The DJI RS2 Gives Your Manual Focus Lenses LIDAR Auto Focussing Abilities Even in the Dark

Will LIDAR be the future of camera focusing? Imagine being able to use your vintage lenses that gives you a level up with a unique looking image in video with auto focus, bypassing the camera's internals and "seeing" in the dark. The DJI RS2 can do this very well now. This video shows us how we'll be able to do just that. 

In the video it seems to take a few minutes to set up, but once it's done, the gimbal will pan to keep you in the frame, keep focus, and maintain this even in dark situations. It's called RavenEye Image Transmission System. I haven't shot with the Sony a7S III yet, and I believe it will be a great camera with regards to low-light capabilities, but this ability to focus in the dark took me by surprise. I have a range of manual focussing vintage lenses, and being able to focus them automatically was something I didn't pick up in the other review videos. 

So what this means is that you can shoot with vintage lenses that usually has no auto focus to speak of. With large productions you have the Focus Pull and the Grip on set to make sure the director's vision is captured. They would set up dollies or jibs to get the shot they need to put their story together. Now, with one gimbal and RavenEye, you can automate the the dollies or jibs, and the jobs of the Focus Pull will change into a controller of sorts. But it also means you can literally be a one-man band if you want. 

Can you imagine having this gimbal set up next to you on a tripod or on a stand, and you, with phone in hand, controlling the pan and pointing it in the direction of what you want to shoot, with the gimbal moving the camera into the same position, focussing and taking the shot? And, doing all of this with a manual focussing lens? 

In my opinion, if you are making videos and you are often featuring yourself in them, this could be the best combo yet. Get the DJI RS2 Gimbal here

Wouter du Toit's picture

Wouter is a portrait and street photographer based in Paris, France. He's originally from Cape Town, South Africa. He does image retouching for clients in the beauty and fashion industry and enjoys how technology makes new ways of photography possible.

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2 Comments

Interesting technology even for photography use. Would love to use Zeiss Planar 50.1,4 with AF, or maybe some TS-E lenses.