DJI RS 4 Pro review: The best gimbal just got better — slightly

Capturing stable footage is one of the first and most important steps towards creating a professional-level video. Aside from creative camera work that purposely seeks out shaky footage — such as to portray chaos and disorientation — a video that lacks smooth stability is majorly distracting to audiences. Filmmakers use various equipment to make their footage as clear and smooth as possible, employing dollies, GlideCams and, most commonly, gimbals.

If you’ve ever used a gimbal, you know how challenging it can be to set it up. Just a few years ago, getting your camera on a gimbal required a delicate balancing act. Even when you think you’ve got it balanced, there is still a risk of unwanted jerks and shakes while using it.

However, DJI’s RS line of handheld gimbals has innovated the space, making capturing stabilized, professional video easier. Its latest releases, the DJI RS 4 and RS 4 Pro, are the two best gimbals currently on the market. However, are they much of an improvement over the DJI RS 3 and DJI RS 3 Pro? And is what they have to offer enough to justify an upgrade if you already own an RS 3 model?

In this review, we take a look at the DJI RS 3 Pro model and determine if it’s worth the upgrade.

DJI RS 4 Pro: What’s new? 

Overall, the RS 4 Pro differs little from its predecessor. However, there are some noteworthy upgrades that certainly make the RS 4 Pro the better gimbal.

Support for native vertical shooting

One of the RS 4’s most notable updates is added support for native vertical video shooting. By simply unlocking the horizontal plate and realigning it vertically, you can now switch from horizontal to vertical quickly. In the previous generation, you needed to buy an additional mount to shoot vertical video. Given the booming short-form video genre, we’re happy to see the RS line now supports vertical video capture without requiring an additional purchase. Both RS 4 models offer native vertical shooting. That means you have access to the feature regardless of the model you pick.

Payloads

The RS 4 Pro doesn’t differ from its predecessor in terms of payload. Both the RS3 Pro and the RS4 Pro support 4.5 kg (10 lbs) of equipment. If you opt for the cheaper RS 4, you have less to work with at 3 kg (6.6 lbs). However, it’s worth mentioning that the tilt-axis arm is longer in the newer generation. This means you’ll be able to add more accessories. Additionally, DJI has added an adjustable placement guide to the upper quick-release plate to help make camera mounting more secure.

New automated gimbal locks

Fitted with second-generation automated axis locks, the RS 4 can quickly switch between working and sleep modes. This speeds up your workflow on set and, in general, makes the experience of using the gimbal smoother than other gimbals. Plus, DJI has upgraded the locks to have smaller gaps when locked. This ultimately is supposed to reduce gimbal shake, but we didn’t notice much difference during our tests.

More customization

For further button customization, there’s now a joystick mode switch that allows you to alternate between gimbal movement and lens zoom control via the joystick on the front (requires a compatible lens and camera). Also, there are now more trigger and dial options. The trigger can lock the gimbal or trigger FPV mode, and the dial can adjust ISO, aperture and more.

Brand-new automatic screen lock

While the DJI RS 4’s OLED touchscreen remains untouched by DJI, it now has a new auto-lock feature. This feature has the gimbal’s screen, which, when locked, displays the gimbal’s current gimbal and joystick modes. DJI says that the lock feature helps prevent accidental touches, and we agree. Plus, the screen displays the information at a low brightness, so you can conserve battery when checking your current modes.

A significant upgrade to the motors

The RS 4’s motors have received a significant upgrade, boasting a 20% increase in torque. This provides stronger, more responsive movements across all axes. This increase in power, combined with the next generation of DJI’s RS Stabilization algorithm, translates to better handling of heavier setups and more resilience in challenging shooting environments.

New intelligent features

The DJI RS4 Pro is not just about mechanical improvements; it also introduces new intelligent features like Motionlapse, Track and Panorama, alongside the previously-seen PTF, PF, FPV and 360 roll modes. The new generation’s specialized calibration for car mounting is also pretty neat. The Car Mount mode optimizes the stabilization algorithm based on real-time vehicle vibrations and wind resistance analysis, promising stable footage even in high-motion contexts.

DJI Focus Pro compatibility

Another big highlight of the RS 4 and RS 4 Pro is its compatibility with DJI’s new DJI Focus Pro. While a separate system from the RS 4, the Focus Pro, when used with the RS 4, can provide additional autofocus and manual focus, iris and zoom (FIZ) control. Central to this system is the LiDAR Pro. When paired with the Focus Pro Motor, this delivers impressive autofocus performance, with a 77% increase in ranging points compared to previous models. This enhancement enables a maximum focusing distance of 20 meters and robust subject tracking, even in challenging conditions. The system’s refresh rate and wide focus field further contribute to its ability to deliver sharp, consistent focus.

BG70 High Capacity Battery Grip compatibility

Lastly, the RS 4 and RS 4 Pro are compatible with the new BG70 High Capacity Battery Grip. This grip not only offers a staggering runtime of up to 29.5 hours but also supports power delivery to cameras and accessories. Its PD fast charging capability is a big plus for long shooting sessions.

Putting the DJI RS 4 Pro to the test

We tested the DJI RS 4 Pro, and there’s no doubt that it’s one of, if not the best, gimbal on the market right now. Getting a camera balanced on the gimbal only took a few minutes, and the calibrating screen let us know the slight adjustments we needed to make it perfect. Prior experience with less-advanced gimbals helped, but the gimbal’s Teflon coating made the biggest difference. Compared to the RS 3 Pro, it was much easier to make slight adjustments when balancing on the RS 4 due to reduced friction.

Getting accessories like the focus motor and LiDAR connected took longer; we had to study the manual a bit. Overall, however, our rather large setup fits comfortably on the RS 4 Pro. We recommend that you go with the Pro version if you also run with a heavy setup. The regular RS 4 has a lower payload of 6.6 pounds compared to the RS 4 Pro’s 10-pound limit.

Once it was balanced and ready to go, operating the gimbal was a breeze. Being able to connect the camera to the gimbal via Bluetooth was nice, too, as it eliminated the need to connect via a cable. In addition, you can use the DJI Ronin app to control features like pan and tilt. This wouldn’t be ideal for the operator, but this feature could be useful if you have someone helping remotely or if you’re shooting yourself and need to adjust the framing off-camera.

Is the DJI RS 4 Pro worth it?

All in all, while there’s not much difference between this model and its predecessor, the RS 4 and RS 4 Pro are clearly the better gimbals. The joystick mode and other new customization options for the trigger and dial are great, and the subtle design upgrades definitely close the gap that was missing from previous models.

If you don’t already own the RS 3 or RS 3 Pro, strongly consider one of the RS 4 Pro models. If you have the RS 3 or RS 3 Pro, you already have a great gimbal. You probably don’t need to upgrade to the RS 4. Most using the RS 3 or RS 3 Pro have either gotten used to shooting without the added features the new models offer, or their absence doesn’t bother them. While we did find the RS 4 Pro to offer more streamlined operation during our tests, we wouldn’t be devastated if we had to go back to the RS 3 Pro or RS 3. Both are great gimbals when it comes down to it and offer similar experiences and results.

But, ultimately, the choice is yours. If you could benefit from a larger battery grip, easier balancing, stronger motors and extra compatibility with mounts and accessories, then you can’t go wrong with upgrading to the RS 4 or RS 4 Pro.

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Strengths:

• Easy balancing experience, even with heavy kits
• Native vertical shooting
• More customization options for the joystick, trigger and dial

Weaknesses:

• No major improvements from the previous model
• Gimbal and additional accessories can get expensive quick
• Requires activation through the DJI Ronin app

Tech specs