Action cameras are the new cool kid in town that lets anyone capture some of the sickest videos and stills however sometimes unavoidable shakes and jolts can occur resulting in shaky videos/images and nobody wants that!
Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned pro Gimbals can make a huge difference to the quality of your footage. In fact, they are the only way to capture silky smooth footage as they stabilize shakes whilst using action cameras/GoPros.
In this article, I will review some of the best Gimbals for action cameras and GoPros in 2021. I’ve tried to cover everything important and at the same time keep things short and sweet so make sure you read towards the end.
Best Action Camera Gimbal 2021
1. GoPro Karma Grip – Best GoPro Gimbal 2021
Note: The Karma grip comes free when you purchase the Karma Bundle
Gimbal Specifications:
- Weight: 361g
- Tilt Working Angle: 90 to 180 degrees (vertical handheld)
- Heading Working Angle (vertical handheld): -135 to +135 degrees
- Heading Working Angle (leveled handheld): -45 to +45 degrees
- Roll Working Angle: -45 to +45 degrees
Compatible with:
- GoPro Hero 4/5/6/7 and mounts
Note: Not compatible with Hero 5 Session
Gimbal Features and Attributes:
Directly from GoPro themselves, The Karma Grip is the first and best in class gimbal for GoPros that will help you capture crystal clear stills and footage free of distortions.
Best GoPro Compatibility
If you love GoPros and want only the most compatible gimbal that will function without bugs and hiccups then there is no better than picking the action camera gimbal from the same manufacturer.
The Karma grip is compatible with most GoPro mounts and action cameras because it is specifically made for that.
Water Resistant
Like I mentioned before it’s important for your gimbal to be waterproof due to the vulnerable nature of action cameras and the Karma Grip while not waterproof is resistant to water with a waterproof version on its way.
- Small and lightweight
- extremely portable
- easy to pack on trips
- Compatible with GoPros
- Pricey as compared to other competitors
- Not compatible with Hero5 Session
Verdict: Is the GoPro Karma Grip worth it?
If you own a GoPro and want something that works best with it there’s no better than a gimbal from the manufacturer itself.
However, the expensive price tag might throw a lot of people off and for good reason as $300 for a gimbal seems a little hefty.
2. EVO SS – Best 3 Axis Action Camera Gimbal
Gimbal Specifications:
- Weight: 310g
- Tilt Working Angle:
- Battery life: Up to 7 hours (x2 included)
- Pan Axis Range: -135° to +135°
- Tilt Axis Range: -90° to +180° (Inverted)
- Roll Axis Range: -45° to +45°
Compatibility with:
- GoPro Hero3, GoPro Hero3+, Hero5 Black, Hero 6
- GoPro Hero4 Silver, GoPro Hero4 Black
- Yi Action Cam, Yi 4K Action Cam, SJ4000-SJ6000
- GoPro Hero Session, GoPro Hero5 Session
- Garmin Virb Ultra 30
- Nikon KeyMission 170
Gimbal Features and Attributes:
One of the best Handheld gimbals compatible with most GoPros and some other action cameras and for good reason. In fact, it’s the only action camera gimbal with well-balanced features in terms of stabilization, price, and ease of use.
Great Stabilization with multiple modes
This action camera gimbal features 3 stabilization modes that allow you to replicate the same dolly or jib-arm shots as seen in movies with million dollar productions.
Lightweight and durable body
Like it’s predecessors EVO GP gimbals are constructed of strong aluminum frames same as those used in aircraft. This results in a highly durable gimbal that’s also relatively light which is always nice for the wrist.
Highly customizable with great third-party support
Apart from a light body this gimbal I particularly like the numerous customizations via add-ons. This action camera gimbal has a thread built into the rear end of the handle that allows it to be hooked to a wide range of products such as extension poles and tripods.
Note: You need to purchase an EVO Pro mount to use this gimbal with smartphones.
Live recording/images
There is a port connector on the device that allows the GP-PRO to connect to external monitors if you want to stream or record any live images or videos.
