DJI CP.ZM.000377 Ronin-MX 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer, Black

**Update March 26th 2017**So I have been fussing with this thing off and on for the last 3 months or so and the bugs and problems only get worse. Despite factory resets, perfect balance/calibration/tune, and proper firmware updates, this thing will nuke your set/film day. It is plagued with non-stop problems, including random motor vibration, jumpy pans and worst of all uncontrollable roll, pitch and yaw. It is sometimes usable with the smooth trac mode, but is not reliable with the remote. Car mount mode doesn't work. I wish it worked properly. I really wish it did, but the unit I received is better left at home. You can see in my original review below I was having trouble with it all along. I have spent countless hours/days trying to get it to work and at some points even chalked up blown shots to operator error. However, I was able to get it work last night (after a restore to default settings) and it everything was great. It was everything it should have been, and then no less than 2 minutes later it was back to its old tricks. I am requesting a return on this unit and just going to have to go with an alternative.**End update**I have worked with the Ronin, Ronin M several times and have now finally purchased the Ronin MX, due to its ability to keep horizon when mounted to a car and the extra battery for powering accessories.I will say that this is the most complicated Ronin of them all, and some of the design factors have me scratching my head. The overhead battery is obviously the worst, and if you like to shoot with a wide-angle or have the dead-band set high, it will get in your shots. But it was meant to shoot mounted to a vehicle, or a drone, I shot with a 35mm and it never really got in the way. I had previously liked to shoot some stuff with a 14mm, but that is out of the question now.Next on the list is the hot shoe mount for DSLRs. This adds stability, but if you use a quick-release plate you will not be able to balance your camera if you use it. The balance point will be too low. To me it seems like these poles should be longer. I run an a7sii and it's almost maxed out just mounted flat to the ronin quick release plate. This means changing ANYTHING is a pain. You have to completely unscrew the top thumb screw to release it from the hot shoe and then slide the camera forward to drop the battery out. The good thing here is, if you want the extra stability, and don't want to use the lens mount (which doesn't work with rails btw, the thumb screw isn't long enough) you can just pull it off - And I certainty do for "run and gun" Ronin setups. If you are running it, lens changes, and battery changes are a major pain. It also makes balancing a bit more of a headache. 3 more screws and mounting points to adjust and deal with.The MX will need major counter weighting to run any accessories or large lenses. Counter weights make it even more difficult to make battery changes on a DSLR. I have yet to pick up a Cinemilled dovetail, and am using about $5 worth of metal washers, and a bolt and a wingnut. Not as pretty, but still fast (and cheap)The MX took me a while to setup, and has definitely had its fare share of bugs. Powering the unit on the camera base was immediately inverted. I simply switched the invert camera base in the ap and it came back. However, using this function no longer works. It will only stay in the standard position now.A lot of times adjustments in the AP don't seem to do ANYTHING. I have seen it do a test pan once, but now it will not do it.Next after balancing the camera will sometimes bob back and fourth. Its usually fixed by hitting calibrate once again. It also often disconnects from the AP, and the AP needs to be restarted to get back on track.Another weird issue, is sometimes it will not 360. It will almost hit a limit and then bounce back 90 degrees. I can only spin it 360 with the controller if I ease into the rotation and tap it around with the joystick. Fully pressing the stick to the left or right will cause the aforementioned problem.Overall, this Ronin is best setup for the PRO-SUMER, or Indie filmaker who wants access to the big-boy stuff at DJI prices. You will have to spend time messing with it. You will have compensate for calibration and balancing and even blown shots on your shoots. This is not for documentary shooting. This for pre-planned stabilized shots, or to be used mounted to vehicles. You can't beat this thing for the price. It has a payload of almost 10lbs, and still comes in at HALF the price of the M5, and even it can only handle 5lbs (which is pretty much just a DSLR and a lens) If you plan on mounting follow focus, and the works and want a stabilizer with GPS, need it to do 360, and extra tilt angle and have the option to run a second operator this is for you. If you just plan to run it yourself in smoothtrack mode all the time, I'd say save yourself $500 and all the extra stuff you're not going to use and get the M.

