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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

New DJI Ronin M

Anyone know if anything like this is in the works for any gimbal out there? I'm getting an exo, so heavy batteries are not an issue - just need a single power source so i'm not investing in an addl battery type.

The Helix juice box battery also powers Dragon.
 
i have had the Ronin-M for over a month and it is better than the first one and out performs any other brushless gimbal i ever used before i will be posting a video soon
weaponm.jpg
Ronincar.jpg
Ronincar2.jpg

Do you mind sharing how you got an Epic to fit on there configuration wise in terms of power etc?
 
Tried the armor man on at nab. Very restricting and overall I was not impressed. Their follow focus I was impressed by.
 
Tim,

I'm looking at the Ronin M myself due to it being way lighter. Mind sharing how the stripped down Epic Dragon was configured to fit?

I'm just guessing, but I would think that if you used the battery belt clip, you could mount a regular (non CF) Epic body with a fairly substantial ~2lb lens with no problems. As far as configurations go, that seems to be about as stripped as you could get. That's the strategy I've been looking at, anyway.
 
The Helix juice box battery also powers Dragon.

This is what made me drop out of the Helix group buy. Hoping they'll allow for a vmount on the Letus instead of the juice box at some point (I'm getting the action products exo)
 
the Helix is fine for small Camera's but from what i saw it can't take the same G forces that the Ronin can this a commercial i did with the Beta Ronin
 
Peter, you've had the Ronin for quite sometime now? I remember the test with the deer in Japan, right?
After this time, you feel shooting with the Ronin is not practical alone. The weight takes a toll on the body rather quickly?

Will, as I have mentioned on several occasions and reinforced by few other experienced gimbal users (like Chris in this very thread) - any gimbal, no matter how light or heavy, will require some kind of support if you want to use it through out the day or for long takes.
You can work without support - but you need to plan your day carefully and deploy appropriate techniques - resting the gimbal on its stand between takes, or having someone assist you, etc...
Properly kitted RED on its own is far from being light - despite its compact size and the base weight of the brain. Even without any gimbal you will find it hard to hand-held RED through out a full day of shooting - thats why there are support solutions like shoulder mounts, etc...
So the practicality really depends on your physical abilities, the actual camera / gimbal configuration and the techniques you deploy.
I regularly handle 11-13 kg (23~27 lbs) setups on takes exceeding 5 min without any support - and it is my preferred mode of operation due to the absolute freedom of movement.
But I am also 6'4" and tip the scales at well over 200 lbs and make the iPhone 6+ look in my hand like the iPhone 4...

So just like Steadicam - operating gimbals without support is not for everyone - regardless of the gimbal's weight.
But this is precisely why so many companies are now coming up with so many solutions to make working with gimbals easier.
Each have their pros and cons and you need to chose wisely...

:sifone: Peter
 
And just like I have replied earlier in this thread - the Ronin-M is primarily designed to carry cameras in weight category bellow the "normal" RED setups.
You really need to put into perspective the Ronin-M's 8 lbs payload against the twice-as-capable Ronin that has 16 lbs payload.
We know DJI is a little conservative and they clearly do not recommend exceeding these payloads.
But just like I was able to fly 20 lbs payload on the Ronin - Willis already confirmed that they have pushed the Ronin-M to 10 lbs.
So if the total rig weight is a major issue for you and you are prepared to compromise and heavily restrict the camera config and lens choice - I am sure you will fond a way to fit Epic / Scarlet on the Ronin-M.

For example our "GI" side V-lock solution available now from AMP (http://www.aerialmediapros.com/store/gi-side-v-lock-power-module/dp/778) weighs in at 410 grams - and this includes your complete power solution with 2x D-taps and 1x USB-tap to power all the accessories you will need. So you can build something like this:

1955 g - Epic CF Dragon brain with SIDE SSD and PL mount
410 g - "GI" power solution (V-lock, 2x D-tap, 1x USB-tap)
510 g - IDX E-7S battery to give you 1 hr run time
200 g - Paralinx Tomahawk TX (powered from GI)
145 g - OFFHOLLYWOOD Hotlink (powered from GI)
1015 g - ALLSTAR 18-35 T1.8 PL zoom
715 g - single motor C-motion wireless FIZ
--------------
4950 g

This is just a "tad" over the 10 lbs the we already know the Ronin-M can handle - but the above is almost "proper" cine setup missing only a filter solution - and you can use screw-in filters in such a case...
You can further save some decent weight by replacing the rather heavy PL mount with and EF version and the PL zoom / C-motion combo with light-weight Canon lens (which you can then focus with Mikael's FOOLCONTROL - since the above setup does already include the HOTLINK).
That will most definitely fit on the Ronin-M...

