefor weight limit on the unit is exactly the same, and fortunately the arms only add insignificant amount of weight to the lower end powered by the center axis, so no problem.

The use of longer lenses is always a difficult task with stabilizers as they require the balancing of the center of gravity to be ideally offset form the actual center, as not to push the camera itself too far back, or otherwise not even XL arms will allow for larger camera set ups.

I intend to continue testing and as promised even if for fun, I will put my RPP 300mm on the DragonM8 just to see what the Ronin does, and do this with the Standard arms.

However to do this, even if just for fun, there will be the need to add more weight on the actual Brain side, and not behind but on side or on top/bottom, as to counter weight the length and size + weight of longer lens, and doing so leaving space on camera rear to not need to limit the tilt axis.

Again, I ask that while you guys are patient with me, as I intend to take my time and travel were needed with the gear to properly test the S*it pout of the Ronin...

So, continue to ask all the questions that you want and I'll do my best to test so as to be able to answer your questions and show you the results.

Ultimately I'll also produce couple of Short Films and Fashion Films during this Summer in Italy and utilize the Ronin with a variety of other equipment as I would in a real Cine production, and hope that the results will give as I am sure it will, a greater production value with lesser budget and lesser people involved allowing also ultimately to move form scene to scene and location to location faster, yet capturing unique imagery.

 

[Dave Blackham]

Thanks Ketch, appreciated.

 

[alexandre Chailan]

Based on the first test done, with the XL arms I have no doubt that it will work, however the XL arms were just a prototype sent to test, and might be implemented and built or not, this will be decided by DJI once preliminary tests are done, and a decision will be made by them to see if the XL arms will be indeed work well or not work.

As far as longer camera set ups working with current standard Ronin, it also depends on how the eight distribution is handle, were the camera plate is placed on the camera itself, to make it more front oriented instead of center or back, as you can also do with any camera depending if it is front heavy as when we used the DragonM8 worth the Xenon and Matte Box, with no modules on rear, but just the Brain and side Handle Grip.

As I continue to travel across Europe and possibly even back to Dubai or Abu Dhabi I will take any opportunity to load and test and any camera set up, and report.

Thanks for your feedback,

Willis feedback by mail let me know that the longer arms will be their priority R&D like the joystick, so good news

Thanks for the details, because when I read the Ronin spec, they wrote you need 5.511" from the mass center of the camera, but like you said, depend the weight of the camera finally.

The Ronin is annonced to be delivered in end of july in France and 18 juillet in Germany, can't wait.

Thanks for all

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Thanks Ketch, appreciated.

My pleasure Dave!

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Thanks for your feedback,

Willis feedback by mail let me know that the longer arms will be their priority R&D like the joystick, so good news

Thanks for the details, because when I read the Ronin spec, they wrote you need 5.511" from the mass center of the camera, but like you said, depend the weight of the camera finally.

The Ronin is annonced to be delivered in end of july in France and 18 juillet in Germany, can't wait.

Thanks for all

My pleasure Alexandre!

Yes Willis is correct, but what I am saying is in fact that such distance can be also played with not just by the length of the actual arm, but also of the position in which the base plate is mounted on, either front centered or back centered so to allow the camera to actually move forward of backwards accordingly to one's need in order to be able to properly balance it's camera rig.

I'll be also explaining this part in detail during the BTS video review.

As well as explaining how I balance the camera set up and why I choose to do it the way I do it.

 

[alexandre Chailan]

Thanks for the details !

 

[constantine Tirintzis]

He he... Yeah I know Constantine... And I of course mean the XT, as the M is purely a JOKE...

But I could see the M on a Gimbal and the Alexa XT on the Back Pack...

Sorry man , those are 2 different cameras, the xt is all in one you can t separate it, its the M you have only the front camera, and the back pacl module.

Are you sure that you can put an Alexa XT on the ronin XL? do you know the dimensions of the camera ? because it doesnt look like 3 inch can cut that, and also are you sure that you can put that weight on ?

here is an image of the XT plus , same lenth as the XT but wider.

here is the alexa M WITH BACK PACK.

thanks

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Sorry man , those are 2 different cameras, the xt is all in one you can t separate it, its the M you have only the front camera, and the back pacl module.

