The performance of the Ronin RS3 Pro in isolation is excellent. Other manufacturers don’t, as yet, match the build quality; the fact that it will equally easily balance a Sony A7 III or Sony FX6 without issue means plenty of scope for all levels. Once done, the DJI RS 3 Mini is everything you could want for mirrorless camera stabilisation; the balance and reaction speeds are excellent. A Sony A73 with 35mm or even 24-70mm and the rig works as well as any other; swap for a Canon EOS R5 C with 24-70mm, and that only just pushes the small gimbals limits! While the RS 3 Mini offers 3rd generation stabilisation, it doesn’t offer the superb SuperSmooth mode, but if you haven’t tried it, you won’t worry too much that you haven’t got it! Ultimately in isolation, the DJI Ronin RS3 Pro is an excellent gimbal stabiliser with so much potential, especially once you add the Focus motor, Raven Eye or High Bright control monitor, which I will look at in a separate review. In the past, it was important to remove the lens cap to optimise the weight distribution. However, I’ve noticed that this is no longer highlighted in the balancing instructions, and with the power of the motors these days, I feel happier leaving it in place until the gimbal is powered on.

Gimbal-shot video is much more in evidence these days, and making it possible without adding too much weight or size is a great achievement. We can see real appeal for most professionals –an ideal second camera choice for weddings, for example. Finally, vertical shooting is a new and interesting feature. While previous gimbals can shoot in a vertical orientation, the RS 3 Mini is the first to shoot natively vertically. To do this, the base of the tilt axis is completely removed, and the camera is then slotted and tightened onto the vertical before the usual balancing takes place. It’s a neat idea and benefits the user over more conventional methods by still enabling the full motion of stabilisation that would be available if you were to mount the camera normally. The RS3 Pro is all about saving effort for the filmmakers; in use, it’s there to assist and make difficult shots easy, as well as having wide camera compatibility. To that end, DJI has extended the carbon fibre arms to give more space to the mounted cameras. This means that professional bodies and lenses such as the Sony FX6 and Canon C70 with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens can now be fitted. The payload limit is still 4.5kg which is quite substantial. Then there’s the camera compatibility. Being able to take the larger cameras is extremely useful, and now that I’m about to change from the Sony PXW FS7 to a Canon EOS 5R C this gimbal will provide all the performance I need and in a very small form. Update the firmware using the DJI Ronin app by connecting the DJI RS 3 via Bluetooth. Do not disconnect the DJI Ronin app and DJI RS 3 during the update process.The big feature of the RS 3 Mini is that it’s small and lightweight, over 40% less than the RS 3 and 50% lighter than the RS 3 Pro. This means it is an ideal solution for anyone who finds those larger gimbals too heavy to use comfortably or wants a nice compact gimbal stabiliser for their mirrorless camera. The size and weight also lend the gimbal for travel, documentary or any scenario where you need to be agile and travel light. In the test, the Bluetooth connection between the camera and the gimbal worked well, with the record button on the gimbal robustly connecting with the function on the camera as if they were connected by cable. Added photo capture, video recording, zoom and autofocus support for Sony A7R5 camera with supported Sony E mount lenses using a Multi USB Camera Control Cable. To use autofocus on the Sony A7R5 camera, half press the camera control button on the gimbal. Added photo capture, video recording, camera settings, autofocus, and focus pull support for Panasonic Lumix S5 II cameras with supported L-mount lens using a Multi-Camera Control Cable (USB-C). To use autofocus on the Panasonic Lumix S5 II, half press the camera control button on the gimbal.

Optimized the follow curves for PTF mode to make the follow speed of tilt and pan axes stay the same. Please select the corresponding camera control cable according to your camera model. Plug one end of the cable to the shutter control port on the camera and plug the other end into the RSS camera control port on DJI RS 3 Mini. If this is your first (or you’re coming up from the Osmo Mobile 6 or DJI Mini 3 drone), then you need to brace for a slower process (switching from portrait to vertical is definitely not as easy as pressing a button). Getting used to all the options might take a while, too, but they’re easily reset and the menu is intuitive (more so than many mirrorless cameras!) Being DJI, it does just that with build quality that instantly impresses; solid, beautifully finished and with a simple style that shows a high level of product design without going over the top.The RS3 Pro can also be used with the 4D Hand Grips, Master Wheels and Force Pro for gimbal and focus control. Regarding control, the small 1.4-inch screen might be smaller than the 1.8-inch screen on the other two models, but it is still more than sufficient for guiding you through the options and settings. Using the App opens up some of the more advanced features; these are generally accessible through the grip but easier to understand through the larger interface of your mobile screen. The issue with compact, single-handed gimbal stabilisers is they can often outshine their larger siblings. The ZHIYUN Weebill 3 is a great gimbal with plenty of scope for upgrades and, at the same price, is also a direct competitor to the RS 3 Mini.