Feiyu Tech G5 review

Feiyu Tech G5

Feiyu Tech G5 is the first splash-proof action camera gimbal that is compatible with GoPro Hero4 and Hero5 and other similar cameras. Its a 3-axis handheld gimbal that has some amazing features. Check out the newest Feiyu Tech G6 review

Remember the days when a gimbal was a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE contraption that the movie professionals had strapped to their waist and you had to cough up thousands of dollars to get one? The weight-based stabilizers were (and still are) a nightmare to calibrate and packing them down for holiday trip was pretty much out of the question.

Fast forward to the year 2017 and you can get an affordable, amazingly simple gimbal that works right out of the box for your GoPro to get the most amazing cinematic videos.

I had the chance to test the Feiyu Tech G5 3-axis gimbal and the results are superb! The G5 beats the competition by coming out with the FIRST splashproof action camera gimbal on the market.

Feiyu Tech G5 overview

To star off, the package is already pretty nice. As I have written before (GoScope Boost Plus review) the first impressions are really important and I want to get a perfect experience for my money right when i receive the product from the delivery guy. Feiyu Tech does not disappoint – the box looks nice and has a “premium” feel to it. The white box has that Apple feel and you really know you are in for a treat when you open it up. The box contains the gimbal, nicely inside the neoprene pouch and a small black box that holds all the small parts like the screws the cables and the bracket.

Feiyu Tech G5 box
Feiyu Tech G5 box

The gimbal itself is made of high-quality materials and you can really tell that by how it feels in your hand. The metal body is solid and feels like a one solid piece of equipment. Nothing is missing and nothing feels redundant. The grip has a rubberized coating so it doesn`t slip and feels nice to hold even when really cold outside ( I tested it out in -11 °C / 12 °F )

The controls are at your thumb and are easy to use – the joystick to control the movement of the camera, the main button to power on/off and to change modes and recenter and a smaller button for Selfie Mode. The buttons feel solid and easy to use without the need to look where they are. The small LED indicator light is situated right above the joystick. The joystick works well, the movement is smooth and it`s pretty easy to control the camera once you get the hang of it.

Feiyu Tech G5 buttons
Feiyu Tech G5 buttons

How the Feiyu Tech G5 buttons work:

  • You can use the function button to switch the working modes, power on or power off the gimbal.
  • Power on: Long press Function Button and release it until the green light is on. Power off:Long press Function Button and release it until the red light changes from quick flashing to constant.
  • Press and hold the Selfie button to turn the camera 180 degrees to face you. Release to restore the previous position.
  • One tap on the main button switches the gimbal between Panning Mode and Lock Mode
  • Two taps switches it into Panning and Tilting Mode
  • Triple Tap will wake the camera rotate 180 degrees
  • Four taps will reset the gimbal position

Feiyu Tech G5 modes:

Panning Mode. The camera will follow left and right if you turn the handle to either of the sides. Perfect for panoramic shots because you don’t need to worry about the frame wondering up or down by accident.

Panning and Tilting Mode. The camera will follow your movements to left and right and up and down. This is the mode you have the most freedom in so wherever you point the camera the gimbal will smoothly follow.

Lock mode. The camera will stay fixed in one direction despite how you move your hand.

To charge your gimbal connect the USB cable (provided) to the small USB port located behind a rubber seal and plug it in any USB port to charge. The rubber seal for me was a bit dangly and didn`t quite fit at first so you might want to take a look and make sure it`s properly sealed before you take the gimbal out during rain. The flimsy USB port cover is probably the only thing that didn`t feel perfect with this product!

Using the Feiyu Tech G5

Feiyu Tech G5 compatible cameras
Feiyu Tech G5 compatible cameras

I tested the gimbal with the GoPo Hero4 Silver Edition, but the gimbal works with Hero4, Hero5 cameras and other action cams with similar size and weight. For Hero5 you need to screw on a small weight ring that is provided so you are good to go. Attaching the camera to the gimbal is pretty easy. You have two screws that hold the bracket together and the camera slips right in. Although once assembled you never have to totally unscrew the bracket Feiyu Tech gives you 2 spare screws in case you manage to lose the first two.