BackgroundI do video virtual tours of high end real estate properties and wanted something a little easier to handle than the Glidecam I usually use. The Ronin MX came out literally days before I was ready to order which was great; everyone has been there, you get the latest model and two days later a newer one comes out. I had the Ronin-M in my shopping cart when I found out the MX was out.ShippingI have to give the seller 5 stars on the shipping. No one, and I mean none of the big names had this in stock, Adorama, B&H, etc. all showed back ordered. I was pretty sure this wasn't actually in stock, but sure enough it was and arrived within a few days, so this seller is awesome.UnboxingThe gimbal was boxed in not one, but 3 different boxes, an outer box, inner box, then DJI's own packaging so the boxing was great.SetupAlmost all of the pieces were very logical, I setup the stand and most of the parts to the gimbal (handles, batteries, etc) without having to read the directions. Before mounting the camera I did go through the directions and read them step by step. The only real problem I ran into was that the gimbal would not activate. After downloading the app for my iPhone and going to activate it kept failing. Until the gimbal is activated it will not do anything at all. I found an online forum that says rebooting their iPhone fixed the issue; this fixed my problem as well. So if you are trying to activate the gimbal over Bluetooth using an iPhone and it keeps failing activation, try rebooting your iPhone.I am using this with a Canon Rebel 6Ts and a 18mm-135mm lens. I am also using the following mounting plate: Andoer Rapid Connect Adapter Clamp with Quick Release Plate for Manfrotto Tripod Head on the bottom of the camera, which is what I use for all of my cameras and tripods to make going from the Glidecam to the Gimbal, to the Tripod, to the Slider, to the..you get the point; much faster.BalancingI watched all of the YouTube horror stories about how long setup and balancing is with the Ronin; maybe so in the previous models, but this one is awesome. The nice thing about the plate adapters I use is they all have a level bubble, I had the camera installed and balanced within 2 minutes after setting up the gimbal. I just slide the camera left/right/forward/back until the level bubble was centered then locked everything down. The app immediately showed the camera was perfectly balanced.OperationHere is the part that is confusing to me. Carrying the Ronin is super simple, and I got silky smooth footage, but I have no idea how you are supposed to focus the camera at the same time. With the Glidecam I would switch to Autofocus, get my focus point, then switch to manual focus and complete the clip.When you are using the Ronin, you cannot sit it down except on the stand so how do you make any camera changes? Indoors are typically pretty dim, so I'm stuck with a wide open Aperture which means focus is pretty important, especially when using a camera like the 6Ts which isn't that great with high ISO or a large dynamic range. I know I could fix this with the A7S, but I don't do enough video tours to justify the price.ConclusionThis is an awesome piece of technology that will place my video virtual tours head and shoulders above the competition in my area, the biggest weakness that I see is the difficulty in changing settings such as WB, Focus, etc. without sitting the gimbal down which needs the stand to do. I still give it 5 stars because there is nothing else that can compare at this price point, but some kind of design needs to be developed that lets you sit the thing down.One other problem with being such an early adopter is that there is no case yet available for it, so I haven't yet figured out how to safely transport it until they start making cases for it. Due to the design change the Ronin M cases will not fit the MX.

You may be tempted like me to believe you will be the exception for whom this system works without problem, but please do not fall into that trap. The actual hardware itself is pretty slick and solid, but after receiving one of these systems and then a replacement system, I have been sent four defective batteries that are not capable of charging right out of the box. I followed their instructions to the letter. If you do any searching around the batteries for this unit, you will find I am one among many people who have this experience. Amazon offers no customer support for it. DJI offers no customer support for this issue. Their best recommendation was to try charging the batteries and updating them, failing to understand my explanation that out-of-the-box, their batteries would not charge enough to update them in the first place. They offered again to send me another system, but if batteries straight from the factory don't work, then what's the point in rolling the dice again. They honestly need to do a recall on these batteries and offer an apology to customers.

This is exactly what I was needing. It offers great stability and works perfectly to get the perfect video.I recommend this for all your photography and video needs. It is easy to set up and good quality.

Both batteries were dead on arrival and don't charge. Also, the battery is 'out of stock' on the DJI website so this might be a known issueNo support from vendor.

performs well , just as expected and looking forward to using the Ronin MX further!