- Decent Battery life
- Great Stabilisation
- Good compatibility
- Difficult to set up
- Fuzzy Audio
Verdict: Is it worth it?
The EVO GP-PRO is one of the best selling 3 axis GoPro gimbals because it’s rugged, intuitive, affordable and most importable stable to use.
In my opinion, there are very few gimbals that can match the Evo in terms of stabilization which makes it a no-brainer to get.
3. Feiyu WG2X – Portable Gimbal For Action Camera
Compatibility with:
- GoPro Hero 4
- GoPro 3+
- Hero 3 without backpack LCD
- YI 4K
- SJCAM
- AEE
- Hero4/5 Session
Gimbal Specifications:
- Weight: 130g
- Tilting Angle: 360 degree
- Rolling Angle: 70 degree
- Panning Angle: 360 degree
- Battery: 2.5 hours
Waterproof body (up to 1 meter)
While Waterproofing is a new feature being tested in many action camera gimbals the Feiyu Tech WG2 is built fully waterproof! (with some limitations)
Don’t expect to soak it deep for hours it’s not an action camera rather it’s meant to endure splashes and light flowing water up to 1 meter deep.
Note: If it’s submerged in salt water it needs to be rinsed thoroughly with fresh water as salt is any metals worst enemy.
Highly Versatile and portable in nature:
At only 130g this is the lightest action camera gimbals on the list and because of this, it can be easily attached to mounts.
It’s also worth mentioning the tripod that comes in the box making it compatible with a whole multitude of GoPro mounts like a suction cup mount or the clamp mount.
Great stabilization with multiple modes:
Feiyu is known to produce gimbals with excellent stabilization and same is the case with the WG2 PRO that has multiple modes like lock mode, panning and tilting mode, auto-rotation mode etc.
- Sleek and light body
- Fully waterproof
- App functions are lacking
- Issues with Hero 5 models.
Verdict: Is it worth it?
In short, the Feiyu Tech WG2 is a small, lightweight gimbal that carries the top quality Feiyu tech DNA that will perform excellently in terms of smooth stabilization, ease-of-use, and battery life.
4. Feiyu Tech G6 – Splash proof 3 Axis GoPro Gimbal
Compatibility with:
- GoPro Hero 6/5/4/3+
- YI 4K
- SJCAM
- AEE action camera
Gimbal Specifications:
- Rolling working range: 360 degrees
- Tilting range: 360 degrees
- Panning angle: 360 degrees
- Battery: 5000mah up to 12 hours
- Weight: 336 (not inclusive of battery)
Gimbal Features and Attributes:
The Feiyu tech G5 is a very popular name in the gimbals for action cameras industry. It has produced quite a few gimbals already and some of them are even on this list. However, this particular gimbal is the new and improved gimbal with big improvements made in the performance and user-interface.
Excellent highly-customizable stabilization:
This action camera gimbal sports an excellent stabilizer that can tile up to a full 360 degrees panning a rolling range of 320 degrees
With the Feiyu tech G6, you have a number of stabilization modes to choose from like
- Lock Mode: Camera stays locked pointing in fixed direction whilst moving.
- Pan Following Mode: Follows Horizontal movement stabilizing other axes
- Selfie Mode: Rotates 180 degrees to face you, in addition, there is a rocker for controlling the horizontal tilt of the camera.
- Trail Timelapse Mode: Lets you set random nodes within specific starting and ending positions to create beautiful motion timelapse.
- Panoramic Mode: Helps you get great panoramic shots without any jitters
Controlled via Smartphone App:
Feiyu now has a new and improved app with a very intuitive interface that can be used to control the gimbal remotely. This opens up a whole new window of possibilities of using the Gimbal.
- Good stabilisation
- customisable modes
- Reasonable pricing
- Motor tends to make a bit of noise
Verdict: Is it worth it?
The G6 is the flagship model by Feiyu and is definitely not cheap but it is definitely one of their best action camera gimbals so far. It’s improved greatly in terms of compatibility and now works with all GoPros and some action cameras.
