C100: Flying C100 on Ronin M (Lightest base plate and FF)

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Policar

Carbonite Member
Would it be possible to fly the C100 on the Ronin M? I'd remove the handle, of course.

I'm looking at dirt cheap wireless FF like cinegears, redrock, etc.

What baseplate would be as light as possible while still being sturdy enough? Wooden Camera? Zacuto Geurilla?

Thanks!
 
I don't think it's gonna work. I don't think the Ronin M has enough depth to balance and allow free movement of the C100 body.
 
Just curious jbregar, what do you base this assertion on? We do know the Ronin-M will hold up to 8 pounds of payload. If the C100 can physically fit onto the base platform, it seems as if would balance better than a DSLR as it's center of gravity (without the hand grip) would be more centered on the platform than a DSLR and it will definitely be within the weight range. But in looking at the pictures, I think I see what you are suggesting. The C100 mounts to the tripod plate fairly forward, which leaves a large amount of the body toward the rear of the plate. Do you think that the C100 simpy won't be able to be mounted without some sort of adapter plate that moves the whole body forward so the depth of the mount isn't too deep to fit onto the Ronin-M?
 
jbregar said:
I don't think it's gonna work. I don't think the Ronin M has enough depth to balance and allow free movement of the C100 body.
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Thanks! I'll keep saving up for the full-sized Ronin (and an easy rig to displace the weight) instead. I was so hopeful that since DJI says it can take a stripped-down Epic I could fit the C100, but the camera body is wide, true.
 
I base it on owning a Ronin, seeing a Ronin-M at NAB and owning a C100 (and a Mark II).

The problem with the Ronin-M in this case isn't the weight handling, it's the camera envelope. To work correctly, these gimbals need to be PERFECTLY balanced. The first step to balancing them is the roll axis. There probably won't be a problem with that one.

The second step is balancing the tilt axis. This is where you move the camera so that the center of gravity aligns with the roll motors. The way you do this is to flip the camera around so it's pointing straight up and make sure the camera stays there by moving the crossbar the camera mounts to up and down. From what I saw at NAB and what I know of the shape of the C100, it's going to be too tall to flip on its back. The viewfinder/top of the camera is going to smack the back of the roll arm before you get that far. Even if that DID work (and I don't think it will) I'm not sure the Ronin-M has enough tolerance on this axis to balance a camera that's as tall as a C100 is. You could theoretically counteract with strategically-placed weight, but that gets really hairy really fast.

The Ronin-M is really designed for a DSLR-shaped camera. One that's low and squat. The C100 is tall.

Heck, the big-boy Ronin even needs extension arms to clear the viewfinder on the C100 Mark II.
 
jbregar said:
I base it on owning a Ronin, seeing a Ronin-M at NAB and owning a C100 (and a Mark II).

The problem with the Ronin-M in this case isn't the weight handling, it's the camera envelope. To work correctly, these gimbals need to be PERFECTLY balanced. The first step to balancing them is the roll axis. There probably won't be a problem with that one.

The second step is balancing the tilt axis. This is where you move the camera so that the center of gravity aligns with the roll motors. The way you do this is to flip the camera around so it's pointing straight up and make sure the camera stays there by moving the crossbar the camera mounts to up and down. From what I saw at NAB and what I know of the shape of the C100, it's going to be too tall to flip on its back. The viewfinder/top of the camera is going to smack the back of the roll arm before you get that far. Even if that DID work (and I don't think it will) I'm not sure the Ronin-M has enough tolerance on this axis to balance a camera that's as tall as a C100 is. You could theoretically counteract with strategically-placed weight, but that gets really hairy really fast.

The Ronin-M is really designed for a DSLR-shaped camera. One that's low and squat. The C100 is tall.

Heck, the big-boy Ronin even needs extension arms to clear the viewfinder on the C100 Mark II.
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Upon further research it seems like the C100 Mk II definitely won't work (because of the viewfinder), but the Mk I might. Would the proper choice in base plate help make things possible? The base plate obviously makes the camera even taller (but more bottom-heavy), but it's also necessary for a wireless follow focus.

Hmm....
 
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Wait, does the Ronin have receptors for 15mm rods built in such that the base plate doesn't count toward the height penalty? And does the Ronin M have room for one 15mm rod for a similar purpose because.. then... the C100 Mk I might stand a chance. Fingers crossed! According to its specs it should.
 
In the manual that you can download, it mentions cameras as the 1Dc and C100 as tested (and working).

I've ordered one for my 1Dc and expect it to work.
 