Feiyu Tech G5 assembly
Feiyu Tech G5 assembly

You can then power on the gimbal and as with most action camera gimbals this one need no calibration or messing around. Straight out of the box the G5 is ready for action. Since the gimbal is so easy and has a clean design you really don`t need to read the manual and you can just start playing around. Btw, the manual has a bit of clumsy translations in it and probably not done by the best translators 😛 Feiyu Tech might want to review that, but nothing too bad 🙂

Another cool thing about the Feiyu Tech G5 is that it has two tripod mounts. That right, TWO! One at the front and one at the bottom, so you can attach the gimbal on a tripod and control it remotely via the FREE smartphone app. (get it here for Android or iPhone) The app connects with the gimbal via BlueTooth and although it has pretty basic looking interface it does the job.

Control all modes of the gimbal through the app or adjust the speed of the gimbal movement. I`m sure there will be new versions of the app so you can maybe have sliders to change the Panning Axis strength instead of inserting numbers that is a bit unintuitive but for now it works just fine.

Feiyu Tech G5 app screens
Feiyu Tech G5 app screens

Feiyu Tech G5 as a power bank?

Another cool feature that makes the Feiyu Tech G5 stand out in the crowd is the ability to charge your GoPro while using the gimbal. You can connect your GoPro via a small USB cable (provided) to give some juice to your camera because we all know the GoPro battery has a relatively short runtime, especially if you are shooting in 4k. The G5 battery, however, has a whopping 8-hour battery life!!!!! You can pretty much use the gimbal the whole da without finding yourself in a situation where you end up looking for a public place to recharge. To be fair, I have not even attempted to keep it running for full 8 hours so I can`t vouch for this but even if it can run for 6 hours I am still impressed. You can also replace the battery if you have a spare one by simply unscrewing the handle and removing the dead battery. Another great move by Feiyu Tech because the GoPro Karma grip has a built in battery so if you run out of power while out on the location shooting you are basically screwed.  *You can only use this feature with Hero4 cameras.

Feiyu Tech G5 charging Hero4
Feiyu Tech G5 charging Hero4

Feiyu Tech G5 accessories

The gimbal comes with a neoprene carry pouch you can use to pack it down for traveling. The pouch is pretty thin and will not protect the gimbal from bigger collisions or from airport luggage handlers who throw your bags around so if you want to make sure the gimbal stays in one piece you might want to get a hard case for it. But for everyday use the neoprene pouch is perfect and fits the gimbal even with the camera attached. (Not sure if it fits with Hero5 because even with Hero4 it fits in the pouch pretty tight and Hero5 is a bit bigger) The pouch also has a small metal loop so you can attach it to a neck strap or clip it to your backpack.

For extra 20 bucks you can get the light carbon fiber extension pole so you can get a longer reach with your camera and get the footage you might otherwise miss.

Feiyu Tech G5  field tests

I took the G5 out on a few really cold days to make sure the temperature does not mess with the motors and it worked perfectly. The gimbal powers on fast and since it needs no calibration its really easy to use. the Most surprising thing is that the gimbal motors are so freaking quiet! I have tested the DJI Osmo and it`s like using a vacuum cleaner, so loud that you need to have an external microphone attached to the Osmo to catch the sound without the motor noise. But Feiyu Tech G5 is so quiet you get zero motor noise in your videos. This is a big advantage and until i have had the chance to test out some of the competition to the G5 I declare it the stealthiest GoPro Gimbal on the planet 🙂
This is important! – I was testing with HERO4 but after testing it with HERO5 the noise is much more apparent!

You can see the comparison video of hadheld footage vs G5 Here

Or check out the Video Review

The footage looks very cinematic and smooth and would probably be even better if I had tried a bit more but I purposely walked around like a random tourist without paying any attention to the gimbal and i did the same when holding the camera from hand.

