Media Lab Equipment Guides: DJI RS4 Gimbal

**This guide is currently in revision and being edited.**

The DJI RS4 Gimbal is a professional camera stabilizer. This can be used as a mobile tripod for a camera to steady the shot while capturing in transit walking or via car. The gimbal can also be used to pull shots where the camera needs to rotate a certain degree, like switching vertical to horizontal shot in a roll.

About:

• The DJI Gimbal has a full-color touchscreen that can be used for controlling the camera.
• The max battery life is 29.5 hours on one charge.
• This supports a camera with lenses, filters, and all accessories with a max weight of 6.6lbs.
• Supports external focus motor control, Bluetooth zoom control, Bluetooth shutter, and wired shutter.
• You can download the DJI Ronin app to work with the gimbal.
• Identify the parts and controls using the diagram.
  

To assemble the gimbal:

• Ensure that the camera you are going to attach has the SD card and a charged battery in place. You will not be able to access the battery door once mounted.
• Flip screen on the camera so the camera view window screen is facing out towards you. You will want to use this to see what your camera sees. The gimbal, while it has a touch screen and you can control it via joystick or touchscreen, will NOT show you what the camera sees.
• Make sure the gimbal is powered off.
• Unlock the pan axis and rotate it 180 degrees. Move the tilt and roll locks to unlocked positions. Adjust gimbal to the following position. Lock the parts in place to mount camera.
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• Attach the quick release tripod plate to the bottom of the camera.
• For horizontal shooting,
  • Move the lever on the mounting plate to unlocked. Insert the quick release plate, then lock the mounting plate.
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  • Move the lever on the mounting quick release plate to unlocked. Insert the mounting plate, then lock it in place.
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• For vertical shooting,
  • Loosen the knob on the camera mounting plate and press the knob and safety lock at the same time. Remove the gimbal horizontal plate. Mount it vertically to the gimbal. Tighten the knob.
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  • Move the lever on the horizontal plate to unlocked. Insert the mounting quick release plate, then lock it in place.
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  • Unlock the tilt axis and rest the arm in the horizontal position. Move the lever on the mounting plate to unlocked. Insert the quick release plate, then lock the mounting plate. Then, lock the tilt axis.
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• The battery mounts to the bottom of the gimbal. Insert, then turn to the right to lock in the battery. The battery will click into place.
• The extended grip tripod can screw into the bottom of the battery. The tripod legs can be extended for a stationary shot or you can hold them together in your hand. To attach the extended grip, make sure the lever above the battery is unlocked. Screw in the tripod until it clicks. Lock the lever.
  • To remove the grip, unlock, press and hold the safety button, then pull the grip away.
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To charge the battery:

• Locate the battery, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and charging plug. Connect these parts. You will know the battery is charging when the indicator lights up. Full charge takes about 2.5 hours.
  
• Press the battery level button to check current battery level when powered off.

Balancing the camera:

• Power on the camera. If using optical zoom lens, set focal length.
• Make sure gimbal is powered off before balancing.
• Horizontal Balancing- left photo. Vertical Balancing- right photo.
  • Note: If camera is lens or top heavy, you may need to adjust the quick release plate attached to the mounting plate for any of these steps. If adjustments are made, you may need to begin again with rebalancing.
  • Vertical Tilt
    • Unlock the tilt axis.
    • Follow the diagram to adjust the center of gravity for camera pointing up.
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    • Tighten the mounting plate knob while holding the camera upward. Vertical tilt is balanced when camera is steady pointing upward.
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  • Depth for Tilt Axis
    • Rotate the tilt so camera is pointing forward.
    • The tilt axis is balanced when the camera is steady while tilted up or down by 45 degrees.
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    • Lock the tilt axis.
  • Balancing the Roll Axis
    • Lightly rest the axis arm and unlock the roll axis.
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    • Check the direction the roll motor swings. If the camera rotates to the left, move the camera to the right. If the camera rotates to the right, move the camera to the left. Unlock the roll arm lever. Move the roll axis arm to adjust the center of gravity.
    • Lock the roll arm lever lever into position. The roll axis is balanced when the camera is steady horizontally.
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    • Lock the roll axis.
  • Balancing the Pan Axis
    • Unlock the pan axis.
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    • Hold the grip. Tilt the gimbal forward. Rotate the pan arm until parallel with you. Check movement of the pan axis. If the camera rotates to the left, push the pan axis to the right. If the camera rotates to the right, push the pan axis to the left. Unlock the lever on the pan axis and move the pan axis arm to adjust the center of gravity.
      • IMAGE, IMAGE
    • Lock the lever on the pan arm. The pan axis is balanced when the camera is steady rotating the pan while tilting the grip.

To use the camera:

• Mount the camera to the gimbal as listed above.
• Make sure the screen faces you and is flat.
• You may want to remove the camera strap.
• Plug in the USB-C power cable from the camera to spot #9 in the diagram, the RSS power feed.
• Power on the camera.
• Power on the gimbal.
• You may connect your phone to the gimbal using the DJI Ronin app.
• Enter the password (included in checkout packet) to use the gimbal, if required.

Timelapse and Panorama

• Overlap photography- this mode takes more pictures, but you can get more fine stitching in the details.

Storage

• To make the gimbal small, reset the locks and settings so the device looks like the following picture. Lock them into place so it does not move around in the bag.
• The battery should be removed.
• The extension tripod should be removed.
• The gimbal should be placed in the bag so the only free pieces are the gimbal and the battery. All other pieces should be placed inside the clear plastic bag and that bag set into the larger bag, zipped.

This gimbal works with the following checkout items:

Canon EOS M50

Nikon Z30

Sony Alpha 6500, 6700

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