I've been asking this question around on the Brushless Gimbal group on Facebook jbregar is the only one with an in depth explanation! But if the manual says it'll support it, I'm sure it would. I mean they said they were testing the C300 on it as well. This may be the only time I'm happy the C100 has a small/non-protruding viewfinder!
 
Working with a gimbal, as yall may know, on board viewfinders become harder to work with as they are obscured by the vertical shaft of the gimbal structure. It's not super difficult to work around it, but external monitor is preffered. For this reason, you might remove the c300 monitor from the top, allowing it to fit. You can mount a monitor to the handle.

Although in my opinion, getting a gimbal that just barely balances your camera can be a bit limiting in terms of lens options and future growth. I'm using the fs700 beast, so I may be a bit biased. Of course, to each their own.

Lastly, in terms of weight support, I have found easy rigs are too cumbersome for the price. Extra height and no further stabilization benefit. I've been using my regular ronin with a vest/arm stabilizer, which can even be cheaper than an easy rig, it has the added benefit of 4th axis stabilization, and I can carry my ronin/fs700/7Q/wireless follow focus all day. Literally. Although I take care to keep my core and leg muscles in shape ;)

For those of you who have gimbals similar in weight to the new Ronin M, do you find it to make a world of difference in operation?
 
Policar said:
Is that with or without base plate? Does the Ronin have a built-in baseplate?
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The Ronin M comes with a pretty long plate that allows you to move a camera forward and backward for balance.

I would assume the tested cameras are "naked" in the sense that they are mounted directly to the Ronin M. Just looking at the Ronin M, it doesn't seem to have lots of margin for additinal rods and plates, but that will depend on your camera of choice of course.
 
If DJI says it'll work (C100), I believe them... it must be pretty close to the tolerances though. They also don't say what lens they're balancing on there. Remember, the heavier and longer the lens, the further back the camera is going to have to be... which makes the height more of an issue with the back bars.

A wireless follow focus hanging off the front is going to add even more weight that needs to be counter-balanced by sliding the camera back.

The C100 Mark II will NOT work. I can guarantee that. The viewfinder makes it so the C100 Mark II won't even fit on a big Ronin, you need extended arms.

The C100 Mark II viewfinder isn't removable like the C300s... which kind of sucks in this context.

With gimbals, it's usually never a good idea to be right at the edge of the envelope unless you like only flying your C100 with a 40mm pancake lens. The C100 is 135x170x129mm (WxHxD) without the handle or grip. The Ronin M can handle 160x195x120mm (WxHxD, depth is from CoG though, so the C100's extra depth isn't an issue here). So, theoretically, it'll work... but you're within an inch of the max height and width... which is going to limit your balancing options somewhat.
 
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c100 can only record in 50i , hmm for gimbal 50p is what I wish . I ordered ronin-m as well . For now I will use with fs100 , until I get c100 . Sigma 18-35 f1.8 and something wider seems perfect for gimbal . Is there any wide lens with internal zooming like sigma 18-35 ? I understand that with internal zooming there is no need to calibrate every time when you zoom in and out ?
I hope ronin-m can handle c100+sigma 18-35 , this lens is huge almost 1kg hmmmm
 
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The FS100 probably won't work. It's too long. The FS700 is about the same size and it will JUST BARELY fit on the big Ronin (and really should have extension arms).
 
Hearnia said:
C100 Mark II fits on my original Ronin just fine.
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Will it flip back all the way so the lens is pointing directly up?

Because mine wouldn't without extending the arms... and balancing the tilt isn't nearly as easy doing it the other direction (lens down).
 
jbregar said:
Will it flip back all the way so the lens is pointing directly up?

Because mine wouldn't without extending the arms... and balancing the tilt isn't nearly as easy doing it the other direction (lens down).
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My heaviest rig would be c100, wireless ff, 35mm f2 ai, and an iscorama 36. The lens is light but a bit long with the adapter. I think it might be close. Also the 18-35mm sigma.
 
jbregar said:
The FS100 probably won't work. It's too long. The FS700 is about the same size and it will JUST BARELY fit on the big Ronin (and really should have extension arms).
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Strange , my stadycam merlin can manage with fs100 so easily and so well , just in windy day is useless . I thought it does not matter of size camera just wight can be limit , in this case ronnin recommend to not excess 3,6kg . Fs100 is so light just 1kg plus lens 500g ,all together is just only 1.5kg , the same story is with c100 . It is far away from recommended 3.6kg

I just cancel my order , I need to be quite shure ronin-m gonna work with fs100 or c100 . According to maual c100 has green light , but we do not know what lens they used , actually there is nothing about ronin-m so far .
 
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