DJI revealed two new stabilizers at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, the Osmo Mobile 2 for smartphones and the Ronin S, the company’s first single-handle, three-axis stabilizer for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Five months later, and the DJI Ronin S is now available via pre-orders beginning May 29. The stabilizer, more compact than the company’s previous high-end options, will cost $699.
Osmo Mobile 2: An updated gimbal with vertical shots
The Osmo Mobile 2 offers a refined user interface to make controlling your phone’s camera easier than before. Integrated ISO and shutter speed controls let you set your phone just like a DSLR, enabling you to lock in the exposure for consistent time-lapse sequences or perfect panoramas. Long exposure, light trail, and subject tracking modes are also offered through the DJI Go app for iOS and Android.
Additionally, the Osmo Mobile 2 contains a completely new battery with up to 15 hours of operation time, an impressive three-fold increase over the original Osmo Mobile. It is also the first DJI phone stabilizer that allows for portrait orientation, making it easier to create super smooth Snapchat and Instagram stories.
A standard 0.25-inch tripod mount lets you connect the stabilizer to a variety of tripods and other accessories.
The Osmo Mobile 2 was initially available for pre-order exclusively through Apple. Now, the gimbal is available from a number of different retailers, including Amazon, for $129.
Ronin S: A smaller, sleeker stabilizer
As its first single-handle DSLR and mirrorless camera stabilizer, the Ronin S joins a bevy of popular options from companies like FeyuTech and Zhiyun, putting 3-axis stabilization in a compact form factor. Two different frame sizes are available, one geared for larger DSLRs and the other for mirrorless bodies. High-torque motors support a variety of popular cameras, including the Panasonic GH5, Sony A7R Mark III, and Canon 5D Mark IV.
The Ronin S uses an angled control arm that raises the camera above the roll axis, allowing for an unimpeded view of the rear LCD. This isn’t the first gimbal to employ this clever trick, but we’re glad to see it.
Beyond simply stabilizing your footage, the Ronin S offers several ways to direct your shot via DJI’s mobile app. Just like the Osmo Mobile 2, you can set up time-lapse and panorama shots, track subjects, or use CamAnchor to set predetermined camera positions for the gimbal to automatically rotate throughout the shot. A new sport mode also allows the gimbal to rotate more quickly to keep up with fast-moving subjects.
The DJI Ronin S will begin shipping in late June, the company says, with the $699 pre-orders beginning on Tuesday, May 29.
Updated on May 29: Included pricing and availability.
