DJI had just introduced the new DJI RONIN 4D – a professional-level full-frame cinema camera with a built-in gimbal that can stabilize the camera in 4 different axes and includes an advanced wireless transmitter and a host of other features.
Game-changing Cinema camera
While many hear the name DJI and immediately think about drones, the company had been making professional gimbals for quite a few years now and having the Osmo line of small gimbal cameras it only makes sense that the company expand its line into a full cinematic camera and combine everything into one product.
The DJI RONIN 4D is exactly that product. It is a full-frame cinema camera with interchangeable lenses on the one hand and a fully capable 3 axis stabilized gimbal with an arm and a host of sensors which gives it up-down stabilization as well.
The DJI RONIN 4D currently comes in two “flavors” – a 6K 60p version and an 8K 75p (the higher frame rates are in ProRes Raw mind you).
The DJI RONIN 4D – a new type of camera system
DJI RONIN 4D main features
There is no way that we can cover all of the features of the new DJI RONIN 4D, these are simply too extensive to cover in one article (you can check many of the specs and features on the DJI site) but we will try to focus on some of the most important ones and even this list is quite long.
The Ronin 4D uses the CineCore 3.0 system which supports internal recording of Apple ProRes Raw as well as ProRes 422 HQ, and H.264 video (the specific resolution chart is very long and you can find it here with some other specs.
The camera has a very modular design (think RED but with an eco-system that feels more organic) including an expansion plate with SDI, XLR, and timecode ports, a wireless video transmission unit that uses the same technology used in DJI’s drones with the long-range and super-fast response and almost no lag.
The DJI RONIN 4D as a one-man crew system
It also includes the option to mount DJI’s LiDAR range finder which helps to AF not just with AF lenses but with a motorized follow focus you can even AF with manual focus lenses and track objects,
There is also a 7″ high-brightness touchscreen monitor with a wheel for control on the side as well as removable left and right control handgrips that can control the camera and gimbal and work wirelessly and can be attached to a DJI external monitor.
While DJI currently sells 4 prime lenses that are compatible with the RONIN 4D (16mm, 24mm, 35mm and 50mm – all f/2.8) you can, as we mentioned, use E-mount, M-mount, and EF mount lenses with a special DJI smart adapter that can transfer data to the camera (from supported lenses).
You will need to keep an eye on the weight of the lens (and especially front weight) as this is not a normal camera but a camera/gimbal unit – see lens compatibility chart – here.
The  DJI RONIN 4D as a two-man crew system
The RONIN 4D has dual native ISO at 800 and 4000 (or 5000 for the 8K version) ISO and an official dynamic range of 14 stops.
The camera has built-in ND filters that go all the way from .03 to ND2.7 – that is more than most ND filters on the market (and certainly more than and camera-built ND).
The unit uses the same TB50 batteries as the Ronin 2 and Inspire 2 and there is a quad charger as each battery should last for about 1.5 hours of real-world use.
The DJI RONIN 4D as a 3-man crew system
The unit comes with a ProSSD 1TB drive which fits on the side and can also record to external SSD or CFexpress Type-B cards.
One downside of this system to keep in mind is the weight – just the gimbal and camera is about 4.67 kg/ 10.3 lb and with some extra accessories you can easily go beyond 6kg – that is pretty heavy to handhold and we are wondering what 3’rd party manufacturers will come up with to help make this setup easier to use for longer operations.
The DJI RONIN 4D as a full production system
Pricing and availability
Both versions of the DJI RONIN 4D are available for pre-order right now. The 6K version sells for $7200 while the 8K sells for $11.5K.
The back of the DJI RONIN 4D with the large touch monitor and battery
Hands-on and reviews from across the web
There are already a number of hands-on videos from across the web – here are a few of them:
Potato Jet look at the DJI RONIN 4D
Peter McKinnon amazed by the DJI RONIN 4D
Nino from CineD with a review of the DJI RONIN 4D
Parker Walbeck with an extensive look at the DJI RONIN 4D
Armando Ferreira with the DJI RONIN 4D 6K
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Iddo Genuth 
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