Apart from great build quality, it features some of the best stabilization modes with a very easy-to-use control interface. In my opinion, if you have the money and want a premium gimbal that won’t disappoint the G6 is your best bet!
5. Feiyu Tech FYG5 – Popular Gimbal For Action Cameras
Compatibility with:
- GoPro HERO 5/4/ 3/3+
- YI 4k and other action cameras of similar size
Gimbal Specifications:
- Battery Life: 8 hours
- Waterproof: Yes
- Weight: 271g
- Tilting Angle: 360 degrees
- Rolling Angle: 245 degrees
- Panning Angle: 360 degrees
Gimbal Features and Attributes:
A slightly older action camera gimbal by Feiyu but still one of the most popular gimbals for the GoPro Hero 4.
Long Lasting Battery life: (8hours)
While gimbals are secondary to the GoPro/action cameras it doesn’t hurt for them to have a long lasting battery life because
Good Ease of Use:
As far as handheld gimbals go the Feiyu tech FYG5 is one of the easiest and to use this is because of its highly intuitive design.
Feiyu upgraded the “Unibody arm” delivering a more precise steady camera motion and also added an excellent rubber that makes it extremely easy to use.
- Battery lasts up to 8 hours
- Waterproof body
- Not compatible with latest GoPros
Verdict: Is the Feiyu Tech FYG5 worth it?
If you are looking for a waterproof handheld gimbal for your action camera with sophisticated stabilization functionality then the Feiyu FYG5 will definitely not disappoint.
6. Hohem iSteady Pro – Long Lasting Cheap Gimbal For GoPro
Gimbal Specifications:
- Battery life: 4000mAh battery with 12 hours battery life
- Pitching Angle: 320 degree
- Rolling Angle: 320 degree
- Panning Angle: 640 degree
Compatibility with:
- GoPro Hero 6/5/4/3+/3, the Yi 4K, the AEE
- Sony RX0
- SJCAM
Gimbal Features and Attributes:
The biggest selling point about this GoPro Gimbal is it’s extremely compatible price, in fact, it’s the cheapest action camera gimbal on this list!
12 Hour Battery life: (can be used as a power bank)
Battery life is not going to be a problem with this action camera gimbal as it’s got an extremely long battery life (up to 12 hours) which is unheard of in even the premium action camera gimbals with the Karma grip lasting only a puny 3 hours!
Alternatively, this gimbals battery doubles up as power bank that can be used to charge your action camera and even smartphone. (nifty huh?)
Great Compatibility and third-party support
This action camera gimbal is also compatible with a majority of the action cameras. It is also extremely easy to connect to
- Priced extremely low
- Battery lasts up to 12 hours
- App has a couple of bugs
Verdict: Is it worth it?
While this gimbal might be relatively basic and entry-level it’s perfect for most beginner and hobbyist content creators. Moreover, it’s got a great battery life and excellent stabilization that is good enough for most users
7. ZhiYun Smooth Q – 3 Axis Handheld Gimbal Stabilizer
Gimbal Specifications:
- Weight: 547g
- Tilt Mechanical Range：240 degrees
- Roll Mechanical Range：240 degrees
- Battery Runtime Standard: 12 hours
Compatible with:
- Google Pixel 2/XL
- Samsung S4 to S9
- GoPro 3/4/5/
Gimbal Features and Attributes:
While this gimbal is designed for smartphones it’s just as good for most GoPros and action cameras and while it sports premium features it’s priced reasonably low hence making my list of best action camera gimbals.
Advanced stabilization features
Apart from featuring a 3-axis stabilization with up to 360 degrees rotation, this action camera gimbal is integrated with advanced stabilization features.
For instance, it can track the subject or keep the image steady and stable even if the gimbal gets moved around. Other modes it has are focus pull and zoom, phone mode and vertigo shot mode.
Moreover, the joystick controls are very intuitive and can be easily controlled making it easy to switch between modes.
