DJI announces Ronin S 2 and Ronin SC 2 gimbals

It’s been over a month since DJI launched its new products, but today it officially announced two new hubs – the Ronin S 2 and the smaller Ronin SC 2.

Both the 3-axle axles come with the upgrades you’d expect – stronger motors, heavier payloads, and lighter materials, but also some software features we haven’t seen yet. Before we get to that, let’s start with the hardware changes in RS 2.

The more professional axle of the two is now made of carbon fiber and is 1.3 pounds lighter than the original Ronin S, and has a combined weight of 2.86 pounds. DJI says the RS 2 supports a dynamic maximum load of 10 pounds. It could theoretically hold even lift platforms, but you likely won’t get perfect performance nonetheless.

The gimbal also comes with a small 1.4 inch touchscreen that sits directly above the joystick. It can be used to show gimbal settings and camera data and convey a live feed of what the camera is recording, but its main purpose is to be able to use features like Active Track without connecting your smartphone above the camera.

DJI also offers Titan Stabilization algorithm, which is a predictive technology that should theoretically improve your shooting style over time and reduce manual user input when it comes to speed, broadband, and acceleration settings. The second new software enhancement called SuperSmooth is specifically designed to smooth out movements when shooting with a more compact lens with a focal length of 100mm.

There are some other changes that will make the life of any filmmaker easier. The follow focus wheel is now located at the front of the grip and located directly above the index finger. The RS 2 and RSC 2 are now compatible with Arca Swiss & Manfrotto boards. After you have already installed the camera, this same axis can now be adjusted using the balance knob, which speeds up setup times between shots.

The Ronin SC 2 is a smaller version of the RS 2 designed for compact, mirrorless cameras. This year’s updates include a new foldable design and several added software and hardware features for the RS 2.

Courtesy of DJI

The gimbal weighs 2.65 pounds, and is slightly heavier than its predecessor 2.4 pounds. Its most powerful engines support a tested load of 6.6 pounds. I felt the original Ronin SC was a little weak when I tested it last year. DJI promises this year that more popular camera / lens combinations will perform better, such as the Panasonic SH1 paired with a heavy 24-70mm lens.

The new foldable design allows this pivot to be held in a lever position, allowing shooting very low to the ground, and there’s also a small 1-inch screen just above the grip.

Courtesy of DJI

Both gimbal comes with built-in batteries that DJI says last up to 12 hours of use, and both feature a new fast-charging function that can give you a total of 2 hours of use in 15 minutes of charging time. In addition to all the pre-programmed shooting modes like panorama, time lapse, and portrait mode, DJI is adding a new mode called Time Tunnel that captures Hyperlapse while performing a 360-degree roll.

The Ronin S 2 and Ronin SC 2 are available for purchase starting today for $ 849 and $ 499, respectively. DJI also sells a Pro Combo Pack that includes a phone stand, separate focus drive, RavenEye image transmitter, and a custom carrying case. The RS 2 Pro Combo will cost you $ 999, while the RSC 2 Pro Combo will cost $ 739.