Are you sure that you can put an Alexa XT on the ronin XL? do you know the dimensions of the camera ? because it doesnt look like 3 inch can cut that, and also are you sure that you can put that weight on ?

here is an image of the XT plus , same lenth as the XT but wider.


here is the alexa M WITH BACK PACK.



thanks

Constantine, I guess you are many times left with the impression that I don't know what I am talking about, but you are grossly mistaken in your assumptions, and while I sure appreciate the correction, incase I didn't know what I was talking a bout, I actually do...

I know that they are two different cameras, I know the Arri line of products form top to bottom, as I do know the Alexa line very WELL, and have worked on several Professional Tests done with it and my M8 since early 2011.

That is exactly what I referred to in my last reply... That they were two different cameras and yet the M needed and other one on back...

I have worked with both right out of the oven, and also played with James Cameron and Pace's prototyped M, what I wrote is exactly that the M is a joke of a camera, since to operated you need an other full ALEXA side body to go with it...

So the M is not like an Epic sized camera, since you need an ALEXA size camera to power it, it will be like having an Epic camera yet need an Red One to power it... That would be a JOKE!!


3" is a lot of added length to the current standard Ronin arms, have you played with one yourself Constantine?

Sure 100% no, I am not, but yes I am pretty sure it will work, and if opportunity comes Ill test that.

 

[constantine Tirintzis]

Ketch read what you wrote again in your fist reply to me man,

He he... Yeah I know Constantine... And I of course mean the XT, as the M is purely a JOKE...

But I could see the M on a Gimbal and the Alexa XT on the Back Pack...

Those 2 sentences say , uea I mean the XT, and then you say, that you could see the M on a gimbal with the backlpack.

thats why I wrote again to clear this out.

So I want to clear out what you are stating now.

1) you put an Alexa XT on the Ronin XL , Meaning that the extra 3 inch is enough for that.
2) you state that an Alexa XT which is currently at 8kgr plus, with out top handle battery lens and vew finder, will be fully supported from the Ronin XL correct?

Now let me tell you a few things about me. First of all I dont need to have the ronin to be able to size simple dimensions, all I need is the dimensions and my experience in cameras, and I wanted to clear out the details so I know what is coming.

If you are to be offended in every technical question that is made analysed so its clear, then just tell me so and I will not make another, in fact there are some more technical people on this field than you, to do those questions, so if you cannot provide information because in one way or another you feel that the questions are offending your experience, then its your right all you have to do , is write me a mail and say so.

Regards

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Constantine, is not what you say but how you say it that some times seems to directly point to one's luck of knowledge , and it my case is surely not so, as I would not write something on something unless I knew what I was talking about, which of course I do.

I take no offense, only clearing things up to let you know that I do know the Alexa system...

Now, reading back, yes, I should stop writing on the iPhone...

It is confusing...

What I meant to say is that the Alexa M is one Epic sized component which to work needs an Alexa or Alexa XT sized camera to work... It does not matter if is an Alexa or Alexa XT or Alexa 4k or 8k, it's an Alexa, and the full body is the same, as if you were talking about comparing an Epic to a Red One, it does not matter if it is an MX or Dragon or M or MX the bodies are exactly the same.

As far as viewfinder you of course would not use one on the Gimbal, so no need to mention that.

As far as working or not, on the Ronin with XL kit, I said I am pretty sure it would work, not 100% sure since I have yet to test it.

If an when I test it then I'll answer with certainty if it does.

Of course when setting up a camera for a certain rig, you have to choose your set up and what you want to use it with, if the intention is to use it fully loaded with big heavy cine lenses and a Raw recorder on top of it then is different then just supporting the near Alexa body.

But as far as the weight allowance is there I don't see a problem with it, only issue is the placement of the Raw recorder if this is what people want to use.

At the end of the day it only matters what camera system people wish to use, and this people, such as myself, should do their hem work before buying any tools, in my case I have and continue to do so, as I know exactly what set ups I'll use with the Epic Dragon, and if I was to want to use the Alexa, or any Canon or Sony cameras or the RED ONE, I would want to test it with myself.

