FeiyuTech G5 vs Karma Grip | The One I Think is Best and Why

So I would have to say the most common question I get asked via all my social media channels is which hand-held gimbal is best to use with a Hero 5 Black or a Hero 6 Black. In this post, I am going to offer up my opinion of what my favorite gimbal is and compare it to the Karma Grip which is another favorite of mine. Now I would like to say that both the FeiyuTech G5 and the Karma Grip are both excellent hand-held stabilizers and no matter which one you choose you will be happy with your purchase. Watch our YouTube video as I go over all the reasons why I prefer the FeiyuTech G5 over the Karma Grip.

Karma Grip: http://amzn.to/2BP1oQu
Karma Grip Case: http://amzn.to/2EULHKC

FeiyuTech G5: http://amzn.to/2F8z9hM
FeiyuTech Extension Handle: http://amzn.to/2EVI3jF
FeiyuTech BlueTooth Remote: http://amzn.to/2FCviHS
FeiyuTech Extra Battery: http://amzn.to/2EVdudH

Here are some of the reasons why I prefer the FeiyuTech G5 over the Karma Grip.

Size Matters / Case: When it comes to the size of the cases you can clearly see that the FeiyuTech G5 is quite a bit smaller. The smaller size of the case and gimbal make it easier to pack and takes up far less space in a camera bag or backpack. This is very important to me when I am out adventuring. I like to keep all my gear in a camera backpack and there is no way the Karma Grip case would fit in my setup. The unit itself is also a little smaller making it more comfortable in the hand. When the Karma Grip was first launched the package included a case, but now all new Karma Grip units ship without a case, it is now a separate purchase. The official karma grip case retails for $39.99 and has a nice firm build offering more shock, drop and crush protection than the FeiyuTech G5 which is a soft sleeve styled case. But with all things considered I still prefer the smaller footprint of the FeiyuTech G5 and the case is included free.
Price: There is a significant price difference between the two gimbals, 100 dollars to be exact. The FeiyuTech G5 retails for $199.99 and the karma grips retails for $299.99. I like to save money!
Battery: The karma Grip has a built-in battery that is rated at about 1 hour and 45 minutes of usage.Whereas the FeiyuTech G5 has a removable battery that is rated at about 8 hours usage. That is a huge difference. Then when you factor in the removable battery that can be swapped out if you need more shooting time, or just want to replace a weak or damaged battery the FeiyuTech G5 definitely has the edge. Both units are able to charge a GoPro while mounted.
Versatility: With the stock Karma Grip it is compatible with the Hero 5 Black and the Hero 6 Black. You can purchase (More Money) a separate harness that will make it compatible with the Hero 4 series. The FeiyuTech G5 comes equipped to handle the Hero 5/6 Black, Hero 4 series, Hero 3 series in fact it will fit many other brands of action cameras that have a similar form factor of the GoPro Hero line of cameras. In addition with a little trick I featured on my YouTube channel you can even mount a GoPro session. It’s not officially supported but it does work quit well.
Controls: When it comes to controls the Karma Grip does have the edge when it comes to controlling the GoPro. The Karma Grip has buttons to start/stop recording, change modes and set a highlight tag, whereas the buttons on the FeiyuTech G5 are for controlling the gimbal only. Now with that said the FeiyuTech G5 has a few extra button features that are not included with the karma grip, including a 360 button that automatically turns the camera towards you if you want to do some vlogging. It also has a joystick for precision control of the gimbal. As for a dedicated start/stop record button it is not that important with the Hero 5/6 Black due to the camera being voice controlled. The FeiyuTech G5 also has the option of using a FeiyuTech BlueTooth remote (not included) which can really come in handy when using the gimbal remotely or mounted out of reach.
Mounting: The FeiyuTech G5 has two points where it can be mounted. A 1/4 inch tripod thread is located on the side and bottom of the unit. The camera itself can be mounted in different ways depending of you are right or left-handed. It can even be mounted upside down.
Better Audio: I would have to say that both units emit the same amount of motor noise which if find to be an acceptable level. However, the FeiyuTech G5 can produce better audio due to the fact that the Hero5/6 black is notorious for having poor muffled audio when the side door is removed.