DJI RS 4 Pro - Top 10 Questions and Answers
BIKMAN TECHThe gimbal market is crowded, but every so often, a product arrives that aims to redefine the entire workflow. The DJI RS 4 Pro isn't just an update; it's a full-scale production hub. It promises to integrate stabilization, focus, monitoring, and control into one seamless ecosystem. But is it the right tool for you, or is it professional overkill? At BIKMAN TECH, we're diving deep to answer your top 10 questions. This guide will give you the hard facts on its real-world payload, the truth about its "magic" LiDAR focus, and how it stacks up against its toughest competition, helping you make an informed decision for your production kit.
1. What is the DJI RS 4 Pro, and who is the target user?
The DJI RS 4 Pro is a professional 3-axis, single-handgrip camera stabilizer. Its axis arms are constructed from carbon fiber , keeping the gimbal body itself relatively light at approximately 1.24 kg (2.74 lbs). With the standard grip and tripod, the total weight before adding a camera is about 1.73 kg (3.81 lbs).
While DJI officially targets "solo cinematographers" and "professional productions" , we've found it's crucial to understand what "solo" means. For vloggers or those with standard mirrorless cameras, this gimbal is considered "overkill". The RS 4 Pro is explicitly designed for creators using "hefty, pro-grade equipment". When fully rigged with a cinema camera, lens, LiDAR, and motors, the system gets very heavy.
Therefore, the "solo cinematographer" target doesn't refer to physical ease but to technical control. The advanced ecosystem, particularly the DJI Focus Pro system, automates the complex job of a dedicated focus puller (or 1st Assistant Camera). The RS 4 Pro is for the solo operator who needs to execute a technically complex shot by themselves, not for someone looking for the lightest possible rig.
2. What are the most significant upgrades from the RS 3 Pro?
The DJI RS 4 Pro is an evolution, not a revolution. The upgrades are incremental but highly practical for a professional workflow. If you own an RS 3 Pro, these are the key differences:
- Increased Motor Torque: The motors have a 20% increase in torque across all axes compared to the RS 3 Pro. This isn't for a higher payload, but for better, stronger stabilization, especially in demanding situations.
- Better Balancing: The carbon fiber axis arms are now Teflon™-coated. This significantly reduces friction, allowing for smoother, more precise millimeter-level adjustments during balancing—a huge help for heavy rigs.
- Smarter Locks: It features 2nd-Generation Automated Axis Locks. These have smaller gaps when locked, which helps reduce gimbal shake when in sleep mode or during transport.
- New Controls: A new joystick mode switch allows you to instantly toggle the joystick's function between controlling gimbal movement and controlling a lens's power zoom.
For most RS 3 Pro owners, an upgrade is likely not necessary unless you specifically need the new ecosystem features or the extra power for new modes like the Car Mount setting.
3. How effective is the 2nd-Generation Native Vertical Shooting?
This is one of the biggest workflow upgrades and a "game changer" for hybrid shooters, like wedding and commercial videographers, who need to deliver both horizontal and vertical content.
On the RS 3 Pro, shooting vertical video required purchasing and installing a separate accessory mount. The DJI RS 4 Pro fixes this with a newly designed gimbal horizontal plate. You can now simply unlock the plate, remove it, and remount it in a vertical orientation without any tools.
This feature is only possible because of that 20% motor torque increase. A vertically mounted camera has a high and offset center of gravity, which puts immense stress on the motors. The stronger motors and 4th-gen stabilization algorithm can handle this inefficient load.
One important note: while the plate switch itself is fast (as little as 10 seconds ), professional users with heavy cinema cameras will still need to re-balance and re-calibrate the gimbal after changing its orientation.
4. What is the real-world payload capacity? Can it handle cinema cameras?
Yes, absolutely. This is precisely what the "Pro" is for. The official "Tested Payload" of the DJI RS 4 Pro is 4.5 kg (10 lbs).
Real-world tests and user reports confirm this gimbal can comfortably "fly" a variety of professional cinema cameras, including popular setups like the Sony FX6 , RED Komodo , and even an Arri Alexa Mini in some tests.