Another test I made was attaching the gimbal to the outside of the car to see how the Feiyu Tech G5 hold up against strong winds. I attached it to the front windshield with a suction cup mount attached to the front tripod screw mount on the G5 and drove the car in both city speeds and at 70 km/h or 44 mp/h while controlling the gimbal from inside the car with the smartphone app.

At 70 km/h the gimbal works fine when facing forward but when completely sideways it starts to shake. At city speeds, the gimbal works perfectly in any position so you can get some cool videos  filming from a car.

The G5 has a few limitation due to the dimensions of the GoPro so it`s not 360 in any directions but i never had any issues with this and no-one probably will. You can pan it around 360 but bot the Roll and Tilt hae 310 degree limitations.

Feiyu Tech G5 pan tilt roll
Feiyu Tech G5 pan tilt roll

What I love about Feiyu Tech G5

  • Amazing build quality
  • Splash proof!
  • Super silent motors
  • Huge battery life
  • Replaceable battery
  • Easy controls
  • Works perfectly
  • Nice packaging
  • Neoprene carry pouch
  • Two tripod screw mounts
  • Compatible with many action cameras
  • GoPro charging from the gimbal
  • Remote control from the app
  • Extension pole capability
  • Connects to the app very fast

Neutrals

  • The app looks a bit basic and could use a UI makeover

Things I don`t love

  • The carry pouch is tight, could be 3 mm bigger for a better fit.

Feiyu Tech G5 – Final Verdict

I am hugely impressed by how good it looks and feels and most of all how quietly it works without any hassles. A great product that works right out of the box and for a such a complex and advanced thing as a gimbal it is so easy and effortless to use. There isn`t really anything bad to say about this and by the way -the shipping speed is mindblowing! Just take a look at the great reviews at the official Feiyu Tech Aliexpress storre and you can see people raving about how fast they receive theys G5s.

So if you are on the hunt for a gimbal fr your action camera get this now. It sells at 279 USD (or 298 USD with the extension pole)  HERE and you can check the G5 out on Feiyu Tech homepage.

If you want to buy it, get it from:

Feiyu Tech Amazon.com

Check out how it stacks up against its brother, the WG2 – a handheld gimbal from Feiyu Tech. Read the comparison HERE.

UPDATE:
If you are considering between a handheld and a wearable gimbal check out the comparison between the G5 and the WG2 by Feiyu Tech.

The NEWEST Feiyu Tech G6 review is here!

71 thoughts on “Feiyu Tech G5 review

  • January 10, 2017 at 8:56 am
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    Wowww nice review, I love this

    • January 19, 2017 at 7:47 am
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      Thank you 🙂

    • March 21, 2017 at 7:29 pm
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      Can you start and stopp Go Pro Hero 5 with Feiyu tech controlls?

      • March 28, 2017 at 5:42 am
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        No, unfortunately not

    • May 21, 2017 at 2:16 pm
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      Hi,

      Just gotten a G5 recently, was wondering what kind of charger I should use to charge the battery? Also for 1st time charge, do I need to charge it for 8 hours?

      Was wondering if there is any adaptor that I can buy to let me fix my iphone 7 to the Gimbal and when do I use the additional counter balance and when I do not use it? Appreciate advice from the forum here…thanks!

        • May 24, 2017 at 1:11 am
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          Hi lvar,

          I am trying to charge my Feiyu G5 Gimbal. Can I use either an iphone or ipad charger and charge the Gimbal? Also for 1st charge, should I charge it for 8 hours?…

          Thanks!

          • May 24, 2017 at 6:33 am
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            Hi Eric

            Sure, you can use the iPhone wall charger, just need to use the right USB cable with it.
            As for first time charging, i`m not sure it`s needed, I never bother with those things and I charge when I need to 🙂

    • January 30, 2017 at 12:40 pm
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      Hey Guido

      Nice test run. Did you put the velcro just in case or did you have any issues with fixing the gimbal?

