Steadicam vs Ronin Gimbal Shootout 

the steadicam operator did very good job, theres no way a gimbal can replace a skilled operator

I like the steadicam more, it gives a natural feeling and it looks more spontanious!

I use brushless gimbals - but I have to say - there is something organic about footage from the steadicam.....

I think everyone needs to bare in mind David is a Professional stedicam operator with 5 years under his belt! What Bart pulled out of the Ronin from just 2 months is pretty incredible, shows how good the ronin is really. Thanks for the video though so so so helpful

steadicam is... better! but wait, operator matters! )))

Overall this is a very good and valuable attempt to compare the two devices. As an Internationally recognized Steadicam Operator since the 80's I speak with some authority regarding its capabilities and uses. In general the Steadicam is the more adaptable platform for various imaging devices and under a broader catalog of circumstances but is influenced by wind among other extraneous elements where servo devices are much less so. Much of the commentary I read however seems to be from those that feel they can simply "buy" a piece of equipment to obtain the kind of camera motion they see in advanced cross-platform visual presentations however in all cases there is simply no device that does not require skill and experience to achieve the desired results. Then there is the talent and skill set needed to design the shot(s) and shot sequences to begin with!

Both technologies were comparable, but I preferred the Steadicam for most of the shots. It has more of an organic feeling somehow. Where the Ronin clearly pulls ahead is in the orbit shot. Look at how it keeps the pole perpendicular to the frame, while the Steadicam tilts. For panning and tilting shots, the Ronin is the better choice.

I'm 3 years late to the party but the Steadicam is definitely a step up in this comparison. Extremely smooth.

Having used both the Steadicam and Ronin systems, I'd have to say that Steadicam wins. They both take about the same time to set up and get properly balanced, but there are two points where the Steadicam comes out ahead. First is stamina. Because the vest and arm are taking so much of the weight of the rig and evenly distributing it about your body, you can really go all day (even more so if you're in shape). Because the Ronin requires you to (essentially) do calisthenics, that 10+ pound rig becomes like lifting a dead body VERY quickly. We did a simple walk and talk with it, going about 150 feet, and after every single shot we had to take a break. We did about 20 takes, had 2 operators and after only and hour and a half we were both super fatigued. Comparing that to a shoot we did (same op's) using the Steadicam, following a guy running up and down a Buddhist temple stairs and we went for 8 hours no problem. Only stopping to have lunch, I should add. Second is a bit more of an artistic choice, but if you watch any Ronin footage that isn't just a straight forward motion shot, you can notice the motorized adjusting happening. It is extremely obvious in some of the shots in this video even, but the larger the screen, the worse it becomes. I've had to scrap some really good takes acting-wise because the footage was too obvious that the adjustments were happening on the big screen. It also gets worse as your batteries get low, or if your arms are getting tired. This isn't to say you can't get good footage off a Ronin, because you obviously can, but here the big difference is the Steadicam, because the op is in 100% control of it (assuming they know what they're doing), is always smooth, even when making adjustments. Motors are stiff, skin is smooth.

What a lot of you are not taking into account is the skill of the Steady Cam operator and the point of view or angles he selected within each of his shots. His angle was set higher while pointing downward on almost every shot with more distance from his subject and at a slower more controlled pace which allowed for more of the far ground to be seen as his subject walked.

At first I couldn't figure out why I liked the Steadicam better, but it had a bit more smoothness. Then after viewing some other information I realized what it was. I think it's the vertical stabilization that the Steadicam has (spring load arms) which the 3-Axis Gimbal is missing. In any case that's my thinking. Thanks for the excellent video comparison! Dan

I'm a Steadicam operator, and I've also used a Ronin. The Ronin seems much heavier and at arm's length that weight becomes a KILLER! A complex shot over several minutes (and that's the usual demand for a movement shot) becomes very challenging. Steadicam is regularly used for football matches (45mins non-stop), and with practice it becomes effortless.

