C200: C200 gimbal options: Looking at the Crane 2 or Ronin MX

T

teamjim

Member
Was about to pull the trigger on the crane 2 but then when asking a seller on eBay he said he was selling because his c100mkii was too big for it! So now looking at maybe the ronin mx or m, but a bit gutted as the ronin’s seem to be a bit more of a pain in the ass
 
After using gimbals and the C200, I find the Original Ronin worked the best. Obviously, the Ronin 2 would probably be ideal.

Also, I would stick with the same size batteries to avoid rebalancing (A60s or A30s). The extension arms would help give the Ronin more range (the EVF gets in the way, unless you have the C200B). Lastly, the Canon 16-35mm is pretty much my goto lens on the Ronin.

You don't need to really get anything else as the camera and OG Ronin work right out the box. The above just makes things much easier. Balance is key!

Here are some examples of the OG Ronin with the C200 and shot with the MP4 codec:

Don't mind the edit, I just threw some clips together...
 
Although some users have been able to balance the C200 on a Crane 2, I wouldn't call it a proper gimbal solution as you're very limited on the tilt axis and risk potential damage to the gimbal operating it for long periods without proper balance. In my book, it seems more of a party trick than a working solution. Ronin MX will give you full gimbal functionality at the cost of some size and weight and a lot better footage most likely.
 
i balanced my c100mkii with a canon 16-35 f4 IS on a rented Ronin M.
but when i buy one i'm leaning towards the MX since the motors are stronger.
 
I tried to balance the C200 stripped down with the Canon 16-35L and it would not balance on the Ronin M so now I need to sell it and get the Ronin MX.
 
Nickelsvision said:
...Maybe I will rent 1 first before pulling the trigger.
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Smart. Gimbals have a lot of particulars and quirks about them and there is no substitute for actually shooting with one before spending the cash. I have bought three gimbals so far and not one of them has lived up to expectations for various reasons. Gimbals kind of remind me of the Model T days when buying a car wasn't the commodotized, sanitized experience it is in modern times. Each car had it's own set of quirks and shortcomings, just like each gimbal seems to. You cannot know if it's the right tool for the job until you at least shoot some extensive tests and screen them on a large screen to see exactly what the quality of movement and control are.
 
Nickelsvision said:
I tried to balance the C200 stripped down with the Canon 16-35L and it would not balance on the Ronin M so now I need to sell it and get the Ronin MX.
Click to expand...

Add Cinemilled tilt arm extensions and it should balance. I get C300mk2 w/16-35L II to balance ok with that. Limited tilt because of C300mk2 EVF can't be removed, but a very light rig overall that has advantages.
https://cinemilled.com/product/tilt-arm-extensions-for-dji-ronin-m/

Other way I've made it balance is to stick a wireless audio receiver under the gimbal to lower the balance point.
 
Parrot said:
Add Cinemilled tilt arm extensions and it should balance. I get C300mk2 w/16-35L II to balance ok with that. Limited tilt because of C300mk2 EVF can't be removed, but a very light rig overall that has advantages.
https://cinemilled.com/product/tilt-arm-extensions-for-dji-ronin-m/

Other way I've made it balance is to stick a wireless audio receiver under the gimbal to lower the balance point.
Click to expand...
Thanks this might help me with my issue. I found this video with just the different baseplate and weights. They just opened the DJI Experience 5 minutes from me so i might stop by and see what they recommend.
 
Gravity G1

Gravity G1

teamjim said:
Was about to pull the trigger on the crane 2 but then when asking a seller on eBay he said he was selling because his c100mkii was too big for it! So now looking at maybe the ronin mx or m, but a bit gutted as the ronin’s seem to be a bit more of a pain in the ass
Click to expand...


If you’re going to go with a single hand one: The gravity G1 works and has arri rosettes for the grip! We like it and alll the accessories that go with it. Really modular for your setup. Just know there no hope of tilting up and down. https://youtu.be/7j-XTBegWeg
 
teamjim said:
Ah yeah, I’d seen the gravity G1. What weight of lenses I’d ok with that?
Click to expand...

LIGHT LENSES ONLY. Primes. 10-18 zoom. Gets the job done but only serves to hold me over until I get the Ronin 2. But tis is the best One Man Band setup you can buy. Its in my Cinegear backpack too.
 
Just a suggestion to consider...

I went on a similar purchase journey for my C300 Mark II and after looking for a long time, I finally found that the best bang for the buck (for my purposes) was a USED Movi M15.

Been using it for about 6 months and it’s amazing. Super fluid movement, very lightweight, and able to handle a C300 Mark II with monitor/audio unit attached (in inverted mode for height clearance) and a beefy Canon 11-24mm lens.

I got the gimbal, case, 8 batteries and a ton of other accessories on eBay for less than a new Ronin 1.
 
mizzar said:
Just a suggestion to consider...

I went on a similar purchase journey for my C300 Mark II and after looking for a long time, I finally found that the best bang for the buck (for my purposes) was a USED Movi M15.

Been using it for about 6 months and it’s amazing. Super fluid movement, very lightweight, and able to handle a C300 Mark II with monitor/audio unit attached (in inverted mode for height clearance) and a beefy Canon 11-24mm lens.

I got the gimbal, case, 8 batteries and a ton of other accessories on eBay for less than a new Ronin 1.
Click to expand...

Hmm yeah that’s an interesting option, could even rock my 24-70 on that. How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking (so I know ball park). How many batteries would I likely need? Also my friend who owns an M5 says the batteries can be a real pain to manage and can easily die if they reach a certain level of something or other, sounds quite high maintenance, but your experiences are good?
 
Is the C200 (not the C200B version) compatible with the Ronin and MoVi M10 / MoVi Pro? The EVF shouldn't be a problem for most gimbals right?
 
teamjim said:
Hmm yeah that’s an interesting option, could even rock my 24-70 on that. How much did you pay if you don’t mind me asking (so I know ball park). How many batteries would I likely need? Also my friend who owns an M5 says the batteries can be a real pain to manage and can easily die if they reach a certain level of something or other, sounds quite high maintenance, but your experiences are good?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the huge delay, just saw this. I paid $1900 on eBay for the Movi M15, original Pelican case, various tools, stand, etc which I believe all come with it, two battery chargers and 8 batteries.

As far as battery life, I've honestly never ran one down. They seem to last forever. I often only use it for a couple of shots here and there, but whenever I shoot luxury real estate work, I shoot for a few hours and it doesn't go through a single battery. The key is to make sure the rig is perfectly balanced, then it uses very little battery power. I only ever use one camera/lens setup so it is always perfectly balanced (I use a stationary quick release plate so it hits the same exact position every time).

Finally, about the batteries being a pain to manage, if they didn't last so long I would probably agree. They are not normal "smart batteries" like we are used to in our cell phones and laptops. My kit came with a voltage alarm/readout that tells me how charged they are and makes a sound if they "run out." It's kind of weird but I just googled it and there was lots of information. Again, something that has never really come up because they just last so long.

Using it is a dream though. It is super lightweight compared to the Ronin, and much more fluid. One more complaint is that you have to get a $100 wifi module to control settings with an iPhone (Android, Mac, and PC works out of the box).
 
I've had pretty good success with the original Ronin and a Canon C300 II with the 18-80 CN-E lens. I even got away without using the arm extensions. Used Ronins are dirt cheap right now. I use it with a Cinemilled Pro Ring and Ready Rig GS, though, which is quite a bit more than the Ronin. I'm not sure why some people find the Ronin to be a problem. Mine is solid.
 
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