:sifone: Peter
 
Peter...forgive my ignorance...hows Ronin M being powered?

Ronin-M has battery in the rear vertical section behind the DJI logo...
However I assume you are asking about the power solution for the Weapon - in this particular config the Weapon is powered by 4S LiPo battery mounted bellow the camera sled...

:sifone: Peter
 
there are technics on the gimbal i am only 5.7 inches tall and can run around most of the day with a Ronin or Ronin M
 
there are technics on the gimbal i am only 5.7 inches tall and can run around most of the day with a Ronin or Ronin M

Ron - if you are indeed 5.7 inches tall (14.5 cm) and can run around all day with any gimbal - you deserve a place in Guinness book of records... ;o)
(sorry, I couldn't resist...)

But yes - as I have said - it is possible to work all day without any support if you deploy proper techniques. That includes resting the gimbal on a stand (or handing it over to AC) whenever you are not actually recording.
The reality thou is that many directors simply put you in a position for take (you are carrying the full load of the gimbal) - and then start to adjust the actors and/or the scene when they see the shot from your camera.
For this very reason I am now "deploying" my own technique where we place a C-stand to put the Gimbal in the "start" position of the shot - so the scene can be properly adjusted and then just prior the take the stand is taken away leaving the gimbal in my hands ready for the clapper... ;o)
It sure helps when you have a director / DP that understands the limits and cooperates with you as the operator to get through the day efficiently and without killing us in the process - but this is more of an exception, rather then rule.
I get frequently feedback from the director / DP that I make the gimbal look weightless - and they tend to forget it weighs well over 20 pounds.
So another "technique" I deploy is to let the director and the DP to "try" the gimbal for themselves in the morning before we start shooting - they especially like to do this if it is their first time with a gimbal.
That quickly puts them in the right state of mind and gives them appreciation for our work. This helps enormously.
And those directors / DP's who have worked with gimbals before already understand these limits...

:sifone: Peter
 
Thanks Peter.

Will, as I have mentioned on several occasions and reinforced by few other experienced gimbal users (like Chris in this very thread) - any gimbal, no matter how light or heavy, will require some kind of support if you want to use it through out the day or for long takes.
You can work without support - but you need to plan your day carefully and deploy appropriate techniques - resting the gimbal on its stand between takes, or having someone assist you, etc...
Properly kitted RED on its own is far from being light - despite its compact size and the base weight of the brain. Even without any gimbal you will find it hard to hand-held RED through out a full day of shooting - thats why there are support solutions like shoulder mounts, etc...
So the practicality really depends on your physical abilities, the actual camera / gimbal configuration and the techniques you deploy.
I regularly handle 11-13 kg (23~27 lbs) setups on takes exceeding 5 min without any support - and it is my preferred mode of operation due to the absolute freedom of movement.
But I am also 6'4" and tip the scales at well over 200 lbs and make the iPhone 6+ look in my hand like the iPhone 4...

So just like Steadicam - operating gimbals without support is not for everyone - regardless of the gimbal's weight.
But this is precisely why so many companies are now coming up with so many solutions to make working with gimbals easier.
Each have their pros and cons and you need to chose wisely...

:sifone: Peter
 
i didn't mean i can hold it all day i do set it down and carry a C stand every ware i go and my setup is never more that 13 pounds
 
i didn't mean i can hold it all day i do set it down and carry a C stand every ware i go and my setup is never more that 13 pounds

Ron, my Guinness comment was not referring to ability to carry anything all day - I was simply "picking" up on your 5.7 inch height - which would make you half a foot tall... ;o)
You have obviously meant 5'7" (5 feet 7 inches), but the way you wrote it - I just could not resits - my bad... ;o)

:sifone: Peter
 
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