“The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.” When the Dalai Lama said that, there is no way he could have been talking about camera gimbals or DJI, nevertheless, that statement has never been more true for one company.
DJI has taken the world of gimbal stabilizers by storm since the introduction of their first handheld gimbal, the DJI Ronin 1, in 2014 and even though there has been no shortage of competition, DJI has maintained that market dominance through innovation, refinement, and adapting to their customers needs.
It’s been a bumpy road for the end user, never truly being able to know which gimbal is best to invest money into and when but with the release of the DJI RS-2 and RSC-2, it has never been more clear that DJI gets it done.
Check out this recent post by Peter Lindgren to find out how these two single-handed stabilizers compare against one another, and how they might help you with your camera work.
The DJI Ronin RS-2 and RSC-2 look rather similar in name, and in design. They offer a lot of the same great features, but the RSC-2 is designed for smaller, mirrorless cameras and costs a lot less, and the RS-2 is a little more pricey but it can handle anything up to an ARRI ALEXA Mini.
DJI RS-2 Key Features
- Lightweight Design with 10 lb Payload
- Supports BMPCC 6K, ALEXA Mini LF, 1D X
- Advanced 1.4″ Full-Color LCD Touchscreen
- RSA Ports with NATO Mount
- DJI Titan Stabilization Algorithm
- SuperSmooth Feature for Long Lenses
- Support for RavenEye 1080p Transmitter
- Standard and Portrait Modes
- Fine-Tune Camera Balancing Dial
- Creative Functions Such as Time Tunnel
- Price: $849
DJI RSC-2 Key Features
- Designed for Mirrorless & DSLR Cameras
- 6.6 lb Payload for Camera & Accessories
- Foldable into Underslung Mode
- 1″ OLED Screen
- DJI Titan Stabilization Algorithm
- 2 x NATO Mounts
- SuperSmooth Feature for Long Lenses
- Support for RavenEye 1080p Transmitter
- Standard & Portrait Modes
- Creative Functions Such as Roll 360
- Price: $499
Aside from the differences in payload, but RS 2 and RSC 2 are essentially the same gimbal in that they offer fantastic flexibility in their features and they both keep things nice and stable with their Titan Stabilization Algorithm. But they differ in all of the ways you’ve expect from a lower-cost, entry-level product like the RSC-2.
For the end-user, the cost-saving differences are mainly just gripes and annoyances: the pan arm adjustment is harder to lock down, it feels more plastic and cheap, it doesn’t breakdown as small, it doesn’t have a touch screen, etc.
But if you’re using a small camera (like a Sony A7S III) you’re not likely to see any real-world differences between the two models.
One benefit to shooting with the RSC-2 over the RS-2 is how the grip handle hinge allows for a quick conversion to underslung mode.
With the RS-2, you need to attach the briefcase arm, then screw in the tripod-grip to use as a handle. This can be done very quickly, but it is an extra piece you’ll have to pack with you.
The touch screen on the RS-2 is a great addition, but what really makes the RS-2 worth the upgrade is that the same screen can be used as a display when it’s paired with the RavenEye system.
This eliminates the need to use any mobile device to access tracking, and everything can be done through the touch screen itself.
But as you can see with Peter’s comparison, there is virtually no difference in the quality of the stabilization that you can achieve from either the RS2 or the RSC2. So when it comes down to it, if you’re only going to be flying cameras that are smaller, there is very little point in spending the additional money on the RS 2.
DJI is really just competing with themselves at this point, there are many other gimbal makers with products out on the market but none of them stand up to the quality and usability that DJI has been giving us.
[source: Peter Lindgren]
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