FS7: FS7 on Dji Ronin? Do you see any issues that can occur?

A

alohype

Veteran
Hi!
It will be a speculation for now of course, but once FS7 will be released anyone with some experience is invited to share his experience here.

Do you see any issues that can occur when flying FS7 on Ronin? Will it even fit? XL will be needed or standard Ronin will be enough?
 
Take a look at this page for FS7 dimensions: http://provideocoalition.com/awilt/story/122-slides-on-the-sony-pxc-fs7/P5

And take a look at this page for Ronin camera allowances (see question "What Kind of Camera Does the Ronin Support?") http://www.dji.com/product/ronin/faq


So right away, we know that the FS7 with handle is too tall for the Ronin. That's okay, you can remove the top handle.

The real problem comes with body length, we know the camera is relatively long. 197mm without lens. The Ronin allows only 140mm from center of gravity. Not only that, but the heavier the lens is out front, the further forward the camera's COG is going to be, meaning the heavier the lens the further back you're going to need to send the FS7.

I've been thinking about this "problem" (don't know if it is one yet, to be fair) and I think what you'd be able to do is use the 1/4" 20 holes that show up in the top-back of the camera (again, see system chart) to mount some kind of counterweights back there. The more weight you add in the BACK, the opposite to the heavy-lens scenario I just described will occur, meaning the camera's COG will move backwards, giving you some room in the back.

As for the tripod plate being located very far forward on the camera, I think we can counteract that by sliding the mounting plate forward a lot, or even adding a sliding quick release/dovetail on top of the Ronin's existing plate. A simple Manfrotto 577+501PL will add considerable fore-aft flexibility at the expense of about 20mm in height.
 
I have just received a Ronin the other week, and played with the FS7 (sans Ronin) last Friday. My F55 with Red 18-50 is incredibly close to working, the 55 with Optitek mount and Canon lenses is easy.

I honestly think it won't be a problem with most lenses. The pod for the back won't be able to be used, but most e-mount lenses short of the new video zoom should be fine. The combo of FS7 with shorter E-mount lens is perfect.
 
I'm in the same boat here with a Ronin. I have an F5 that I don't want to have to cannibalize in order to fly on the Ronin. I'm thinking that the FS7 stripped of a top handle will be a great way to go. We should know very soon as the FS7 is due to hit the streets in the next few days - right?
 
One thought - to run the FS7 (or any other camera, for that matter) in Ronin "upright" mode, the camera ends up inverted. I'm wondering if you remove the FS7 handle and install a Vocas (etc.) cheese plate, this might position the mount in a "better" place or give more options for rigging - and (more important to me, I think) the camera would ride right-side-up. I prefer the upright mode as I'm using the Ronin for walk/talks and b-roll and it puts the camera at eye-level. It also might allow for the camera to stay rigged for both Ronin and conventional use. Ronin mount on the top, "standard" mount on the bottom like a Triad VPA-10, etc. that would allow it to slide right into a traditional VCT14 "betacam" plate....thoughts?
 
Be very interested how Ronin owners are finding the FS7 working with the rig? What do you need beyond the basic Ronin? How stripped down is the camera?
 
I have my fs700 usually rigged to a camtree (movcam style) cage. The base plate adds about 1&1/4" to the height of the camera. When I mount this fully rigged fs700 to the ronin, I find that the vertical adjustment on the ronin is not long enough to center the lens to the roll center axis (z axis) of the ronin. As a result, it's impossible to balance. That said, the ronin can make up for that with brute force, but you can hear it struggling. I have been resorting to flying the fs700 without the cage.

I know now the conversation is not about the fs700, but I think that because the fs7 is a taller camera, it might play a factor, even without the top handle. I'm not saying the fs7 wouldn't work on the ronin, I'm just saying that I'm now very aware of the ronin's height limits. I haven't seen any larger third party vertical columns available, which would certainly help with the ronin's height limitation.

Also, if length of camera is an issue (it is for me), I'd recommend the above mentioned extenders as well. They are much cheaper than the cinemilled version, and much less problematic than ronin's proposed solution.
 