It's critical to understand that this 4.5 kg payload is the same as the previous RS 3 Pro. The 20% motor torque increase was not added to lift more weight; it was added to improve stabilization performance within that payload. The extra torque makes the gimbal more responsive and resilient, allowing it to handle a 4.5 kg rig with less strain, even in demanding situations like Native Vertical mode or the new Car Mount mode.
5. What are the best practices for balancing these heavy cinema camera setups?
Flying a heavy, awkwardly-shaped cinema camera requires patience and precision. User feedback is unanimous on the most important tip: the gimbal must be "perfectly balanced". If it's not, the motors will be overworked, and you will get vibrations.
Here is the best-practice methodology we've compiled:
- Strip the Camera: Start by running the camera "stripped down." Remove any non-essential components like the camera's top handle (if you're not capturing audio) to lower the center of gravity.
- Attach Everything First: Before you begin balancing, all components for the shot must be attached. This includes the lens, monitor, all cables, batteries, and even your media cards. Any tiny weight change will throw off the balance.
- Use Counterweights: For heavy cine lenses that make the rig front-heavy, screw-on counterweights are essential to achieving a perfect balance.
- Calibrate: After you have a perfect physical balance, you must run the "Auto Tune" calibration from the gimbal's menu. This must be repeated every time you change the setup (like swapping a lens).
Common Problem: Many users report a motor "buzz" or high-frequency vibration after running Auto Tune. This is almost always a symptom of an imperfect physical balance. The Auto Tune is overcompensating for the imbalance. The fix is to power down and re-balance the physical rig more perfectly, not to just run the calibration again.
6. How does the new LiDAR (Focus Pro) system really perform?
The new LiDAR system (part of the separate, but integrated, DJI Focus Pro system) is described by real-world testers with one word: "magic".
The hardware is a major leap from the previous generation. It now features 76,800 ranging points (a 77% increase in data density) and an expanded maximum focusing distance of 20 meters (65.6 ft). This enables a far more reliable next-generation ActiveTrack Pro.
Its "killer feature" is its ability to bring "the precision of autofocus... to manual cinema lenses". This allows a solo operator to achieve complex, moving focus pulls that were previously "almost impossible" without a focus puller. The new DJI Focus Pro Motors are also 30% faster and, crucially, now attach via standard 15mm rods—a massive practical upgrade from the old non-standard 12mm rods.
7. What are the critical limitations of the LiDAR and Focus Pro motors?
This is the single most important "catch" of the entire RS 4 Pro ecosystem, and it's something many users discover too late. The marketing claim that the system works with "ANY LENS" is "not true".
The technical limitation is this: the DJI Focus Pro motor requires a lens to have "hard stops" on its focus ring to complete the mandatory calibration process.
- Cine Lenses, which have geared focus rings with a set start and end point (hard stops), work perfectly.
- Photo Lenses (like most native Sony GM, Canon L, or Nikon Z lenses) use "fly-by-wire" electronic focusing. Their focus rings do not have hard stops and can spin infinitely. This makes it "impossible to calibrate the focus motors correctly".
This creates a critical choice for the "solo cinematographer": 1. Use a modern "Photo Lens" and its excellent native camera autofocus (which can be triggered via Bluetooth). 2. Use a manual "Cine Lens" to unlock the "magic" LiDAR-driven DJI Focus Pro autofocus. You cannot use the DJI Focus Pro motor to pull focus on a "fly-by-wire" photo lens.
8. What is the new "Car Mount Mode" and how does it work?
This is a specialized software algorithm, not a physical accessory. It's a new setting in the gimbal's menu that is unique to the RS 4 Pro.
It is "specifically developed for vehicle shooting scenarios". Its entire purpose is to optimize the stabilization algorithm to counter the two primary forces that ruin car-mounted shots: high-frequency "intense vehicle vibrations" from the road and low-frequency "wind resistance" pushing against the camera.
