The 7 Best Gimbals For GoPro

True enough, GoPros make great video cameras, but there is no questioning that they were designed to record an action. GoPro owners consider smoothness and stability as the significant playmakers in capturing that incredible and epic shot. And regardless if you're trying to film extreme sports or a leisurely walking city tour, GoPro is an obvious choice given its compact size and excellent video quality. And this is where the best gimbal for GoPro enters the scene, as it allows you to take smooth, high-quality video by keeping the GoPro extremely stable as you move around and pan through shots. With that, here are the 7 best gimbals for GoPro you might want to check out.

Comparison Chart

Detailed Reviews on the 7 Best Gimbals for GoPro

Hohem iSteady Pro2

Hohem iSteady Pro2 is an excellent choice for those videographers looking to eliminate camera shake without breaking the bank. The Hohem iSteady Pro2 sports a water splash-proof and its beveled design. It's perfectly compatible with the DJI Osmo action camera, Sony RX0, Sjcam, Yi camera, and other action cameras with similar size.

Product Highlights

The iSteady Pro2 features a 30°angled design on a roll motor with a more extended support arm that makes the action camera display free from any obstruction and always in your line of sight to capture what you want without limits. As mentioned, the 30% torque improvement on upgraded motors and the super-rational design of clamp gives more possibilities on iSteady Pro 2 to be compatible with GoPro Hero 7/6/5/4/3, Sony RX0, SJCAM, YI cam, and most of the action cameras with similar dimensions.

The Good 

Apart from having an affordable price, this best gimbal for GoPro isn't short on features, too. This gimbal comes with a 600° range of motion in the pan axis and 12-hour battery life. Besides, this small handgrip packs a decent number of controls, including a joystick, to electronically adjust the pan and tilt.

The Bad 

According to several reports, it was found that the battery can cut out sometimes, mainly when it's being used for an extended period without breaks. Plus, its software has been notorious for being a bit buggy at times.

FeiyuTech G6 Gimbal Stabilizer

FeiyuTech G6 Gimbal Stabilizer is compatible with the GoPro HERO7, HERO6, HERO5 Black, and other action cameras with approximately the same size and form factor as those GoPro models. It sports an ergonomic handgrip that also serves as a battery holder and has integrated gimbal and camera controls.

Product Highlights

Based on its price point and functionality, this best gimbal for GoPro makes a smart choice for new users. This model makes it very easy to shoot your video, whether they're for walking or other movements, and you can smoothly playback the footage without missing any splendid moments. All-in-all, the gimbal stabilizer offers superior build quality to the Hohem iSteady Pro 2 while significantly costing less than the GoPro Karma Grip.

The Good 

The G6, being Feiyu's flagship GoPro gimbal, features a small yet slick IP67 splash-proof body packs that come with a small LCD and other nifty features like an external mic port and a slider to control the roll of your camera. Meanwhile, although they may appear to be identical, G6 is a big step up from its flawed predecessor, the Feiyu G5, which had some funky stabilization issues with noticeable micro jitter.

The Bad 

Reports say that FeiyuTech G6 comes with a fiddly mounting procedure, which requires adjustment of hand screws. Plus, it was found that attaching your camera could be a challenge than with the Karma Grip, which is a case of merely slotting the camera in its harness.

REMOVU S1 3-Axis Gimbal

REMOVU S1 3-Axis Gimbal is another highly capable GoPro gimbal that is characterized by a standard stick-style gimbal and can also be converted into a wearable version by detaching the small pole. The S1 is specially built to provide extremely stable professional shots regardless of the activity by removing unwanted movements and vibrations, which results in buttery smooth footage.

Product Highlights

This best gimbal for GoPro is a 3-axis gimbal with brushless motors and rotary sensors that help you capture smooth, moving shots using your HERO7 or another GoPro camera with approximately the same size and form factor. Plus, the S1 gimbal also features frame mounts for the GoPro HERO7/6/5, HERO4/3+/3, and HERO Session cameras, and comes in a water-resistant body and motors, making it safe to be used in rain or snow.

The Good 

Unlike other GoPro gimbal batteries, the S1's battery is removable. Furthermore, the model's handgrip comes with a removable wireless Bluetooth remote control that allows you to remotely maneuver the gimbal even if it's mounted on your helmet or to your chest. Removu S1 features three shooting modes, namely pan follow, following, and locked, which can be used inverted for those underslung shots.

The Bad 

Some significant issues with the Removu S1 are probably the loud motor noise and its somewhat sluggish follow modes. These conditions might not be an issue for some, but those who are doing more audio-sensitive work like vlogging might take it as a big deal.

Feiyu WG2X

Feiyu WG2X is a wearable and mountable 3-axis gimbal stabilizer minus the standard handle. The model is an update of the well-received WG2 wearable gimbal. However, though they might appear similar, WG2X has vastly improved in terms of stabilization performance, an angled gimbal arm, and the ability to control it remotely.

