DJI RS 3 Mini supports Bluetooth shutter connection and camera control cable connection. Detailed operations are as follows. 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.

What’s nice about the RS3 Pro is that it’s affordable at the base level of a single-handed gimbal stabiliser. Then as your needs progress, you can bolt on that additional functionality. Then, when you need something a lot more, the RS3 can be unbolted from the grip, placed onto a car, aerial or another rig, and incorporated. It is simply the most expandable and flexible gimbal out there. 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. The camera’s OLED is clear and used as a straightforward gimbal, with the camera mounted high above the rear arm. Even dropping the camera down to ground level, there’s enough arm clearance to pull out the screen so you can see what’s happening. The only time seeing the screen becomes difficult is when using the 3D Roll 360. 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.Lifting the relatively compact gimbal and while still relatively light compared with some larger gimbals, it’s not as light as the likes of the WeeBill 3. Imaging modes such as panoramic and timelapse, along with a few others, can be accessed and, with the automatic shutter release, are all simple enough to use, with the App taking control of most of the difficult features. 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. 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.

Added support for zoom control using front dial for Sony FX3, A7S3, A7C, A7M3, A7M4, A7R3, A7R4, A9 II, ZV-1, A6400 and A6600 cameras when connecting the gimbal via Bluetooth.

RS3 PRO

A big new addition to the Ronin RS3 is the LiDAR focus technology. This optional module sits on top of the camera’s hot shoe and plugs into the DJI Focus Motor (Also optional) and RS3 Pro. Once plugged in and calibrated, it then creates a fast AF system for manual Cine lenses. As each lens needs to be calibrated before use, DJI has ensured that up to three lens preset profiles can be stored. What’s interesting is that DJI sees the huge potential of the RS3 Pro, so have given it the same access to the High-Bright Remote Monitor and control units. This means that you could mount the Ronin RS3 Pro on an exterior car rig and remotely control the unit from inside the car with full control over the gimbal and camera. There’s also compatibility with the LiDAR AF system that will transform this small gimbal into a complete filming rig for those using manual focus Cine lenses. 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 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.Update the firmware for the DJI Ronin Image Transmitter using the DJI Ronin app by connecting the Image Transmitter via Wi-Fi. Do not disconnect the DJI Ronin app and DJI Ronin Image Transmitter during the update process. The next feature worth noting is the wireless connectivity to compatible cameras. For most modern cameras like the Canon R7, you can connect through the BlueTooth wireless link to activate the shutter, meaning that no wires are required. You can go a step further for Sony users if you have a compatible lens, where you can control the lenses zoom with the front dial on the gimbal. This makes using and balancing the RS 3 easier than many other single-handed gimbal stabilisers.

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. Then there’s the usual design consideration for the micro tripod; like an after thought, this still bolts to the base, and while it could be argued that it’s optional, it’s not; you need it for the initial balancing and installation of the camera, so couldn’t it be a neat integral part?Due to the huge variety of uses, I can only imagine the product designers and electrical engineers at DJI sweating over what seems like an impossible task. Setting up the DJI RS3 Pro at the base level is easy; plug it in balance, and you’re ready to go. At the next level, plug in the RavenEye, hook in a mobile phone, and you have wireless video transmission, all very clever; then you have the HighBright Control screen, and so on.