- Weatherproof body
- Bang for the buck
- Instruction manual is a poorly translated
- Bad customer service
- Can be a little bulky
Verdict: Is it worth it?
If you’re looking for a hand-held gimbal with advanced stabilization features without breaking the bank then the ZhiYun Smooth Q is the perfect option for you.
Moreover, it doubles down as a smartphone stabilizer extending its use from just an action camera gimbal.
8. Feiyu G4-QD – Budget 3-Axis Gimbal For GoPro
- Good compatibility
- Long-lasting battery life
- Software installation can be tedious
- Translated instructions unclear
- no support for Mac
Should I Get this?
A simple to use action camera gimbal with a very intuitive interface perfect for most beginners. It’s got great stabilization with multiple modes and is available at a very attractive price.
If you’re on a budget but still want a lightweight and portable gimbal for your action camera you cannot go wrong with this one.
Best Action Camera Gimbal Buyer’s Guide: What is a Gimbal and why do you need it?
If you’ve seen a movie or any professional video productions you probably ask yourself how can the footages be so stable and smooth? Gimbals!
Gimbals are particularly used to stabilize your video or picture productions or anything really using a camera or action camera. In the past gimbals were mainly used by professional movie makers because it was really expensive.
Fortunately today with the widespread popularity of GoPros and action cameras the cost of gimbals have come drastically down with companies producing great products any typical consumer can afford!
There are mainly 2 types of gimbals that can be used for GoPros and action cameras a wearable gimbal and handheld gimbal.
The main difference is in the physical body where the wearable gimbals are generally lights and more portable and the handheld ones are heavier and bulkier. As a result, wearable gimbals have more mounting freedom as it’s obviously harder to mount the handheld gimbals onto bicycles or helmets and other areas.
Another difference is that handheld gimbals have larger batteries that last longer as there is more space to house them as compared to the wearable gimbal.
You’ll also find “2-axis” and “3-axis” with the former only stabilizing on the “pitch and roll” axis and while the latter stabilizing on “yaw, pitch, and roll” axis. In my opinion, the 3-axis is much better as it will eliminate the jittery filming when moving horizontally. (the yaw axis)
Gimbals are to cameras what training wheels are to bicycles only difference here is you always want to have them on because they help keep your action camera steady and firm letting you capture silky smooth content.
GoPro Gimbal Buying Guide: What are the factors to look for?
Although Gimbals are a very niche market there are quite a few companies that produce them making it harder for consumers to differentiate between the options they have. This is why I’ve researched to find out what exactly makes a gimbal good and listed the factors below:
Is it compatible with the action camera?
This is especially important in gimbals as they don’t always work with all action cameras. If you have a GoPro you should be fine but if you use one of those GoPro alternatives you will find it difficult to find a good gimbal.
Is the stabilization any good?
The main purpose of the gimbal is to stabilize your GoPro or action camera so it makes sense for it to have good stabilization.
Note: If you’re looking to attach the gimbal to a drone a 2-axis would be much better as it’s got less motor noise and also much lighter for the drone to carry ensuring longer battery life.
How heavy is the gimbal?
lighter is the way to go with gimbals as there will be less strain on your arms. Anything below 450g in weight is good.
How wide can it turn?
Degrees of rotation. The higher the better as the wider it can turn and hence you’ll have more flexibility when filming.
What is the battery life?
Most have about 4-5 hours of battery life, highest I have seen is 12 hours.
What mounts does the gimbal use?
What are the mounts present? ¼” standard tripod mount is most common but some gimbals use GoPro mounts.
What are the accessories it comes with?
Any accessories that it comes with, such as tripods, adapters, etc?
Is it waterproof?
Given the nature of action cameras, chances are your gimbal is going to be subject to water as well. Now although most gimbals claim to be waterproof most of them cannot be fully submerged under water.
Thank you for reading through this review of best action camera gimbals in 2021! If you have any queries make sure to comment below I’ll answer them in no time.
Read Next:
Cameras Like GoPro But Cheaper
Last update on 2021-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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