Product Highlights

WG2X features an angled arm that makes it easier to use your camera's touchscreen unobstructed. It's designed for action cameras and directly supports the GoPro HERO7 Black/Silver/White, HERO6 Black, and HERO5 Black and various other cameras of similar shape and size, including the HERO4, YI Technology 4K/4K+, and select SJCAM and AEE models. 

The Good 

The model's innovative design comes with a specially designed base support and a 2,000/sec real-time calibration. This feature ensures stable shooting regardless if the gimbal is hanging or wearing. Further, the Red Dot Elevation is designed to avoid the roll motor's negative impact, yielding an improved shot and quality results. 

The Bad 

Having a wearable feature, the WG2X also has a smaller 1500mAh battery that can be housed within its compact body, which means that its battery life will only last around 2.5 hours on a single charge. Plus, WG2X is merely splash-proof and is less water-resistant than its predecessor, the WG2, which was rated IP67 waterproof. 

Freevision Vilta-G

Freevision Vilta-G is a compact, ergonomic three-axis gimbal that offers handheld and wearable operation modes. VILTA has the most advanced motor and servo control algorithm, and it comes with breakneck response speed and high control precision. It achieves image stability better than its competitors.

Product Highlights

This best gimbal for GoPro can easily be changed to a wearable one with the help of a quick-release button. In turn, the wearable gimbal is made compatible with GoPro mounts. Further, the base features a standard GoPro two-prong mount that folds out on the bottom and allows you to attach the base onto numerous GoPro support accessories. With Vilta-G, no more complicated calibration procedures as the brand applied its own patented adaptive sensor algorithm and intelligent calibration system.

The Good 

The base and handle use their battery, respectively. When the two units are used together, you get up to 9.5 hours of operation. It only runs for up to 1.5 hours when the base is used separately. Vilta-G also comes with a user-friendly mobile app for iOS that allows you to operate the gimbal and simultaneously monitor the GoPro video remotely.

The Bad 

According to reports, Vilta-G's movement locks don't hold longer with severe movement. It was also found that the gimbal tends to produce horrible motor noise when used with GoPro Hero5.

GoPro Karma Grip

GoPro Karma Grip is best paired with the HERO camera to capture smooth and sweeping footage. It combines the 3-axis motorized gimbal stabilizer that can be found in the Karma drone with a handgrip. The Karma Grip actively isolates the HERO camera from vibrations that usually transpire while walking, running, or even standing still.

Product Highlights

With pro-quality stabilization, the Karma Grip can now capture the fantastic handheld and body-worn perspectives that only a GoPro can do before. It comes with a simple built-in camera controls that allow you to power it on and off, change modes, start and stop recording, and add HiLight Tags on the fly. The gimbal offers professional, cinema-quality video, whether you're hiking, biking, or chasing your kids through the park.

The Good 

The Karma Grip's most significant advantages are its ease of use and state-of-the-art stabilization performance. Additionally, this gimbal works smoothly with GoPros. It doesn't involve installing any third-party gimbal companion apps that other manufacturers are using and requiring firmware updates or configuring settings.

The Bad 

The model only features two shooting modes, namely pan and following, and it doesn't come with extra features such as pan/tilt joystick or selfie mode. Karma Grip is also characterized by disappointing battery life. Recording at 4K, you can only expect around 2 hours of recording time and drain the battery quicker.

Zhiyun Smooth 4 Smartphone Gimbal

Zhiyun Smooth 4 Smartphone Gimbal turns your mobile phone into a professional filmmaking camera while helping you create stable and smooth footage using your phone. When used with the free, downloadable ZY Play app, the control panel allows Android and iOS users to remotely control both gimbal and smartphone camera functions such as focus, zoom, time-lapse, and still photo settings.

Product Highlights

This smartphone gimbal's controls eliminates the constant need to toggle your phone's screen; hence, minimizing unintended jostling while recording. It features a dedicated "Vertigo" function that replicates the perspective-shifting, dolly/zoom effect essential to many filmmakers. Further, this gimbal comes with a significantly larger focus/zoom wheel, a PhoneGo mode that can quickly grab the action, multiple time-lapse functions, and object tracking.

The Good 

The Smooth-4's large focus wheel sports a witness mark that can be lined up to focus on the spots you placed on its textured band. The wheel is found on the handgrip's left side, and it comes with a button located to its lower right. In turn, it allows you to toggle between focus and zoom functions, with a button light indicating zoom mode.

The Bad 

Some functions of the Zhiyun Smooth 4 only work when using the ZY Play app, making it inconvenient for some users. Although this gimbal comes with several advanced features, using Smooth 4 could be a challenge without the joystick. 

Conclusion

Indeed, looking for the best gimbal for GoPro could be a tricky process. However, it still depends on how you're planning to use your GoPro to record footage. Ultimately, it all boils down to taste, budget, and the circumstances that surround it. Find out more about gimbals.

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