Once the camera balance has been found, a cable can be plugged into the camera’s USB-C port and directly into the side of the gimbal. The shutter can easily be activated from the direct control button on the grip. Added photo capture, video recording, zoom and autofocus support for Sony A7R5 camera with supported Sony E mount lenses using a Multi USB Camera Control Cable. To use autofocus on the Sony A7R5 camera, half press the camera control button on the gimbal. Finally, vertical shooting is a new and interesting feature. While previous gimbals can shoot in a vertical orientation, the RS 3 Mini is the first to shoot natively vertically. To do this, the base of the tilt axis is completely removed, and the camera is then slotted and tightened onto the vertical before the usual balancing takes place. It’s a neat idea and benefits the user over more conventional methods by still enabling the full motion of stabilisation that would be available if you were to mount the camera normally.

Added photo capture, video recording, camera settings, autofocus, and focus pull support for Panasonic Lumix S5 II cameras with supported L-mount lens using a Multi-Camera Control Cable (USB-C). To use autofocus on the Panasonic Lumix S5 II, half press the camera control button on the gimbal. Due to the camera and gimbal size, there is far more of a feeling of oneness between the two devices. While I have been using either the 24-70mm or fixed focal length lenses, you can see how beneficial this rig would be with the Sony motorised zoom lenses.

Can the Ronin stabilizers shrink to suit mirrorless cameras and keep delivering the goods?

DJI is known for their product design; they make imaging devices that don’t follow conventions, and some, such as the Phantom, have become iconic. The DJI Ronin RS3 Pro matches the quality of the products that have come before, with the stunning carbon arms sitting atop a sturdy-looking grip and base. For some cameras that are BlueTooth enabled, the Ronin RS3 Pro now has BlueTooth connectivity. At launch, this works with a series of Canon cameras, and the compatibility list will inevitably expand at speed to cover most cameras with BlueTooth. The big feature of the RS 3 Mini is that it’s small and lightweight, over 40% less than the RS 3 and 50% lighter than the RS 3 Pro. This means it is an ideal solution for anyone who finds those larger gimbals too heavy to use comfortably or wants a nice compact gimbal stabiliser for their mirrorless camera. The size and weight also lend the gimbal for travel, documentary or any scenario where you need to be agile and travel light. The attachment of the camera to the gimbal highlights the first interesting innovation of the gimbal design with the usual clamp on the lower part of the tilt axis that enables you to mount the camera horizontally. But, then take a look at the vertical of the tilt arm, and you see the ability to shift the mount so that the camera can be mounted vertically, ready for TikTok and other social media channels.

Staying with the axis and the carbon arms, these have been extended slightly to enable the mounting of some of the new midweight professional cameras, such as the Sony FX6 and Canon EOS C70. For a gimbal of this size to take the weight of either of these cameras is impressive. While I don’t have access to either of these cameras, a Canon C100 MKII comfortably sat on the DJI Ronin RS3 Pro without issue and with plenty of clearance. The DJI RS3 Pro, however, is a very different device from most other gimbals on the market. Sure, it has accessories that enable wireless video transmission and control, but it’s part of an eco-system with the DJI RS3 Pro at the core. Pro level stabilisation at an affordable price If this is your first (or you’re coming up from the Osmo Mobile 6 or DJI Mini 3 drone), then you need to brace for a slower process (switching from portrait to vertical is definitely not as easy as pressing a button). Getting used to all the options might take a while, too, but they’re easily reset and the menu is intuitive (more so than many mirrorless cameras!)Using the App opens up some of the more advanced features; these are generally accessible through the grip but easier to understand through the larger interface of your mobile screen. The camera’s OLED is clear and used as a straightforward gimbal, with the camera mounted high above the rear arm. Even dropping the camera down to ground level, there’s enough arm clearance to pull out the screen so you can see what’s happening. The only time seeing the screen becomes difficult is when using the 3D Roll 360. In the test, the Bluetooth connection between the camera and the gimbal worked well, with the record button on the gimbal robustly connecting with the function on the camera as if they were connected by cable. Gimbal-shot video is much more in evidence these days, and making it possible without adding too much weight or size is a great achievement. We can see real appeal for most professionals –an ideal second camera choice for weddings, for example. In the past, it was important to remove the lens cap to optimise the weight distribution. However, I’ve noticed that this is no longer highlighted in the balancing instructions, and with the power of the motors these days, I feel happier leaving it in place until the gimbal is powered on.