Nice test, as I Steadicam operator myself I prefer the look of Steadicam but the electronic gimbals (EB) do have their place. One very visible difference is the height of the lens, where the Ronin is nearly always too low to be pretty. Specially with people you do NOT want to look into their nostrils and belly button or butt, you need to be shoulder height or higher, something that is really hard to do with most EB's. That means that - in my opinion- the best shots for an EB are children, dogs, scenery, anything low, Steadicam is more difficult or even sucks in that range. The absolute stiffness of the EB-image is an esthetic issue, some like it, some not. Safety: The EB's force the operator to look up in the sky, when shooting on normal heights, against the sun, bright backgrounds etc. Certainly not good for watching where you go, like on the stairs. I could see the uncertain footing when you went down the stairs with the Ronin! I have the Letus Helix myself, but have not really used it for any shoot until now. It does give some nice shots though, and when mounted (roll-axis only) on a Steadicam it can give an extra dimension like going from high to low or side to side and still level. So the EB's will have a good future ahead, but perform - for normal height shots - best in combination with a Steadicam. The incredible amount of extra accessories like exo-skeletons , easy rig like systems etc are fun but defeat the whole idea of the EB, and give basically an enormous amount of extra junk to take care of, without giving much more possibilities on the camera side as the weight range is still the same and IMO too low. Plus in many cases you suddenly need a 2 operator control.

You can tell that guy is a pro stedicam operator! Those shots are killer and brilliantly lit and framed. Although there isn't a huge difference in the stability I would still say the stedicam has to take the prize!

If you want to check out the "fun stuff" we mentioned at the beginning of the video, you can find it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-w06u-y7ag-4.html We mounted the Ronin on the Steadicam arm and then mounted the whole thing on a Segway!

I think the Steadycam was "steadier". Having said that, was it thousands or tens of thousands of dollars "steadier"? That's up to each of us to decide. Conclusion: You can learn to be smooth with a stabilizer much faster than a SC, but you will never get as smooth. If the difference is worth the money, go SC. For most of us it is not. Fantastic video guys!!!!!!

This was like those trick colour/names puzzles where you have to tell which colour are you seeing while it spells a different colour. You're watching steadycam shots, while staring at the Ronin sign all the way. :) Anyway, for me it was steadycam all the way. But, having said that, I was really surprised how Ronin actually did very good in comparison. I bet to an average viewer it would be indistinguishable from the steadycam shots. And for a much lower price.

Most people forget that gimbal system does nothing to remove up and down movements from the operator when walking. The arms of the operator does that. And that's where the Steadicam is in a completely different league. Gimbals stabilize involontary pan/tilt/roll motion but not mass moving up and down. Steadicam stabilizes the camera mass in front of the operator first - to remove unwanted motion created by walking. They are good at different things. A gimbal can shoot table top close ups in a way you can never do with a Steadicam.

The steadicam footage just looks so goddamn organic!

Steadicam more consistent and natural. I’ve never used a Ronin and before this video I’ve heard it is the cream of the crop, but from this video demonstration I now see that the Steadicam has the advantage in most situations. Thank you so much for this very informative video.

great video guys! i own both a Ronin and Steadicam Pilot. the Pilot is not near the rig that this guy uses plus this guy has skills that are very apparent and overall is more finessed than me but i don't suck either so my comments are coming from the POV as a person not of the skill level of this guy. the Ronin is very heavy and gets awkward with a 5-10 lb load for me and many others if you search the internet. still it gets you that very straight even look without a lot of practice as long as you get your camera and software tuned properly. the Steadicam on the other hand is a wonderful beast but really needs to be tamed to get good dynamic balance which is something this operator had solidly down. to get that solid (horizon) on a Steadicam you will work your ass off to achieve that in time and effort and lots of practice. on Steadicam I'm a good weekend warrior which suits me pretty good. as to weight...i can hold my Pilot rig with a 9 lb load for hours where the Ronin with a 9 lb camera would be impossible without pacing and breaks. another thing doing long shots (1 - 3 minutes) with the Ronin becomes more and more difficult where a Steadicam not really a problem. still I'm comparing a much lighter Steadicam rig compared to this guys. the main difference i see between the 2 systems is the Ronin gets you very straight and clean shots with not much technical effort needed to achieve where the Steadicam IMO is more expressive since its being guided by your fingers that can achieve nuances immediately where the Ronin is like driving an 18 wheeler semi where you don't turn on a dime. both systems are great. i tend to use my Ronin when i realize my skill level is not solid enough to achieve on the Steadicam (when need to keep a perfect horizon especially when doing "side" lateral shots) or at least quicker to get on the Ronin. i thought the Ronin might make me not want to use my Steadicam too much anymore but actually I've reverted to my Steadicam for a lot of shots that i had thought the Ronin would take over for. sorry for the rambling but just wanted to try and add to this video for people trying to figure out the differences between these 2 systems. thanks for the video!!