  • January 26, 2017 at 12:26 am
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    Question:

    while charging the goPro on the gimbal, can we connect an external powerbank and charge the gimbal simultaneously while using the contraption?

    as in – connecting the go pro to the gimbal and charging the go pro, and simultaneously connecting the gimbal to a powerbank and charging the gimbal..?

    Thanks.

    • January 30, 2017 at 12:37 pm
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      Hey Johnatan!

      Yup, that’s totally possible

      • July 18, 2017 at 6:42 am
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        tried it last night but it didn’t work. :-(…

        • July 19, 2017 at 7:28 am
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          You connected a Powerbank to the gimbal and the gimbal didn`t charge?

  • February 3, 2017 at 9:20 am
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    I would like to have GoPro hero 5 users impressions, mostly about motor noise. Is that true the power bank feature only works for Hero 4?

    • February 3, 2017 at 11:55 am
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      You can use the powerbank feature, but you need to have the GoPro upside down. Hero5 has auto rotate so it`s not an issue, I actually used it upside down because i wanted access to the side button.

      • July 1, 2017 at 3:44 am
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        If i put the hero 5 in upside down so I can have access to the Feiyu Tech G5’s power bank (plug the gopro into the G5) I can’t access the power button on the gopro to turn it on?

        • July 4, 2017 at 7:11 am
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          True, but you can use the Quick Start function on the Hero5

  • February 8, 2017 at 3:57 pm
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    Nice review!!

    Can I fix on the gimbal, my gopro in its waterproof case? Does it fit? The G5 is splashproof but if the gopro is not…

    • February 10, 2017 at 11:32 am
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      No, if you have Hero4 or older you can use it only without the waterproof case…

  • February 10, 2017 at 5:33 am
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    Good morning, i am interesting To Buy G5 gimbal. I have already GoPro Hero 5 camera and I want To mount on my helmet becouse i use my GoPro with my motorbike. Please let me know how i Can mount safe on my helmet or on My motorbike
    Thanks
    Sinisa

    • February 10, 2017 at 11:37 am
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      Hi Sinisa

      You can mount the gimbal on a helmet or on a bike
      The gimbal has two tripod screw mounts: one at the bottom and one in the front where you hold it.
      The best option would be to attach it from the front screw so that the gimbal is not upright but horizontal.

      But take a look at the wearable gimbal b Feiyu Tech
      http://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/IUzvVVf

      This one might be a better option if you want to mount it on a helmet or a bike

  • February 13, 2017 at 2:35 pm
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    Hi its nice review 🙂
    It helped me to make my buying decision
    But there is still one question remaining.
    I worried about its motor noise when it is used with Gopro 5

    But from some of test review , I found some gopro 5 users set the wind only mode to reduce motor noise.
    I want to ask if it really works or not,
    Does it really reduce motor noise while not missing voices at the same time?

    • February 15, 2017 at 12:34 pm
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      Hey CJ

      This is something i hav been waiting to test out. Right now I am waiting for a new gimbal to arrive so i can test it.
      The previous test where done with HERO4 and it was super quiet, but i have seen people complaining about noise with HERO5

      I will post an update here on this page once i get the test done

  • February 18, 2017 at 6:34 am
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    Great review, appreciate it.

    I had an issue with mine where I tried to update the firmware via the app and after the software downloaded, the install process pretty much stayed at 0%. I turned off the gimbal and it never worked again, the lights would turn on but the motor would never engage. I emailed the company and never heard back. Their troubleshooting section is virtually non-existent. I think the firmware crashed when I had to shut it down?

    I returned it but am afraid to get another one, thoughts?

    • February 18, 2017 at 8:48 am
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      HI Wally

      The exact thing happened to mee too!
      But the customer service through the Aliexpress chat has been exceptionally good! Have you tried contacting them through that?
      Alternatively, if you are using WhatsApp they have a support chat there too. You can get the number from AliExpress chat or email me ( ivar (at) goproessentials.com ) and I will give you the contact.
      I managed to get it fixed by updating the firmware through my laptop, they pretty much helped me do this screen by screen.

