What camera weight can the DJI RS 4 handle?

DJI rates it at 3kg, which covers a full-frame mirrorless body with most fast zooms. Treat that as a ceiling rather than a target: a long lens or a top-mounted accessory shifts the centre of gravity and reduces the usable figure. Our gimbal payload calculator takes your specific body, lens and accessories and tells you where you land.

Is the RS 4 worth upgrading to from the RS 3?

If balancing frustrated you, yes, because the Teflon-coated arms and extended tilt axis are aimed squarely at that. If your RS 3 balances fine and carries your camera, the upgrade buys convenience rather than capability, and the money is better spent on a monitor or better audio.

Can the RS 4 shoot vertical video?

Yes, natively. Release the horizontal plate and secure it in the vertical position, which takes seconds and does not require a separate bracket. This is the second generation of that mechanism and it no longer needs a full rebalance.

RS 4 or RS 4 Mini: which should I buy?

Weigh your camera with the lens you actually use. Under about 1.5kg, buy the Mini and enjoy carrying it. Between 1.5 and 2.5kg, buy the RS 4. Above that, look at the Pro. Buying more gimbal than your build needs is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category.

Do I need a follow focus with the RS 4?

Only if you use manual lenses. With a native autofocus lens the camera handles focus and the gimbal handles movement, which is why the RS 4 suits mirrorless shooters so well. Manual glass on a gimbal without focus assistance is a two-person operation.

DJI RS 4 Review: The Gimbal Most Mirrorless Shooters Should Buy

Short answer

The RS 4 is the default answer for a mirrorless camera with a normal lens: enough payload for anything short of a cinema build, and the balancing improvements that make it a tool you use rather than one you dread setting up. Buy it if your camera and lens together weigh between about 1.5 and 2.5kg. Skip it if your build is under 1.5kg, where the Mini saves you money and a third of the weight, or if you run manual cine glass solo, where only the Pro's LiDAR helps.

Best all-round mirrorless gimbal

DJI RS 4 Gimbal Stabilizer for Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm

~$469

A three-axis gimbal with a 3kg payload, Teflon-coated axis arms, an extended tilt axis and second-generation native vertical shooting.

Check price on Amazon

Specifications

Rated payload	3kg, around 6.6lb
Axis arms	Teflon coated on all three axes, for reduced friction while balancing
Tilt axis	Extended by 8.5mm over the previous generation
Vertical shooting	Second-generation native, via the horizontal plate
Control	Joystick mode switch for zoom and gimbal control, PF, PTF and FPV modes
Expansion	RSA communication port for accessories
Battery runtime	12 hours standard, up to 29.5 hours with the BG70 grip, sold separately
In the box	Gimbal, BG21 grip, quick-release plate, extended grip and tripod

Specifications above come from DJI's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

Teflon-coated arms genuinely reduce the fiddliness of balancing, which is the single biggest reason gimbals go unused.
The extended tilt axis buys clearance for larger bodies and longer lenses without a riser plate.
Vertical switching in seconds, which matters more than it should now that a large share of delivered work is vertical.
The extended grip and tripod is in the box, so the gimbal doubles as a low-mode handle and a tabletop stand without another purchase.
3kg covers essentially every full-frame mirrorless body with a fast zoom, which is what most people actually own.

Where it falls short

There is no LiDAR support. If you shoot manual cine lenses on your own, this gimbal will not pull focus for you and no accessory for it will.
The 3kg rating assumes ideal balance. A 70-200mm and a top-mounted monitor will find the limit long before the arithmetic says you should.
It is still a two-handed object with a real setup ritual. If your shooting is opportunistic rather than planned, the honest answer may be that you want a lighter gimbal or none at all.
The BG70 grip that produces the headline 29.5 hour figure is a separate purchase; the 12 hours you get out of the box is the number to plan around.
The Ronin app is not on Google Play, so Android setup requires going to DJI directly.

What owners report

Owner reports on the RS 4 are unusually positive about one specific thing, and it is not the stabilisation, which everyone takes for granted at this point. It is the balancing. People who owned earlier RS models repeatedly single out the Teflon-coated arms as the change that made them stop resenting setup.

The recurring criticism is weight, and it is a criticism of the category rather than the product. The second recurring theme is buyers realising afterwards that they were within the Mini's payload all along, which is worth checking before you order.

Who it suits

Full-frame mirrorless shooters with a fast zoom or a normal prime.
Anyone who has abandoned a gimbal before because balancing was miserable.
Creators delivering both horizontal and vertical from the same shoot.

Who should skip it

Sub-1.5kg builds, where the Mini is lighter, cheaper and does the same job.
Cinema bodies and manual glass, which need the Pro.
Anyone whose real problem is a shaky tripod move rather than movement through space. A proper fluid head solves that, and our fluid head versus ball head comparison explains why.

Alternatives worth considering

Step-Up Alternative

DJI RS 4 Pro 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer

~$869

Carbon fibre arms, 4.5kg payload and Focus Pro LiDAR support. The only reasons to spend the extra are a genuinely heavy build or the need to pull focus on manual glass without a second operator.

Check price on Amazon

Lighter Pick

DJI RS 4 Mini Combo with Intelligent Tracking Module

~$369

Auto axis locks, 2kg payload and a tracking module included. If your camera and lens are under about 1.5kg, this is the better buy and the one more likely to leave the house with you.

Check price on Amazon

Budget Pick

ZHIYUN Crane M3S 3-Axis Lightweight Camera Gimbal Stabilizer

~$239

705g, 7.5 hours of runtime, a built-in fill light and PD fast charging, for half the money. You give up payload headroom and the DJI accessory ecosystem, which matters if you plan to grow the rig.

Check price on Amazon

Keep reading

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Common questions

What camera weight can the DJI RS 4 handle?: DJI rates it at 3kg, which covers a full-frame mirrorless body with most fast zooms. Treat that as a ceiling rather than a target: a long lens or a top-mounted accessory shifts the centre of gravity and reduces the usable figure. Our gimbal payload calculator takes your specific body, lens and accessories and tells you where you land.
Is the RS 4 worth upgrading to from the RS 3?: If balancing frustrated you, yes, because the Teflon-coated arms and extended tilt axis are aimed squarely at that. If your RS 3 balances fine and carries your camera, the upgrade buys convenience rather than capability, and the money is better spent on a monitor or better audio.
Can the RS 4 shoot vertical video?: Yes, natively. Release the horizontal plate and secure it in the vertical position, which takes seconds and does not require a separate bracket. This is the second generation of that mechanism and it no longer needs a full rebalance.
RS 4 or RS 4 Mini: which should I buy?: Weigh your camera with the lens you actually use. Under about 1.5kg, buy the Mini and enjoy carrying it. Between 1.5 and 2.5kg, buy the RS 4. Above that, look at the Pro. Buying more gimbal than your build needs is the most common and most expensive mistake in this category.
Do I need a follow focus with the RS 4?: Only if you use manual lenses. With a native autofocus lens the camera handles focus and the gimbal handles movement, which is why the RS 4 suits mirrorless shooters so well. Manual glass on a gimbal without focus assistance is a two-person operation.

Totalling your own rig weight against your gimbal payload? The Camera Rig Build Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.