Again, I will try and test every camera set up I come across but my Beta testing of the Ronin is for the RED EPIC, all other cameras come a far second in line, as I only have and use the RED EPIC DRAGON, yet I will with great pleasure put on any camera nay one brings to any of the locations were I'll be shooting the Ronin at.


Both you an I Constantine are not natively English speaking individuals so it is understandable that there is some confusions and mis interpretation of things here and there, other then that all good on my side, and I again, am absolutely never offended that easily, especially NOT by some one like yourself, which I respect and consider a great asset to this community for your knowledge and great Products that you and your team are bringing to our Industry, and as I said before some were looking forward to the possibility to test out the Serene, should I ever go to the EasyRig route...


PS: I do need to stop posting on an iPhone without re-reading my posts before postings...

 

[constantine Tirintzis]

ok, but reading your post again Iam still pretty confused, you are talking about alexa front camera, and then a raw recorder SEPARATLY and NOT on the gimbal.

Alexa M is a camera front, then its the Alexa recorder you need the back, not another Alexa camera, I quess you mean recorder instead?

My question is if you can put an Alexa XT as in my first picture on the XL Ronin, as One camera .

and btw Alexa XT is not the same as the Alexa in sizing, there are differences in weight and size.

so clear this out for me please because Iam still confused , and yes I understand the language problem, thats why, when you feel in any way that you are not sure what I write, please write me a privet mail to clear this before react defensively , Iam a very straight guy, I will tell you directly

kind regards

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Yes I can see were I am confusing you, and in al honesty this has also nothing todo with writing on an iPhone and not reading back before posting, but has to do with the fact of me writing very fast and just pouring words out of my head and on to the net...

Which can be cons using of course as some times I do this so badly that it confuses even me...

The Arri Alexa line is large...

And the M with the heavy tail...

The weight from an Alexa to an other (M excluded) is not as great as to pose an issue and all are about 13.8LB body only+ SxS Module, with the XT a little more but less 1LB, with the XT Plus a little more yet, about 2.3LB, were the actual Size of all Alexa's is almost exactly the same (M excluded) so I would not anticipate any problems balancing one vs the other models.

Operating an M with separate RECORDER, I say an added Alexa body because it is almost as big as an other camera body itself, I guess my sense of humor did not came across as it should, and possibly that is the reason whig I only write Drama Screenplays and not Comedy...

So to answer your question, I do believe that when I say I am pretty sure that with the Ronin XL kit you could use an Alexa, even the XT, I am correct in this assumption, based on my measurements and calculations with the current eitheration of the XL arms on the Ronin as I tested it, however as I said, to be 100% sure I'll need to actually put an Alexa Plus, Studio, or XT on the Ronin kitted out with the XL kit, in order to be able to affirm with 100% certainty that will indeed work.

And I intend to do just that when opportunity presents itself.


Thanks either way for your insistence on making me making you understand, as it is my intention to make sure that every one understands, and some times I tend to write so fast that I confuse even myself...

It might seems that I react defensively, but I don't it's just the way I am, passionate... And after 25 years + in the US I still write and speak 4 languages and I guess I always translate form one and other making things read differently then a native English spoken individual would, but other then that, I write form the hearth, always, and never mean to offend nor sound offended, as if I was to do one or the other, I know how to be very clear about that,and I would not usually try to do so on the net on an open forum...

Aside form al the above, I like you, your work and what you represent to this community too much to be offended about anything you would so to me or in replay to any of my threads, as I read you as a professional, industry save, and polite and educated individual, so all good here and still look forward to one of this days in some show or some were meet you in person, and possibly get to use and test some of tour greatly designed toys...

 

[constantine Tirintzis]

http://www.arri.com/camera/alexa/cameras/alexa_cameras_overview/


ALEXA 7,7KG/16.9LBS
ALEXA XT 8 KG/17,6LBS
ALEXA XT PLUS 8,7KG/19,2 LBS
ALEXA XT STUDIO 10,5KG/23,1LBS
ALEXA XT M 5,8KGR/12,8 LBS

SO you are possibly talking about the ALEXA XT M and a back pack correct?

those are weights with out lens,mate box , ff motor, rods,wireless, battery,and anything else needed for the camera to be mounted like , a dovetail plate.
that will add a considerable 2kgr to 4 kgr depending on what you use n all the above weights

regards