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

ReelFilmGeek said:
I've been looking at the ronin-m for a purchase at work but the mixed reviews are making me have 2nd thoughts. We are only shooting on the Nikon D750 and Canon 6D so weight and size are as big as an issue as the Canon c100 but some of the footage and reviews are making me wondering if the Ronin-m is worth the money for the quality. Again it could just be operator error as the video cookinghusband posted didn't look to bad. Just don't want to have my work buy something and have major issues getting it to work.
Click to expand...

The Ronin-M is fine with my 5D2 , I think the hight of the camera and the length of the lens is the main problem and limit.

C-100 is much taller than the 6D or D750 and is also as heavy a the 1DC.
Also at another forum a glide cam veteran suggest the un-smooth video during camera pan can be improved if the operator use one hand to hold the Ronin-m and use the other hand to pan the ronin-m. it is operator error.
 
cookinghusband said:
Also at another forum a glide cam veteran suggest the un-smooth video during camera pan can be improved if the operator use one hand to hold the Ronin-m and use the other hand to pan the ronin-m. it is operator error.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how exactly that would work. The Ronin (and other gimbals) don't really work like a glide cam where you hold it with one hand and pan/tilt the camera with the other. The Ronin is motorized on all of its axes, so if you try to push it around manually, it's going to fight you (and you're probably going to eventually screw up the motors). You have to use the "follow me" mode and steer it with the handles or the remote control at this point. The huge delays on the thumb stick controller is kind of a bummer... it was announced in January and still doesn't have a solid ship date.
 
jbregar said:
I'm not sure how exactly that would work. The Ronin (and other gimbals) don't really work like a glide cam where you hold it with one hand and pan/tilt the camera with the other. The Ronin is motorized on all of its axes, so if you try to push it around manually, it's going to fight you (and you're probably going to eventually screw up the motors). You have to use the "follow me" mode and steer it with the handles or the remote control at this point. The huge delays on the thumb stick controller is kind of a bummer... it was announced in January and still doesn't have a solid ship date.
Click to expand...

Yep. Maybe he was assuming it was more like a steadicam system. But still:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...MrWhdy8msYCFUtufgod5qQAEg&Q=&is=REG&A=details

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1158473-REG/dji_cp_zm_000174_thumb_control_for_ronin_m.html

That looks like it should be ready soon.

Seems like the C100/C300 will fit on the Ronin M ok if they're not built out, but the early Ronin M reviews are not so.... positive.
 
I wish someone having access to both Ronin M and FS7 would try to fit it on. I know it's not being marketed as fitting there and several people says it's to big but it seems no one has yet actually checked it. I am talking about even barely fitting it with smallest lens. Bare bones is not far away from C100 and with something like Sigma 19mm maybe it could be balanced? Motors are the same as standard Ronin so they should not have a problem in supporting it. I'm really tempted as original Ronin is just to big for an adventure package :(
 
Oliver Schottner said:
You can't easily balance FS7 on the original ronin without the extension arms... So you can't do it...
Click to expand...
Not easily but it should be possible. Same like with fs700- not easy but when attaching some weight to the back of fs700 it is possible. I really need someone very tempted to try it. If it will work even with quirks I'm in!!
 
Why spend $1400 just to have something that's cobbled together and barely working? If you want to fly an FS7, buy a gimbal that's correctly spec'd for your FS7.
 
jbregar said:
Why spend $1400 just to have something that's cobbled together and barely working? If you want to fly an FS7, buy a gimbal that's correctly spec'd for your FS7.
Click to expand...

Even though I'll likely get a Ronin M for my C100 because my arms and soul are both pretty weak (and I love those 16 hour days), I have to agree.

http://store.dji.com/product/ronin-m-tilt-bar-extension-rods-30mm

Intersting that this is so quickly Available. Penance? Not much of a price tag at $18.

Fwiw, all major vendors are out of Ronin Ms. It's a hit.

But it is a dSLR rig. I still insist the C100 is a dSLR at heart (welp, a cinema camera at heart with a dSLR's body).

When we upgrade to a C300 Mk II, we're also upgrading to a Ronin...
 
Last edited:
jbregar said:
Why spend $1400 just to have something that's cobbled together and barely working? If you want to fly an FS7, buy a gimbal that's correctly spec'd for your FS7.
Click to expand...
- it's light
- good quality
- can take enough weight
- more suitable to take it for an adventure

At this price point there's nothing comparable to ronin m (other option means cheap chinese quality or high price) . I don't want to take standard Ronin with me - it's just to big and heavy.
 
Rent something that actually works with your gear for your "adventures" rather than owning perhaps? If you're going to get a lot of use out of a gimbal, get the one that actually works with it (Ronin) and then rent a Movi or Helix something if you need something lighter.

The fact of the matter is the Ronin M was designed for DSLRs... NOT cameras like the FS7 and FS700 and their long bodies. You may be able to smoosh it in there and get it to balance with a pancake lens, but that's a VERY limited piece of kit for $1400. Would you pay $1500 for a tripod that only supports your camera and a tiny little pancake lens?

Stuffing these gimbals completely full of camera is NOT a good experience, but I guess it gets more Ronin M's on the used market for when I decide to buy one to use with my GH4. :)
 
Last edited:
I just got my ronin-m in and managed to balance the c100 mark ii pretty well. Only obstruction as others mentioned is the pan and tilt but apart from this i managed to get it balanced pretty much straight away and the footage looks nice and smooth.

Will post once uploaded.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dpc
Anyone have any success with the P-Tap?

I'm thinking of running the C100 and Atomos Ninja (as an on-handle monitor) from the Ronin M.

My thoughts are that it doesn't actually seem to be that worthwhile, draining the Ronin-M battery faster just to save ~250gms of weight, and the Ninja needs a dummy battery anyway.

Plus the cables cost as much as getting a 2nd Ronin-M battery.

If the C100 didn't have a great battery system it would be worth it.

Thoughts?
 
Just got the Ronin-m in today and decided to order the extension rods. I am having a tough balancing both the 24-106 and the Sigma 18-35. Did anyone ever get those two lenses to work?
 
So after adding the extension rods I got both the 24-105 and the 18-35 to balance. The thing works like a charm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dpc
It works well for me using the Ronin-M inverse (upside down) handling position.
I have a good view on the LCD, the camera is higher, at a more natural height, and the whole rig is closer to my body, putting less strain on my back.
Also, I use a cheap handle grip extender so I can control live focus, iris, and everything else:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/262497682/grip-handle-extension-cable-19m-for?ref=shop_home_active_1

the only drawback is that the resulting images are upside down.
:)A
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top