Great Video🙌🏿 but I think both systems were great... We own the Ronin-M and love it for our Canon 5D Mark III (had it for a 1 month still need plenty of practice). But I think the operator of the steadycam was more experienced hence the reason why I liked the Steadycam footage so much over the Ronin in this vid👍

It would have been really interesting to see both operated by David. A lot of steadicam skills transfer well to brushless gimbals, so to see the same expertise in the driver's seat for both contraptions would make for a nice comparison of just the hardware itself. Great video, though.

I like David Aronsons quiet confidence at the intro, what a pro, and great operating, super smooth and natural looking

informative video. that Steadicam was very smooth with very natural movement. the Ronin was good as well, although it seemed to stray a bit more. I would take the Ronin for the convenience however. also, low angle running shots are possible with the Ronin.

Steady Cam looks way more professional. Fluid looking, and Organic. The Ronin is alright, but for its price you can get a better gimbal, with more flexibility. Hell, I built my Gimbal for $300. but noting matches the steady cams fluidness.

Steadicam feels more natural, both do great shots!

Well done guys, thank you for taking the time to make/post this video. You both did great with each of your systems. Our personal choice was for the Steadicam. The floating camera feel seemed to resonate with us a bit more. Dave did a great job pushing off the sled before walking thus keeping the system very stable. I would imagine you can do that with the Ronin but the further the unit gets away from the body the more taxing it is on the shoulders/arms. Thank you again, be blessed, Frederick

I am an old school guy...I have worked on numerous projects in the days of VHS & I have produced & directed videos that were shown on regional TV in the St. Louis area...I have been out of the loop for awhile but my passion for video/film has always been with me & I am currently networking to find the right people for my ultimate dream of making a feature movie in either film or video...I was blown away by your knowledge of the tech now out there & since really starting starting to think seriously about my dream I would love to hook up with you guys to help me realize it...I am on FB if you would be interested in hearing about what I have done in the past...in the meantime I will subscribe as you both have a way of making something complicated a bit more understandable to myself a guy who is almost 67 years old.

Great job guys! Fantastic side-by-side comparison! Thanks for taking the time to do this.

The Ronin's footage is so robotic looking, im not a fan

Steadicam def. looks smoother. But if you are shooting low budget, none scripted run and gun. Gimbal might be more pleasant to use. Thanks for doing the test guys!

Cool video guys...I own both and they each have their plusses and minuses as you mention. One annoying thing with the Ronin is that it's tough to quickly point the camera in the direction you want since you can't just turn it directly with your hands. And I always end up "overshooting" the target on fast pans with the Ronin. The Steadicam excels in this regard since you are controlling it's direction with your hand on the gimbal. Whereas the Ronin keeps the horizon level automatically (along with the other axes, which can be frustrating), it's quite hard to do that on the Steadicam for a new user (tilted horizons are tough to overcome!). Overall, I prefer the Steadicam for that direct control, but the Ronin works great for straight walking shots where fast pans or tilts are not needed.

I think that although these 2 guys did an amazing job at showing us this comparison, this isn't a real life situation. For instance, when you are shooting drama, you start your move on a particular line (dialogue). Then you stop and follow the motion down of a character who sits, turns and delivers a line to someone who previously was out of frame but now becomes the focus of the framing over the previous actor's shoulder. Then you go with this new focus of attention towards another room, through a door frame. And so on. Blocking, choreographing, is way more than following, leading, orbiting. It's all that on cue, going from one character to another, nailing each actor on his line, an so on. Of course these 2 great guys can't do that type of comparison for obvious reason (who would pay for all that??). However, if they were to do it, we could really appreciate the considerable superiority of steadycam over gimbal.

