How to shoot vertical on the DJI RS 4 and RS 4 Mini

To shoot vertical on a DJI RS 4 or RS 4 Mini, take the camera off, loosen the knob on the camera mounting plate, press the knob (and safety lock on the RS 4) to remove the horizontal plate, then mount the plate vertically and tighten the knob. Slide the quick-release plates and camera back on, and rebalance. The camera now sits in true portrait orientation, so you record full-resolution 9:16 video without cropping. This is often called native vertical shooting.

RS 4 vertical shooting setup — From DJI's RS 4 and RS 4 Mini manuals. DJI says the tilt-axis depth and pan axis don't need rebalancing when you switch from horizontal.

Step by step: DJI RS 4

From DJI's RS 4 / RS 4 Pro manual:

Remove the camera and lower quick-release plate.
Loosen the knob on the camera mounting plate. Press the knob and the safety lock at the same time, and remove the gimbal's horizontal plate.
Mount the plate vertically on the gimbal and tighten the knob.
Move the lever on the plate to unlocked, insert the lower quick-release plate, and lock the lever once it engages.
Unlock the tilt axis and rest the arm level. Unlock the lower quick-release plate's lever, insert the upper quick-release plate (with the camera), lock it, then lock the tilt axis.

Step by step: DJI RS 4 Mini

The RS 4 Mini works the same way, with slightly simpler steps:

Loosen the knob, press it to remove the horizontal plate, then install the plate vertically and tighten the knob.
Unlock the lever on the plate, insert the lower quick-release plate, and lock it.
Unlock the lever on the lower plate, insert the upper quick-release plate, and lock it.

The RS 4 Mini supports a 2 kg payload, so check that your camera and lens fit in portrait too. The RS 4 handles 3 kg.

Rebalance for vertical

Balance matters more in portrait because the camera's weight sits differently.

Vertical tilt: unlock the tilt axis and rotate the camera so the lens points up. If it's top-heavy, move the camera back; bottom-heavy, move it forward. Tighten when it stays put pointing up.
Tilt depth: DJI says you don't need to rebalance tilt depth when switching from horizontal to vertical.
Roll axis: unlock it and check which way the camera swings. Move the camera opposite to the swing until it stays level, then lock.
Pan axis: DJI says you don't need to readjust the pan axis when switching from horizontal to vertical.

Then power on and run Auto Tune, which DJI says sets the motor stiffness for your payload. Trouble? See how to balance the DJI RS 4 and DJI RS 4 not calibrating.

Tips for vertical gimbal work

Check cable reach. The camera control cable and any monitor cable need slack in the new orientation.
Lens support: with long or heavy lenses, DJI recommends the lens-fastening support.
Use the right mode. Pan Follow or Pan and Tilt Follow work well for walking shots. See DJI RS 4 modes explained.
Mark your plate positions. Note where each arm sits for horizontal and vertical so switching back is fast.
Phones: shooting vertical with an iPhone on the RS 4 Mini? See DJI RS 4 Mini with iPhone.

Switching back to horizontal

Reverse the steps: remove the camera, take off the plate, mount it horizontally, reattach and recheck balance. Recheck the vertical tilt balance before you shoot.

Which gimbal?

DJI RS 4: 3 kg payload, automated axis locks, 1.8 in touchscreen. Best for full-frame mirrorless with a 24-70 mm f/2.8.
DJI RS 4 Mini: 2 kg payload, lighter at 890 g. Best for compact mirrorless and smaller lenses.

Compare in DJI RS 4 vs RS 4 Mini.