When you enable this mode from the touchscreen, the gimbal "increases the motor torque" to more aggressively and powerfully correct for these forces, delivering much more stable footage. This is a true "Pro" feature and another key capability unlocked by the 20% hardware motor torque increase.
9. How does the RS 4 Pro compare to its main competitor, the Zhiyun Crane 4?
This comparison reveals two fundamentally different design philosophies. The DJI RS 4 Pro is an ecosystem-first tool, while the Zhiyun Crane 4 is an all-in-one tool.
- Payload: Specs can be confusing. The DJI RS 4 Pro has a clear and consistent 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs) "Tested Payload". The Zhiyun Crane 4 is officially listed at 6 kg (13.2 lbs) , though some independent reviews suggest its practical usable payload is closer to 4 kg (8.8 lbs).
- Build and Ergonomics: The Crane 4 has an integrated sling grip and wrist rest, prioritizing comfort for long shoots. The RS 4 Pro is lighter with its carbon fiber body and uses an included (but separate) Briefcase Handle.
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Key Feature Differences:
- Vertical Shooting: DJI wins, easily. The RS 4 Pro has 2nd-Gen Native Vertical Shooting. The Crane 4 requires a separate L-bracket accessory to shoot vertically.
- Built-in Features: Zhiyun wins. The Crane 4 includes an integrated LED fill light and balance indicator lights on the axes to help with setup. The RS 4 Pro has neither.
The Verdict: Choose the DJI RS 4 Pro if you are invested in the DJI PRO ecosystem (Focus Pro, Transmission) and need to switch to vertical shooting quickly. Choose the Zhiyun Crane 4 if you want a comfortable, all-in-one tool with built-in features (like a light) and don't care about the DJI-specific ecosystem.
10. What is included in the RS 4 Pro "Base" vs. "Combo" packages?
This is the most critical purchasing decision, as it defines the product's entire function. It's a choice between buying a tool versus buying a system.
The DJI RS 4 Pro (Base Package) includes everything you need for a complete, high-payload stabilization tool.
- Gimbal
- BG30 Battery Grip
- Quick-Release Plate (Arca-Swiss/Manfrotto)
- Extended Grip/Tripod (Metal)
- Briefcase Handle
- Lens-Fastening Support
- Cables and Carrying Case
The DJI RS 4 Pro Combo includes everything from the Base package, plus the core components that unlock the advertised DJI PRO ecosystem features. The key additions are:
- DJI Focus Pro Motor
- Focus Pro Motor Rod Mount Kit
- Focus Gear Strip
- DJI Ronin RavenEye Image Transmission System
- Lower Extended Quick Release Plate
- Smartphone Holder
Why it matters: The "magic" features like LiDAR-driven autofocus and remote ActiveTrack are only possible with the Focus Pro Motor and RavenEye Image Transmitter included in the Combo. The "Pro" designation is almost entirely justified by its exclusive compatibility with this full ecosystem. The Combo package represents the true RS 4 Pro experience.
The BIKMAN TECH Verdict: Who Should Buy the DJI RS 4 Pro?
The DJI RS 4 Pro is, without a doubt, a pinnacle of stabilization engineering. But it's not a tool for everyone. If you're a casual vlogger or your setup is a simple mirrorless camera with an autofocus lens, this gimbal is likely overkill.
However, if you are a solo cinematographer, a wedding filmmaker , or a small production crew needing to handle heavy cinema-grade cameras and execute complex focus pulls without a dedicated 1st AC, the RS 4 Pro (specifically the Combo) is a game-changer. Its true strength isn't just holding a heavy camera; it's in the deep integration with the Focus Pro and Transmission ecosystem , the workflow speed of its native vertical shooting , and the power of its specialized modes like Car Mount. It's a professional production hub that just happens to be a gimbal. For the right creative, it unlocks a new level of solo operation.
Ready to see if this professional production hub is right for your workflow? Click to explore deals on the DJI RS 4 Pro. From all of us at BIKMAN TECH, we hope this guide helps you create your next masterpiece. Share this post with a fellow creator, and drop any more questions in the comments below!