Bart Great segment. I really enjoyed it. I am getting ready to buy a Ronin for my C300 so I am doing my research. I read all the comments. Let's compare apple to apple guys. David has 5 years of experience, and he is using a lot more expensive setup to get those shots. Bart has had the Ronin only for 2 months, and I think for that little amount of time, the footage looked amazing. Also, the Ronin set up cost a hell of lot less than what David was operating. Now, if you have the studio budget, then get a very experienced Steadycam operator with the full setup, no problem. BUT, for most indy filmmaker, where finance is critical, the Ronin more than does the job for very little money. Great job both guys, but it's not totally an apple to apple comparison. Let's keep the cost of the gear in mind. I am open to what others have to say about this. Thanks.

I love ❤️ the steadicam movement! Wow! What a difference a good operator makes!!

thanks for the video steadicam is the best has a very smooth movement

Thank you! I just started 3 years ago with filmmaking and I am currently using the exact same Ronin and camera-system like you guys. You completely explained my thoughts about gimbals and steadicam-work. I'd love to see more objective thoughts on RU-vid, especially from all the fanboys. For me I am a 100% FS700 and Ronin fanboy, but since I am also selling all this stuff I know the up- and downsides. I also loved that you guys mentioned also the need for a experienced gimbal-operator. There are too many people who think this is kind of a plug&play-device. Great work, keep it up!!

Great comparison guys. Very useful info :-)

This is a really well done comparison. I'm a steadicam operator and wondered how well the three axis gimbals worked. You definitely get more of a floating feel with the steadicam where the Ronin looks lie a really steady hand held shot. The steadicam seems more forgiving if the talent makes an unexpected quick move. And the weight is a real issue, both for the operator and for the rig. I've had to do four-minute takes on a steadicam (which killed me). I can't imaging holding the Ronin rig for that long. And the capacity of the steadicam is obviously more. You can have a fully loaded down Alexa, RED, or even film camera (remember those?) with no issues on the steadicam. I'm not sure you could even mount a loaded full-sized camera on a Ronin. Would it even fit? But for lightweight cameras and low budget simple moves you can't beat the quality for the price point. Nice job guys! It would have been nice for you to offer some situations where the Ronan has an advantage... One I can think of is in the water. You can't operate a steadicam waist deep in water.

Steadicam looks more stable and smooth to me, but Ronin is a very remarkable piece of equipemt.

Thanks for the comparison, really great work. I just love the steady cam operator, because his body language says that he is pretty much experienced in this work.

there is a difference between the ronin operator with hands only, and the steadicam helped by shoulders support

You didnt have to share this with us, but you did -- and I'm grateful. Thank you!

Awesome! The only difference to me was the quality of the cameras and in the orbiting test where the Ronin seemed a little shacky than the steadicam, although it seems that the 5 years of the Steadicam's operator counts against the 2 months of experience of the Ronin's operator.

Great test guys! All in all it looks like there's not a huge amount in it with the shots you did. I feel the Steadicam has the slight edge here, but even on the stairs the Ronin (and op!) did well with the vertical movement. Thanks for posting!

Thumbs up to Steadicam

Thanks for the review guys. The most notable difference I saw wasnt mentioned in the conclusion on the video... the operators line of sight! Watch the Ronin operator struggling to look up at the monitor and then down at the stairs to see where he was walking, whereas the stedicam operator's monitor is already positioned in the same line of sight to where he was walking & can therefore use his peripheral vision to walk around obstacles. The position of the monitor on the stedicam saves having to keep track of both the monitor and obstacles like the stairs. ...But the main reason I would prefer the stedicam is that it frees up your hands and arms much more - you dont have to put down the camera every time you have a drink. ;)

the ronin does what a dolly should be doing, which is a rigid but steady movement of the camera, the steady cam has a more organic feel which is more visually pleasing to me at least

I love both systems, but the fact that you'll never run out of battery with a steadycam, makes it almost perfect to me... great video

I immediately subscribed to your channel; if only other informational videos were so well done we could learn a lot more. First the introduction, very important and often quite neglected: you introduced yourself and you introduced the subject. The tests themselves: explained, and self explanatory - I could follow what was going on and from the samples easily make a comparison ( v. impressed with the Ronin!). Then the summary - a great comparison of the issues outside of the tests. And thank you for your personal remarks as well - quite insightful. Definitely considering the Ronin in my budget for next shoot.

I'm a steadicam guy. I will stick to the steadicam, but I would still use the Ronin hear and there. It's a great product. good job on the video guys.

