Mirrorless camera is currently the way forward in terms of imaging. Canon and Nikon realized this and have made obvious strides and transitions toward mirrorless cameras with their own line-up of high-end mirrorless shooters. Mirrorless cameras are way lighter, more compact, and can offer superior image quality at the same time.
Mirrorless cameras have also revolutionized the video making industry. Because they are more compact, they tend to weigh less and cost less to work with. The rigs that go around the mirrorless cameras can be much smaller and compact to work with. You can bring the camera to where traditional cameras cannot go. It put professional filmmaking technology closer to the ground and made them more accessible than ever.
There is a problem though. Filmmaking technology made accessible today are still geared toward traditional DSLR formats. That means that things like stabilizing gimbals are made to carry heavier rigs. That does not mean that you have to settle though, thanks mostly to DJI.
DJI RS 3 Mini – a Mini Gimbal for Compact Set-Up
Welcome to the DJI RS 3 Mini, a Ronin stabilizing platform that is geared specifically toward mirrorless cameras. It is also the only gimbal made for proper cameras that is designed for single-handed function. Of course, that meant that it has to be light. It weighs less than 1kg at 795g gram specifically, without a camera attached to it.
The RS 3 Mini is at least 40% lighter than the larger format RS 3 platform. Making it much simpler to work with when you need to get a quick shoot going. It is perfect for travelling too, since you can easily pack it into your daily backpack and quickly get it going. Because it is lighter as well, you might be able to shoot for extended periods without feeling too much strain on your arms.
The RS 3 Mini is capable of working with payloads weight up to 2kg. You are looking at something like a Sony α7S III paired to a 24-70mm F.28 G Master lens combination or a Canon EOS R5 with a 24-70mm F2.8 STM lens combo. The gimbal stabilization is still powerful enough to work with fully extended lenses if need be.
Made for Social Media
Because social media is largely consumed from a smartphone, you want your camera to shoot vertically in most situations. For that, you also want to be able to vertically mount your camera to the gimbal for the best stabilization for your social media optimized videos. The DJI RS 3 Mini comes with a dual-layered quick-release plate that allows you not to only quickly unhook the camera from the gimbal but also to rotate the camera to the vertical arm for vertical shooting optimized for short form social media contents.
Just as Powerful
The compact body does not mean that you are getting a watered down DJI RS 3 gimbal. You are getting most of the same stabilizing technologies you get from the bigger DJI RS 3 Pro. DJI’s 3rd generation stabilization algorithm allows users to shoot stabilized videos no matter the shoot condition. Even an amateur film maker can shoot smooth and stable videos like the pros with the DJI RS 3 Mini. For more creative stability, the DJI RS 3 Mini packs a few features of its own more dynamic shots like the 360o rotating images.
More Shooting Freedom
With Wireless Bluetooth Shutter function, the RS3 Mini can be connected to most modern mirrorless camera format for simple remote activation. You do not need to take your hands off the gimbal when you shoot. You can activate the camera directly from the record/shutter button on the gimbal itself. If you are on a Sony camera, the gimbal can even work the zoom lenses via the front dial. There is also a 1.4-inch touch screen and an M-mode button to switch between the three custom modes on the gimbal. The front rotating dial can also be used as a focus dial. For even more options, you have the Ronin app to work with to easily record timelapse, point tracking, and even panorama videos.
You get up to 10 hours of battery life out of the compact gimbal. 10 hours should also be enough for an entire day’s worth of shooting. If not, you can charge the gimbal within 2.5 hours, at which time you might want to think about taking a break yourself.
Price and Availability
The DJI RS 3 Mini is now available via DJI’s authorized dealers and their ecommerce platform. There are no colour options for the DJI RS3 Mini, just plain black with some red trims. It will set you back US$ 369 (MYR 1,613*), which is rather affordable as professional gimbals go. The DJI RS 3 Mini comes with DJI Care Refresh that covers all accidental damages with a replacement unit immediately. Of course, you do have to pay a little extra if you want that sort of coverage. More information on the DJI RS 3 Mini can be found on their website.
*Approximately based on exchange rate of US$ 1 = MYR 4.37 as of 11/01/2023 on xe.com