Do you guys put the original plastic piece that came with the original packaging that protected the camera lens and also keeps it from moving back on after every flight?

I have been, but sometimes it snaps on in a weird position and almost forces the camera/gimbal in a weird position that I'll have to back off and reattempt.

My fear is that just simply trying to replace this every time could potentially harm the mechanism and motor arms worse if it bends or locks in a bad position more than a few times than just leaving it hanging loose as long as I store it in the original styrofoam case it came in.

I have the P4P+.

What are you thoughts?

I always use it, as well as the small piece of foam which slides under the rear side. The marks on the underside of the P4P's legs give you an indication of where to position the clips on the plastic protector before pushing them down. That way the camera should not be on an angle.
Essentially, it ensures that a bump to the case in transit will not jar the gimbal. It also protects the lense from scratching should anything move around insidde the case.

Punchbuggy Posted at 2017-6-8 20:52
I always use it, as well as the small piece of foam which slides under the rear side. The marks on the underside of the P4P's legs give you an indication of where to position the clips on the plastic protector before pushing them down. That way the camera should not be on an angle.
Essentially, it ensures that a bump to the case in transit will not jar the gimbal. It also protects the lense from scratching should anything move around insidde the case.

Thanks. I do like using it, but just wanted to be sure it wasn't a one-time thing and known to cause damage or something like that.

If other people do it, I'll continue doing it also.
Update: Never realised there were marks on the bottom of the legs. This helps me feel a lot better when snapping it on. Thanks again!

Merq Posted at 2017-6-8 20:56
Thanks. I do like using it, but just wanted to be sure it wasn't a one-time thing and known to cause damage or something like that.

If other people do it, I'll continue doing it also.

Mine doesn't have marks on the legs, so I added some with a permanent marker, makes it much easier to position.

I think it is important to use it so the gimbal can't crash around in transport, it just presses it up into the fairly soft gimbal suspension, doesn't matter if it is not quite straight, never heard of it getting damaged other than in a crash.

Nigel_ Posted at 2017-6-8 23:04
Mine doesn't have marks on the legs, so I added some with a permanent marker, makes it much easier to position.

I think it is important to use it so the gimbal can't crash around in transport, it just presses it up into the fairly soft gimbal suspension, doesn't matter if it is not quite straight, never heard of it getting damaged other than in a crash.

The marks are underneath on the rubber part of the legs, both my P4 and P4P have them, doesn't yours?

Memento Mori Posted at 2017-6-8 23:23
The marks are underneath on the rubber part of the legs, both my P4 and P4P have them, doesn't yours?

No, my P4 does not have them.  Some do and some don't.

Nigel_ Posted at 2017-6-9 00:25
No, my P4 does not have them.  Some do and some don't.

You'd think they would be all the same, typical DJI trait I suppose.

Punchbuggy Posted at 2017-6-8 20:52
I always use it, as well as the small piece of foam which slides under the rear side. The marks on the underside of the P4P's legs give you an indication of where to position the clips on the plastic protector before pushing them down. That way the camera should not be on an angle.
Essentially, it ensures that a bump to the case in transit will not jar the gimbal. It also protects the lense from scratching should anything move around insidde the case.

DITTO DITTO DITTO DITTO

I use the gimbal protector but not the foam insert.

Try this gimbal lock PolarPro DJI Phantom 4 Pro Gimbal Lock

Maxi3D Posted at 2017-6-9 10:58
Try this gimbal lock PolarPro DJI Phantom 4 Pro Gimbal Lock

That is the one I use and it works perfectly, bought it on amazon.

I use the clear factory one and my P4P has marks on the bottom to align it.
I never use the other foam piece.

Nigel_ Posted at 2017-6-9 00:25
No, my P4 does not have them.  Some do and some don't.

Earlier manufactured models of P4 didn't have the markings on the legs. I understand DJI added it later - easy enough to do after feedback, I suppose.

This was great intel from the community. Thanks guys. I have been using the factory gimbal protector ever since. It still feels weird when you push that final "click" and it locks on, as if the gimbal's calibration could be thrown off or something from doing it, but if everyone else does it, why not? I'll roll with it.