EXCELLENT - EXCELLENT video guys - I learned a lot! Great Job! Thank you!! Shared on FB.

Thank you very much for taking the time to create this comparison. I know that it was a lot of work. With that said, I don't believe one is "better" than the other but rather each provide a different look. The Ronin seems to provide a more precise & clinical look whereas the Steadycam seems to provide a more organic look. (which I prefer) So depending on what look you are going for, one my be better suited for the task than the other.... Cheers, Greg

I keep reading in the comments that the Steadicam is better, but honestly, I can't see the difference. I was watching for straight lines in the background -- the railing for instance. That is a good way to see less then steady footage. They look so similar I could not tell the difference. I think it is a tie for footage. I think it comes down to price and ease of operation (ease of operation is both how quickly can you pick it up and get good with the tool and how difficult is it to operate the tool day long without getting tired.

I know this is late in the comments but I wanted to say that I have used both system type. A DJI Ronin V1 and a steadicam with vest but not as beefy as the one David is using. I get the same results from both systems and in my case the cost is the same. So here's the biggest difference for me. If I'm shooting something short such as a music video, the Ronin would be best but if I am covering a wedding or something like that, a stabilizer with vest is by far my choice. You will get tired very quickly with the Ronin. If anyone has ever been disciplined with holding a 3 lbs book with both hand straight out then you would know what that feels like. The vest system allows you to go hours longer before you start to get fatigued. With a well balanced steadicam you can actually walk with you hands down resting for a little bit with an occasional adjustment using just three fingers

Great job guys. I saw it as a tie, some shots I liked the Ronin and some I liked the steadicam.

Cool comparison. Each can tell your story equally well. If you're on a budget you go w/the cheaper option. If you've got long dough then you spend it with the most experienced operator you can find for whichever system they are best with.

steadycam will always win the circular motion. I have problems with that myself. but I love my ronin.

Thanks very much for doing this test and publishing it. I disagree with many of those who think the Steadicam is better or smoother, but full-disclosure, I own a Movi M15. I expected the Steadicam to really obviously outperform the Ronin on some tests, but I found them both fairly even, with maybe a few minor differences that would be present in any two different operators. I can see more horizon 'rolling' on the Steadicam shots, especially in the Faster Following test and the Stairs. The Ronin corrected that rolling movement better, maybe too perfectly. I was impressed by your Corner turn on the Ronin, too -- thought the Steadicam would be much better but the Ronin did a great job. The Circle-Around test was better on the Steadicam, but only by a little, and mainly because it was a better tilt-down from the flag pole. I typically require my Steadicam Ops to have a minimum of 5 years' experience, because it's all in the skill of the operator. The Ronin took you a few months to get to the experience level of the Steadicam operator, and cost much less. My Movi took a week or so to get used to, mainly for technical and balancing reasons, and I was so impressed by how quickly I could get the hang of operating it. Great job on the presentation, Bart and David!

Steadicam BEST!

Just the comparison I’ve been looking for purely out of curiosity. Nothing beats the steadicam /body vest combo, but I must admit my Ronin-M is serving me well. Keep up the great works guys 👌🏽

Really good review, the Steadicam just seems to give a more natural look to the movements. The gimbal still has a bit of catch up on it.

thanks for this test comparison. I actually agree. - Steadycam with proffesional operator feels more natural and steady. but still they are both pretty close. but every single time compared - i found steadycam more "fluid" look. very nice comparison folks. thanks!

Thanks for doing this, you guys. I know this will probably sound weird, but the steadicam felt more "organic," which I liked better. Does that make sense? Probably because it relies totally on the operator. I did want to know one thing, since the Ronin uses motors constantly balancing the thing, is there an issue with sound during dialogue takes?

Both impressive. The steady cam was a smidge better in some scenes while the motorized Ronin was better in other scenes. very impressive

Steadicam far ist winner, smooth moviment and natural. Ronin is like robocop.

They're close enough that the Ronin would be a very good choice for someone who can't afford a legit Steadicam rig. The differences are visible if you're looking for them, but if your audience is scoping for these things, you have bigger problems to worry about than what kind of rig you used for your stabilized shots. All that being said, the Steadicam is definitely the winner here. The shots they got with it are beautiful.