The BP-U90 battery helps counterbalance the camera a bit. The biggest issue I found was length of the lens when trying to balance. Zoom lenses all seem a bit too long (especially with a mount adapter) and run into the top axis point of the Ronin. We found an old Sony NEX 16mm pancake lens that worked perfectly. It can be done, for sure.

Papatango: Have you used those CNC filmgear extenders? Has anybody else?
 
I don't have any real issues or complaints using the Sony 18-105, Swit S-8U62 battery and handle removed.
I have the VF extended back to the Ronin cross bar and it works great. I also have the Berkey top plate with a mightywondercam quick release mounted to allow for mounting it "upside down" on the Ronin so when flying in inverted mode, the camera is oriented correctly.

I have the CNC Filmgear extenders ordered - awaiting delivery - just to buy myself a little extra room. Just in case....but it's workable for me as I currently have it.
 
Paul Cronin said:
Be very interested how Ronin owners are finding the FS7 working with the rig? What do you need beyond the basic Ronin? How stripped down is the camera?
Click to expand...

Paul, the one thing I can tell you from dealing with clients who have the Ronin paired with a multitude of cameras. An Easyrig type vest system or other support mechanism is usually employed unless you are doing short segment scenes. Long takes might become a killer over time on the rotator cuff and lower back. Without an additional support mechanism it would help a lot if you can set up the stand to drop it on or have an AC/utility person working with you who can grab the rig from you between shots. Even the lighter MōVI rigs really want some added support.

As noted elsewhere in the forums extension arms of some nature will benefit - depending on lens option you are working with. The VF should work nicely as noted earlier.
 
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Thanks John,

The easyrig is not for me. I tried one and it does not work for my shooting. Also the easy rig is designed for stationary shooting. And for me I am on the move, and I need to get into tight spaces.
 
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Trotter G said:
The BP-U90 battery helps counterbalance the camera a bit. The biggest issue I found was length of the lens when trying to balance. Zoom lenses all seem a bit too long (especially with a mount adapter) and run into the top axis point of the Ronin. We found an old Sony NEX 16mm pancake lens that worked perfectly. It can be done, for sure.

Papatango: Have you used those CNC filmgear extenders? Has anybody else?
Click to expand...

Yes, I've used them on a recent job where the DP required a short zoom on a RED Epic. I've tried the Cinemilled versions on a friends rig, and they work, but found that the CNCFilmGear ones align better because of the recessed portion where it mates with the arm. For what it's worth, the CNCFG units are slimmer too, so I'm not worried about the ass end of the camera binding when trying to level the roll axis left-right. And the price is more realistic, IMHO. They take about 4 minutes to install, with practice.

Having a pair of the extensions in the kit gives me a little peace of mind knowing I'm not going to spend 45mins trying to re-balance an impossibly front heavy load.

On one of the other forums they had a link to their new adaptors & pan extension prototypes. Looked sweet. If I find it I'll post it.

Has anyone found a good solution for mounting a battery to the underside of an F7 for balance corrections?
 
I'm currently using the CNCFilmGear extension arms.

They are 50mm, as opposed to the 40mm Cinemilled extension arms. I'm not sure if there's an optimal or maximum length the ronin can or should be extended, but the CNCFilmGear extension arms are working well so far. It'll definitely help with those whom are using FS7 with the XDCA rear extension.

The Z axis adjustment in the ronin is able to compensate for the added length of the extension arms, so the pan can still be balanced and not be too front heavy.
 
Agreed - I have the CNCFilmGear extensions and installed them today. No issues and the extra space behind the FS7 is nice - and I have the XDCA unit coming and will be interested to see how that works as well, but as of now - really happy. First shoot with em tomorrow.
 
But isn't the Ronin's dovetail still too small? Even with the extension arms, don't you have to slide the camera all the way back? That was a problem I was running into without the extension arms.
 
What about the monitor on the fs7.. and using a field monitor on the ronin.. I hear field monitors only work when shooting 1080p and not 4k… If this is true, does the fs7 monitor/ wire, reach all the way up to the handle bars of the ronin?
 
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