The DJI Ronin 2 Handheld Stabilizer is a handheld 3-axis gimbal stabilization system for cinema cameras up to 30 lbs. Key features include:
Supports up to 30 lbs. of equipment
Dual hot swappable batteries for all day shooting
Underslung, Upright, and Briefcase shooting modes
Camera control for select cameras
Long-Awaited Ronin Update. The Ronin 2 3-Axis Handheld Stabilizer, as the name might imply, is the successor to DJI’s extremely popular Ronin 3-axis brushless gimbal. For the sequel, DJI has improved nearly every spec on the sheet and brought the Ronin line up to parity with the MoVI Pro in most respects and even surpassed it in a few. These improvements do come at the cost of a 12 lb. gimbal, so plan to have a harness like the Easyrig Vario 5, numerous operator breaks, or the body of a professional wrestler.
Supports Up To 30 lbs. Of Equipment. The most eye-catching update from the first generation Ronin is the nearly doubled 30-lb. payload capacity. That’s room for a whole lot of camera! DJI promises the same precision you have grown accustomed to with the full array of Ronin products, and the beefed up motors, new stabilization algorithm, and GPS allow for operation in wind speeds of up to 75 mph. According to the Ronin 2 FAQ, the ARRI Alexa Mini, RED Dragon, ARRI Alexa XT, Blackmagic URSA mini, and Sony FS7 are all listed as compatible. We do not include camera control cables for ARRI or RED cameras, but you can rent them from the Accessories list under Recommended on the left-hand side of this page. If you have any questions about whether the camera rig you intend to mount on the Ronin 2 will fit and function, please contact us.
Versatile Gimbal Mount. Our Ronin 2 comes with the new ring grip for a plethora of hand held options, and DJI also designed the Ronin 2 to be more easily and quickly swapped between mounts and shooting situations. You no longer need to change the orientation of the camera for transitions between upright and underslung modes, and now the yaw motor can be locked, creating a 2-axis system for more traditional steadicam style rigs.
New Features. Simplified Operation. Fine tuning of camera balance has always been at least mildly frustrating. DJI has attempted to rectify this by adding fine adjustment knobs around the camera cage. The adjustment of gimbal settings has also been streamlined with the addition of a touchscreen and new user interface. The Ronin 2 can be adjusted via bluetooth 4.0 and the redesigned Gimbal Assistant app on devices running a minimum of Windows 7, MacOS 10.11, IOS 9, or Android 4.4.
Dual Hot Swappable Batteries. The Ronin 2’s dual battery slots allow for fresh batteries to be added without having to power down the system, and they also provide enough juice to power your camera and accessories without the additional weight or headache of mounting a D-Tap power source. If extreme weather is your thing, the self-heating batteries will let you shoot in temperatures as low as -4°F. DJI says to expect 8 hours of battery life when using two batteries to power just the gimbal, and additionally powering a RED Dragon and accessories will reduce that down to 2 hours. Batteries will recharge in about 1-1/2 hours.
Please note: it’s complicated. The DJI Ronin 2 isn’t what you’d call a “turn-key” solution to camera stabilization. It requires a significant amount of training and practice to get good results, so you’ll want at least one full day of learning before using it on a shoot. Check the Resources section of this page for manuals and software.
While not for the faint of heart, this beast of a gimbal earns DJI’s Ronin line an award for Most Improved in my book. While the boosted, nearly silent motors afford you the opportunity to fly a ca...
While not for the faint of heart, this beast of a gimbal earns DJI’s Ronin line an award for Most Improved in my book. While the boosted, nearly silent motors afford you the opportunity to fly a camera package of behemoth proportions, the camera integration and clever design improvements really give the Ronin 2 a professional edge. Features like an embedded SDI port for cable management, an LCD with an improved menu interface allowing onboard monitoring and control options, and a remote that can wirelessly trigger record on select Red and ARRI camera models (when correctly configured using additional cables) prove that DJI is capable of delivering a truly proficient machine geared toward high-end video work.
Unfortunately, DJI’s innovation comes at the sacrifice of application. Weighing just under fifteen pounds when fully assembled, a full production day’s worth of use is going to be pretty impractical for most operators, regardless of the payload. Incorporating a support vest, like an EasyRig Vario 5 will alleviate some of the physical toll but opting for a lighter gimbal, like the Movi Pro, makes more sense for setups that don’t require the Ronin 2’s gratuitous payload capacity.