Ronin is better for the One who wants mechanic movements and One Year Training for very good results. Steaycam Operator is a seperatet Job. If you are a cameraman, your aren't even a Steadycam Operator. Thats why I would choose Ronin ^^

When you take your time and master the stedicam its a thing of beauty ❤❤

steadycam is better WOW !!!! thanks for your test !!!!! ;)

i think the steadicam was slightly better but both systems work great. i have no clue how hard it is to operate a ronin, but i do have a clue how hard it is to operate a full steadicam rig with arm and vest and what i want to say is that David is a very good steadycam operator. i personally would hire him for what ever steadicam job right away. Well maybe not for football (soccer) running the side line ;-) you both did great, highly appreciated.

To me both- steadicam and the gimal are good stabalizing systems. But! They are different and both are good in particular situations. And there is one very big difference between steadi and gimbal- for good steadicam shot you need a loooot of skill.

Hi guys, freaking awesome comparison! Thank you. I have a smaller steadycam myself and use it way to seldom. So watching David perform with the big rig made me jealous - skillful guy! And for the resulting work, I think the Ronin did surprisingly well, even though the super smooth performance from David and the Steadicam was on the top. Thanks again!

depends on the operator... if i have to spend my money, im goin for Ronin...

One more important thing is age, for me being an older person, weight distributed through the steadicam is much easier than using my arms, your test results are great ! because both of you have plenty of experience on using them, also correct in saying that what ever unit you use, practice practice practice..Again, great shootout guys.

Steadicam rocks!

I Like them both. glide cam wins obviously, due to the 4th access, resulting in overall butter smoothness. Great job guys, your test was right on point.

Steadicam is smooth, but one have to depend on steadicam operators, in gimbal dop himself operates and can get desired results, gimbal is low cost and can be used by one or more operators iin a single shot, in my view steadicam is superior

Also don't forget about user errors. With the Ronin, you have to adjust such small minuet details in the rig to perfectly balance out your set up. It's a slow process in finding what works perfectly with your camera.

So we're comparing a heavy worn-in $10,000+ custom Steadicam rig with support vest and a pro operator against a ~$2,000 Ronin? For the same price you bet anyone would go for the Steadicam option! The Ronin was not designed to compete against that particular price range.

Appreciate your time and effort in making this video! I don't think there's any substitute to a Steadicam out there. There are newer devices which might address the purpose, but it is finally one' preference; considering the cost and other factors into consideration. It's an impeccable invention of physics. Steadicam is more human and natural whereas Ronin seems to be stiffer and very electronicy. (Sort of like a hand-made bespoke shoe vs a production made shoe) Ronin might be lighter, but it might be a pain for your arms in relation to the fly time. Steadicam is heavier, but it distributes the wait to your back and legs; if correct posture is maintained + PRACTICE. There are several factors also and this can go on... :) Well, nothing like Steadicam and there won't be any. Thanks to *Garret Brown*

The walk and talk type of tests I actually liked the Ronin and the Orbiting test I liked the Steadicam. I thought it was going to be the other way around before picking. The Ronin had a Jello like floating feel to it compare to the steadicam, but it could also be based on the cam ops. Eitherway I cant afford either one lol.

I have the Ronin M, and you do have control of the vertical movement, its through the " DJI Assist " app and its al controlled through the " tilt " motors. iv done some videos with mine, and though adjusting the " deadhand " and the stiffness, and " roll " you can go up steps and it looks like its gliding. the biggest thing with the Ronin M is that you need to re-learn how to walk, and run, to take the bounce out of your steps to give you that free, smooth, and free glide look at higher speeds. its much simpler to adjust the Ronin M than you would think. I love it, and I am revamping my entire business, and youtube channel because of owning the Ronin M now.

i dont know which one is better but the steadycam operator was better

Thank You ! Very interested. Thanks from Poland

Out of curiosity why didn't the Steadicam op go in Don Juan for the lead shot? There wasn't really any need to go backwards Missionary on that one, or am I missing something? Personal preference perhaps? Good video comparison! They were both close, but I think there is a rare time that a Steadicam won't have the advantage over a 3-axis gimbal. Not only is it much less strenuous to operate, but the control over both up/down and side-to-side movements really make the Steadicam a winner. I don't see it going away any time soon!