      Let me know if you where able to reach them or if you need help

    • February 18, 2017 at 8:50 am
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      Oh just read again, you already shipped it back 😛
      I feel confident getting another one because i have been pleased with the overall experience

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  • February 24, 2017 at 11:31 pm
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    Hey buddy! Super comprehensive review and break down. Appreciate it. You definitely helped us in our decision to purchase a G5. Only problem is, we can’t find the FY Settings app on the Apple store. Did you have any issues finding it?
    Cheers once again 🙂

  • March 7, 2017 at 8:52 pm
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    Hi!! Nice review on G5. For now after some comparison with other brands and models, i think G5 might suit me well ( im new to this ‘stabilizer’ thing) , especially about the running time of 8 hours, if it really happen as they claim it should be. Have you done your test yet to confirm this?

    But a few weeks ago I found this video about G5. This guy managed to get his G5 screwed up after accidentally installed the batteries on wrong polarity. His G5 axial motor (if im not mistaken) stopped working and nothing can be done. I’m feeling a bit shock as if this G5 is really that vulnerable?? People may tent to accidentally do that sort of mistake but should not be creating such a serious problem.

    • March 8, 2017 at 12:49 pm
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      Hi Naz

      I havent done the full 8 hour test but it looks like it comes pretty close.
      Are you using Hero4 or Hero5? People have been reporting noise issues with Hero5 and i can confirm that HERO5 catches the motor noise from the gimbal due to te mic locations. The wind audio filter helps a bit.
      With Hero4 there are absolutely no motor noise issues.

      I am planning to make some comparison audio tests soon.

      As for the battery incident… not sure, an i definitely don`t want to try that 😀 I find it a bit hard to belive that somehing like that can mess with the electronics…

  • March 8, 2017 at 7:11 pm
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    Hi,

    I just got my new Fy-G5 gimbal. One question do you know if gimpal still be splash proof when I get off that foam tape which hide micro USB to power HERO4 cam?

    • March 28, 2017 at 5:39 am
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      Should be yes, as long as the rubber seal is properly in place

  • March 13, 2017 at 1:42 am
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    Hi I’m interest this gimbal, I was wondering if you can mount it on chest mount?

    • March 28, 2017 at 5:41 am
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      you probably need some additional accessory for this, the gimbal has tripod screws on the bottom and on the front so you can use the front screw mount

    • March 28, 2017 at 7:11 pm
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      The chest mount will be a little awkward. Feiyu have the WG which comes with a Hero5 adapter that’s more appropriate for a chesty mount. It doesn’t have a handle.

      • March 30, 2017 at 11:21 am
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        True, but then you would need to buy an extra gimbal just for that purpose

  • April 3, 2017 at 4:54 pm
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    I have a big problem with me during the shooting of the G5 transferred to GoPro hero5 the engine and do not know how it eliminovat.Potřebuji simple instructions.

    • April 6, 2017 at 7:43 am
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      Hi Luboš

      Can you please explain your issue a bit more?

  • May 4, 2017 at 6:44 pm
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    Hi! Really great review. I have now decided to buy a G5. Do you think that buying some larger screws would enable me to use the waterproof housing of my GoPro Hero 4 or is there another issue? Many thanks, James.

    • May 5, 2017 at 1:09 pm
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      Hi James, thanks 🙂

      No, unfortunately, this will not help. Even if you find longer screws (and if the GoPro inside the case will fit in the bracket) the weight balance will be off and most probably the gimbal will not work.

      I have used Hero4 with different gimbals a lot and to be honest I don even miss the waterproof case. True, I can`t use the gimbal+GoPro in rainy conditions and thus fully take advantage of the splashproof feature of the gimbal but I can live with that…

      Cheers,
      Ivar

      • May 8, 2017 at 3:05 pm
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        Thanks Ivan. Understood.