I think David is really a master steadycam operator!! Steady is not easy to use in correct way. Ronin is a funny gadget, but for professional works , steady must to be there...

slam-dunk for the steadicam.... steadicam can carry something more than a toy camera too.

This is my most humble opinion based in my experience with booth, again there's some very well trained people out there with either or gadget than will tell you they can do whatever the other can do, but for an amateurs, first timers or even semi-pros this are the issues you will encounter. After watching the video you can clearly see where each one fails while just by walking, Whereas the Steadicam swings left to right on every step, the Ronin swings back and forth in a jerky type motion. This is lees noticeable when walking backwards since the steps are smaller in size. It takes a lot of practice with either or to master a smooth glide like walk, like the ones you get with rails set on the floor for a slider. I learned that having the knees a bit bend to absorb the shock of every step, and take smaller faster steps to keep the center of gravity strong, helps avoiding less swing to the sides or back and front. (it would be tiresome if you don't work your legs often). PROS & CONS: PROS with RONIN, ideal for tied places, all the way to come in or our of a car or a tied place where the long Steadicam won't fit. STEADICAM is also better to shoot a close up fight scene. (due to the quickness of the turns and up or down angles you can make with it). CONS with Ronin, the moment you have to do a parallel walk with an actor side to side, then you'll miss your Steady cam. It is very awkward to hold or try to walk side ways with the Ronin. Like Bart said in the beginning of the video, different tools for different jobs. STEADICAM is a bit better to move the height of a shot up or down (kind of a crane type of shot) where the RONIN makes is a bit more awkward since you need your elbows slightly bend to avoid jerky motion. NOW thats only good as long as you don't have to TILd down, then the RONIN with its thump use to achieve that makes the cut much better. Again this is in my opinion, operators of either or will have more to add to this. I hope this helps.

The steadycam look so sososososo nice to me...

Like someone who has smoke one joint too many. Listening to music, they start hearing things in the music that isn't even in there. You hear that.... yeah man you hear that special instrument they using? That's far out man! Well same thing when it comes to seeing things. Both of these tools do a fantastic job both examples are as smooth as can be. Only difference is in the quality of the camera images. To be fair they should have used the exact same camera for both units. I see comments here where people are seeing all sorts of things wrong on the Ronin and total perfection for the Steady-Cam. For the price I see no justification for trying to save up buying a Steady-cam to get these types of shots. By the time I save up enough money I would have to turn down a load of work because I could not do the job. Plus the time and effort needed to become a Steady-Cam operator adds to the price. With the Ronin the practice time is greatly reduced and of course the cost of the unit by itself makes me want to go with this unit hands down. I could buy two Ronins and have enough money for a sizable down payment on a new Jeep to carry them around in for the price of one Steady-Cam.

Looks like grand theft auto! haha

Steadicam won for me. But this was not a competition. Like they said at the beginning and end of the video: these are different tools for different jobs. With bigger and heavier cameras, I doubt the Ronin would "fly" -- unless you add the backpack mount which adds cost and makes it heavier again. So definitely very different purposes, therefor not really a competition. However, for smaller productions on a tight budget, the Ronin looks like a formidable alternative and is quite impressive.

i say the steadicam is the best but the ronin is more compact and ok for it portability

Super cool! Never seen a A vs B comparison between the old school steadicams/glidecams vs the new gimbals.

now do the same test on a 85mm lens :-)

I am a fan of the steadicam because it involves more practice and skill to be able to use where as the Robin it does it all for you. I say if you are going to learn learn the fun way and gain new skills with the steadicam I am tiny and one day at school a couple years back we had a steadicam operator come and show the TV production people about what he does and how the systems work. I even got to wear the steadicam. As I said I am tiny so it basically weighted more then I did and was basically covering my entirely lol but I enjoyed every minute of getting the chance to wear it and walk around for a moment or two with it. I don’t think I’ll ever have a pro steadicam like the one in the video but I’ll get something similar/cheaper one day!

Steady-cam won big time vs Ronin. Specially in the laterals of the frames, there's a lot of shaking...

Very professional, thank you both! Well, you both are the winners in my eyes as you did a great job answering my questions. As you said, it all depends on the case, I would need both systems to be on the safe side! :)) All the best!