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  • May 16, 2017 at 1:46 am
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    Very COOL G5👏👏👏➡😎✌

  • July 9, 2017 at 8:21 am
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    battery life only 3 Hours …?

    • July 10, 2017 at 2:50 pm
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      no, It`s way longer, depending on the usage
      8h officially, but that`s in ideal conditions so in real life I think it`s a bit less.

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  • September 5, 2017 at 1:30 pm
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    I’m really confused about what you wrote about the G5’s motor noise: “But Feiyu Tech G5 is so quiet you get zero motor noise in your videos.”. I have the G5 with a GoPro 5 and I can tell you that I have not been able to film a single shot without at least some motor noise ruining the audio. In fact this is an issue which was acknowledged by both Feiyutech and GoPro although neither one has come up with a serious solution. So what settings did you use to come up with zero motor noise?

    • September 8, 2017 at 6:14 am
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      Hi Hans

      The thing is that when using the HERO5 the noise is much more apparent but as I was testing with HERO4 the mic positioning is different and there is practically no noise at all
      I`am updating the article with that clarification right now

  • September 24, 2017 at 6:03 pm
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    Love the review, well done. One thing I am having a problem with is charging. I am using the supplied usb cord with an apple 5v wall charger and I can’t get the green light. Stays a flickering red. Works great, used it last night for a wedding and was really great. Just don’t know if there is something wrong with the charging. Thanks,

    • September 25, 2017 at 4:37 pm
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      Hmm, is the cable fully in the socket?
      Some cables have a bigger plastic molding around the plug so it doesn`t go fully in.
      Perhaps try using a different cable, or if the issue still persist perhaps you should contact warranty support

  • October 7, 2017 at 4:00 pm
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    Brilliant review. I’m a pretty new Gopro Hero 5 user and I do a lot of running so I’m in the market for a Gimbal and the Feiyu G5 3-Axis Gimbal seems to fit the bill perfectly. Especially as it’s splashproof!
    I have seen in a few different reviews of the Feiyu G5 Gimbal where the reviewer mentions that the Gimbal sometimes goes off and does it’s own thing and also has some serious drift and leveling issues. Have you experienced any of this?
    And I see on Amazon that some sellers have a “Newer V2 Version” for sale that costs a bit more than the V1.
    I was trying to find out what’s the difference between the V1 and the V2 but I couldn’t find out.
    Do you have any idea of the difference between the 2 versions?
    Thanks and keep up the great reviews!
    Paul

  • November 13, 2017 at 2:53 pm
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    Thanks for the review, just wonder if this gimbal stick can use as GoPro remote?

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  • February 25, 2018 at 11:34 am
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    Thanks for this comprehensive review. Just got the G5 and Hero5 black 2 days ago. Me & my son are now enthusiastically testing them both.

    • February 25, 2018 at 2:31 pm
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      That`s great Rusyd – let me know how you like the gimbal

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  • March 25, 2018 at 1:33 pm
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    Can you fit a hero 4 black with LCD bacpac into a feiyu 5

    • March 29, 2018 at 12:06 pm
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      Not sure,
      I assume no, because the screws won`t fit, but i haven`t tested it

  • August 25, 2018 at 11:46 am
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    Q: are you able to joint the waterproof case of the hero 4 to the G4 S?

  • August 25, 2018 at 11:47 am
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    Q: are you able to joint the waterproof case of the hero 4 to the G5 S?

  • September 30, 2018 at 7:45 pm
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    Thanks for great review.
    I got G5 V2 and try it with my Hero 4 black. I installed the Feiyu ON App on my Android phone.
    http://www.feiyu-tech.com/Uploads/20170627/5952319cebded.pdf
    Even in tutorial is explained that you can adjust gimbal PANNING speed setting (the reference table shows from 15 sec to 8 hours/turn), in the Feiyu ON App for Android it is not possible to set it in time per turn. Why ? Can you explain how I can do exactly ?
    Thanks in advance

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